【Haikyu!!】(Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)
Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture as the Stage for Haikyu!!
“Haikyu!!” is a popular manga series about high school volleyball created by Haruichi Furudate, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2012 to 2020. The work has also been adapted into an anime and is extremely popular both domestically and internationally. The setting for this series is Miyagi Prefecture, centered around Sendai City.
Since author Haruichi Furudate is from Miyagi Prefecture, the work features numerous actual facilities and landscapes, making it a popular “pilgrimage to sacred sites” destination among fans. Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region and is an attractive city where abundant nature and urban functions are harmoniously balanced.
This article provides detailed information about sacred sites in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture that Haikyu!! fans must visit at least once, locations that served as models for high schools that appear in the work, and actual competition venues.
Model Locations of Karasuno High School and Related Spots in Sendai
The Setting of Karasuno High School and Its Real-World Model
“Karasuno High School,” where protagonist Shoyo Hinata attends, is depicted in the work as a public high school located within Miyagi Prefecture. While Karasuno High School itself reportedly has no specific real-world model, it is believed to have been inspired by multiple high schools and facilities within Miyagi Prefecture.
The gymnasium, school buildings, and surrounding landscapes of Karasuno High School that appear in the work faithfully reproduce the atmosphere of a typical public high school in Miyagi Prefecture, making the depiction very familiar to local residents.
Sendai City Gymnasium (Kamei Arena Sendai)
The Sendai City Gymnasium is believed to be the model for an important competition venue that appears in Haikyu!!. Its official name is “Kamei Arena Sendai,” a comprehensive gymnasium located in Aoba Ward, Sendai City.
It is an actual venue where high school volleyball tournaments and Interhigh preliminaries in Miyagi Prefecture are held, and the realism of the competition scenes depicted in the work is thought to be based on this actual facility.
Facility Information:
- Location: 1-1-5 Tsutsumi-cho, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
- Access: About 15 minutes walk from “Kita-Sendai Station” on the Sendai City Subway Namboku Line
- Capacity: Approximately 4,000 people
- Main purposes: Basketball, volleyball, various sports events
Zebiō Arena Sendai (Former Sekisui Heim Super Arena)
Another important competition venue is Zebiō Arena Sendai (formerly Sekisui Heim Super Arena). This facility is located within Miyagi Prefectural General Sports Park and is one of the largest arenas in Miyagi Prefecture, hosting large-scale sports events and concerts.
Among fans, it is believed to have been the model for important match scenes such as the Miyagi Prefecture finals of the Spring High Volleyball Championship.
Facility Information:
- Location: 3-1-7 Minato, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
- Access: About 15 minutes walk from “Nakano-sakae Station” on the JR Isomaki Line, or by bus from Sendai Station
- Capacity: Approximately 7,000 people
Regions That Served as Models for Other Schools in Miyagi Prefecture
Aoba Johsai High School and Sendai’s Aoba Ward
The rival school “Aoba Johsai High School” that appears in the work clearly references Sendai’s Aoba Ward based on its name. Aoba Ward is the central district of Sendai and is known for the ruins of Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle).
Aoba Johsai High School is depicted in the work as a strong school, with distinctive characters such as setter Tooru Oikawa on the team. Aoba Ward is the center of Sendai’s politics, economy, and culture, and is also an academic city with multiple Tohoku University campuses.
Shiratorizawa Gakuen and the Area Around Sendai
“Shiratorizawa Gakuen,” depicted as the absolute champion within Miyagi Prefecture, is set as a prestigious private high school. While no specific real-world model has been explicitly stated, it is believed to have been created by combining elements from multiple private high schools in Miyagi Prefecture.
Wakatoshi Ushijima, the ace of Shiratorizawa Gakuen, is one of the representative characters in the work, and his overwhelming abilities symbolize the high level of high school volleyball in Miyagi Prefecture.
Kamomedai High School and Date City
“Kamomedai High School” is believed to have been named after “Date City,” an actual place name in Miyagi Prefecture. Date City is located northwest of Sendai and is known as a place associated with Masamune Date, a feudal warlord.
In the work, the team is depicted as possessing an iron defense and troubles Karasuno with its unique tactics.
Tourist Spots in Sendai and Haikyu!! Pilgrimage Sites
Around Sendai Station
Sendai Station is a stop on the Tohoku Shinkansen and serves as the gateway to the Tohoku region. Sendai’s cityscapes sometimes appear in the work, and the commercial facilities and entertainment districts around the station play an important role as the setting for the work.
Main attractions:
- Sendai Station West Exit Pedestrian Deck
- Sendai Asaichi (Morning Market)
- Covered shopping streets (Christroad, Hapina Nakakecho, etc.)
