Outline

Sendai Castle(Aoba-jo) now known as the Site of Sendai Castle was built for the family of Date Masamune, the founder of Sendai. The castle is located approximately 130m above sea level and was built to hold a natural stronghold. It is said that Date Masamune dared not to build a castle tower to avert precaution from Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Shogun. Unfortunately, all that remains of the original site are the stone walls and the restored "Sumiyagura" corner castle turret. If you stand infront of the statue of Masamune atop his horse, you can see the city at the same level as he did during his ambition to rule Japan. The reconstruction work of Aoba-jo can be seen through computer graphics at the Aoba-jo Memorial Museum. The monuments of Doi Bansui and Shimazaki Toson, who are both closely related to Sendai are also located around the castle. In the Summer of 2003, the castle was designated as a national historical spot.

Highlights

The large tract of land that surrounds the site of Sendai Castle is Aobayama Park. From the main enclosure, you can view downtown Sendai and the Pacific Ocean.

Information

[Telephone] Aoba-jo Memorial Museum (including carpark): 022-227-7077
Park Office: 022-225-7211 (Administration Section, Construction Dept. of Aoba-ku, Sendai)
[Fax] Aoba-jo Memorial Museum (including carpark): 022-227-0249
[Address] 1 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan 980-0862
[Hours] Aoba-jo Memorial Museum 9:00-17:00 (December-March: -16:00) free entrance [Closed] None
[Off-season] None
[Access] From JR Sendai Sta. by taxi 15 min. By bus (Loople-Sendai) go to bus pool #15-3 to 'Sendai-jo-ato'
[Estimated tour time]40 min. (Aoba-jo Memorial Museum: 25 min.)
[Admission fee] Aoba-jo Memorial Museum adult 700, junior and high school students 500, elementary school students 300/ Groups (20 people or more): adult 630, junior and high school students 450, elementary school students 270
[Booking for groups] Not required
[Parking (buses)] 30 cars 1,200 an hour Thereafter, for every 30 min. 600
[Parking]150 cars 400 an hour Thereafter, for every 30 min. 200
[Food and Drinks] Available (Aoba-jo Memorial Museum)
[Shop] available (Aoba-jo Memorial Museum)
[Souvenirs recommended] Not available
[Special services] Guide dogs permitted
[Volunteer tour guide] Not available
[Education programs for students on school trips] Not available