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Sendai City Museum

仙台市博物館 | Sendai City Museum

Exploring the history and culture of samurai-era Sendai and beyond

Photo by Sendai City Museum

Photo by Miyagi Prefecture Sightseeing Division

Photo by Sendai City Museum

Photo by Sendai City Museum

  • Justin Velgus

    Writer

    Last Update
    February 16, 2020

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  • *NOTICE: The Sendai City Museum is closed for renovation as of October 1, 2021. It is scheduled to reopen in April 2024.*

    Four hundred years ago, the Sendai Domain was founded by warlord Masamune Date, known as the fearsome “One-Eyed Dragon.” More than just a warrior, his love of European fashion, arts, calligraphy, and tea ceremony were also legendary.

    Mirroring the impressive artistic and cultural legacy left by Masamune and his successors, Sendai City Museum is half art museum and half history museum. The museum opened in 1961 at the former third compound of Sendai Castle to display 97,000 pieces of weaponry, pottery, armor, and art donated by the Date family. The main exhibitions are divided into several different sections: Early Sendai, Date Masamune’s Road to Sendai, Sendai Castle, the Sendai Han (about territory and warriors), Life in the Castle Town, and Steps to a Modern History.

    Highlights of the museum include Masamune’s Date’s original jet-black suit of armor Gomai-do Gusoku, and artifacts related to Hasekura Tsunenaga (1570–1621). Though the suit of armor on display is usually a replica, the original is made available for public viewing on a few special occasions throughout the year. A portrait of Tsunenaga and his certificate of Roman citizenship tell the story of the ambitious trade mission launched between Sendai and Europe. In addition to the permanent exhibitions, there are also temporary themed exhibitions on rotation throughout the year.

    Visitors often forget to enjoy the outside garden area. Don’t miss it! There you’ll find an ancient tea house, castle remains, a statue dedicated to Chinese literary master Lu Xun who lived in Sendai, and the original Date Masamune bust which predates the statue currently crowning the Site of Sendai Castle.

    WEBSITEhttps://www.city.sendai.jp/museum/museum/index.html

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Details

ADDRESS

26 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi-ken 980-0862

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

By subway: 8-minute walk from South Exit 1 of International Center Station (Sendai Tozai Subway Line)

By Loople Sendai bus: 20-minute ride from Sendai Station. At Sendai Station West Exit Stop 16, board Loople Sendai bus. Alight at bus stop 5, Sendai City Museum/Sendai International Center. Timetable here (English).

ADMISSION

¥460 adults & college students, ¥230 high school students, ¥110 children ages elementary to junior high

CREDIT CARDS

Yes (at museum shop & restaurant only)

LANGUAGES

Limited English, Korean, & Chinese

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

Yes

HOURS

9:00–16:45 (last entry 16:15)

CLOSED DAYS

Mondays (except national holidays)
The day after a national holiday
The new New Year's holiday period December 28–January 4

PHONE

022-225-3074

Information for Agencies

PARKING

Yes, about 50 cars

BUS PARKING

Yes, 2 buses

GROUP DISCOUNT

Yes

FACILITY CONTACT PHONE

022-225-3074

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