What's on in Sendai, Japan through the year

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Zao snow monsters

  1 Jan – 5 Mar · usuallyIce season

  Rime freezes onto the firs on the Zao ridge, about two hours west, until they are unrecognisable lumps. Best in February, and the ropeway runs night viewings when the weather allows.

• Festival

  Donto-sai

  14 JanMajor festival

  New Year decorations are burned at Osaki Hachimangu on 14 January and a procession of men walks to it through the cold in loincloths, carrying bells. One night, fixed date, properly cold. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Zao snow monsters (1 Jan – 5 Mar (usually))

Busy — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Zao snow monsters (1 Jan – 5 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Cherry blossom, Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

• Nature

  Cherry blossom

  8–25 Apr · usuallyCrowded

  Tohoku opens about a fortnight after Tokyo, which is the whole argument for coming north in April. Tsutsujigaoka park and the castle hill above the city are the two obvious ones.

Peak crowds — Sendai Aoba Matsuri, Golden Week in Japan

• Festival

  Sendai Aoba Matsuri

  15–20 May · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The third weekend of May: sparrow dancing through the centre on the Saturday, floats and samurai on the Sunday. Smaller and far easier to get near than Tanabata. Source ↗

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Peak crowds — Sendai Tanabata Festival, Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan

• Festival

  Sendai Tanabata Festival

  6–8 AugMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Three fixed days when the arcades are hung with paper streamers to the floor and two million people walk under them. Hotel rooms in the city are gone months out; Matsushima is the fallback. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Pageant of Starlight

  10–31 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New Year

  The zelkova avenues on Jozenji-dori are wired with lights for about three weeks in December. It is a walk down a street rather than a market, and it is free. Source ↗