Sendai Travel Forum

I'll be visiting a special friend of mine, and before I go I would like any advice that may be useful to me.
I will be traveling alone, this is my first time out of the country, and my first time flying. I am twenty years old.

JUST BE CAREFUL ...and dont be too trusting ,not everyones a nice guy!dont want to put you off ,cas you will have a great time!.......and try and blend in with the natives,,,dont carry too much money on you,and when paying for something dont pull out a huge wad!keep small change in your pockets.............and mostly have a great time:=).ive travelled on my own mnay times,and you soon meet people!

This is Sendai, Japan we are talking about right?

So, unless you are Japanese or at least has the look of a Chinese, Korean, chances are you won't blend in. So, forget that!

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. So, don't think you'd have to worry so much about safety.
Most Japanese are richer than 90% of the world anyhow.

I have not heard of anyone being robbed as yet.
Sendai is smaller than Tokyo & is easier to navigate. But, that is provided you speak Japanese or at least can read Japanese or Chinese character. When I say small, ie relative to other Japanese cities.

If I were you, get your friend to pick you up from Narita. That'll solve all your problem. But it takes at least 2 hours to get from Sendai to Tokyo. So, you've to be a very special friend for someone to pick you up from the airport ;-)

Good luck & enjoy!

http://www.japanrailpass.net/index.html

If you plan to buy the Japan Rail Pass then I suggest that you take the Narita Express to Omiya Station instead of getting off at Tokyo Station. Not as many Narita Express trains go as far as Omiya but if your timing is such that you can get one ,it will save you having to put up with the headache which is Tokyo Station. Once you reach Omiya then you can take the next Yamabiko Shinkansen to Sendai.

If your timing does not allow you to catch a train headed for Omiya and you are forced to go to Tokyo Station, I hope that you do not have a heavy bulky suitcase..............

http://www.jreast.co.jp/nex/reservation.html
Even with a Rail Pass you must still reserve a seat on the Narita Express.

If for some reason do not choose to purchase the Rail Pass I then suggest that you take the Maronie Bus from Narita Airport to Utsunomiya (4070yen). It takes three hours but it is much easier for people with luggage since they will put one large suitcase for each passenger in the storage compartment(any others must be carried on the bus by you). The reason for going to Utsunomiya is again to escape the necessity of going to Tokyo Station(not suitcase friendly). When in Utsunomiya (a much smaller station) you can easily board the Yamabiko Shinkansen for Sendai.

(Even if you do not have hard to carry luggage the bus ride to Utsunomiya followed by a Shinkansen to Sendai is a relatively hassle free way to reach your destination.)

http://www.chibakotsu.co.jp/kousoku/marronnier.htm
This site is in Japanese but it shows the time table for the bus. (ex. depart Narita Terminal 2 at 8:10 and arrive at Utsunomiya Station at 11:00)

(When you exit customs and immigration you will enter the main departure area for Narita Airport. The bus counters will be lined up in front of you. Simply tell one of the attendents that you wish to go to Utsunomiya.)

Nothing could be easier than hopping the Skyliner for Ueno Station -- there's a large JR contingent there to load you on a Hayate or Yamabiko bullet to the northlands. Why not ask your friend to meet you in front of the "Oldies but Goodies" bar in Sendai Station? Forget the low money advice -- that isn't a friendly to plastic country like you're used to. IT WILL BE GREAT FUN riding up the rails at 165 mph! Enjoy!

Taking the Skyliner is fine unless a person is carrying a large suitcase. The walk from Keisei Ueno Station(terminal for the Skyliner) to the main Ueno Station(station for the Shinkansen), although only about 8 minutes, can seem like an eternity for someone trying to carry their suitcase through the mass of people on the narrow sidewalk.

What sidewalk were you on? I've walked that many times and the west side sidewalk is wide enough that they move merchandise onto it. Sometimes, though, I have to think more about what a first-timer would see. She could transfer at Nippori to a ubiquitious Yamanote-sen and drop into Ueno Eki...

I guess it all depends on the time of day and a person's own past experience with crowds but the sidewalk in front of the little shops (especially the sushi and donburi shops) always seemed to be packed with people.

Strangely enough here is a website that actually shows the walk from Keisei-Ueno to Ueno Station in a series of pictures. (to my surprise the crowds that I have experienced were not there on that particular day)

http://markun.cs.shinshu-u.ac.jp/olympic/Japan/Ken/UENO2/Keisei/next1-e.html

How should our traveler solve this problem. From the Skyliner Station, one can easily see Ueno Station. So the problem is schlepping a suitcase several hundred yards. (Another reason to travel light.) A Taxi MIGHT take her? I'm not familiar with the NeX -- Narita Express -- it might go into Ueno Eki for all I know. I think the key is to cut down on transfers. So, perhaps a bus, though it might take 2 hours, would be best. Good advice on how to do it at the JR window in Narita.

Since there are many many foreign students in Sendai because of Tohoku University, u don't have to worry about being a "gaijin".People in Sendai are used to "gaijins".