Metro of Sendai

The Sendai Metro

The city:

Sendai is one of the most recognizable cities in Japan. During the year 1889, this city turned into the capital of the Miyagi District. Its total current population is over one million inhabitants.

Previously, this city was considered one of the most eco-friendly cities in Japan, since it was full of trees, plants, forests, and gardens. However, after World War II, most of the green spaces were destroyed due to bombings during aerial attacks.

Additionally, in 2011, Sendai suffered a strong earthquake of magnitude 9, followed by a devastating tsunami, both of which caused several damage and tragic losses. Nevertheless, Sendai has been able to recover from such unfortunate events, and nowadays it is the city with the strongest economy of the Tohoku region, and one of the most important tourist attractions in the country.

The metro:

The Sendai Metro was created since it was strongly needed in the city during a time in which the city’s economic growth was in a favorable increase thanks to the development of the automotive industry.

During that time, many firms –most of which were located downtown- were in charge of manufacturing and selling a series of vehicles designed for other firms, and for taxi and bus lines.

This situation –which greatly helped in the development and the economic growth of the city- caused a high volume of traffic on Sendai’s streets. Besides the region’s increasing levels of traffic, there was also an increase in the number of buildings being constructed.

Because of this, during the year 1978, the Sendai District asked the land transportation council of the Ministry of Transport to build a rail system that would solve the city’s traffic problem. This request was approved in 1981. Right afterwards, the construction of the Sendai Metro began.

The construction was being handled by the Nippon Public Corporation of Railway Construction, and was inaugurated with only one line during the year 1987. This line was the Namboku line (the green line.)

Izumi-Chuo Station (Miyagi)

Lines and stations

Currently, the Sendai Metro has two operational lines, covering a total of 28.21 km of distance.

These lines cover the busiest and most commercial regions of Sendai, such as the north and south of the city. These lines start at the Izumo-Chuo station and at the Yamiyaga station, where the famous Tohoku Zoo Park is located.

Likewise, both lines accept transfers from other transportation services, which make the access towards the different regions of the city even easier.

Namboku Line

The Namboku Line was the first line to be inaugurated (1987,) and is also known as the green line. This line covers 14.38 km of length in approximately 28 minutes. It has 27 stations, most of which are located underground, which cover the regions between Izumo-Chuo, located at the north of the city, and Tomisawa, located at the south of the city.

Tozai Line

The Tozai Line was inaugurated on December, 2015, with a total of 13 stations available for the public, which can be identified by the color blue. This route offers a 13.83 km trip in approximately 20 or 22 minutes, covering the regions that go from the southwestern part of the city to the southeastern part of the city, going entirely through downtown Sendai. This line has a station that connects with the Namboku Line, and another station that connects with the Railway of Japan.

Schedule

The Sendai Metro is operation from Monday to Sunday, beginning at 5:30 am, and ending at midnight. However, on Fridays, the last train of the night departs 10 minutes later than usual. Likewise, passengers are always able to check the metro’s hours in any of the stations of the two lines, either at the customer service offices or at the timetables posted at the ticket vending machines.

Sendai

Tickets and fares

The Sendai Metro’s fares are classified in different sections, depending on the distance travelled (number of stations.) The lowest price for an adult is of 200 yen (1.76 USD.) Children under 10, as well as people with physical and/or mental disabilities only pay half of that price for a ticket.

The current fares are the following:

• 1 station (1 – 3 km): 200 yen (1.76 USD).
• 2 stations (4 – 6 km): 250 yen (2.21 USD).
• 3 stations (7 – 9 km): 300 yen (2.65 USD).
• 4 stations (10 – 12 km): 330 yen (2.91 USD).
• 5 stations (12 – 16 km): 360 yen (3.18 USD).

Tickets

All of the tickets are acquired at the ticket vending machines. These machines show different kinds of tickets, including the Icsa Cards, one-day tickets, regular tickets, and passes.

Icsa: The Icsa cards are pre-paid cards that work for the Sendai Metro’s two lines, as well as the surface-level means of public transportation. These cards also work in the Railway of Japan. The Icsa cards have different prices, depending on the profile of the customer (for instance, if the user is an adult, a child, and the distance that they want to travel.)

One-Day Ticket: This ticket in only valid for 24 hours, regardless of the distance travelled. This is why this ticket is slightly more expensive than a regular ticket. It costs 840 yen (7.41 USD) for adults, while children only pay half of that amount.

