Preface: Each year we come to Japan in March and then some. I've been booted out of our at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo so my wife and her mother can spend some time shopping. So I have some adventure going on and a JR Pass to assist. With a little hesitation I booked this Hotel for a one night trip to this town I've heard much of in history. Sendai is the home of Masamune Date a feudal daimyo who helped Tokugawa become the first Shogun of the era.

Rate: A bargain. 6600 yen all in.

Transportation: Using my JR Green Pass I got a ticket on the Hayate which leaves from track 23 at Tokyo Station for the little bit more than 1 1/2 trip north of Tokyo. From Sendai Station take the East exit. When you get to street level turn right and start walking. The Hotel will be on your left side about six minutes down the road. A very easy walk.

Check-in: I arrived early and have P status. Without hesitation I was checked-in. I did have to ask for a upgrade and was moved from floor six to nine. They call this a business room.

Perks: Other than above. A voucher for 10% off something. I can't read Japanese and frankly even if it states the staff speaks English they only do barely. Which is fine because I guess I only speak Japanese barely. The other coupon offers breakfast for 1200 yen all in.

Room: Business room with nice desk, chair and fax machine. Quiet even facing street. A frig, tv, chair, table and so forth.

Communications: I have a KDDI card for my calls to the States. The Hotel does give free HSIA access. Bring your own cable. Nice. Still at only 6600 yen.

Location: As stated kinda near JR Sendai Station. Close enough. I walked around and had a beautiful day. Here comes the good stuff.

You need to research this yourself. I can tell you personally I have always been fascinated with this city and the man who founded it- Masamune Date. A number of years ago NHK had a drama on this guy and it was great. I was able to watch it with English subtitles and it has made for a great one night trip. If you watch the NHK drama you will recognize that the guy who played Date went on to star with Tom Cruise in the Last Samurai.

From the West exit of Sendai Station your are looking for bus stop 15-3. When you exit you will be on the raised area above street level. You want to bear left and take a flight of stairs down to stop 15-3. Near the stop you will see a ticket booth. Buy yourself the one day on-off pass. The pass is only 600 yen and it will save you at least half that down the line. Now you can buy one ways along your trip but that would be a waste. I did three stops. They were- Zuihoden Mausoleum (where Masamune is buried), Site of Sendai Castle (Masamune built this and heirs added onto it) and stop ten (nice walk back to Sendai Station and shopping). With your pass you will save on entry to stops one and two. The last stop you can immediately cross the street and walk down the pedestrian shopping walk on a street called Ichibancho. Make a left onto Chuo-dori Shopping Mall towards the Station. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes and 20 minutes during season.

Closing: Now if you have been to Japan and you are like me you have to seek our new things. As I stated this trip was well worth it. The Hotel was very reasonable and I made good use of my pass. This being said you are not in the hotbed of the world here. I was leaving at 1:30ish PM and now I am leaving at 10:30ish AM. So it is a nice one night trip from Tokyo to frankly a part of Japan not many ever see. Regards from Sendai