- Sendai Parco, PARCO2
Jozenji-dori and Kotodai Park
Jozenji-dori is Sendai’s representative tree-lined avenue, with beautiful zelkova trees lining the street. As a place symbolizing Sendai’s urban landscape, it is believed to have influenced the backgrounds in the work.
Kotodai Park is an urban park in the center of Sendai where various events are held. It is a place where you can feel the atmosphere of Sendai as the characters in the work go about their daily lives.
Aoba Castle Ruins (Sendai Castle Ruins)
The remains of Sendai Castle, built by Masamune Date, are now developed as Aoba-yama Park. It is popular as a viewing spot offering a panoramic view of the Sendai cityscape and was the inspiration for the name “Aoba Johsai High School.”
Points of interest:
- Equestrian statue of Masamune Date
- Panoramic view of Sendai cityscape
- Aoba Castle Museum and Exhibition Hall
- Gokoku Shrine
Hirose River
The Hirose River, which flows through Sendai, also served as the outer moat of Aoba Castle. A walking path has been developed along the river, making it a place of leisure for citizens. It is believed to be one of the models for the naturally abundant landscapes that appear in the work’s backgrounds.
Haikyu!! Related Events and Sendai City
Past Exhibitions and Collaboration Events
Sendai City has hosted multiple Haikyu!! related exhibitions and collaboration events in the past. Original artwork exhibitions, special anime screenings, voice actor talk shows, and other events have been held, drawing fans from across the country.
Commercial facilities such as Sendai Parco and Fujisaki Department Store have hosted limited-time merchandise shops and collaboration cafes, having a significant impact on the local economy.
Collaboration between Sendai City and the Work
Sendai City’s Tourism Division and the Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Association actively conduct tourism PR using Haikyu!!. They have created pilgrimage maps and featured articles on tourism information websites, putting effort into promoting anime tourism.
Collaboration events with local volleyball teams and high schools are also held, promoting the dissemination of volleyball and regional revitalization through the work.
Miyagi Prefecture’s Volleyball Culture and Haikyu!!
The Strength of High School Volleyball in Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture is actually known as a stronghold of high school volleyball. Miyagi Prefecture representative schools often achieve good results at national competitions such as the Spring High Volleyball Championship (All Japan High School Volleyball Championship) and the National Sports Festival.
In the men’s category, Furukawa Gakuen High School and Tohoku High School are known as prefectural powerhouses, while in the women’s category, Furukawa Gakuen High School and Seiwa Gakuen High School are famous, and they produce players of national caliber.
Sendai Bellephyll and Professional Volleyball
“Sendai Bellephyll,” a women’s volleyball team based in Sendai, is a professional team in the V.League. Home games are held primarily at Kamei Arena Sendai, where they receive enthusiastic support from local fans.
With the popularity of Haikyu!!, interest in volleyball viewing has increased, and many work fans visit the competition venue.
Precautions and Etiquette When Making a Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites
Consideration for School Facilities
When visiting places believed to be models for high schools that appear in Haikyu!!, it is important to remember that they are actual educational facilities where students attend school. Please pay attention to the following:
- Do not enter the premises without permission
- Be considerate not to interfere with classes or club activities
- Do not shout or make noise
- Take photographs from public roads and avoid including students or related parties
- Always take your trash with you
Etiquette at Public Facilities
When visiting public facilities such as gymnasiums and arenas, consideration for other users and facility staff is necessary:
- Follow facility usage rules
- Avoid interfering with other users
- Do not photograph in photography-prohibited areas
- Follow instructions from facility staff
Consideration for Local Residents
Pilgrimage to sacred sites is a form of tourism, but these places are also part of residents’ daily lives:
- Act quietly in residential areas
- Do not trespass on private property
- Never park illegally on roads
- Respect local rules and etiquette
Access to Sendai and Tourism Information
Transportation Access
Shinkansen:
- About 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours from Tokyo Station via Tohoku Shinkansen
- About 40 to 50 minutes from Morioka Station via Tohoku Shinkansen
Airplane:
- About 25 minutes from Sendai Airport to Sendai Station via Sendai Airport Access Line
- Sendai Airport has flights to major domestic cities
Express Bus:
- Express buses operate from surrounding cities including Tokyo, Niigata, Yamagata, and Fukushima
Transportation Within the City
Sendai City Subway:
- Namboku Line: Izumi-Chuo Station to Tomizawa Station
- Tōzai Line: Yagiyama Zoo Station to Arai Station
Bus:
- Sendai City Bus and Miyagi Kotsu Bus connect various parts of the city
- “Rūpuru Sendai” (sightseeing loop bus) is also available for convenient tourism
Rental Bicycles:
- Bike-sharing services such as “DATE BIKE” are available
Accommodation
There are various accommodation facilities around Sendai Station, from business hotels to city hotels and capsule hotels. It is a convenient location as a base for pilgrimage to sacred sites.