There are also one-day tickets that are valid for Saturdays and Sundays, as well as holidays, which have a price of 620 yen (5.47 USD) for adults, and 310 yen (2.74 USD) for children.

Regular Ticket: The Regular Ticket is valid for a single ride –in other words, towards one station- on the Sendai Metro, and is also valid for bus systems that go towards downtown Japan and towards de Sendai Airport. Likewise, this ticket also allows you to make trips using the transportation of the firms Miyagi Traffic Bus and Sendai Municipal Bus. In all cases, this ticket only allows you one ride.

Sendai Whole Pass: It is a card that allows the user to ride the Sendai Metro whenever they please within a day, but, unlike the One-Day Ticket, this card also allows you rides on the bus systems linked to the metro. However, this card has limited use in Miyagi Traffic´s transportation services, since you cannot go through some routes within Miyagi Traffic if you use this card.

Skip Cards and Skip/Joy Cards: Both Skip Cards and Skip Joy Cards are prepaid cards that could be much more useful for a user that uses the Sendai Metro as their daily means of transportation. The passenger can save money since they do not have to buy a ticket every day. The user can get these cards at the ticket vending machines (located within the stations,) in customer service offices, as well as in ticket booths located in bus terminals. With both Skip cards the user can pay for a ride within the Miyagi bus line.

The price for the Skip Cards ranges from 1000 yen (8.87 USD) to 5000 yen (44.34 USD,) and they require to have a minimum amount of 200 yen (1.77 USD.) These cards will not work if they have less than 200 yen loaded in them.

Future expansion projects:

Since more and more cars are now driving through the national highway towards Izumi Chuo, there are plans to build a station that offers a metro ride to Izumi Chuo with a route similar to this highway. This way, traffic will slightly decrease on this highway.

In regards of the Tozai Line, given the number of schools, universities and other educational institutes being built throughout its route, without even including the number of residential buildings that have been constructed, a plan has been made to make some modifications in many of its stations to benefit its passengers even more.

For instance, the Yagiyama Zoo Park station has a private parking system called Park and Ride, which offers its services so that passengers can travel from their homes to the stations, as well as allowing them to go from the stations to the closest bus stop.

In consequence, there are plans to extend the route covered by this system, as well as maintaining and modernizing it. The plans to modernize the stations is done with the purpose of offering a panoramic view during the journey. This way, at International Center station, there are plans to link the Sendai International Center with the Tohoku University campus, one of the most important universities within the region. Also, a parking lot is planned to be built within the International Center station.

Rules:

• Once the train reaches a station, the user should keep a safe distance from the doors until they automatically open.
• Before boarding the train, the user should allow other passengers to disembark first.
• Running within the station is not allowed.
• Under no circumstance the user should lean towards the train’s automatic doors.
• You cannot leave any kind of items blocking the train’s doors.
• It is strictly forbidden to smoke in the trains and the stations.

Tips to use the metro

• If possible, please give your seat to old people, pregnant women, and people with disabilities, as well as to any other person that for any other urgent reason may need it. This will make the ride more enjoyable for everyone.
• Once the user boards the train, they should keep their cellphone off or in silent mode, especially if they seated close to the seats for people with reduced mobility.
• Avoid making phone calls while inside the train.
• Refrain from eating or drinking in the trains or at stations.
• Once you get off the train and reach your destination, you should keep an eye for the signposts that pinpoint the exit, escalators, and elevators. Likewise, there are maps with information on the walls of all the stations in which the user could confirm the address where they want to go and know which train to board.
• To exit the station, you should take out the same ticket that you used for boarding the train, and validate it at the automatic doors at the entrance.
• Be careful while using the escalators. The user should always grasp the escalator’s handrails while using them in order to avoid falling or any other inconvenience.
• If, for any reason, the user had a problem, such as disembarking at the wrong station or not having enough money loaded into their ticket, pass, or card, they could got to the customer support offices, which are located adjacent to the automatic doors by the entrances.
• In case of any emergency or natural disaster, the user should try to keep calm and follow the instructions of the metro staff. This way, the user could evacuate successfully the train or station.

Connection to the airport.

Fortunately, the Sendai Metro has a connection with the Sendai Airport, which greatly helps its passengers to reach the airport.

