Autumn colours around Sendai

Hello!
I am doing an autumn trip to Tohoku this year. I've got 2 full days to spend in Sendai on 29th and 30th October. I will be visiting Yamadera on day 1. Which other place would you recommend for day 2 for seeing autumn colours in/around Sendai considering the time of the year?
Note: I don't have a JR pass or JR Tohoku East pass for these two days.
Thank You!

Naruko Gorge maybe a bit further away from Sendai but it's one of Tohoku's top autumn colours spots. Last year's report from japan-guide.com https://www.japan-guide.com/blog/koyo17/171031_naruko.html

Zuihoden in Sendai might be a good bet, since it's in a forest. The mausoleums themselves are very colorful. They would look great combined with the foliage.

I have checked WalkerPlus, Jorudan, Rurubu, and NihonKankou. The followings are Koyo destinations in Miyagi prefecture with its average Koyo peak spans at least from late October to early November. The number indicated for each destination is that of entries in the four websites above. Jorudan rates Naruko Gorge as #1 in Miyagi. Akiu as #2, Choro #4, and Abukuma #6. No bus for Akiu on your date. You may be able to visit Choro/Yokokawa, Nametsu, and Hekigyoku in a day. They all are in the Shiroishi-Shichikashuku area.

4 Naruko Kyo
Shuttle buses run between JR Naruko Onsen and Nakayamadaira Onsen in the season.
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_54955.html
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=040011
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e12863/
http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp/kouyou/searchDetail.jsp?ken__=miyagi&shi...

3 Akiu Otaki
Bus from JR Ayashi. But it runs only on weekends.
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_54953.html
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=040102
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154412/

3 Abukuma Rein Fune Kudari
15 min walk from Marumori station. There is a cruising course along Abukuma River.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154413/
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=040101
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_54958.html
http://marumori.jp/spot/funakudari/

3 Choroko
Two buses via Shichikashuku from JR Shiroishi or Shroishi-Zao. The main pleasure spot in this region. Fishing and boating on this lake.
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=040014
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154418/
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_54957.html
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/sightseeing/view/chourouko.html
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/upload_images/b20e941526cd5bda165...
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/upload_images/b2faa62c101833c6ae2...

2 Yokokawa Keikoku (Yamabiko Tsuribashi)
Two buses via Shichikashuku from JR Shiroishi or Shroishi-Zao. A 120-meter suspension bridge is the main item in this gorge. Choroko is 15 min away along the promenade.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154417/
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_J0153.html
https://www.miyagi-kankou.or.jp/theme/detail.php?id=9820
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/sightseeing/view/yamabiko.html
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/upload_images/b2faa62c101833c6ae2...

2 Nametsu Otaki
Two buses via Shichikashuku from JR Shiroishi or Shroishi-Zao. The Jorudan site shows Yamabiko Tsuribashi, but the Otaki is 10 km away.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154415/
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/spot_J0154.html
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/sightseeing/view/nametsu.html
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/upload_images/b572e2853cd7b44584e...

2 Yamanaka Shichikashuku Kaido
It means a road between Choroko and Nametsu Otaki.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e12984/
http://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp/kouyou/searchDetail.jsp?ken__=miyagi&shi...
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/upload_images/b572e2853cd7b44584e...

1 Hekigyoku Kei
Bus from JR Shiroishi. A promenade to Obara Onsen.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154414/
https://town.shichikashuku.miyagi.jp/upload_images/b20e941526cd5bda165...

1 Taniyama Shizen Koen
No bus for this nature park and Taniyama Onsen.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154410/

1 Miyagi Kyo
The forest around Nikka Whiskey Distillery. 30 min walk from JR Sakunami, or bus.
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=040201

1 Matsushima Kairantei
6 min walk from JR Matsushima-Kaigan. The light-up event was held from 28 Oct to 19 Nov in 2017.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0204e154811/

1 Onikobe Doro
It is a road from Naruko, Onikobe Onsen to Yuzawa in Akita Prefecture.
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=040012

Thank you everyone who replied, for your time and your answers!

@CDY (guest): I will be visiting Naruko gorge on 28th, on the way to Sendai. I will be reaching Naruko onsen station at 2.40pm on that day. How much time will be sufficient to explore this place?

@Gregalor: Thanks for this option. This place looks like close to where I will be staying in Sendai.

@Luisjp: Thanks Lousjp for the extensive list of options. I am still exploring all the options in that list, and also will have a watch at the light-up timings at Matsushima this year.

If you arrived at 2:40 pm, I do not think you could finish the Naruko Gorge on that day.

This is the current map of Naruko Gorge.
http://www.city.osaki.miyagi.jp/index.cfm/24,1166,c,html/1166/20180419...

The red Narukokyo Promenade opens only from 9:00 to 16:00. Its parts A and B are separated. You need to take a shuttle bus or walk on Route 47 (black). No pedestrian allows coming in Naruko Tunnel. You need to make a detour (brown dashed). It would take 50 min only to walk on the green Ofukasawa Promenade lasting 2.2 km. Its north edge is coincident with Basho's Oku no Hosomichi, shown as the thin brown line. There are also seven observatory decks shown as black squares.

Anyway, I think the best timing for Koyo is around noon with the maximum sunlight. Although, some slopes are facing toward the east or west, admitting a morning or evening visit.

Thanks Luisjp for the map and also for translating from Japanese to English :)

I have got below doubts after looking at the map:
1. Will I have sufficient time to visit part A, the viewpoints and Ofukasawa Promenade (green trail) if I reach Nakayamadaira station at 2.40pm?
2.
"If you arrived at 2:40 pm, I do not think you could finish the Naruko Gorge on that day"
How much time would you suggest to spend at Naruko Gorge normally see in its entirety, for a slow, leisurely visit?
3. Are there any lockers to store luggage at Nakayamadaira Station?

