Mitakisan Fudoin

Welcome to Mitakisan Fudoin, perhaps one of the most surprising spiritual sites in all of Sendai. As you stand in the middle of the bustling Clis Road shopping arcade, surrounded by modern boutiques, cafes, and digital displays,…

Entering Mitakisan Fudoin from the arcade is a sensory experience like no other. One moment you are on a polished tile floor under high, glass-roofed ceilings, and the next, you are stepping onto the weathered stone and wood of a…

The main hall of Mitakisan Fudoin is small but intensely focused. At its center is Fudo Myoo, the 'Immovable One,' a fierce deity in Esoteric Buddhism who protects the faithful and destroys obstacles. …

Within the temple grounds, you will find a dedicated space for Sendai Shiro. He is typically depicted as a plump, smiling man sitting in a relaxed posture. …

Just a short two-minute walk from the temple entrance is another Sendai institution: Abe Kamaboko. While it may seem like a simple shop, it is famous for 'Hyotan-age,' or gourd-shaped fried kamaboko. …

Following the arcade toward its end, we emerge onto Jozenji Street, one of Sendai's most beautiful boulevards. Known as the 'City of Trees,' Sendai is famous for the zelkova trees that line this avenue, creating a lush green…

Before we conclude our tour of the Mitakisan area, we must try one of Sendai's most unique and beloved treats: the Zunda Milkshake. Zunda is a paste made from sweetened, mashed edamame (green soybeans). …

As we step back out into the full flow of the Clis Road arcade, take a moment to carry the stillness of Mitakisan Fudoin with you. We have journeyed from the high-tech retail environment of twenty-first-century Japan into a…