Below is the shopping are that is approximately 5 blocks in length, it extends three roads in depth. Lots of stores, very expensive to very cheap. It just depends on what you want and how bad you want it, I think.
This is the local "Dollar Store" also known as the Yen Store. Everything is 100 yen. This particular store is 5 floors tall. It wears a body out going up and down. Must be organized when shopping in this particular Yen Store. I had no clue. I was tired by the end of the shopping trip, no doubt there! By the way, they get all their stuff from China too. I think China is taking over the world via Dollar/Yen Stores!


This picture was taken because of it's unique qualities. We are shopping in an open mall area. There is a glass ceiling but the sides are open and the mall has been built between skyrises. This particular part of the mall features live organ music. At the top of this picture sits a litttle man playing organ ballads all day for local Sendai shoppers. Here we are on the bus. On the right side, closest to me, is Rumi, Laura, Melissa, Jo & William. On the left side, Paula & James and Kim, then some Japan guy trying to ignore us crazy Americans. The train is similar to that found in US cities with the exception that the seats are very toasty warm! Man these Japanese like their bottoms well warmed. : )
Here is Rumi buying us tickets for all the public transportation requirements of the day. The ticket goes in the machine when you pass through the departing turn-style, then is spit out for you to give to the arriving turn-style. Don't forget to get that ticket! I did and some sweet Japanese lady was calling to me to stop me so that she could give it to me. I had no idea what was going on because I tune out Japanese. I can't understand it so why bother to pay attention to it. That's my thinking.

The above pictures were taken on Saturday, February 21, 2009. That was our first big venture into Sendai. Melissa and Rumi were going to show us around town and highlight all the "must sees" of the city. It was pretty fun. We all met at Starbucks in a shopping mall, then took the train to go downtown, about a 20 minute ride. Sendai is probably about the size of Boston. Ironically, history is not saved, in a country older than 4000 years, as it is in the States. Primarily because of post-WW2 rebuilding requirements and the modernization of the country.