Sendai Castle was built in 1601 by DATE Masamune, who was originally from Yonezawa in Yamagata. He was the feudal lord of this area, which was the third largest territory, and was one of the most popular feudal lords between the end of the Muromachi Age and the beginning of the Edo Age.

Sendai Castle is located on the cliff of Mt. Aoba near the Sendai City just across the Hirose River. Sendai Castle (" Sendai-Jyo") is also known as "Aoba-Jyo", because of it's location.

If you go to the Hirose River near downtown Sendai, you will see Mt. Aoba, as shown in the above right picture. The above left picture shows "Kyogamine", where "Zuiho-Den", the imperial mausoleum of DATE Masamune, is located.

Please also visit the page of "Zuiho-Den" :
http://www.geocities.jp/hande_japan/YourDestinations/Tohoku/Zuihoden_E.html

You can walk to Sendai Castle from downtown Sendai in 30 minutes. However, the easiest way for access would be from Kokusai Center Station on the Tozai Line of the Sendai Subway.

To the south of the station, you will see a corner tower of the Sendai Castle at the foot of Mt. Aoba.

The corner tower and the main gate of Sendai Castle next to the corner tower were destroyed during World War II. The corner tower was rebuilt in 1967 from donations of Sendai citizens.
It was decided that the main gate will also be rebuilt.

From the corner tower, you will climb to the main bailey of Sendai Castle.

You will see stone walls on the way. And near to the main bailey, you will see a tall stone wall which is 17 meter in height.

You can easily imagine that strangers who attempt to go into the main bailey of Sendai Castle will be easily attacked from the top of the stone wall.

Currently, "Gokoku-Jinjya" Shrine is located at the main bailey.
The equestrian statue of DATE Masamune is in the main bailey, as shown in the top picture. The statue is the symbol of Sendai. "Aoba-Jyo Honmaru Kaikan" is also located in the main bailey. You will learn the history of Sendai Castle and will see Sendai Castle of the Edo Age.

As the location of Sendai Castle is on the cliff of Mt. Aoba, you will see a spectacular view of downtown Sendai.

A hundred years ago, a music piece, titled "Kojo no Tsuki", was written. The title of the music is "the Moon over the Ruined Castle" in English. The lyrics of the music were written by TSUCHII Bansui. It is said that TSUCHII Bansui obtained the images of the lyrics from the ruins of Sendai Castle.

How to get there
Sendai Castle is located to the southwest of downtown Sendai. You can walk from Kokusai Center Station on the Tozai Line of Sendai Subway to the south.