Home / Ports / Sendai–Shiogama
Port guideMatsushima’s port.
Checked · Visited in person · times from official timetables and operators · Takumi Yamada
Sendai–Shiogama is a working cargo quay in the port district of Sendai, where you cannot walk out and every day starts with a short taxi to the train.
Round trips from the gangway, hour before all-aboard set aside. Tap one to see what it actually is.
1train~5h from the berthneeds a 7-hour callSome 260 pine-topped islets in a shallow bay, counted as one of Japan’s three classic views since the 17th century.
What you will see
2taxi~2.5h from the berthneeds a 4.5-hour callBuy rice at one stall and slices of tuna and whatever else looks good at the others.
What you will see
3train~2.5h from the berthneeds a 4.5-hour callThe head shrine of the region, up 202 stone steps on a hill over the harbour, with a vermilion gate and a view of the bay.
What you will see
4train~2.5h from the berthneeds a 4.5-hour callThick-cut beef tongue grilled over charcoal, with barley rice and oxtail soup: Sendai’s own dish since the late 1940s.
What you will see
5taxi~2h from the berthneeds a 4-hour callA large modern aquarium beside the port, built around the Sanriku coast’s own sea, with a dolphin and sea-lion show.
What you will see
6train~5h from the berthneeds a 7-hour callDate Masamune, one-eyed founder of Sendai, on horseback over the city from the castle hill, and his gilded mausoleum in the cedars nearby.
What you will see
7train~5h from the berthneeds a 7-hour callThe school where 320 people sheltered on the roof on 11 March 2011, kept as the tsunami left it and opened as a memorial.
What you will see
8train~2.5h from the berthneeds a 4.5-hour callMochi under sweet mashed green soybeans, and fish cake shaped like a bamboo leaf and grilled.
What you will seeEach one is timed from the gangway on the operators’ own timetables, with the half hour to get off and the hour before all-aboard already kept free. Copy it as it is, or open the full route.
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Needs a 4.5-hour callabout 2.5hfamilyeasy
For short calls: the aquarium and the outlet mall, both minutes from the berth.
Taxis ~¥2,000–3,000 per car
Open in Google Maps, in 3 parts
Needs a 7-hour callabout 5hviewshistory
For anyone: the pine islands, a bay boat and Zuiganji, twenty minutes by train.
Taxis ~¥3,000 per car + train ¥253 each way
Open in Google Maps, in 6 parts
Needs an 8-hour callabout 6hfoodviews
For long calls: a tuna bowl at the market, the Basho boat, then the temples.
Three taxis ~¥6,500–7,000 per car + train ¥253 each + boat ¥1,500 each (about ¥10,000 for two)
Open in Google Maps, in 6 parts
Calls here usually run 9–12 h (12 on the schedule); each card says how many it fits, where it meets, and how cancellation works.
Sendai & Matsushima Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed GuideA private four-hour walk with a government-licensed guide, choosing two or three sights in Sendai or Matsushima.Needs a 7-hour call · fits 100% of calls hereHotel pickup; ask about the pierUS$107 each · US$214 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadPrivate4h tour4.8★ · 26 reviews
【 MEGURI 】 Full Armor Suit-up & 30-Min Castle Grounds StrollFull samurai armour and 30 minutes to walk the Sendai Castle grounds in it.Needs a 5-hour call · fits 100% of calls hereTaxi ~35 min from the shipUS$32 each · US$64 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadPrivate45 min tour5.0★ · 12 reviews
Matsushima Private Guided TourA private day in Matsushima on foot with a locally raised licensed guide: the temples, the islands, a bay cruise and a local lunch, all paid for as you go.Needs a 10-hour call · fits 58% of calls hereTaxi ~30 min from the shipUS$106 each · US$212 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadPrivate7h tour5.0★ · 22 reviews
Half Day Tour in Sendai Retro Alleyways and Specialty FoodsA three-hour afternoon food walk around Sendai Station: the morning market, gyutan lunch, sasa-kamaboko, zunda and the old yokocho alleys.Needs a 6-hour call · fits 100% of calls hereTaxi ~30 min from the shipUS$97 each · US$194 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadSmall group3h tour5.0★ · 2 reviews
【 YOROI 】 Full Armor ExperienceA 30-minute session dressed in full samurai armour, with posing help, at the Sendai Castle site.Needs a 5-hour call · fits 100% of calls hereTaxi ~35 min from the shipUS$19 each · US$38 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadPrivate30 min tour5.0★ · 18 reviews
【KIWAMI】 Ultimate VIP Private Guide and Professional Photo ShootThe premium armour experience: a private castle guide and a professional photographer during an hour at the Sendai Castle site.Needs a 5-hour call · fits 100% of calls hereTaxi ~35 min from the shipUS$97 each · US$194 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadPrivate1h tour5.0★ · 7 reviews
Day Tour from Sendai Matsushima Bay Scenic HighlightsA group day from Sendai Station to Matsushima: Entsu-in, Zuiganji, Godaido, the fish market, Kanrantei and a 50-minute bay cruise.Needs an 11-hour call · fits 25% of calls hereTaxi ~30 min from the shipUS$171 each · US$342 for twoFree cancellation 24h aheadSmall group8h tour5.0★ · 5 reviews
Sendai Private Customizable Full Day TourA private eight-hour Sendai day with hotel pickup and four or five sights chosen from a list.Needs an 11-hour call · fits 25% of calls hereHotel pickup; ask about the pierUS$289 each · US$578 for twoNon-refundablePrivate8h tour5.0★ · 3 reviewsTakamatsu Wharf No.2 (Sendai port district), 〒983-0001 宮城県仙台市宮城野区港4丁目
Your ship is the dark pin. The numbers match the cards above.
