Things to do in Sendai

overall a lovely experience, ginzan onsen was beautiful and eventhough we were struck with a heavy snowstorm for the zao ropeway trip, we still had a fun time. Everything was timed well and although 1.5 hours seem short in Ginzan, we actually still have plenty of time to stroll the city and buy souvenirs or hot coffee. The lunch was surprisingly better than we expected, local Yamagata couisine, and we did not expect we would get private rooms to enjoy it! Worth to note that the guide explains everything in chinese, and later on communicate the important parts in japanese which would be ok if you understand basic japanese. But basically just prepare a live translating app (or chatgpt) to understand the explanations! And Lili laoshi(the guide) can take very good photos🫶 Thank you so much!

Highly recommended to join this tour for seeing the Zaos Ice Monsters. Really an enjoyable experience!

Great day tour from Sendai Station. The bus was spacious, clean, comfortable, and had WiFi plus a tray for drinks and snacks. Driver and guide were punctual and professional. Our guide, Sanichi, really stood out. He speaks good English, is knowledgeable, and shared useful tips throughout the day. He also told us the inspiring story of Hamaguchi Goryo and the “Fire of Rice Sheaves,” with light jokes along the way that made the tour feel relaxed and welcoming. He helped take photos and gave great recommendations on what to see and eat. Zao Fox Village was fun and unique, with foxes up close. Feeding or hugging costs extra, and the guide helped with translation. Lunch was a simple but tasty noodle and tempura set. Ginzan Onsen was crowded and rainy, but well managed with clear instructions. Still worth visiting, as it’s very hard to reach by public transport. Overall, a fantastic day trip—the guide’s passion made all the difference.

Overall, the itinerary is quite recommended. This trip used a 9-seater vehicle, and there were a total of 6 people carpooling that day, so the seating space was comfortable. The driver was punctual for pick-up and drop-off, was friendly and polite, and the driving was stable, which made people feel at ease. The stay at the Fox Village was about an hour, which was plenty of time to fully visit the park and browse the gift shop. It should be noted that even in winter, there will still be some odors in the park due to animal excrement and the foxes themselves, so travelers who are sensitive to odors may need to pay special attention. The Silver Mine Onsen itinerary time was from 13:00 to 16:45, which was quite ample. Travelers can bring their own towels to soak their feet, or buy them at nearby stores. On that day, due to heavy snowfall and low temperature, coupled with the large crowds, it took more waiting time to take pictures, and it was a pity that we couldn't actually soak our feet, but the overall stay time was still sufficient. In addition, the group members generally adhered to the meeting and itinerary times, and returned early to the bus pick-up and drop-off area (Taisho Roman Museum) in Ginzan Onsen. Finally, with everyone's consent, we returned early. Overall, the atmosphere of the trip was good, and it was a pleasant trip.

It was a bit of a shame that the visit to the Fox Village didn't coincide with the fox-holding time, but it was still worth a visit. There are only two restaurants in Ginzan, and the prices are slightly expensive, but the taste is average and you have to queue, which directly affects the time spent sightseeing in Ginzan. It was snowing heavily when we visited, which was a bit chaotic, but the environment was even more beautiful. The pick-up and drop-off was in a 9-seater van, so it didn't feel crowded, and the driver took us to the station on the return trip as a bonus, which was great service.

You will gradually receive e-mail notifications and reminders before the trip, including meeting information and a description of the day's itinerary, ensuring peace of mind when preparing for departure. The actual travel date was January 16th. On that day, some adjustments were made based on the actual conditions. The itinerary order was changed to visit Ginzan Onsen first, then the Zao Snow Monsters, and finally, an arrangement for souvenir shopping. The overall flow was smooth, avoiding some peak crowds. On the day, I met the tour leader, Angie, on time at the meeting point. The gathering and roll call were efficient, the explanations were clear, and the attitude was friendly, leaving a good impression of the trip from the start. The stay at Ginzan Onsen was about an hour. There weren't many people that day, and you could take beautiful photos from almost every angle without the pressure of being squeezed. There was plenty of free time to take photos, stroll around, or browse the surrounding small shops. You could also feel the unique retro atmosphere of Ginzan Onsen in winter, which was a very relaxing part of this trip. Next, we went to the Zao Snow Monsters. The weather conditions at the summit were poor that day, with blizzard conditions upon arrival and low visibility, making it impossible to see the most complete and spectacular appearance of the snow monsters, which was a bit of a pity. However, on the way up the mountain by ropeway, you could still admire the snow-covered forests and mountain scenery along the way, which was quite dreamy and made up for some of the regret. Visiting Zao in winter is indeed very weather-dependent, and you should be prepared for this. In terms of cost, in addition to the tour fee that has already been paid, you will need to pay separately for the Zao Ropeway ticket at JPY 4,400/person and the Ginzan Onsen shuttle bus fare at JPY 1,300/person, totaling JPY 5,700/person. The tour leader only accepts cash, and you need to bring your own change, so it is recommended to prepare in advance for a smoother experience on the day. The overall cost is indeed high after adding the entrance fees, but it saves you queuing time and avoids the hassle of complicated transfers and transportation connections, which is very convenient for travelers with limited travel time. Although the viewing of the Zao Snow Monsters on this trip was affected by the weather, the transportation arrangements were smooth, the pace was not rushed, and the crowds at Ginzan Onsen were well-controlled, making the overall experience quite good. If it is your first time visiting Tohoku and you want to visit Ginzan Onsen and Zao in one go, and you don't want to spend time researching transportation and transfers, this one-day tour is still a very time-saving and labor-saving option.

Great experience for animals lovers. Foxes very cute and guide-Midori San very friendly and helpful. strawberries farm experience also extremely great and will be better if have longer experience time. The strawberries are sweet and cheap to buy as souvenirs.

driver used Google Translate to communicate with us. And she expressed herself well and shown professional respect. very good.

We took about a 20-minute walk from the nearest JR station. Easy exchange of ticket at the ticket counter. There are performances at fixed times, including taking photos with seal & penguins up close (paying minimal fee for the printed photo). Overall, Aquarium is not as big as some others in Japan we have been to, but the shows, displays and experience were great.