Aoba-jō, Hanagasa Odori and Tanabata

The “hill of the green leaves” above the Hirose is the location of the Castle and  government center over Sendai Date Masamune ordered to be built in 1602 . After several earthquakes, it was partially dismantled during the Meji restoration in 1870. Further destruction due to a fire in 1882 and the firebombing in WW II by the US destroyed almost everything left. Today only the castle walls and one restored tower exist as well as a statue for the Date clan that built the fortress.  The museum tour with augmented reality seems to try to remedy this somewhat.
As I  did not take the tour, I can not say how good that works.
The views over Sendai and over to the big white Buddha statue are good though. On the other side, the views go up into the sea. I would really recommend to go up here for the views alone.

As luck would have it there was a local group setting up for a little presentation. Together with a Taiko group this was a mix of drums and local Samurai lore. All the local heros in attendance.  The one with the eyepatch representative of Date Masamune, the local folk hero and Hasekura Tsunenaga (in the colorful Kimono,  with the cross) – one of his retainers – , who went to Spain and Rome to further christanisation and trade agreements. His trip went eastward via Mexico and the Spanish trade routes to Europe. During his embassy, he was baptised met kings and the pope before he came back to Japan. Unfortunately, the Osaka rebellion with the participation of christans led the Shogunate to isolate Japan. Christianity was forbidden for the next 200 years.

After the a bit of house keeping (washing ) in the hotel and preparing for our next evening excursion. This time we took the local train through the mountains to Yamagata. Our goal was the Hanagasa Odori (flower hat dance). But somehow evening excursions are not really our thing it seems and it started to rain again.
This time it did die down a bit only to pick up again during the event.
And our location – before the official – start point was a mixed bag. Some of the groups were already dancing and giving a show, while others did just line up. Our departure lined up with a pause for the dancers and the rain picking up a lot.
The sun had set as well. Making the way back a dark experience.

Back in Sendai I strolled through the lanterns hung for the Tanabata festival. The preparations we experienced a few days ago having come to their conclusion now.