Tanabata
The biggest festival in Sendai is Tanabata ä¸å¤. The festival starts with fireworks on Aug 5th and then the festival proper is from Aug 6th to Aug 8th. The streets are decorated with big paper decorations, there's a parade and... well, that's about it.
Pageant of Starlight
In December, there's the Pageant of Starlight which isn't really a festival as such. The trees in two of the city's main avenues - Aoba-dÅri and JÅzenji-dÅri - are festooned in thousands of orange lights. The effect is is very pleasant, with the orange glow casting a warmth over the otherwise cold and frosty streets.
Donto-sai Festival
The Donto-sai Festival is held at the Osaki Hachiman Shrine on January 14 every year.
Rinno-ji Temple
輪ç寺, 1-14-1 kitayama, aoba-ku. +81 22 234-5327 bus: âkitayama - shiheimachi line,â get off at ârinno-ji maeâ. zazen meditation meetings are held every sa 6:30pm-8pm. instruction is given in english and participation is free. wear loose fitting clothing.
Japanese language
Sendai Language School
(http://bweb.pep.ne.jp/car...), sls bldg.5f 1-16-23, ichiban-cho, aoba-ku. +81 22 266-8181, fax: +81 22 266-8182.
Sendai International Relations Association (SIRA)
(http://www.sira.or.jp/) arranges non-profit japanese classes at various locations in the city (http://www.sira.or.jp/eng...).