》How much time would you suggest to spend at Naruko Gorge normally see in its entirety, for a slow, leisurely visit?

It has been some years since we visited Naruko Gorge. Think took us like most of the morning which included photo and refreshment stops just to leisurely cover Ofukazawa Bridge area and the red Trail A.

You may have just enough time to cover Trail A provided not too many photo stops. If short of time, that spectacular scenery of the Ofukazawa Bridge can be viewed near the resthouse.

Also it's quite a distant walk from Nakayamadaira Station if your arrival don't coincide with the bus service. So that will take up some precious viewing time.

》Are there any lockers to store luggage at Nakayamadaira Station?

Don't recall seeing any (maybe I am wrong) as it's a very small station with a small waiting room and toilet.

JR Nakayamadaira Onsen station has nothing.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=1115

JR Naruko Onsen station has nothing but a tourist information counter.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=1131

These are all the four timetable for JR Nakayamadaira Onsen station. I could not find any at 14:40.
http://www.jreast-timetable.jp/1808/timetable/tt1115/1115010.html
http://www.jreast-timetable.jp/1808/timetable/tt1115/1115020.html
http://www.jreast-timetable.jp/1808/timetable/tt1115/1115011.html
http://www.jreast-timetable.jp/1808/timetable/tt1115/1115021.html

Anyway, this is the timetable for a special Koyo bus for last year. Note it did not run every day. No info yet for this year.
http://www.naruko.gr.jp/file-timetable/bus_momiji.pdf

If you arrived at 14:40 at JR Nakayamadaira, the next bus is at 15:13. You would arrive at Naruko Gorge at 15:18. You would have 42 min to finish the part A before the due time 16:00. The sunset is around 16:50. You may do the green part with this 50 min. If you could take a bus from JR Naruko, you could arrive at Naruko Gorge at 15:03. You gain 15 min more for some viewpoints. So, I think it could be possible.

I think most visitors with a car spend two hours on site. Leisurely tourists would like to take a double time, four hours. To visit all the site shown on the map, a full day. I mean spending a night either at Naruko or Nakayamadaira Onsen. After breakfast, visit the site, walk along, have lunch, walk along, visit Nihon Kokenshikan, Naruko Park and so on. Get back to the Onsen ryokan before getting dark.

Unfortunately, the current Naruko Gorge Promenade is far from complete. Before the heavy rain, the parts A and B were connected. Now in the repair phase. So, I would not follow the above scenario now. But still, I try to visit there around noon. In a sense, its current situation is best to do Naruko Gorge as a day trip from Sendai. 2 hr from Sendai, 4 hr there, and 2 hr back to Sendai. If you could start the day very early, you may consider Matsushima on the return.

The tourist information counter at JR Naruko Onsen might offer luggage storage this year. Do keep an eye on their website. Anyway, you need to get an updated bus timetable from them.

》Are there any lockers to store luggage at Nakayamadaira Station?
Don't recall seeing any (maybe I am wrong) as it's a very small station with a small waiting room and toilet.
--> Ok, maybe I will try to store in either Sendai or Furukawa station.

If you arrived at 14:40 at JR Nakayamadaira, the next bus is at 15:13. You would arrive at Naruko Gorge at 15:18. You would have 42 min to finish the part A before the due time 16:00. The sunset is around 16:50. You may do the green part with this 50 min. If you could take a bus from JR Naruko, you could arrive at Naruko Gorge at 15:03. You gain 15 min more for some viewpoints. So, I think it could be possible.
--> So, arriving at 14.40 or in the noon will be too rushed, from the estimated times that you have mentioned.

In a sense, its current situation is best to do Naruko Gorge as a day trip from Sendai. 2 hr from Sendai, 4 hr there, and 2 hr back to Sendai. If you could start the day very early, you may consider Matsushima on the return.
--> I am now considering doing this as a separate day trip from Sendai, with morning at Naruko gorge and evening at Matsushima. Thanks for your tip on including Matsushima. I am dropping the plan to arrive in the noon, as it feels very rushed. Where can we check when is the lightup at temples at Matsushima this year?

Thank you again for helping me out patiently for all my queries :)

Matsushima Light-up (2018): 17:30 - 21:00 for 27 Oct - 25 Nov
http://www.matsushima-kanko.com/event/detail.php?id=130

The information for Naruko in 2018 has not yet announced. That would show up in the followings.
http://www.naruko.gr.jp/access/
http://www.naruko.gr.jp/file-kouyo-jyoho/kouyo-jyoho.htm
http://www.naruko.gr.jp/file-kouyo-jyoho/naruko-kyo-gorge-walking-map....

They have coin lockers at JR Furukawa.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=1388

I suggest Matsushima in the afternoon, but it would also take up a full day. It is near Sendai. You may go back if you miss some more.

In any case, I would visit Naruko in the morning. The most famous part faces the east. In the afternoon, it could be in shade and lose the color.

Matsushima Light-up (2018): 17:30 - 21:00 for 27 Oct - 25 Nov
http://www.matsushima-kanko.com/event/detail.php?id=130
--> Thanks!

In any case, I would visit Naruko in the morning. The most famous part faces the east. In the afternoon, it could be in shade and lose the color.
--> Excellent. My itinerary (with slight changes to Naruko Gorge visit) allows me to visit in the morning time only.

I suggest Matsushima in the afternoon, but it would also take up a full day.
--> Sure, fill follow the same that you suggested. Thank you!