Sendaicity and capital, Miyagi ken (prefecture), northern Honshu, Japan. The city is situated inland of the western Pacific Ocean, the central districts lying between the Nanakita -gawa (Nanakita River) and the Hirose -gawa. Sendai was architecturally rivers. The city is bounded to the south by the Natori River, south of which is the city of Natori; to the northeast is the port city of Shiogama, on the southwestern corner of Matsushima Bay.


-yama (Aoba



in the western part of the contemporary city. Now the largest city and commercial centre of the Tōhoku



, in the southwestern corner of Matsushima-wan (Matsushima Bay),


Sendai is an educational centre and the seat of Tōhoku University. Sendai has one of the highest ratios of park space to city area in Japan because of its reconstruction after World War II. The Shintō shrine of Osaki Hachiman is valued for its architectural beauty. Tourists from all over throughout Japan are attracted to the city by the annual Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival; August 6–8) and to the nearby Matsushima Bay, portions of which are renowned for their scenery.

In March 2011 the Sendai region was heavily damaged by a large tsunami that swept inland after being triggered by a massive underwater earthquake centred in the Pacific about 80 miles (130 km) east of the city. Hundreds of people were killed, and property damage was extensive. Pop. (20052010) city, 1,025,098.045,903; (2009 est.) metro. area, 2,362,000.