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Offered languages
- English
Discover the spirit of Sendai on an immersive afternoon journey blending craft, culture, and tradition. Begin at Jogi Nyorai Saiho‑ji Temple, a serene mountainside sanctuary known for blessings of harmony and good fortune. Enjoy free time to explore and try local favorites such as sankaku‑age or miso‑grilled rice balls. Continue to Kumanodo, where artisans guide you in lacquering your own chopsticks using techniques rooted in Sendai’s historic tansu craftsmanship—your finished piece will be delivered within Japan. Conclude with a rare insider visit to Nakayu Sake Brewery, operating since 1906, to learn the art of sake making and taste distinctive brews not usually accessible to the public. With private transport and an English‑speaking guide throughout, this tour offers a deeper connection to Miyagi’s traditions and the people who preserve them.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet your guide holding a JTB Sunrise Tours sign in front of the Sendai City Tourist Information Center on the 3rd floor of JR Sendai Station. After exiting the Shinkansen Central Gate on 3F, walk straight ahead.
Tour ends upon arrival at Sendai Station.
Itinerary
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1
This temple is said to grant blessings for matchmaking, fertility, and safe childbirth. Its charm lies in its quiet environment surrounded by beautiful nature. After visiting together with the guide, you can take an unguided stroll and purchase your own lunch. Sendai's local specialties include sankaku-age (deep-fried triangular tofu) and yakimeshi (toasted rice ball with miso paste).
1 hour 20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2
Kumanodo is a workshop specializing in Sendai tansu, a designated traditional craft of Miyagi Prefecture where artisans handcraft traditional Japanese chests using wood and iron fittings. The lacquer painting techniques used in the process of making Sendai tansu can be tried firsthand by customers during the chopsticks lacquering experience under the direct supervision of artisans. Customers will receive the chopsticks they made by post at a later date. *As it takes time for the lacquer to dry, the chopsticks made at Sendai Tansu Kumanodo cannot be brought home on the day. Delivery is available only within Japan. Please pay JPY 820 in cash at the location. The lacquer has to have dried before delivery, so it will take around 4 days until arrival. Because of this, delivery is possible only for customers who will be staying in Japan for at least 5 more days. The chopsticks lacquering experience at Sendai Tansu Kumanodo is available for customers 6 years of age and older.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
3
Learn about the history and tradition of sake brewing spanning over 100 years as well as innovative techniques at Nakayu Sake Brewery, which was established in 1906. Together with an expert guide, take a tour inside a sake brewery, which is not usually open to the public; learn in depth about the process by which rice, water, and zeal of the master brewer create Japanese sake; and look forward to tasting a variety of sake. The taste testing experience is not included for customers under 20 years of age. During the sake brewery tour, as there will be slippery areas and shoe disinfection, please do not wear high heels or other similar footwear. Thank you for your cooperation.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that participants may not join partway through the tour. Also, participants may join only from the meeting locationspecified in advance
- The order of activities and arrival times may differ on the day depending on reasons such as road conditions and congestion at destinations
- Depending on the number of tour participants, transportation to be used may be other than a hired car (passenger vehicle, van, minivan), small bus, taxi, or a train or route bus on some parts of the tour such as in case of heavy traffic. Seats may not be designated
- As it takes time for the lacquer to dry, the chopsticks made at Sendai Tansu Kumanodo cannot be brought home on the day. Delivery is available only within Japan. Please pay JPY 820 in cash at the location. The lacquer has to have dried before delivery, so it will take around 4 days until arrival. Because of this, delivery is possible only for customers who will be staying in Japan for at least 5 more days
- After shipping, please note that the planning company and Sendai Tansu Kumanodo will not be held liable in case of any damage, loss, etc. As inquiries cannot be made to the planning company and Sendai Tansu Kumanodo, please make any inquiries directly to the shipping company. In addition, during the chopsticks lacquering experience, please be aware that some customers may develop a rash due to the lacquer depending on their predisposition
- The chopsticks lacquering experience at Sendai Tansu Kumanodo is available for customers 6 years of age and older
- As there is a risk of lacquer splashing during the chopsticks lacquering experience, wearing comfortable clothing to enjoy the experience without reserve is recommended
- The taste testing experience is not included for customers under 20 years of age
- During the sake brewery tour, as there will be slippery areas and shoe disinfection, please do not wear high heels or other similar footwear. Thank you for your cooperation
- Please leave large luggage such as suitcases at your hotel or a station locker prior to participating in the tour. As for mediumsize suitcases whose total height, width, and length is within 140cm, each person is allowed to bring only 1 during the tour. There is a temporary luggage storage service available near the meeting location, Sendai City Tourist Information Center (Reception Hours: 09:00 - 18:00)
- Lunch is not included in the tour. Enjoy your own lunch at Jogi-san Saiho-ji Temple
- Customers who are late for the departure time will have their reservations canceled. Please give yourself plenty of time.
- While children 0-5 years old may join free of charge, if there are many participants, children 0-5 years old may have to sit on the lap of a parent or guardian on board the hired car. If guaranteed seats on the hired car are required for such children, please book them under the child rate
- Parental permission in writing is necessary for all tour participants under the age of eighteen. Any participant under the age of fifteen or not yet enrolled in middle school must be joined by a parent or guardian on the tour
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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