Ice Rink Sendai & Hanyu Shrine Guided Tour

Initially, I thought the cost was a bit high, but considering the limited time in Sendai, the ability to enter the ice rink for photos, and the chance to visit the remote Hanyu Tenjin Shrine, I decided to sign up. It was a small group of fewer than 10 people, all friendly Fanyus, and I unexpectedly gained a lot of valuable insider information! At the first stop, the ice rink, my heart was overflowing with satisfaction! Entering the rink, stepping onto the ice, being able to take unlimited photos and videos, and experiencing the ice undisturbed—seeing Zu's everyday view, breathing the same air, and visiting the practice room where Zu warms up and creates! When I watched videos of the rink the next day, a feeling of having been there and knowing it was reawakened. The second stop, Hanyu Tenjin Shrine, is in a remote location (I looked it up, a one-way trip from the nearest station costs around 3000 JPY). A hidden benefit of the tour was saving time on transfers. The Goshuincho (stamp book) was beautiful, with so many fan artworks left there; you could feel a lot of love and dedication ❤️ The later stops, Nanakitada Yuzuru Sakura, Zuihoden, and the International Center, are easily accessible. This time, the International Center had a Hanyu exhibition, so the itinerary flowed smoothly and offered good value. However, it would be even more perfect if there were a half-day option in the future (just the ice rink + Hanyu Tenjin Shrine + Yuzuru Sakura) and the cost was adjusted downwards. Alternatively, extending the tour to include places like Definition Tofu Shop, Jigenji Temple, Akiu Shrine, or even Akiu Onsen, which are less convenient to access outside the city center, would be even more appealing and solve more transportation issues for fans! PS. After listening to the tour guide's explanation, I learned that the original intention of this tour was to solve the difficult transportation problems faced by fans and the city government. It took two years of planning and negotiations with various parties to make it happen today. Moreover, the tour guide continuously listened to fan suggestions throughout the day, showing that the organizers want to optimize and better meet fan needs in the future. For this dedication and thoughtfulness, I highly recommend it!

The itinerary was very thoughtful, with everything related to Yuzuru Hanyu. What impressed me most was that the organizers rented out the entire Sendai Ice Rink, allowing us to fully explore the exhibition area and facilities. Not only that, but we could also touch the ice and walk on it, which was a very rare ice rink experience. The Sendai Ice Rink magnet gifted by the organizers was also beautiful and cannot be bought elsewhere, adding to its collectible value.

Key itinerary: The special experience at the Sendai Ice Rink is highly recommended, as is Hanyu Shrine. Personally, I wouldn't visit the shrine alone because public transportation isn't very convenient for solo travelers.

The organizers were incredibly thoughtful, meticulously arranging a one-hour exclusive tour of the Sendai ice rink. Being able to walk on and touch the ice where Yuzuru Hanyu trains filled me with immense happiness and strength! After the ice rink tour, we continued to Hanyu Tenjin Shrine, Zuihoden, Nanakitada Park, and the International Center. The entire journey was filled with longing and love for Sendai and for Yuzuru Hanyu! Many thanks to Hele Travel Agency for providing us with such a joyful and wonderful trip.

Many thanks to the organizers for planning and designing such a great itinerary. The schedule was very reasonable, especially the exclusive ice rink booking and the complimentary small gifts. We had a wonderful time today! 🥰

I think this is a highly recommended tour for Hanyu fans visiting Sendai for the first time. My transportation concerns were resolved, and the organizers were very kind and provided a lot of support. Thank you very much for planning such a wonderful itinerary.

The experience was great, all the attractions were yuzu-themed, highly recommended!

What an amazing day! I hope you develop more new itineraries; I'd love to join again!