Wat er het hele jaar speelt in Sendai, Japan

Druk — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, schoolvakanties in 5 van de markten die de plek vullen

• Natuur

  Zao snow monsters

  1 jan – 5 mrt · meestalIJsseizoen

  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 janLicht & vuur

  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. Bron ↗

Rustig — schoolvakanties in 2 van de markten die de plek vullen, een van de slechtste maanden qua weer

In februari begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Zao snow monsters (1 jan – 5 mrt (meestal))

Druk — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

In maart begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Zao snow monsters (1 jan – 5 mrt (meestal))

Topdrukte — Cherry blossom, Golden Week

• Natuur

  Cherry blossom

  8–25 apr · meestalDruk

  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.

• Feestdag

  Golden Week

  29 apr – 6 meiDrukBoek vroeg

  A run of public holidays from 29 April to 5 May when much of Japan travels at once: trains, flights and hotels fill, rates peak and popular sights are crowded. Book well ahead or come the week after. Bron ↗

Topdrukte — Golden Week, Sendai Aoba Matsuri

• Festival

  Sendai Aoba Matsuri

  15–20 mei · meestalReligieus feestDruk

  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. Bron ↗

Nog steeds bezig: Golden Week (29 apr – 6 mei)

Druk — schoolvakanties in 3 van de markten die de plek vullen, een van de beste maanden qua weer

In juni begint er niets nieuws.

Topdrukte — Shiogama Minato Matsuri, Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan

• Festival

  Shiogama Minato Matsuri

  19–20 julGroot festivalDruk

  Shiogama, under half an hour from Sendai, carries its shrine down the steep stairs on Marine Day and sails it round Matsushima Bay with a fleet of dragon and phoenix boats; fireworks light the bay the night before. Bron ↗

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

• Festival

  Sendai Tanabata Festival

  6–8 augGroot festivalDrukBoek vroeg

  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. Bron ↗

Druk — Jozenji StreetJazz Festival, schoolvakanties in 3 van de markten die de plek vullen

• Festival

  Jozenji StreetJazz Festival

  12–13 sepMuziekfestivalDruk

  On the second weekend of September hundreds of bands play free sets on street corners and in parks across central Sendai, from jazz to rock and gospel. Jozenji-dori is the heart of it and hotels book up for the weekend. Bron ↗

Topdrukte — Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival, Naruko Gorge autumn colour

• Festival

  Michinoku YOSAKOI Festival

  5–15 okt · meestalGroot festivalDruk

  An early-October weekend of team yosakoi dancing: more than 150 groups compete on stages around the city, then all parade along Jozenji-dori on the second day. Free to watch, with paid seats for the main stage. Bron ↗

• Natuur

  Naruko Gorge autumn colour

  15 okt – 10 nov · meestalDruk

  Naruko Gorge, a long day trip northwest of Sendai, usually turns from mid-October with the peak around the end of the month. Seasonal buses run from Naruko-Onsen station and the viewpoint by the Ofukazawa bridge gets crowded at weekends. Bron ↗

Druk — Naruko Gorge autumn colour

In november begint er niets nieuws.

Nog steeds bezig: Naruko Gorge autumn colour (15 okt – 10 nov (meestal))

Druk — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, schoolvakanties in 4 van de markten die de plek vullen

• Festival

  Pageant of Starlight

  10–31 dec · meestalKerst & nieuwjaar

  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. Bron ↗