10 Best Natural Wonders in Sendai

Located in the upper part of Natori River, which runs through Sendai City, Akiu Great Falls is a truly massive waterfall. You can get there in less than an hour from the city centre by car.

Six metres wide and with a 55-metre drop, the cascading water makes a thunderous roar. As you approach the waterfall basin from Fudotakibashi Bridge, the misty spray of the waterfall splashes down on you, creating a spectacular sight. After you’ve taken in the breathtaking view of the waterfall, why not try some sutra-copying at the nearby Akiu Great Falls Fudoson Temple? (Fees apply and you’ll need to reserve in advance.)

Rairaikyo Gorge lies where the Natori River narrows as it flows around the source of the Akiu Onsen hot springs.

The gorge runs for about 1 kilometre and is 20 metres deep, stretching upstream and downstream from the Nozokibashi bridge at the entrance to the hot spring resort. On the downstream side, a 700-metre promenade leads you along the gorge, passing by uniquely named rocks and waterfalls such as Hachiken Iwa (meaning “a rock with a length of 14.5 meters"), Shiguretaki ("drizzling waterfall"), and Ten-ono Iwa ("a rock of heaven's axe"). The scenery is even more spectacular when the water surface reflects the colours of fresh greenery and autumn leaves.

Okama is a volcanic crater lake nestled in the centre of the majestic Zao Mountains. It’s name comes from its circular cauldron-like shape.

Embraced by rugged crater walls, the emerald green surface of the lake is shrouded in a mysterious atmosphere. Since the dawn of history, 26 eruptions have been recorded here, the most recently in 1895. No living organisms inhabit the lake due to its highly acidic waters. As the water changes colour in response to the way it receives the sunlight, it’s also known as the “Lake of 5 Colours". The weather is changeable due to its location at an altitude of about 1,500 metres, so be sure to bring warm clothes and rain gear, even in summer.

Dainohara Forest Park is one of Japan’s 10 Meiji Centennial Memorial Parks. The park covers an area a bit larger than the entire Tokyo Disneyland® site.

Take a stroll along the promenades through the park and marvel at the cherry blossoms in spring, the fresh greenery in summer, the changing leaves in autumn, and the crunching of ice needles in winter. Here you’ll find hexagonal flowerbeds, a large pond with water lilies in bloom, a grassy plaza with a sculpture of pigeons, and an elevated square giving panoramic views of the park. It’s full of nature, too, with wild birds chirping and squirrels in the trees.

Naruko Gorge lies on the border between Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures. The cliffs, the tallest of which drops about 100 metres, stretch for about 2.5 kilometres.

Maples, Mongolian oaks, and other broad-leaved trees grow thickly around the steep white cliffs, which are marked with oddly-shaped stones and rocks. This site is particularly famous for its beautiful autumn foliage that appears from mid-October to early November. The panoramic view from the gazebo at the Naruko Gorge Rest House is absolutely spectacular. Nearby are the Naruko Gorge Trail and the Ofukasawa Trail.

Matsushima Bay is an inlet in the middle of Sendai Bay. The bay is dotted with some 260 islands of various sizes, lush with Japanese black pine and red pine trees.

The beauty of the place is so stunning that even Matsuo Basho, one of Japan's leading haiku poets, was left speechless. You can take a tour boat from the port if you want to see the pretty islands up-close. Matsushima is also a famous moon-viewing spot, where the waves shine bright gold under the moonlight for about 2 hours starting from moonrise on days before and after a full moon. When the moon is almost directly overhead, waves in silver fill the ocean, creating lovely shades of islands and pine trees.

Standing at 1,175 metres, Izumigatake is a peak that has a special place in the hearts of Sendai citizens. It forms part of the Funagata Mountains. The name of the mountain refers to the izumi (spring water) here that acts as a source for ponds and rivers.

Even if you’re visiting as a family with children, you should be able to climb Izumigatake quite easily thanks to its gentle terrain, but be sure to come prepared and check out the route beforehand. Four trails are available, each of which take about 2 hours to reach the summit (plus 2 hours to get back to base). Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with magnificent views of the Zao Mountains, and even Sendai Bay, as well as the city of Sendai. During winter, the Izumigatake Ski Area and Spring Valley Izumi Kogen Ski Area are also open.

Homei Shijuhachitaki Falls is a series of large and small cascades, nestled upstream on the Hirose River that flows through the city of Sendai. This is one of Sendai's little-known waterfall sites, with staircase-like falls cascading through the trees and making white foam.

It’s named after the beautiful rumbling sound of the waterfalls, which evokes the cries of the legendary Houou (phoenix). The most famous of the 48 waterfalls here is the Homei Otaki, which is about 25 metres high and 10 metres wide. It looks out over the 520-metre-high Mt. Kamakura and is a particularly popular spot for photography.

Thousand Cherry Trees on Shiroishi River Bank is a cherry blossom viewing spot spanning the towns of Ogawara and Shibata, about a 30-minute train ride from Sendai. It’s been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites, and for good reason.

More than 1,200 cherry trees bloom on the banks of the 8-kilometre-long Shiroishigawa River. The combination of the clear blue of the Shiroishi River, the pink of the blooming cherry blossom trees, and the pristine white of the remaining snow on the Zao Mountains is a sight to behold. During the peak blooming season from early to mid-April, the JR Tohoku Honsen Line between Ogawara Station and Funaoka Station is slowed down so that passengers can fully appreciate the blossoms from the train windows.