7 Must-Visit Fall Foliage Spots in Sendai to Make the Most of Autumn

According to a forecast released in October 2025 by the weather information company Nippon Meteorological Co., Ltd., the best time to see autumn leaves in Sendai is expected to be around November 27, 2025. The peak is forecast to be around the annual average.
However, the best viewing time may vary depending on the spot and future temperatures, so please keep that in mind.

A Jodo sect temple founded in 1706.
Locals affectionately call it “Jogi-san.”
Many worshippers visit “Jogi-san” throughout the year for blessings related to matchmaking and children.
The grounds are also full of highlights, including the sanmon gate and Kosodate Kannon. The Approx. 30m five-story pagoda is especially not to be missed.
At Jogi Nyorai Saihoji Temple, the grounds turn red and yellow in autumn.
The harmony between the stately structures, including the five-story pagoda, and the vivid autumn leaves is one of its greatest attractions, creating a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
With many kinds of trees, you can see delicate changes in color, including red, yellow, and green, and it is also interesting how the autumn leaves look different depending on the direction and spot.

The mausoleum of Date Masamune, founder of the Sendai Domain. Following Masamune’s dying wish after his death in 1636, it was built the following year by Tadamune, the second lord of the domain.
Near Zuihoden are Date family mausoleums such as Kansenden, the mausoleum of Date Tadamune, and Zennoden, the mausoleum of Date Tsunamune, as well as an attached museum. The area is designated as a Sendai City historic site under the name Kyogamine Date Family Cemetery.
The highlight is the harmony between the vividly decorated main hall and the brilliant autumn leaves, making this a one-of-a-kind place that feels both powerful and distinctly Japanese.
It is also an excellent photo spot, and you should definitely capture its appearance framed by autumn leaves.
During the autumn foliage event “Zuihoden Momiji Meguri,” the area is also illuminated at night.
You should be able to enjoy a magical view of the autumn leaves that is completely different from the daytime scenery.

Along with Aoba-dori Avenue, this is one of the main streets that symbolizes Sendai, known as the “City of Trees.”
Its four rows of zelkova trees stretch for around 700m and can be enjoyed through every season, from fresh greenery to autumn leaves.
The center of the road is a promenade, making it a pleasant place for a leisurely walk with a coffee in hand.
Thanks to its beautiful scenery, Jozenji-dori Avenue has also been selected as one of the “100 Best Roads in Japan.”
In autumn, the avenue is brilliantly colored with yellow and orange leaves.
The canopy of yellow overhead and the fallen leaves along the beautiful zelkova-lined street are especially worth seeing.
Bronze statues are also installed, which is another reason you can enjoy the autumn leaves in an artistic atmosphere.

Rinnoji Temple is a Soto sect temple founded in 1441 by Date Mochimune. Its mountain name is Kongohozanko.
The Japanese garden, with a pond at its center and a three-story pagoda rising in the northwest, is considered one of the most beautiful in Tohoku.
You can enjoy the beauty of the temple and nature throughout the year.
Surrounded by many kinds of trees, the nature-rich grounds of Rinnoji Temple are vividly colored by autumn leaves in fall.
The autumn foliage in the Japanese garden is especially breathtaking.
The ginkgo leaves covering the ground like a carpet and the autumn leaves seen together with karesansui, a Japanese dry landscape garden that expresses mountain and water scenery without using water, create a distinctly Japanese mood.
It would be fair to say this is a sight you can only see at Rinnoji Temple.

Located in Taihaku Ward of Sendai City, Akiu Otaki Falls is designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty and is also one of the “100 Best Waterfalls in Japan.”
Although there is no clearly defined selector and it is not a fixed classification, it is sometimes counted among the “Three Great Waterfalls of Japan.”
The water of the Natori River plunges down with a drop of 55m and a width of 6m, creating an impressive sight.
In autumn, the area around the waterfall is colored with autumn leaves and the green of evergreen trees.
The contrast between the rocky surface, the pure white waterfall, and the vivid autumn leaves is beautiful, creating a truly spectacular scene in nature.

Rairaikyo Gorge, located in Taihaku Ward of Sendai City, is a gorge known for its many unusual rock formations created by erosion from the Natori River.
The mystical scenery shaped by nature and the beautiful rock faces that convey a sense of strength are among its charms.
You can enjoy the kind of dramatic scenery that is unique to a gorge.
From Nozoki Bridge, you can also see a naturally formed heart-shaped hollow, making it a popular place for couples.
In autumn, the entire area is colored by fall foliage, and you can feel both the power of nature and vivid color at once.
Rairaikyo Gorge, dyed in red and yellow, has the beauty of a landscape painting layered with color.
The area, including the walking trail called “Rairaikyo Momiji no Komichi,” is also illuminated for a limited time.
Please enjoy the gorge and autumn leaves glowing with a magical atmosphere.

Homei Shijuhachi Taki Falls is located in Aoba Ward of Sendai City and has a drop of 25m and a width of around 10m.
It is known for its powerful scenery, with waterfalls of various sizes cascading one after another.
The beautiful clear stream flowing through the lush forest is one of its charms, offering a soothing natural landscape.
Although the origin of the name “Homei” is unclear, the most widely accepted theory is that the sound of the falling water was likened to the cry of a phoenix, the legendary bird of Chinese mythology.
So when you visit, be sure to pay attention to the sound as well.
In autumn, the trees, especially those near the rock face, turn red and yellow.
The vivid autumn leaves and the white foaming stream create a striking and colorful scene with a beauty almost like a postcard.