This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:00 Hotel Sendai West Exit premier
- Via Sendai Tobu Expressway + Sanriku Expressway~
- 10:10@Ishinomaki City Earthquake Ruins Okawa Elementary School (within the grounds, Okawa Earthquake Memorial Hall, evacuation route (back mountain, Kamaya district triangle zone, Kitakami riverside walk))
- 11:20@Nagatsura Bay~Roadside Station Joubon no Sato (restroom break)
- 12:50 Lunch@Matsushima Rikyu (Matsushima Oyster and Warm Sake Festival)
- 14:50 Depart Matsushima Rikyu
- 15:45 Disband@ Hotel Sendai West Exit premier
What Is a Private Tour to Okawa Elementary School and the Kamaya Area from Sendai Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
This was a tour where I felt the guest's deep personal connection, as they had specified "Okawa Elementary School and the Kamaya area" right after the assignment was made. When I asked what had first made them aware of Okawa Elementary School, they said they had read a book by a British author who had visited and reported on the area many times, and they wanted to see the site in person to understand why so many students had lost their lives. Remembering a previous email that had mentioned Iwaki in Fukushima, I asked whether they had visited the area around the Fukushima nuclear plant, and they said that since it was not somewhere reachable by Shinkansen, they had come directly from Tokyo to Sendai. I explained that many households in the Kamaya area have since relocated and much of it is now vacant land, so our visit would center on Okawa Elementary School, and we traced the footsteps of the students who had died. We stood in the schoolyard where the 50 minutes between the earthquake and the tsunami were spent, climbed the hill behind the school where survivors had escaped, and also went to the triangular area toward which the victims had headed. Okawa Elementary School became a legal precedent for the management systems of schools nationwide through a Supreme Court ruling, but ultimately, I spoke as I was asked about how education in "tsunami tendenko" — the idea that each individual student should evacuate on their own initiative to save their own life — had not been carried out, and I gave the often-cited example of an elementary school in Kamaishi City to discuss the importance of disaster education. After looking at the topography of the Kamaya area at the memorial hall, the guest said they wanted to go to the mouth of the Kitakami River, but when I explained that the road in front of the elementary school does not run along the river, they pointed at the map and said they would like to see Nagatsura Bay beside the river mouth, so I asked the driver and we went as far as we could. There was a seawall so we could not see the very edge of the river mouth, but they seemed satisfied. Since there was nothing in the surrounding area, we stopped at a roadside station along the way for a restroom break. Inside the shop, the guest found some beer and asked whether it was local, so I told them about a craft beer made from hops grown along the Kitakami riverside in Ishinomaki, which they seemed to buy. At Matsushima Rikyu, the guest had been looking forward to an event featuring sake and oysters and asked many questions about sake. As they wanted to learn various things about sake, it became an impromptu sake lesson. They also asked about the characteristics of Matsushima oysters, and when I said that raw oysters can be eaten in Matsushima, they said they would try them and polished off three oysters in the shell. They also enjoyed 10 of the 15 varieties of sake offered at the event. On the way back, we drove past a spot overlooking Sendai Port, so I spoke as I was asked about how my home is nearby and what the area around Sendai Port was like at the time of the tsunami. It has already been 15 years, but this tour suddenly brought back memories of how absorbed I was in those days. As the guest wanted to eat sushi for dinner, I told them about Sushi Street inside Sendai Station. I was relieved to see their smile and hear they had had a great time.
Click here for more details: Sendai & Matsushima Customized Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Hello! I’m Riko, your local guide. During the week, I work at a local university, but on weekends, I love to guide visitors like you. This year(2024) marks my 6th year as a guide, and I’m thrilled to continue sharing the beauty of Japan with you.
I’m a certified Sake Navigator, so I have a wealth of knowledge about Japanese sake. Additionally, I’m well-versed in the gourmet scene of Sendai, Shiogama, and Matsushima, allowing me to tailor your tour to your culinary preferences!
I look forward to creating a memorable tour experience for you, full of fun and lasting memories of Japan. Thanks for choosing me as your guide!
May 10, 2026
Nate_K
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun Day in the bay!
Be ready to walk briskly…
May 10, 2026
Nate_K
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Fun Day in the bay!
Be ready to walk briskly to make the ferry boat! Our guide Riko-san was wonderful and her
local knowledge was very informative.
Apr 30, 2026
Tanakainmaui
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko-san is the best guide!
I originally booked with TripAdvisor,…
Apr 30, 2026
Tanakainmaui
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko-san is the best guide!
I originally booked with TripAdvisor, but cancelled it in order to get a longer tour–8 hours instead of 6. Riko-san was our guide, and she was very knowledgeable about the Sendai/Matsushima area and the attractions we visited. She was also flexible with times and at the end of a long day she even shared the location of her favorite sushi restaurant! Riko-san also helped us locate a guide for our izakaya tour. She went above and beyond the definition of service. We’d love to book with her and her izakaya friend, Mai, again!
Mar 31, 2026
NHDBuilder
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
GO WITH “RIKO” FROM JAPAN GUIDE AGENCY
This is our…
Mar 31, 2026
NHDBuilder
Tripadvisor review: Sendai / Matsushima Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
GO WITH “RIKO” FROM JAPAN GUIDE AGENCY
This is our first time to Japan, and it can be very confusing but we went with Riko from Japan Guide Agency, and this made this the easiest day possible. We came from North Carolina to Tokyo and now our adventure starts in Sendai after our visit in Tokyo. We wanted a guide to help us navigate this area and we were lucky enough to be assigned “Riko” for the half day. The moment we met her my wife and I were thrilled to be spending a day with her. She speaks wonderful English and with my horrible hearing, I could hear her clearly which makes it so enjoyable. I normally cannot hear soft Japanese voices but she made it so easy for us to hear and understand. We spent the day with her and yes we were tired at the end but it was so worth it to stick it out all day. One of the best things about Riko is; she meets you at your hotel and returns you to your hotel when you are so tired you cannot possibly take another step. Another amazing thing about Riko is she knows the trains and knows how to get the client moved around quickly and efficiently. We had no idea where to go to get the right trains but Riko make it smooth as possible. It was raining all day but we pushed through and that caused all the tourists to not be at the stops we were going to. It was like the shut down the area for us. Since it was raining, Riko would call taxi’s for us and they came almost immediately. Riko is a wealth of information and we even met some of her friends along the way. If you are going to book a tour with this firm, ASK FOR RIKO, I know you will have a great day.
Oct 3, 2025
P
Peggy_M
This was a great tour with Riko
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko was…
Oct 3, 2025
P
Peggy_M
This was a great tour with Riko
Viator review: Sendai / Matsushima Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Riko was our guide for the full-day tour. After we selected the sites we wanted to visit, Riko provided us with a detailed itinerary. Her communication throughout the planning process was clear and thorough, including explanations of the expected admission fees and transportation costs for the day. Our itinerary included visits to Entsu-in Temple, a scenic cruise on Matsushima Bay, and a tour of Zuigan-ji Temple. Riko accompanied us on both the train and ferry, which made it easy for us to relax and fully enjoy each sight without worrying about logistics or directions. In addition to guiding us through the main attractions, Riko went above and beyond by arranging for us to have lunch at a vegan restaurant in Sendai. This thoughtful addition was not part of the original tour, yet it greatly enhanced our overall experience.