According to the official schedule published by MLIT Tohoku Regional Bureau (Tohoku cruise schedule) (as of October 31, 2026), Sendai–Shiogama has 12 cruise calls listed for 2026 (Full year 2026 — Sendai port district 10, Ishinomaki district 2) — 8 by international ships and 4 by Japanese-operated ships.
From the MLIT Tohoku Regional Development Bureau — ２０２６年東北管内港湾のクルーズ船寄港予定 (map PDF; 仙台塩釜港 columns) schedule, updated Sat, 31 Oct 2026 — published up to Tue, 1 Dec 2026. Checked . Rows marked Line itinerary come from the cruise line’s own page and are not on that list yet; times there can change.
| Date | Ship | In port | Berth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 1 Dec 2026 | Mitsui Ocean Sakura | 07:00–15:008h | Sendai port district |
| Sat, 13 Feb 2027 | Mitsui Ocean SakuraLine itinerary | 11:00–18:007h | — |
| Thu, 11 Mar 2027 | Seabourn EncoreLine itinerary | 08:00–18:0010h | — |
| Thu, 15 Apr 2027 | Asuka IIILine itinerary | 08:00–21:0013h | — |
| Thu, 29 Apr 2027 | RivieraLine itinerary | 07:00–19:0012h | — |
| Sun, 9 May 2027 | Seven Seas ExplorerLine itinerary | 08:00–17:009h | — |
| Sat, 22 May 2027 | Azamara PursuitLine itinerary | 08:00–20:0012h | — |
| Mon, 19 Jul 2027 | Asuka IIILine itinerary | 08:00–17:009h | — |
| Fri, 6 Aug 2027 | Silver MuseLine itinerary | 08:00–18:0010h | — |
| Thu, 7 Oct 2027 | Seabourn EncoreLine itinerary | 08:00–18:0010h | — |
| Sun, 17 Oct 2027 | Seven Seas ExplorerLine itinerary | 08:00–17:009h | — |
| Thu, 4 Nov 2027 | Seabourn EncoreLine itinerary | 08:00–18:0010h | — |
Your ship's call here, with the plans that fit
Norwegian Jade2 calls in 2026 · Oct
Seven Seas ExplorerRegent Seven Seas
Seabourn Encore1 call in 2026 · Oct
Azamara Pursuit & QuestAzamara
Mitsui Ocean Sakura1 call in 2026 · Dec
Asuka III1 call in 2026 · Nov
RivieraOceania CruisesSource. Ship counts are counted line by line from the official schedule of MLIT Tohoku Regional Bureau (Tohoku cruise schedule) (as of October 31, 2026); dates and times from MLIT Tohoku Regional Development Bureau — ２０２６年東北管内港湾のクルーズ船寄港予定 (map PDF; 仙台塩釜港 columns), checked . Schedules shift — ships cancel for weather, ports add late calls — so treat this as the season's shape and your cruise line's documents as the letter.
Chosen because locals actually go — each opens in Google Maps.
Open the complete guide →Only by shuttle or taxi. Our shortest timed plan, "Beside the port", runs ~2.5h door to door, so it needs a 4.5-hour call (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). The berth cannot be left on foot: on a 2–3 hour call take the shuttle or a taxi and stay close to where it sets you down. The timed plans are at port-of-japan.com/sendai-shiogama/plans/.
