A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Matsue vs. Sendai for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Matsue or Sendai?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Matsue and Sendai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Matsue

Matsue is a historic, quiet, and peaceful town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Sendai

Sendai is a high energy, vibrant, and cosmopolitan city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches.

Matsue and Sendai: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Matsue or Sendai?

You'll generally find more things to do in Sendai than Matsue. Sendai is bigger than Matsue, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Sendai is better known for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Matsue is more popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Matsue is well known for its 17th century castle and its quaint atmosphere. Sendai is well known for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. Also, Sendai is famous for the statue of Lord Masamune.

How is Matsue different from Sendai?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sendai and Matsue. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Matsue or Sendai?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Matsue and Sendai.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Matsue. Most people visit town specifically to see the Matsue Castle, which is one of the last original castles left in Japan. The city also has parks and gardens, as well as the Shimane Art Museum, Yaegaki Shrine, and Miho Shrine.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Sendai. The city grew up as a castle town, and today the castle ruins are a popular tourist destination. A park surrounds the area, Aobayama Park, and while only the stonewalls remain, you can visit the Sendai City Museum in the park as well. Zuihoden Temple is another landmark worth visiting, as is the AER observation terrace.

Is the Food Better in Matsue or Sendai? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Matsue is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Sendai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Matsue has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There are peaceful restaurants and cafes around town where you can sample the local dishes. Many restaurants have beautiful gardens and set lunch menus, which is a great way to sample fine dining cuisine at a reasonable price.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sendai area. There are a number of local specialties in the area and if you're an adventurous eater, then this is your place. Many of the dishes are influenced by the city's proximity to the ocean. Make sure you try the harako-meshi (rice with fish eggs), sea squirts, and sashimi. Another local favorite is beef tongue.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is a great destination for nightlife and partying. However, Matsue is a town with minimal options for its evening party scene.

The people in Sendai know how to have a good time. Head to Kokubuncho for the best nightlife scene in the area. This downtown neighborhood is filled with bars, clubs, and karaoke that come alive in the evening. For live music, check out Rensa, which is one of the city's largest live music venues.

Matsue doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet town and there's not much of a nightlife scene, but if you spend the night you can probably find a quaint local bar where you can hang out.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for Beaches?

Sendai is a city with good options for the beache. However, Matsue is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Sendai. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Matsue is not a beach destination.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for its Old Town?

Matsue is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Sendai does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Matsue. The town has one of the last of the twelve original castles that are still in Japan. There are also many canals that cross the town.

Sendai does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Matsue or Sendai?

Sendai is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Sendai is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. You'll find shopping arcades in the downtown area like Ichibancho, which is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. If you head out of town towards the suburbs, you'll find malls and other outlet stores.

Matsue has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Kyomise Shopping District is a charming street near Ohashi Bridge. It is lined with shops and restaurants and tourists will enjoy visiting the souvenir and specialty stores in the area.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for Families?

Sendai is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Matsue is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Sendai is a very kid-friendly city. The city has a number of green spaces that kids will enjoy including parks and playgrounds. There are also kid-focused museums like the Anpanman Children's Museum and the 3M Sendai City Science Museum. If the young ones really need a break from the history, you can check out Yagiyama Beny Land.

Matsue offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the city's history as much as adults. There are several temples and shrines to explore as well as Lake Shinji. The best views of the lake are from the Shimane Art Museum.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for Couples?

Both Matsue and Sendai are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

Matsue makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Castles, gardens, and museums all make this a beautiful and romantic destination. Couples will enjoy immersing themselves in the city's history. There's also a beautiful lake and the impressive Matsue Vogel Park.

Sendai is a good town for couples to visit. The city boasts beautiful temples as well as nice natural areas, parks, and gardens. If you have time to get out of town, Okama is a volcanic lake that is one of the most beautiful spots in the region, and well worth the excursion.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Matsue and Sendai are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Matsue is a good town to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels and guesthouses as well as budget hotels around town for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Sendai. There are a couple of hostels around the town and many of the activities are free as they involve strolling through parks or wandering down shopping streets.

Is Matsue or Sendai Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Matsue and Sendai.

Public transit in Matsue can get you to some places easily. There are city buses as well as Ichibata Bus. Tourists will mostly use the Lakeline loop, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major attractions. Buses run every 20 minutes.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Sendai. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Is Matsue or Sendai a more walkable city?

Matsue and Sendai both are high quality when exploring on foot.

Matsue is a very walkable town. Most of the town's sights can be reached on foot. You can walk from the JR Matsue Station to the castle in half an hour and it's only 15 minutes from the Shinjiko Onsen Station.

Sendai is a very walkable destination. There are many parts of the city that are walkable, especially around Sendai Station as well as in the Chuo-dori arcade and the the Kokubuncho neighborhood.

For even more information, also check out Is Matsue Worth Visiting? and Is Sendai Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sendai or Matsue?

How long in Matsue or Sendai?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Matsue and Sendai. In our opinion, Sendai has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Sendai than Matsue. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Sendai than Matsue. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sendai, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sendai than Matsue. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sendai that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sendai than Matsue if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sendai.

One day in Matsue or Sendai?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Matsue. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Sendai. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Matsue or Sendai?

Matsue is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Sendai is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Matsue or Sendai?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Matsue. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sendai. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Matsue or Sendai?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the quiet destination of Matsue. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cosmopolitan destination of Sendai. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Matsue and Sendai, we can see that Sendai is more expensive. And not only is Matsue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Matsue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Matsue and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai than you might in Matsue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Matsue Expensive? and Is Sendai Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Matsue or Sendai?

Sendai has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Matsue. When comparing the sizes of Matsue and Sendai, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Matsue or Sendai?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Matsue or Sendai in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Matsue as well as Sendai. Most visitors come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Sendai because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Matsue is a little warmer than Sendai in the summer. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Sendai fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. In the summer, Matsue often gets more sunshine than Sendai. Matsue gets 201 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sendai. Matsue receives a lot of rain in the summer. Matsue usually gets more rain in July than Sendai. Matsue gets 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Sendai in the Autumn?

Both Sendai and Matsue are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Matsue because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

In the autumn, Matsue is a little warmer than Sendai. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Matsue in October average around 17°C (62°F), and Sendai averages at about 15°C (59°F).

Matsue usually receives more sunshine than Sendai during autumn. Matsue gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sendai. It's quite rainy in Matsue. In October, Matsue usually receives more rain than Sendai. Matsue gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Matsue or Sendai in the Winter?

Both Sendai and Matsue during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Matsue this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sendai for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Sendai. It's quite cold in Matsue in the winter. In January, Matsue is generally much warmer than Sendai. Daily temperatures in Matsue average around 4°C (39°F), and Sendai fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).

In the winter, Matsue often gets less sunshine than Sendai. Matsue gets 84 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sendai receives 149 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. Matsue usually gets more rain in January than Sendai. Matsue gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Matsue or Sendai in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Matsue and Sendai. Many travelers come to Matsue for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Sendai in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Matsue is a little warmer than Sendai in the spring. The daily temperature in Matsue averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Sendai fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

Matsue usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sendai during spring. Matsue gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Sendai receives 188 hours of full sun in the spring.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Matsue usually receives more rain than Sendai. Matsue gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Sendai receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sendai and Matsue