The user can board the train in any of the Namboku line (green line) stations, but they need to make sure to disembark at Sendai station, since, from this station, they need to transfer to the access line of the airport. The journey through this route lasts approximately 17 minutes, ending at Natori station, which is located within the Sendai Airport facilities. Likewise, the passenger that just got off the plane and wishes to go to the city could use this route, so that they do not need to exit the airport´s facilities.

The Nagachami station, which also belongs to the Namboku Line, is also a transfer stop towards the Sendai Airport. So, if you are closer to this station rather than the Sendai Station, you could board the train there without any problem.

Other connections

Through the Sendai Metro, the user could also access the Japan Railway. Board the train in any station of the Namboku Line, and get off the train at the Kita-Sendai transfer station. From here, take the train of the Senzan Line that goes towards the Yamagata station of the Japan Railway. The Sensei station also makes a connection with this railway line.

Likewise, through the Sendai Metro, you could access the railway that heads towards Tohoku, since this railway has a transfer station with the Sengoku line. The Sendai station links both routes. The user should board the train there, which will transport them to the Matsushima station (the starting point of the railway that heads towards Tohoku.)

Nearby attractions

The Aoba Castle:

The Aoba Castle is the representation of a rather important historic symbol for Japan. This castle was built with the purpose of protecting the brave soldiers that protected the city of Sendai.

It is located at the top of Mount Aoba, and is over 400 years old. Due to the battles that took place during World War II, most of its structure got damaged. This is why, in 1970, the government decided to rebuild it. However, there are parts of the castle that survived the war that remain intact.

Even though the castle has been almost entirely rebuilt, some old furniture and architecture were kept, such as walls, stone sculptures, etc. Nowadays, this castle is a park that is open to the public with a free entrance, offering beautiful views of the city and the Pacific Ocean.

How to reach Aoba Castle by using the metro?

It is quite simple. The first option is to take a bus from the Sendai Municipal Bus line outside of the Sendai station (transfer station of lines 1 and 2.) You could take a bus from the Sendai Municipal Bus line, which will take you to the Castle in 22 minutes. The other option is to disembark the train at International Center station, and walk from there towards the Castle, since the station is relatively close to the Castle, and it shouldn´t take you more than 20 minutes to get there.

Osaki Hachimangu Shrine

The Osaki Hachimangu shrine is one of the most visited touristic attractions due to its importance for the inhabitants of the city and its incredible architectonic beauty. It was declared “National Treasure” because it was the only building constructed during the Azuchi-Momoyama era. Without a doubt, it is a place that any tourist should visit, not only because of its beauty and luxurious architecture, which is lacquered in black and has golden shapes and colorful adornments, but also because of its embedded history.

In it, great historical figures are honored, including the emperors Ojin and Chuai, as well as empress Jingu. The inhabitants of Sendai hold the belief that these emblematic figures protect them from harm, help them to achieve great accomplishments, and help pregnant women to give birth successfully. Entrance to the shrine is completely free.

How to access the Shrine through the metro?

The passenger could board the train in any of the two lines of the Sendai Metro, but they should stay aware so that they get off the train at the Sendai transfer station. Outside of this station, the passenger could take a bus from the Sendai Municipal Bus line, and head towards the Shrine. They will arrive at the Shrine in just 20 minutes.

Another option is to make a transfer from this station to the Senzan Line railway, which goes through the Tohokufukushidai-Mae station, and reaches the Osaki Hachiman Shrine station, which is located near the Shrine.

Fun facts

• The Sendai Metro was closed down for a long time due to the strong damage it took from the 2011 earthquake. It was reconstructed, and it was once again opened to the public on December of that same year, but only with the Namboku line. The Tozai Line was not ready until 2015.
• The Namboku Line had a new mechanism installed into it that made it possible to control the departure and braking of its trains in a way that they would not make sudden changes in movement for their passengers, and also to avoid sudden peaks of electricity consumption. This mechanism is known as “Fuzzy Logic,” and has been greatly effective. It works especially well during peak hours, since it also works as a substitute for human drivers.
• The Sendai Metro is considered the best means of transportation to get to know the city. This is why there are posters every station that show information about places and addresses, which have an English translation included so that foreigners that do not speak Japanese can read them. The Sendai, Kotodai Koen, and Hirosedori stations are located downtown. From these stations, the passenger can find interesting places to sightsee.