Sendai is a wonderful city in northern Japan, and it is a nice base to visit Matsushima, one of the most scenic areas in all of Japan.
Matsushima is a small town that has direct access to the bay. This bay is made up of many small islands covered with pine trees that resemble bonsai. This area is known as one of the three most beautiful views in all of Japan. A famous Haiku poet in Japan was struck speechless by the beauty of the area.
I was lucky enough to take a boat ride in the bay on both a calm, sunny day and a rough cloudy day when a typhoon was nearby; both were beautiful in their own way.
Zuiganji, a temple in the town, is one of the most important Zen temples in Japan. It has an interesting museum as well!
Quick Tips:
Use your JR Pass to get there. It only takes about a half-hour to get there, but make sure you take the express train, as the local stops at many more stops and takes a lot longer.
When you get there, take the boat ride early and see the islands. Then take the walk over the toll bridge to get up close and personal with one of the islands. After that you can wander around the area and see the attractions. The Zuiganji Temple is one of the most famous in all of Japan; the trees and garden give a cool feeling and the area is nice to walk around. There is an area where the monks were buried in caves that is very scenic.
The aquarium is small and really best only for little children.
Best Way To Get Around:
Walking works, as the area is small.