Day 28 Akita Dogs and a Sendai Shopping Maze

We started the day in Ōdate with visits to the Akita Dog Museum and visitor center. Both were small and quiet, and the live dog on display could only be admired from a distance—an unusual way to meet a dog! Still, we learned a lot about the breed and its history, including Japan’s much-loved Hachikō.

Then we drove back to Hachinohe, returned the car and caught an earlier-than-expected bullet train to Sendai, arriving just before 3 pm. Our conveniently located JAL City hotel will be our base for the next few days.

An afternoon exploring town somehow added up to six miles. Sendai is busy, with shopping arcades, tree-lined streets and parks that looked a little tired. The biggest navigational challenge was finding groceries among the station’s many shopping levels. Yesterday we followed a river through a gorge; today we could have used a trail marker pointing toward the milk!

Tonight we plan to round off our Akita day with Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. Feet up—and tissues ready.Read more