The half-day is "Matsushima by train" (~5h door to door), which needs a 7-hour call or longer (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard) — every transit leg counted from the berth, with an escape route if you run late. The timed steps are on the plans page at port-of-japan.com/sendai-shiogama/plans/.
Seabourn Encore, Asuka III, Norwegian Jade, Mitsui Ocean Sakura, Seven Seas Explorer, Nippon Maru, Regatta, Seabourn Sojourn, Heritage Adventurer, Pacific World, National Geographic Resolution, Silver Moon, and 3 more ships are on Sendai–Shiogama's published call list or the lines’ own itineraries, most calls first. Ships with a guide on this site link to it from the schedule, and this page carries plans sized to the hours each ship typically spends here. The full official call list — every ship with counts and seasons — is in the schedule section at port-of-japan.com/sendai-shiogama/#schedule.
① Taxi from the waiting area on the quay, ~10 min — the wharf is closed to walkers ② Senseki Line from Nakanosakae: Sendai about 20 min (¥209 IC), Hon-Shiogama 9 min (¥199), Matsushima-Kaigan 20 min (¥253) Check your daily programme for a ship shuttle — Asuka III (7 Nov 2026) runs a free one to JR Tagajo, ~15 min, first ~09:30, per the cruise line’s shore guide. Sendai taxis start at up to ¥700 for the first 1.3 km (from 20 March 2026). For today's exact departure times, open Google Maps transit directions from the pier — local timetables change by day, and the app knows today's.
① Taxi to JR Nakanosakae ② Senseki Line to Matsushima-Kaigan, 20 min — Godaido and the boat pier 7 min on foot, Zuiganji 10 Fare: ¥253 with IC. Runs every ~20–45 min (only Takagimachi, Ishinomaki or Matsushima-Kaigan trains). Coming back on a Saturday or holiday, some trains between 13:52 and 15:10 run on certain days only — take the 13:52 or earlier (weekdays run about every 20 min). Or arrive by water: the Basho boat leaves Marine Gate Shiogama on the hour 9:00–15:00, ~50 min, ¥1,500.
① Train to Sendai (about 20 min from Nakanosakae) ② Loople from Sendai Station bay 16 — castle hill, Zuihoden, the arcades Fare: ¥300 a ride · day pass ¥700 (from 1 Oct 2026). Runs every 20 min weekdays, 15 min weekends. Loople takes Suica and contactless credit cards.
12 cruise calls are on the official MLIT Tohoku Regional Bureau (Tohoku cruise schedule) for 2026 (Full year 2026 — Sendai port district 10, Ishinomaki district 2), 8 by international ships and 4 by Japanese-operated ships. Every ship and its season is listed in the schedule section at port-of-japan.com/sendai-shiogama/#schedule.
In the Sendai port district of Sendai–Shiogama port, normally at Takamatsu Wharf No.2; Nakano Wharf No.1 is the other designated cruise berth, and the largest ships use both. Some small expedition ships use Ishinomaki instead. No cruise ship is scheduled at the Shiogama port district in 2025 or 2026.
No. The berth is a working cargo quay, and the prefecture keeps the public out of it. Taxis and buses wait inside; JR Nakanosakae station is about ten minutes by car.
Yes, easily. Taxi to JR Nakanosakae, then the Senseki Line to Matsushima-Kaigan: 20 minutes and ¥253 with an IC card. Godaido and the boat pier are 7 minutes on foot, Zuiganji 10. Or take the Basho boat from Shiogama: about 50 minutes through the islands, ¥1,500.
The Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market, 6:00 to 13:00 (14:00 at weekends and on Mondays), closed Wednesdays. Buy toppings at the stalls with the My Kaisendon sign and build your own bowl. Go first — ships usually arrive around 07:00–08:00.
It is said to have more sushi restaurants per head than any town in Japan — the Japan Tourism Agency puts it that way, and no count exists. What is measured is that Shiogama lands more fresh tuna than anywhere else.
Yes — on JR, the Sendai subway, the Loople sightseeing bus and city buses. Loople also takes contactless credit cards.
The reason to come is Matsushima, a shallow bay of about 260 pine-covered islets counted among the Three Views of Japan, with Zuiganji temple beside the pier. Shiogama, nine minutes up the line, lands more fresh tuna than any port in Japan, and Matsushima itself is twenty minutes by train.
