A Travel Price Comparison for Japan Sendai vs. Sado for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Sendai or Sado?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sendai or Sado, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Sendai

Sendai is a cosmopolitan, lively, and high energy city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and museums.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food.

Sendai and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sendai or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sendai. Although Sendai and Sado are popular destinations, Sendai has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sendai is very popular for its nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Sado attracts visitors for its food and hiking. Sendai is more touristy than Sado and is popular for the Tanabata Festival, which is the largest of its kind and held every August. It is also well known for the statue of Lord Masamune. Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Sendai different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Sendai and Sado.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Sendai can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sado. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

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

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

Sado has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

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 Sendai or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Sendai is notable for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

Sendai has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Sendai or Sado Better for Beaches?

Sendai is a popular place for its beaches. However, Sado is not a beach destination.

Sendai is a good option for a beach vacation. There are a number of beaches in the area, but for the best options you'll want to head a bit out of town.

Sado is not a beach destination.

Is Sendai or Sado Better for Hiking?

Sado is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Sado. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Sendai is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sendai or Sado?

Sendai is notable for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its shopping opportunities.

Sendai is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Is Sendai or Sado Better for Families?

Sendai is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Sendai is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Sado is a family-friendly city. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Sendai or Sado Better for Couples?

Sendai and Sado are both nice to visit as a couple.

Sendai makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Sado is a good city for couples to visit. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Sendai or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sendai and Sado are both nice destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Sado is a good city to visit for backpackers. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

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

Sendai is notable for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Sendai can move around easily with public transportation. There are two subway lines the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. These lines cross at Sendai Station.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Sendai or Sado a more walkable city?

Sendai is notable for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

Sendai is very walkable. 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.

Sado is not a very walkable city. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

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

Should I spend more time in Sado or Sendai?

How long in Sendai or Sado?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sendai than Sado 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 Sendai or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Sendai. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Sado. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Sendai or Sado?

Sendai is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Sado 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 Sendai or Sado?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Sendai. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sado. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Sendai or Sado?

The lively city of Sendai offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the traditional destination of Sado. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sendai and Sado, we can see that Sendai is more expensive. And not only is Sado much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sado would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sado 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 Sado.

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

When is the best time to visit Sendai or Sado?

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 Sendai or Sado in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sendai as well as Sado. Many visitors come to Sendai in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Sendai is generally around the same temperature as Sado. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 23°C (73°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Sendai often gets less sunshine than Sado. Sendai gets 124 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Sendai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sendai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Sado. Sendai gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado and Sendai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Sendai for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Sendai is around the same temperature as Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sendai averages around 15°C (59°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Sendai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during autumn. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Sendai. In October, Sendai usually receives less rain than Sado. Sendai gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Sendai or Sado in the Winter?

Both Sado and Sendai during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Sendai because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sado in the winter. The weather in Sendai can be very cold. In the winter, Sendai is much colder than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sendai in January average around 2°C (35°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Sendai often gets more sunshine than Sado. Sendai gets 149 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sendai usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Sendai gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sendai or Sado in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sendai and Sado. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Sendai this time of year.

In April, Sendai is generally around the same temperature as Sado. Daily temperatures in Sendai average around 10°C (51°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

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

Sado receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Sendai usually receives less rain than Sado. Sendai gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Sendai