Introduction to Sendai, 04

The largest city in the Tohoku region, SENDAI is a sprawling but pleasant place, with broad, tree-lined avenues and a lively downtown district. Though often just regarded as a staging post on the way to Matsushima Bay, the city's castle ruins, with their local history museum, and the ornate mausoleum of Sendai's revered founder, the daimyoDaté Masamune, are worth a brief stop. During the Star Festival, the Tanabata Matsuri (Aug 6–8), the city centre is awash with thousands of bamboo poles festooned with colourful paper tassels, poems and prayers, celebrating the only day in the year – weather permitting – when the two astral lovers, Vega the weaver and Altair the cowherd, can meet.

Information by Rough Guides

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