Main accommodation areas:
- Around Sendai Station (excellent access)
- Kokubun-cho area (near entertainment districts)
- Around Aoba-dori and Jozenji-dori (quiet atmosphere)
Recommended Stay Plans
One-Day Course:
- Morning: Arrive at Sendai Station, explore around Kamei Arena Sendai
- Lunch: Sendai specialty beef tongue
- Afternoon: Visit Aoba Castle ruins, stroll along Jozenji-dori
- Evening: Shopping around Sendai Station, hunt for merchandise
Two-Day Course:
- Day 1: The above one-day course plus a visit to Zebiō Arena Sendai
- Day 2: Extend to other sacred sites in Miyagi Prefecture (Ishinomaki City, Kesennuma City, etc.)
Sendai Cuisine and Ways for Haikyu!! Fans to Enjoy
Sendai Specialty Cuisine
Sendai cuisine to enjoy while taking a break from pilgrimages:
Beef Tongue:
Sendai’s signature gourmet. Thick-cut beef tongue grilled over charcoal, “beef tongue grilled,” is a must-try.
- Popular restaurants: Rikyū, Kisuke, Zenjirou, etc.
Zunda Mochi:
A local confection with rice cakes coated in “zunda,” edamame that has been ground down. Zunda shakes are also popular.
Sasa Kamaboko:
A specialty product of Miyagi Prefecture. Perfect as a souvenir.
Sendai Miso:
Many dishes use Sendai miso.
Ways to Enjoy Meals in Reference to the Work
Haikyu!! also includes many dining scenes. Finding and eating meals that the characters in the work might eat is also one of the pleasures of pilgrimage to sacred sites.
- Voluminous set meals after club activities
- Energy-replenishing menus before competitions
- Recreation of meals during training camps
Economic Effects of Haikyu!! and Sendai City
Impact of Anime Tourism
The popularity of Haikyu!! has increased the number of tourists visiting Sendai. In particular, fans of the work who are in their teens to thirties are increasingly visiting Sendai for the purpose of making pilgrimages to sacred sites.
According to Miyagi Prefecture tourism statistics, an increase in tourists whose purpose is anime and manga has been confirmed, and economic effects are being generated across a wide range of fields including accommodation, dining, transportation, and souvenir purchases.
Contribution to Regional Revitalization
The awareness of Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City has increased through the work, and it has also contributed to an increase in inbound tourists from abroad. Haikyu!! is also popular internationally, and fans from Asian countries, Europe, and North America visit to make pilgrimages to sacred sites.
Local shopping streets and tourism facilities hold Haikyu!! collaboration merchandise sales and special displays to increase their customer base.
Must-Visit Nearby Spots for Haikyu!! Fans
Other Sacred Sites in Miyagi Prefecture
Besides Sendai, there are Haikyu!! related spots scattered throughout Miyagi Prefecture:
Ishinomaki City:
Believed to be the hometown of author Haruichi Furudate and the birthplace of the work.
Kesennuma City:
A region that may have served as a model for a high school that appears in the work.
Shiroishi City:
A region that may have been the inspiration for the name Shiratorizawa Gakuen.
Miyagi Prefectural Library
The Miyagi Prefectural Library holds materials related to manga and anime, and you can also read Haikyu!! volumes. It is recommended to slowly reread the work while planning your pilgrimage to sacred sites.
Sendai City Museum
A museum where you can learn about Masamune Date and the history of Sendai. You can gain a deeper understanding of Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle), which became the inspiration for the name Aoba Johsai High School.
Conclusion: The Charm of Haikyu!! and Sendai City
Haikyu!! is a work set in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, depicting the growth and friendship of young men devoted to high school volleyball. By having real facilities and landscapes appear in the work, these places have become “sacred sites” with special meaning for fans.
Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region while also being a charming city abundant in nature, history, and culture. Through pilgrimage to Haikyu!! sacred sites, you can rediscover the charm of Sendai.
When making a pilgrimage to sacred sites, do not forget to be considerate of local residents and facility users, and enjoy responsibly while following proper etiquette. By visiting with love for the work and respect for the region, you will have a more fulfilling pilgrimage experience.
Haikyu!! fans, please visit Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, and experience the world of the work firsthand. Feel the air of the city where the Karasuno team members rushed about, and you will have a precious opportunity to vicariously experience their passion.
