Sendai: A Special Place

The university in autumn

Sendai is a very special place. What makes Sendai a brilliant place to experience is that it does not have too much of everything or too little of anything. Just perfect and soothing for a good student life, and a good visit. It is for certain not in danger of radioactive upsets, a misconception which came into existence after the Fukushima nuclear leak. Getting to and around the city is not a problem even if your Japanese language skills are zilch. The buses make announcements in the English language too. To my surprise, unlike busy cosmopolitan cities like Tokyo where the people are more than uptight, the people in Sendai are exceedingly friendly and accommodating, which is what we know of the Japanese people in history. Attempt to learn the Japanese word for saying thank you before you arrive here. Arigatō gozaimasu. It will be very helpful. Although most locals prefer to communicate in the Japanese language, the irony is that I stumbled into many shops and restaurants playing western music in the background. If you ever find yourself lost someplace, ask for help, since the locals will go out of their way to direct you.

First snow of the year

The economics of the city habitually rotates around Sendai Eki, or Sendai Station. Most of the trains and buses start and end their journey from there. If you enjoy walking, this city is perfect. It has many coffee shops, book shops, beautiful gardens, lakes, and rivers within the city. Cycling is a common mode of transport. It is very easy to get away from the city to nearby places like Matsushima, where you get to see the most beautiful sunrise, Yamagata, to experience the onsens (hot springs), paragliding, and skiing. There are more beautiful regions around Tohoku to visit. Sendai is beautiful throughout the year, with the snowfall, cherry blossoms, and brown autumns. It also has the famous Minami Sanriku Kinkazan Quasi-National Park. You will barely encounter dustbins within Sendai, however you will barely encounter garbage too... the secret is to carry your garbage home and not to accidentally spill it on the road. :-). You will find the public bathrooms very enduring and shocking if you are not use to toilets with electronic buttons next to you. When you press any of them, they will perform your royal duties for you. Over all, if you do visit Japan, Tohoku (Northeast) of Japan is a region you should consider. You will find lots of information on the internet.


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Text and photos by
Samantha Marbaniang