Sendai Station
Sendai Station is a major station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo. Servicing the largest city in the Tohoku region, Sendai is a hub station with multiple train lines and facilities. On this page you will find the following information:
— Train Lines / Services to Sendai Station
— Rail Passes Covering Travel to Sendai
— Purchasing & Activating a JR Pass
— Sendai City Tourist Information
Sendai Station is easy to reach thanks to the Tohoku Shinkansen running from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori Station. Some services on the Akita Shinkansen branch line also operate from Sendai while there are also Tohoku Shinkansen services that run onto the Hokkaido Shinkansen line and onto Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station. Multiple local lines run from Sendai to regional destinations including the Sendai Airport Line.
It is important to note that this page is intended for international visitors who will primarily be interested in using the shinkansen and does not include complete information about all services and facilities at the station.
TRAIN LINES / SERVICES TO SENDAI STATION
Sendai is serviced by multiple lines of which the Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen and Hokkaido Shinkansen will be of most interest to international visitors:
TOHOKU SHINKANSEN
Running from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori Station, the Tohoku Shinkansen is the longest line of Japan’s legendary ‘Bullet Train’ network. Multiple services run along the line, of which the ‘Hayabusa’, ‘Yamabiko’ and ‘Komachi’ services stop at Sendai – making it easy to get to. Stops on the line include:
Tokyo / Ueno / Omiya / Oyama / Utsunomiya / Nasu-Shiobara / Shin-Shirakawa / Koriyama / Fukushima / Shiroishi-Zao / Sendai / Furukawa / Kurikoma-Kogen / Ichinoseki / Mizusawa-Esashi / Kitakami / Shin-Hanamaki / Morioka / Iwate-Numakunai / Ninohe / Hachinohe / Shichinohe-Towada / Shin-Aomori
The earliest service bound for Sendai departs Tokyo just after 06:00 with the latest service departing Tokyo at 21:44. Shinkansen services operate from Platforms 11 to 14 at Sendai Station. Travelling from Tokyo to Sendai takes between 90 to 145 minutes (depending on which service you choose) and costs: non-reserved JPY10,560 / reserved JPY11,410 / Green Car JPY15,070 / Gran Class JPY17,9000*. For more detailed information about using the Tohoku Shinkansen including explanation of the services, fares and timetables, please use the link above.
AKITA SHINKANSEN
The Akita Shinkansen is a regional line branching-off from the main Tohoku Shinkansen line at Morioka Station and running onto Akita Station. ‘Komachi’ service run from / to Tokyo, first along the Tohoku line and then onto the Akita line without the need to transfer at Morioka. All of these services stop at Sendai Station, effectively connecting it to the Akita Shinkansen. There many services each day taking between 135 to 175 minutes (depending on which service you choose) and costs: reserved JPY10,460 / Green Car JPY14,120*. All seating on Komachi services is reservation only.
HOKKAIDO SHINKANSEN
The Hokkaido Shinkansen is another regional line continuing on from the main Tohoku Shinkansen line at Shin-Aomori Station, running onto Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokkaido. ‘Hayabusa’ services run from / to Tokyo, with some continuing on from Shin-Aomori onto the Hokkaido Shinkansen line. All of these services stop at Sendai Station, effectively connecting it to the Hokkaido Shinkansen. There many services each day taking between 145 to 200 minutes (depending on which service you choose) and costs: reserved JPY17,950 / Green Car JPY24,410 / Gran Class JPY28,610*. All seating on these services is reservation only.
OTHER TRAIN LINES
Multiple other regional lines operate to and from the station providing access to many destinations including Sendai Airport:
Sendai Airport Line runs to the airport in around 25 minutes / JPY660. Services run frequently throughout the day, starting around 05:45 and running until around 23:10.
Tohoku Main Line bound for Iwakiri, Rifu, Shiogama and Kogota; along with Iwanuma, Shiroishi and Fukushima.
Senseki Tohoku Line bound for Ishinomaki; along with Aoba-dori and Matsushima Kagigan.
