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The Tohoku Shinkansen, Sendai Subway and Loople Sendai loop bus resumed service along their entire lines on April 29. Sendai Airport, which was hit by the tsunami, resumed handling passenger flights in mid April, and trains to the airport resumed service on October 1.
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How to travel between Sendai and Tokyo
By shinkansen
Sendai is connected with Tokyo by the JR Tohoku Shinkansen. Hayate and komachi trains take 100 minutes to travel between Sendai and Tokyo and require seat reservations. Yamabiko trains have some unreserved seating and take about two hours. The one way journey costs approximately 10,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass.
By local train
By local trains along the JR Tohoku Line, the one way trip from Tokyo to Sendai takes about seven hours and typically involves about three to four transfers of trains. The regular fare is a relatively expensive 5780 yen, however, with a Seishun 18 Kippu you can do the trip for as little as 2300 yen.
By highway bus
Multiple bus companies offer direct highway bus service between Tokyo and Sendai during both the day and night. Travel duration is about 5.5 hours. Regular one way fares are around 5600 yen, however, discount fares are usually available from around 3000 yen through operators such as Willer Express. If used effectively, the Japan Bus Pass can also reduce the cost for the bus trip to around 3000 yen.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
The most convenient way to travel around Sendai as a tourist is by Loople Sendai, a loop bus connecting most of the city's sights. Sendai also has some JR train lines, a subway line and a bus network (operated by Sendai City and Miyagi Kotsu).
The Loople Sendai is a tourist specific bus service that runs in a one-hour, clockwise loop around the city. It stops at Zuihoden, Sendai City Museum, Aoba Castle and other sightseeing spots and departs from Sendai Station bus stop #5-3 every 20-30 minutes from 9:00 to 16:00. A Loople day pass costs 600 yen, otherwise one ride costs 250 yen. The Loople day pass is not valid on regular city buses.
From Sendai Station, the JR Senzan Line runs north of the city center and provides access to Rinnoji Temple, while the JR Senseki Line runs to Matsushima, 35 kilometers northeast of the city center. The one way trip to Matsushima takes 40 minutes and costs 400 yen.
The Sendai Subway Line runs in a north-south orientation through Sendai's downtown and also serves JR Sendai Station. The subway is convenient for access to the Ichibancho Arcade but surprisingly irrelevant to the tourist, otherwise.
Sendai Airport is located about 20 kilometers southeast of the city center and can be accessed directly by train (15-25 minutes, 630 yen) or bus (40 minutes, 700 yen) from Sendai Station.
A convenient pass for visitors to the Greater Sendai area is the Sendai Marugoto Pass. The pass costs 2500 yen and provides two consecutive days of unlimited use of the Loople bus, the subway, most Sendai City buses, certain Miyagi Kotsu buses and JR trains in and around Sendai, including the trains to Matsushima, Yamadera and the airport and the buses to nearby hot spring resorts.
Loople Sendai
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