Sendai: Things to Do?

Discussion in 'Japan Forum: Living there or planning a visit.' started by PhantasyStar, Jul 20, 2009.

  1. PhantasyStar

    PhantasyStar Well Known Member

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    Hi guys,

    I'll be studying at Tohoku University in Sendai for the 09/10 academic year, so I'm looking for things to do while I'm there. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

    Also, any recommendations for any neighboring places?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Breetai

    Breetai Spirited Member

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    How about karaoke?
     
  3. GaijinPunch

    GaijinPunch Lemon Party Organizer and Promoter

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    Topic is not "things to make me want to shoot myself in the balls".

    ...so I won't be seen as descrutive:
    Winter: snowboard

    Any time:
    -Study (yeah, I know, boring, but I think you'll find Japanese academia is about as up-to-date on the world scale as Japanese women are in their hedge clipping).
    -Photography. Always carry a camera as there's always something stupid to see. I have like 50 pictures from my first 6-7 years here, and it is the one thing I truly regret.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2009
  4. Tatsujin

    Tatsujin Officer at Arms

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    buy a bike (bycicle) and graze all the hard offs in your sphere.
     
  5. Breetai

    Breetai Spirited Member

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    I like karaoke.

    Anyway, I totally second the suggestions about taking tons of photos and of buying a bike and visiting every Hard-Off within reach.
     
  6. Tatsujin

    Tatsujin Officer at Arms

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    PLZ, N-light Us!
     
  7. ASSEMbler

    ASSEMbler Administrator Staff Member

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    Sendai? dig a tunnel to tokyo....
     
  8. Yakumo

    Yakumo Pillar of the Community *****

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    Hmm, Sendai is less exciting than Yamaguchi where I live, well Shimonoseki which is at least a decent city and very close to Kita Kyushu. Anyway, in Summer I can't think of anything really going on in Sendai apart from a few summer firework festivals maybe. Winter is the best time to visit Sendai. As GaijinPunch said, sking or snowboarding is a great way to pass time in winter.

    yakumo
     
  9. Breetai

    Breetai Spirited Member

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    I liked Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu. Mind you, my only experience in those cities was driving through them a couple times while travelling between Fukuoka and Hiroshima. Still, they looked like nice places. :nod:

    Unfortunately, I've never been north of Tochigi... so I have no idea what there is to do in Sendai. There's definitely karaoke, though. I still suggest that. Getting drunk and walking around downtown and night with the intention of making new friends is always fun. Not that I suggest doing it often.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2009
  10. GaijinPunch

    GaijinPunch Lemon Party Organizer and Promoter

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    I've never lived in any of them, but I've never heard anyone dis Sendai over Fukuoka! Sendai is at least not too far from Tokyo, and has mountains. Definitely gets my vote.
     
  11. Perkunas

    Perkunas Intrepid Member

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    Tohoku is awesome. Next to Sendai is Matsushima, which has some very nice scenery. Aizu Wakamatsu in Fukushima is also worth a visit. Up North there's great historical places like Hiraizumi (Iwate), Kakunodate (Akita), Hirosaki (Aomori),...
     
  12. Tatsujin

    Tatsujin Officer at Arms

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    I would love to live up in more northen region (more country side) for a bit. if I had no work to do and lot of relaxing time for some daily traveling ;)
     
  13. GaijinPunch

    GaijinPunch Lemon Party Organizer and Promoter

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    On that note, Tokyo is awesome if you don't have a job (and have the money). Tons to do that's not really feasible when you're at work all day.
     
  14. alecjahn

    alecjahn Site Soldier

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    Explain?



    I third the Bike+Hard Off. Get one with a basket and buy some big-ass saddle bags. And a large backpack.
     
  15. Breetai

    Breetai Spirited Member

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    They've been using the same rote memorization teaching methods since the Meiji period, not to mention a lot of schools/universities still haven't upgraded to Windows 3.1 yet. They invent a lot of cool technology here, but they sure as hell don't seem to use it.
     
  16. andoba

    andoba Site Supporter 2014

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    Bike + Hard Off sounds interesting.
     
  17. Giel

    Giel Intrepid Member

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    Just enjoy life, go out to bars with friends or alone and speak some Japanese and you'll have an awesome time anyway. Only thing I definitely recommend is getting a bike as they are really cheap (esp. used, 6000yen buys a decent bike for transportation in the city).

    And I second the going to the karaoke, if you take the nomihoudai (all you can drink) with it. Really improves the atmosphere ;) .
     
  18. an_turtar

    an_turtar Active Member

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    l
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2010
  19. ccovell

    ccovell Resolute Member

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    Whenever I travelled to Sendai, I found it boring (except for the nightclubs and the fact that it's a university town, meaning young girls to chat to/up), but my wife recommends:

    Sendai Castle, plenty of museums, and the amusement park "Beni Land"...
     
  20. GaijinPunch

    GaijinPunch Lemon Party Organizer and Promoter

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    Do you know anyone that goes to Japan to get higher education (other than learn Japanese)? That's b/c their education system from University all the way down to primary school is complete shit.
     
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