Location & Geography

Sendai is located at lat. 38°16'05" north, long. 140°52'11" west. The city's area is 788.09 km2, and stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Ou Mountains, which are the east and west borders of Miyagi Prefecture. As a result, the city's geography is quite diverse. Plains are found in the east, hilly areas are found in the center, and the west of the city is mountainous. The highest point in the city is Mt. Funagata which stands 1,500 m over sea level.

The Hirose-gawa River flows 45 km through Sendai. The river is well-known as a symbol of Sendai, especially because it appears in the lyrics of Aobajo¯ Koiuta (literally, The Aoba Castle Love Song), a popular song sung by Sato Muneyuki. Sendai castle was built close to the river, intending to use it as a natural moat. The river frequently flooded until the 1950s, but dams and levees constructed in the 1960s and 1970s have made such floods rare. The river is now known for its exceptionally clean water and natural beauty, and was selected by Japan's Environment Agency as one of Japan's 100 Great Waters.

The mountains found in Sendai are dormant volcanoes, much older than the more famous Zao and Narugo volcanoes found in nearby municipalities. However, many hot springs can be found in the city, indicating active hydrothermal activity. The Miyagi Oki earthquake occurs offshore Sendai once every 25 to 40 years. The last Miyagi Oki earthquake occurred in 1978.

The Climate

Sendai is situated in a temperate climate zone and has a moderate climate. The city's average temperature is 12.1°C, and its average annual precipitation is 1,241.8 mm. The highest recorded temperature in the city is 36.8°C, and the lowest recorded temperature is -11.7°C. The average year has 16.8 days with a high temperature over 30°C and only 2.2 days with a high temperature below 0°C, which is smaller compared to other major Japanese cities. The city is rarely hit by typhoons, and experiences only 6 days with more than 10 cm of snowfall in the average year. Sendai's rainy season usually begins in late June to early July, which is later than most cities in Japan.