The Sendai Aoba Festival is a spectacular event that recaptures the rich history of the Sendai domain. The festival has represented spring in Sendai for over 350 years. The eve of the festival is called Yoi Matsuri, and many citizen groups dance the Sendai Suzume Odori (sparrow dance) in various places throughout the city.

On the main festival day, tall floats parade through the streets accompanied by a procession of samurai in period attire.

3rd Saturday & Sunday in May
(15-16 May 2009)

Sendai City Guide

Photos taken on April 18, 2009
at Zoheikyoku, Osaka

JAPANiCAN Travel Guide:
Cherry Blossoms - Our Top 15 Sakura Spots in Japan !

Photos taken on April 12, 2009
at Mt. Takao, Tokyo

Tour:
Mt.Takao 1 day Walking Tour / From JPY 6,900

JAPANiCAN Travel Guide:
Cherry Blossoms - Our Top 15 Sakura Spots in Japan !

Unfortunately my work schedule got the best of me and I couldn't make it out to see Sendai's sakura myself this year. Usually we have the new hires at the office or the younger workers go out and reserve a spot for us under the trees to have an after-work party, but those plans fell through as well. I'm definitely going to enjoy next year's cherry blossoms!

Sendai's most famous sites for viewing cherry blossoms are Tsutsujigaoka Park and Nishi Park. Nishi Park has particularly made a name for itself as the place to be come cherry blossom season. I really wanted to share some photos from Nishi Park's famous sakura, but that will have to wait for another time. For now, here is a picture of the cherry blossoms outside the Sendai City Museum on the Naganuma Promenade.

Sendai City Guide

I recently got a chance to join a Kyoto 1-Day Tour by Sunrise Tours! In addition to visiting six popular Kyoto sightseeing spots, I also took advantage of the hotel pickup service and included lunch, which made me feel like I got a great bargain for only JPY 11,600!

I spent the night at the Kyoto Hotel Okura and woke up bright and early to head down to the lobby and wait for my pickup at 8:15 a.m. I was greeted by Sunrise Tours' English speaking staff, and all I had to give was my name and tour name, and I was ready to go!
*Pickup for the Kyoto & Nara 1-Day Tour is along with the Kyoto 1-Day Tour, so make sure you tell the staff the correct tour name!

The picture on the left is of the pickup counter at the New Miyako Hotel. It's directly in front of Kyoto Station, and the last pickup point before tours begin, so it's possible to step directly off of the train to Kyoto and join a Sunrise Tour! To see the full list of hotels with pickup service, click here.

First we visited Nijo-jo Castle, built over 400 years ago and former Imperial residence. Kyoto is most famous for its religious sites, like the many World Heritage temples and shrines, but Nijo-jo Castle is unique in presenting a chance to experience the history of the Tokugawa Shogunate. On Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December (or the following day should they be national holidays) the castle is closed, and the tour visits Ryoanji Temple instead. If you're interested in visiting the heart of Zen Buddhism in Kyoto, try a tour that visits Ryoanji!

Popular among Japanese and visitors to Japan alike, Kinkakuji Temple, or the Golden Pavillion, is perhaps Kyoto's most famous temple, and with good reason! On a clear day, the temple's sparkling reflection in the nearby Kyoko Pond is simply a breathtaking sight. Everyone that comes to Kyoto should see this!

The last stop of the morning was Kyoto's Imperial Palace. Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to publish any photographs from the inside! In order to pass through the earthen walls surrounding the Imperial Palace, usually it's necessary to submit an application by mail or complete a reservation form online in Japanese. Luckily, when joining a tour visiting the palace, all you have to do is fill out a short form given to you on the bus by your tour guide! (*Name, sex, age, and nationality are required fields on the form) Easy access to the normally secluded palace is another great reason to join the Kyoto 1-Day Tour! The palace is closed on Saturdays, and the tour visits Nishi-Honganji Temple instead.

Lunch was a buffet-style affair at the Kyoto Handicraft Center, home to many traditional Japanese workshops. The center is a great place to pick up daily Japanese goods, traditional items like kimonos, and other Japanese souvenirs. Plus, you can try your hand at making some items yourself!

Our first stop after lunch was Heian Jingu Shrine. Built in 1895 to commemorate 1,100 years since the beginning of Kyoto's tenure as Japan's capital, Heian Jingu's goal was to show that Kyoto truly is the heart of Japan.

Although the temple's official name is Rengejyo-in, this temple is more popularly known as Sanjyusangendo for the thirty-three (sanjyusan in Japanese) openings between the pillars of the long main hall. The temple's highlight is the 1,000 Kanon statues arranged in ten rows. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the main hallway, but this temple is definitely worth seeing with your own eyes!

The last stop of the tour never fails to amaze. Kiyomizudera Temple features my favorite view in all of Kyoto: from its main deck you can take in a sweeping unbroken view of the city laid out before you. In spring the temple's cherry blossoms are beautiful, in summer the verdant greenery refreshing, in fall the trees are ablaze in color, and in winter the snow covered grounds silent and serene. Kiyomizudera Temple only gets more beautiful with each visit.

After visiting Kiyomizudera, our tour was over. We all parted ways and took advantage of the dropoff service to hotels around Kyoto. Following the Kyoto 1-Day Tour, it's possible to join the Kyoto Maiko Night and Kyoto Special Night tours, for those who would like to explore Kyoto further.

The chance to see six popular Kyoto spots in one day makes this tour a great choice for Kyoto first-timers. Give it a shot!

Our full Shinkansen Tour lineup!

Save up to 58% on bullet train tickets and accommodation in Kyoto with the Shinkansen Tour, our bargain package exclusively for visitors to Japan!
    Click here for a first-hand report of this tour, "Kyoto by Bullet Train!"

Recently renovated in July of 2008, the Sendai Astronomical Observatory now features an amazing large-scale telescope and planetarium, perfect for all stargazers. The planetarium in particular has been given a digital makeover to really increase the impact when looking up at the night sky imagery. The 25-meter diameter of the planetarium's dome actually makes it the largest level planetarium in Japan. The Sendai Astronomical Observatory is yet another great reason to visit Sendai!

Sendai City Guide

The next Grand Sumo Tournament will begin on 10 May and last until 24 May 2009. It's been four long months since the last Grand Tournament in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In the interim, the March Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka saw Yokozuna (Grand Champion) Hakuho dominate with a perfect 15-0 record. Will he be able to take another championship? How long can he continue without losing a single match? On the other hand, oft beleaguered Yokozuna Asashoryu could not capitalize on his long-awaited 　return to form in the January tournament, and turned in a disappointing 11-4 record in March. Will he pull it together in Tokyo this May?

The wrestler to watch for May is sumo's hope for the future, Komusubi (fourth rank) Goeido. Attracting attention since his high school days, Goeido secured his promotion to Komusubi with a winning 9-6 record in Osaka last March. Goeido seems to have the support of the fans, who want to see another Japanese wrestler advance to sumo's currently foreign-dominated upper ranks. Will he be able to meet their expectations and gain a foothold to sumo's next level?

The wide world of sumo never fails to provide drama and excitement. See it for yourself this May with one of our sumo tours!

Photos taken on April 12, 2009
at Miharu, Fukushima

JAPANiCAN Travel Guide:
Cherry Blossoms - Our Top 15 Sakura Spots in Japan !

The Taki-zakura (waterfall cherry tree) in Miharu is a 12-meter tall tree with gorgeous cascading cherry blossoms.

Photos taken on April 12, 2009
at Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima

JAPANiCAN Travel Guide:
Cherry Blossoms - Our Top 15 Sakura Spots in Japan !