Japan Guide
Northern Honshū
Accommodation
1 Aisaki Ryokan 5-6 Kitame-machi, Aoba-ku 
022/264-0700 
sendai@aisakiryokan.com One of the cheaper places in the city centre, a fifteen-minute walk southeast of the station – look for the red Coke sign in a back alley behind the central post office. The facilities are old and basic, with a choice between Western or tatami rooms, some en suite. Price: ¥7000-10000
2 
Bansuitei-ikoisō 5-6 Kimachi-dōri, Aoba-ku 022/222-7885 
223-2222 
www.ikoisouryokan.co.jp An excellent ryokan just outside the downtown area but easily accessible by buses from platform 29 (get off at the last stop, follow the narrow street across the road for one block and take a left), land the subway (get off at Kita-yonbanchō and walk west for three blocks, taking a left after the kōban). Alternatively the walk from the train station takes 20–25min; you can pick up a map at the tourist information centre. Rooms are impeccably clean, tastefully decorated and range from single to family-size; facilities include laundry and a pet hotel. There are substantial discounts offered for fax or online bookings. Price: ¥7000-10000
3 Hotel Central Sendai 4-2-6 Chūō, Aoba-ku 022/711-4111 711-4110 www.hotel-central.co.jp The highlight of this quintessential business hotel is the location – less than five minutes from the JR train station. Most of the flowery rooms are singles ranging from ¥7100 – ¥8400. Price: ¥10000-15000
4 Dōchūan Youth Hostel 31 Onoda-Kitayashiki, Taihaku-ku 022/247-0511 www.jyh.or.jp The best of three youth hostels in Sendai, built among trees in traditional farmhouse style. Accommodation is in cramped tatami dormitories with a TV and washbasin; there's also a cedar bath and excellent food – the English-speaking warden grows his own rice and vegetables. The only downside is the hostel's out-of-the-way location: it's fifteen minutes by subway from central Sendai to Tomizawa Station (¥290), then a ten-minute walk due east. Price: ¥5000-7000
5 Dormy Inn 2-10-17 Chūō, Aoba-ku 022/715-7077 715-7078 About five minutes from the station, near Hirose-dōri subway station, this budget business hotel has a range of boxy but adequate en-suite rooms, with satellite TV and minibar. Price: ¥10000-15000
6 Hotel Green Select 2-9-14 Hon-chō, Aoba-ku 022/221-3311 222-5006 www.koyogh.jp Across Hirose-dōri from the cheaper Dormy Inn, this small, welcoming hotel is nicely decorated and well priced. All rooms come with their own bathroom. Price: ¥10000-15000
7 Kōyō Grand Hotel 2-3-1 Hon-chō, Aoba-ku 022/267-5111 265-2252 It's worth taking a walk through the lobby of this extraordinary hotel, decked out with antique-style French furniture, cupids, Versailles mirrors and stuffed antelope heads. The rooms are only slightly more restrained and, unsurprisingly, a little on the pricey side. Price: ¥15000-20000
8 Hotel Metropolitan 1-1-1 Chūō, Aoba-ku 022/268-2525 www.s-metro.stbl.co.jp Big, swish hotel next door to Sendai Station, with a range of comfortable Western- and Japanese-style rooms. Facilities include a choice of restaurants, Sky Lounge bar, gym and indoor pool. Price: ¥15000–30000
9 Hotel Universe 3F, 4-3-22 Ichiban-chō, Aoba-ku 022/261-7711 www.hotelusendai.com Simple business hotel on Ichiban-chō shopping street. Rooms are a good size for the price, with their own bathroom, phone, TV and minibar, and there's free Internet access. Price: ¥7000–15000