“Hapina Nakakecho", "CLIS Road", and "Marble Road Omachi" run east to west from Sendai Station, and "Sun Mall", "Vlandome", and "Ichibancho 4-chome Shopping Street" run north to south, forming the letter "to" in katakana, making it the largest shopping street in Tohoku. It is very convenient, with everything from daily necessities to restaurants and souvenir stores. The small streets off the shopping street are lined with izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) with an atmosphere of the good old Showa period.
The shopping arcade is also the site of the Sendai Tanabata Festival, one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, which attracts as many as 2 million visitors from August 6 to 8 every year. The sight of gorgeous Tanabata decorations lining the shopping street is a sight to behold.
You may also want to visit the "Sendai Hatsu-uri (first sale)", a major event held at the beginning of the year in the former Sendai domain. The government recognizes this custom, which has continued since the Edo period (1603-1867), and as a special exception, it is possible to offer more extravagant prizes than in other areas of Japan. Some long-established and popular stores even have shoppers lined up from around December 30.
Highlights
-
The busiest shopping district in the Tohoku region.
-
The area has a wide variety of stores, from daily necessities to restaurants and souvenir stores.
-
The area is crowded with people during the Sendai Tanabata Festival and the Sendai Hatsu-uri (first sale of the year).
