Tohoku road trip planner: Sendai to Matsushima, Zao, Hiraizumi, Aizu

This guide starts from Sendai Airport. From Sendai-Miyagi IC, the expressway takes you to Matsushima in about 34 minutes, towards Zao and Yamagata in about 41 minutes, to Ichinoseki (for Hiraizumi) in about 55 minutes, to Aizu-Wakamatsu in about 108 minutes and to Morioka in about 111 minutes. Standard-car tolls are ¥1,300 to ¥4,490 one way. Visitors with a non-Japanese passport can use the flat-rate Tohoku Expressway Pass instead. The Zao Echo Line to the Okama crater lake closes for winter from 4 November 2026.

How long are the main drives from Sendai?

Drive	Distance	Time	Toll (standard car)
Sendai-Miyagi IC – Matsushima-Kaigan IC	39.9 km	about 34 min	¥1,300
Sendai-Miyagi IC – Yamagata-Zao IC	53.5 km	about 41 min	¥1,670
Sendai-Miyagi IC – Ichinoseki IC	87.9 km	about 55 min	¥2,540
Sendai-Miyagi IC – Aizu-Wakamatsu IC	158.3 km	about 108 min	¥4,050
Sendai-Miyagi IC – Morioka IC	179.7 km	about 111 min	¥4,490

Source: NEXCO Drive Plaza toll and route search, standard car, weekday 10:00 departure (checked on 26 October 2026). Times are between interchanges only.

With expected congestion, the same search gave 1 hour 7 minutes to Ichinoseki IC and 2 hours 3 minutes to Morioka IC. Add the time from Sendai Airport to Sendai-Miyagi IC and for breaks.

The toll was the same with ETC and in cash in our weekday search. ETC discounts depend on the day and time, so check the official toll search for your own trip.

Should I get the Tohoku Expressway Pass?

The Tohoku Expressway Pass (TEP) from NEXCO East gives unlimited use of Tohoku expressways for a flat price.

	Details
Who can use it	Visitors with a non-Japanese passport
Price (standard car)	¥8,500 for 4 consecutive days, up to ¥17,000 for 8 days
How to get it	Apply at a participating rental car office, together with an ETC card. The car and ETC card rental are extra
Deadline	Applications accepted until 31 March 2027

Source: NEXCO East (Drive Plaza), Tohoku Expressway Pass (checked on 26 October 2026)

For comparison, the one-way regular toll from Sendai-Miyagi IC to Morioka IC was ¥4,490 in our search. Add up the drives you plan and compare them with the pass price. See Japan expressways and ETC cards for how ETC lanes work.

Where do I pick up the car at Sendai Airport?

All four companies below take you between the airport and their office by free shuttle.

Company	How you get to the car
Toyota Rent a Car	Call the shop from the phone at the 1F reception counter. The shuttle comes in about 5–10 minutes, to the left of the terminal exit
Nippon Rent-A-Car	Counter on the right after the arrival gate, then free shuttle bus. Staff languages include English, Chinese, Korean and Thai
Times Car Rental	Reception desk on the arrival floor, then free shuttle (about 10 minutes). Return the car at least 1 hour before your flight
ORIX Rent-A-Car	Rental car counter in the domestic arrivals lobby, then free shuttle (about 5 minutes)

Source: Toyota Rent-Lease Miyagi; Nippon Rent-A-Car; Times Car Rental; ORIX Rent-A-Car (checked on 26 October 2026)

What can I see around Matsushima and Hiraizumi?

Stop	Notes
Matsushima	About 5 minutes from Matsushima-Kaigan IC to Zuiganji and the boat pier. The temples have no parking of their own; use nearby lots such as the free town-run Sangari lot (310 spaces)
Michi-no-Eki Genbikei	Mochi (rice cake) dishes and exhibits. 9:00–18:00 (9:00–17:00 November–March)
Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi	Local produce and a restaurant in World Heritage Hiraizumi. 9:00–18:00 (shorter in winter)
Chusonji Temple	Nearest exit: Hiraizumi-Maesawa IC (99.4 km, about 1 h 10 min from Sendai IC, according to Chusonji). Town-run Lots 1 and 2 have 148 and 322 spaces

Source: Matsushima Tourism Association; Japan Michi-no-Eki Association; Chusonji; Hiraizumi Tourism Association (checked on 26 October 2026)

What about Zao and Yamadera?

Stop	Notes
Michi-no-Eki Murata	Broad-bean udon, cakes and buns. 9:00–17:00, closed over the New Year holidays
Zao Okama Crater Lake	About 1 hour from Murata IC or Shiraishi IC via the Zao Echo Line and the Zao Highline toll road. Free summit car park (about 350 spaces), then a 3-minute walk
Yamadera (Risshakuji Temple)	About 1 h 30 min by car from Sendai, according to the Yamadera Tourism Association. No official temple car park; use paid lots nearby. Admission ¥500 for adults, cash only

Source: Japan Michi-no-Eki Association; Zao Town Tourism Association; Yamadera Tourism Association; Yamagata Prefecture official tourism site (checked on 26 October 2026)

The Zao Echo Line is closed every night from 17:00 to 8:00 until the morning of 4 November 2026, and then closed for winter from 17:00 on 4 November 2026 until 11:00 on 23 April 2027 (planned). The Zao Highline is open 8:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Both can close in bad weather, snow or ice.

What about Aizu-Wakamatsu?

Stop	Notes
Michi-no-Eki Kunimi Atsukashi-no-Sato	Seasonal fruit, the Kunimi Burger and peach parfaits. 9:00–17:30 (varies by facility)
Michi-no-Eki Inawashiro	Snacks, dining, tourist information and shop. 9:00–18:00 (changes in winter)
Tsuruga-jo Castle	Nearest exit: Aizu-Wakamatsu IC. Use car parks such as Nishi-Demaru (200 spaces, ¥200 for the first hour for small cars). Castle tower 8:30–17:00, ¥410 for adults

Source: Japan Michi-no-Eki Association; Tsuruga-jo Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Tourism Bureau) (checked on 26 October 2026)

What changes in winter?

• The Zao Echo Line is closed from 4 November 2026 to 23 April 2027 (planned), so you cannot drive to the Okama crater lake.
• Several stops have shorter hours. Michi-no-Eki Genbikei closes at 17:00 from November to March, and Yamadera is open 8:30–15:00 from December to March.
• Chusonji’s town-run car parks close at 16:30 from December to February.

Source: Zao Town Tourism Association; Japan Michi-no-Eki Association; Yamadera Tourism Association; Hiraizumi Tourism Association (checked on 26 October 2026)

For winter tires and chains on a rental car, see Winter tires and chains in Japan.