Joban Line bound for Watari, Soma and Haranomachi.
Senzan Line bound for Ayashi, Sakunami and Yamagata.
*All prices are valid as of March 2022 but subject to change.
RAIL PASSES COVERING TRAVEL TO SENDAI
There is no escaping the fact that travel using the shinkansen and other rapid services is expensive. Given the speed and distances covered by these trains, travellers should think of them much like taking a flight, with tickets accordingly priced. International visitors to Japan have the option of purchasing one of several passes which allow for unlimited use of the Tohoku, Akita and Hokkaido Shinkansen along with numerous other services around Japan, including the:
JAPAN RAIL (JR) PASS
Covering all 9 shinkansen lines in Japan and many other train services, the JR Pass is a great option for visitors planning to use the shinkansen more than a handful of times and/or travel large distances. Travelers have the option of 7, 14 and 21-day passes covering either Ordinary or Ordinary and Green Cars. The JR Pass allows for use of any service on the Tohoku / Akita / Hokkaido Shinkansen line at no additional cost but noting that should holders wish to have a reserved seat, they are still required to book a seat at the ticket office (at no additional cost).
PURCHASING & ACTIVATING A JR PASS
Passes can be purchased via the official website or via a JR-affiliated sales office. Once you completed payment, you will receive an exchange order. This is a proof of payment and looks almost like a flight ticket with your personal details, type of pass, and validity (three months from the date of issue). It is important to note that the exchange order is not your actual pass and will need to be exchanged for your pass once in Japan. Whatever you do, do not lose the exchange order and prioritise exchanging it for your pass when you arrive.
Before using a pass, it must first be exchanged/activated. Exchanging/activating the pass can however be done at numerous offices located at airports – including Narita Airport and Haneda Airport in Tokyo – and major train stations throughout Japan. If you have the time, we recommend activating your pass while at the airport. If you’re planning to do so at Sendai Station, you can do so at the: JR EAST Travel Service Center: open daily from 08:30 to 19:00.
Passes can also be activated at these stations on the Tohoku Shinkansen line: Tokyo Station / Fukushima Station / Morioka Station / Shin-Aomori Station. Passes can also be exchanged and activated at Akita Station on the Akita Shinkansen line and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line.
To exchange/activate your pass you will need your exchange order and passport. Make sure you allow adequate time to exchange and activate your pass if you are intending to use it on the same day or do so a day or two before you plan to start using it (you can always nominate a later activation date). Once you have your activated pass you are free to ride however you can’t insert your pass into the ticket gates. Simply walk through the side booth (permanently attended by station staff) and show your pass. You will be waved through and you can make your way to the platform.
SENDAI CITY TOURIST INFORMATION
Open daily from 08:30 to 19:00 (09:00 to 17:00 from Dec.31 to Jan.3), the Sendai City Tourist Information Center is located on the second-floor of the station and has English-speaking staff on-hand to assist with any transport, sightseeing and accommodation enquiries. Other languages such as Chinese and Korean may be available however this cannot be guaranteed. Free WiFi is available inside.
TOHOKU SKI RESORTS
Though they might not be as well-known as the resorts of Nagano, Niigata and Hokkaido, the ski resorts of Tohoku offer some excellent skiing and snowboarding and a different atmosphere to the more developed and international resorts of Japan. Our ‘Tohoku Ski Resorts’ page has everything you need to know including all the stats, facts, highlights and accommodation for Hoshino Resorts Alts Bandai, Zao Onsen Ski Resort and Appi Kogen Ski Resort.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO JAPAN
Sendai Station is just one part of Japan’s fantastic rail network. Unfathomable in its size and efficiency, moving around the country by train is easy and comfortable opening-up all regions of Japan for exploration. Our ‘Plan Your Visit’ page has everything you need to know about visiting Japan – from tips on the best time to travel, times to avoid, entering and exiting the country, money matters, staying connected, accommodation, staying safe and healthy and plenty more to ensure that you get the most out of your time here.
