Sightseeing in Sendai

Yesterday I went sightseeing with my daughter, her boyfriend and his parents. We took the Loople Sendai, which is a sightseeing bus that goes to all the major things to see in the town. On a Sunday there were only two of the sights open, but they were so spectacular that it was more than enough.



First stop was the Mausoleum of the Sendai-Han - Zuihoden. First you need to wash your hands before visiting any shrine, it is a holy place and you need to meet the spirits at least with clean hands.


The water was very cold, and was a nice refreshing thing to do before climbing the stairs to the shrine.


The second stop on the route took us up high over the town, to the place where the castle of Sendai once was. Not much is left since the bombing of Japan during the second world war, but the view of the town is stunning.

Exactly when we arrived the sun broke trough the clouds, and allowed us to take some nice pictures of the town. With the mountains in the background, one is sure to see that we are in Japan.


After a long afternoon on the road, we ended up in town, enjoying a nice meal in a traditional Japanese restaurant. The five of us had a place in the restaurant to our selves, at a low table where we could sit with our legs in a hole in the ground. no shoes allowed, as in many places in Japan, but we had slippers handed out if we had to move outside our little cabin.



After this nice meal, we had to go and play a game in one of many gaming-halls in town. The young people had a favorite game we had to try. Drumming on the traditional drums , and getting the rythm of the melody right, not very easy - but FUN!



Late in the evening we went to see the last day of the lights of town, together with a lot of other people. These lights are only on for Christmas, which is no big event in Japan, NewYear on the other hand is the biggest, so we are going to celebrate the coming of the year of the mouse today. First partying, and then going out to the ocean to watch the sunrize, which is said to bring luck the rest of the year.


So I only say "A-ke-mash-te o-me-de-to" to you all - and till next year.