Jozenji-dori Avenue is a pleasant tree-lined boulevard in central Sendai, one the city takes pride in for having a “European” atmosphere. Numerous events take place along the street throughout the year, both large and small. The major events, like the Aoba Festival, Jozenji Streetjazz Festival, and the Pageant of Starlight, attract large numbers of tourists to the city. Outside the dates of these major festivals, Jozenji-dori is usually free of large crowds. The everyday character here is more of a low-key bustle of locals going about their day or relaxing under the tall keyaki (zelkova) trees that line the boulevard and its park-like greenbelt.

Jozenji-dori starts where the residential Miyamachi neighborhood meets the downtown commercial district and stretches southwest for about 1.5 kilometers, ending at Nishi Park on the bank of the Hirose River. Along the way, you’ll find shops, eateries, art spaces, and more. Two we’ve introduced here on Visit Miyagi are Sendai Mediatheque and Sake Bar Hatago, but there are many others. Part of the pleasure of visiting Jozenji-dori is strolling the boulevard and discovering new places for yourself. The number and variety of establishments are so plentiful, you’re bound to find some that interest you!