Sendai City Museum
Tohoku Region
Located on the historic site of the former Third Bailey of Sendai Castle, Sendai City Museum is the main museum of Sendai, Japan, dedicated to the history, culture, and art of the Tohoku region. Established in 1961, it houses approximately 97,000 items, with around 1,000 on display, including important cultural assets related to the Date clan and the Keicho Embassy to Europe. Among its most notable exhibits are Date Masamune's black lacquered five-plate armor, which inspired Darth Vader's costume design in Star Wars, and artifacts related to Hasekura Tsunenaga's diplomatic mission to Rome. The museum building, completed in 1986 and designed by the Sato Takeo Architectural Office, won a public architecture award in 1990. Besides permanent exhibitions, the museum offers a play museum for children, a restaurant, and a museum shop. The outdoor grounds feature monuments honoring Sendai-related historical figures and memorials for military horses from the former Second Division of the Imperial Japanese Army. The museum is temporarily closed for renovations until March 2024. It is easily accessible via Sendai's subway and bus systems, located within Aobayama Park near the Sendai International Center.
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Tip: The best time to visit is outside of the renovation closure period, ideally between April 2024 and autumn for pleasant weather. Advance ticket purchase is recommended during peak seasons to avoid queues. Visitors can enjoy discounts for seniors, students, and groups. The museum is accessible by an 8-minute walk from the Sendai International Center subway station and served by multiple bus routes. Don't miss the children's play museum for interactive experiences and try to visit when special exhibitions of Date Masamune's armor or Keicho Embassy artifacts are on display.
Interesting facts
- •Date Masamune's black lacquered five-plate armor inspired Darth Vader's costume design in Star Wars.
- •The museum holds approximately 97,000 items, with about 1,000 exhibited at a time.
- •Three items from the museum - the Roman citizenship certificate and portraits of Hasekura Tsunenaga and Pope Paul V - are inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
- •The museum building won the 2nd Public Architecture Award in 1990 for excellence.
- •The museum grounds contain monuments gifted from Suzhou, China, including a statue of Lu Xun.
History
The museum was founded in 1961 to preserve and display cultural properties donated by the Date family, who historically ruled the Sendai domain.
The site was originally part of the Sendai Castle's Third Bailey.
After several expansions in the first decade, the museum shifted focus from a general museum to one specializing in humanities.
It became an official facility for displaying national treasures and important cultural properties in 1975.
The current building was constructed between 1983 and 1986, designed by the Sato Takeo Architectural Office, and has since hosted a variety of exhibitions showcasing the region's rich history.
Renovations are underway from 2021 to 2024 to extend the building's lifespan.
Place Guide
Permanent Exhibition Rooms
These rooms display artifacts related to the Date clan, Sendai domain history, and the Keicho Embassy to Europe, including national treasures such as the Roman citizenship certificate and portraits of Hasekura Tsunenaga and Pope Paul V.
Children's Play Museum
An interactive area where children can try on samurai armor and play traditional Japanese musical instruments, designed to engage young visitors with Sendai's cultural heritage.
Outdoor Grounds and Monuments
The museum's outdoor area features monuments such as the Lu Xun statue gifted from Suzhou, reliefs of local historical figures, and memorials for military horses from the former Imperial Japanese Army's Second Division. The relocated bust of Date Masamune is now displayed nearby at Sendai Ryokusai-kan.
Contact
Phone: 022-225-3074