Sendai is a fantastic town. People are really cool and friendly. The best seasons are Summer and Autumn. Winter is not bad. The Christmas markets should provide more artisanal stuff than junk food. But the illuminations are great.

There are plenty of attractions and gourmet food in the city, but less crowded compared to Kanto or Kansai. With the Sendai Maguroto pass, the transportation in Sendai and surounding area, such as Yamadera, Matsushima, Shiraishi, and Akiu, is very convenient for me.

The city of Sendai is charming, easy to navigate (with two major subway lines, going (a) east and west, and (b) north and south-- the fare is usually under US $2.00; as well as the extensive bus lines--each bus ride costs about 200 yen--less than one US dollar), and relatively compact in size. It is not only known for its history, good museums and universities, but for its proximity to Matsushima and Shiogama (that would make an excellent day trip). The city of Sendai has plenty of parks near the city center (all within the walking distance, or a short bus ride), and some of the major boulevards are covered with magnificent trees. You must find out (from your friends or the hotel desk) where to go and dine, as Sendai is known for its abundant blessings of nature, both of the sea and the land, which translates into fresh sea food and nourishing vegetables and delicious meat. My advice, if you want to make a memorable visit to Sendai: make sure to select a very comfortable hotel (and not a business hotel). It will make a qualitative difference to your experience of the city. Also, excellent are the good hot-springs spas nearby, such as Akiu and Sakunami. Some of the major "onsen hotels" run their free shuttle service from Sendai Station. To really appreciate Sendai, you need to talk to the ordinary shop keepers and street sellers, as they retain the warm spirit of old Sendai, not the new "supersized chain-store mentality." Once you find the niche, you will expand your sense of exploration .... into the heart of the city and the entire North Eastern part of Japan.

There is a vibe about Sendai that is youthful and exuberant. It has a lot to offer and is a relaxed city. There is a good music scene here, pretty varied from my limited exploration. A lot of pop / idol-type of things are going on, which is quite interesting. Hanging around, chilling out, meeting friends on the raised walkways by the front of the station seems to be the thing to do of an early evening for young Japanese people, and as such has an easy-going vibe. Indeed, there are occasional pop-up performances from groups which adds a nice sound to the evening. If you like a good walk, why not stroll on up to the ruins of Sendai castle, which is on a hill just outside the main city area. It is the perfect distance for a good bit of exercise, but won't leave you exhausted. The view from the castle grounds is delightful, but don't expect much castle!

Sendai is a great place to base yourself when exploring Tohoku. It is a day trip away from amazing places like Mt.Zao, Yamadera, and Matsushima. The city itself is also beautiful with lots of greenery just outside of the city core and plenty of amazing places to eat. The people of Sendia are, in general, much more friendly than Tokyo and more happy to talk story with you over a beer or some food. Getting to Sendai is surprisingly fast from Tokyo, only taking 1.5 hours on the Hayabusa Shinkansen, and it cost less than I was expecting as well.

I sadly only got to visit around the station area both alone, with a friend and some locals and it was the highlight of my trip. The huge shopping area starting from the station extends for many blocs and has everything you could ever want from arcades to second hand shops to all sorts of restaurants and cafes. The malls next to the station have all your sort of branded shops like Gundam Base and Pokemon Center. The nightlife is pretty nice and the few places we hit while wandering with a friend from Sendai were very tasty and everyone's super friendly!