Access
Miyagi Prefecture is located about 300 kilometers northeast of Tokyo and is part of the Tohoku region. There are a number of ways to get to and around Miyagi. Let us introduce you to some of the major routes below.
Getting to Miyagi
Three main transportation methods provide access to Miyagi: rail, road, and air.
By rail
The Tohoku Shinkansen transports passengers from Tokyo to Sendai in about 1.5 hours. Shinkansen (bullet trains) are also a quick and easy way to get to Miyagi from other prefectures, especially Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Akita, and Fukushima.
By road The Tohoku Expressway toll road runs northsouth through Miyagi Prefecture, and is the main road used to access Miyagi. There are numerous highway bus connections between Miyagi and other cities across Japan, including Tokyo.
By air Sendai Airport has international flights connecting Sendai with Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Bangkok (as of December 2019). Domestic flights fly direct to major Japanese cities. If you fly in to Sendai Airport, you can get to downtown Sendai directly via the Sendai Airport Access Line train. The airport also offers direct bus service to Matsushima, Hiraizumi, Akiu Onsen, and other sightseeing destinations.
Getting around Miyagi
Major means of getting around Miyagi are train, subway, bus, and car.
By train and subway The 3 major local train lines are the Tohoku Line, which runs north-south through inland Miyagi; the Senseki Line, which runs north-south along the coast connecting Sendai to Matsushima and the Sanriku Coast area; and the Senzan Line, which connects Sendai and Yamagata in neighboring Yamagata Prefecture. Within Sendai City, there is a subway system with 2 lines: the north-south Nanboku and east-west Tozai lines.
By car You can get almost anywhere in Miyagi by car within about 2 hours. Major toll-road highways include the Tohoku Expressway, which runs north-south through Miyagi, and the Sanriku Expressway, which provides access to the Sanriku Coast areas. There is also a network of free, public highways throughout the prefecture.
Travel Passes
Sendai Area Pass
For visitors with a foreign passport and short-term visa, this 1-day pass offers unlimited travel between Sendai, Sendai Airport, Matsushima, Yamadera, Shiroishi, Akiu Onsen, and beyond. Pass holders can also receive special benefits and discounts at popular Sendai City tourist spots.
Sendai Marugoto Pass
A 2-day pass offering unlimited rides on trains, subways, and buses throughout Sendai City and to major nearby sightseeing spots like Matsushima and Yamadera.
JR East Pass
A special discounted pass available only to inbound tourists visiting Japan on a short-term visa (no longer than 90 days) and holding a non-Japanese passport. The pass offers unlimited rides on all JR East train lines in the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)-designated zone, which includes travel to and from Narita and Haneda Airport, shinkansen throughout Tohoku, and more.
Tohoku Highway Bus Ticket
For visitors with a foreign passport and short-term visa, this ticket offers unlimited travel on select highway bus and local bus services across the 6 prefectures of Tohoku: Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima.
Tohoku Expressway Pass
Offers unlimited used of toll-road　expressways in the Tohoku region for a flat fee. Available only in conjunction with car rental from a participating dealer. The pass is programmed into the car's ETC card at time of rental.