What other travelers are saying about Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan
I was unfortunately disappointed with my visit to Sendai Castle. Hardly any elements have been restored. Therefore, there is not much to discover. There are lots of parking lots on the mountain. The shrine is quite beautiful and the view over the city is also quite good. However, the long journey on the tourist bus is not necessarily worth it.
Ruins of the Aoba castle: now also available with VR tour to get an idea of what the castle used to look like. On the grounds, there are plenty of places to have a bite, or look at the scenery (you can see as far as the ocean!).
It's quite easy to walk up to the Aoba Castle grounds. Starting from the Sendai museum, there are several signs indicating the different routes you can take. Each are around 1km long.
Excellent option to visit some tourist attraction here in Sendai, there is no charge to enter to see the Aoba castle, there is a souvenir shop and a store to buy food at the top, although as a recommendation if you are going to climb it walking be in a bit of condition or in case of elderly adults bring a wheelchair, the views of the city are incredible 🏙️ 🌃 🌆 ⚔️ 🏰 🇯🇵
We stopped at the Sendai Castle area. We took the city bus and we would suggest for you to pay the day's pass instead of paying one stop with th IC card. Spend the day and be ready to hop on and hop off at the interesting sights. We went on Monday and unfortunately many of the sights were closed. The other downside was there were lots of tourists and not enough busses. Otherwise an ideal transportation as there are many ups and downs and quite difficult to walk the distance.
Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM). Admission is 700 yen for adults, 500 yen for high school students, and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students. The museum may have seasonal hour variations, so check before visiting.
From Sendai Station, take the Loople Sendai tourist bus and get off at Sendai Castle Ruins (Aoba Castle) stop, which takes about 20 minutes. Alternatively, take JR Bus or Miyagi Kotsu bus bound for Aobayama and alight at Aobayama Park. By car, it's about 15 minutes from central Sendai via Route 48.
Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan features interactive exhibits about Date Masamune and Sendai's history, a 3D theater showing the castle's reconstruction, historical artifacts from the Edo period, and panoramic views of Sendai city. The museum offers audio guides in multiple languages and showcases the history of the former Sendai Castle site.
Yes, Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan pairs perfectly with the famous Date Masamune equestrian statue located nearby at the castle ruins. The museum provides historical context for the statue and offers excellent photo opportunities with panoramic city views. Many visitors combine both attractions in a single trip to fully appreciate Sendai's samurai heritage.
The best times to visit Aoba Castle Honmaru Kaikan are during spring (April-May) for cherry blossoms, autumn (October-November) for fall foliage, and clear winter days for stunning mountain views. Early morning or late afternoon visits offer the best lighting for photography and fewer crowds. Sunset visits provide spectacular views over Sendai city.
