Sendai — The Dragon's Lost Emissary

Your quest begins at the Sendai Castle Site, founded in 1602 by Date Masamune on Aoba-yama hill, about 140 meters above sea level. Although the main keep was destroyed in 1882 during the Meiji period, the stone wall ruins remain over 2.3 hectares, testifying to the feudal lord's power. This important historical site of Japan, attracting over a million annual visitors, offers panoramic views of Sendai, the "City of Trees." It is here, among the early 17th-century foundations, that your first augmented reality clues will guide you towards the legacy of a man who shaped Tohoku's history.

The path then leads you to the Sendai City Museum, located very close to Aoba-yama Castle. Founded in 1961 and featuring a modern extension in 2022, this museum houses over 60,000 artifacts. Here you will discover samurai armor, original documents from Date Masamune, and objects from the Sendai domain (Sendai-han) dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. A thematic exhibition on dragons in Japanese art and the iconography of the Sendai domain, including Noh theater pieces and historical masks, will provide crucial clues for your investigation into the Lost Emissary of the Dragon.

Your journey continues to the Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, a Shinto sanctuary founded in 1607 by Date Masamune, 1.5 km southwest of Sendai Castle. Its main building, built in Momoyama style and recognized as an important cultural property of Japan since 1975, is dedicated to the god Hachiman, protector of the Sendai domain. Each year, the Donto-sai festival (January 15-16) draws thousands of visitors. This place of worship reveals the symbols and beliefs that forged the identity of this Tohoku region, with decorative motifs that will help you progress in your mission.

The exploration takes you to the Zuihoden Mausoleum, Date Masamune's own mausoleum, built in 1637, 1 km south of the castle, according to his last wishes. Although damaged during the 1945 bombings, this important cultural property of Japan was restored in 1979, respecting the original 17th-century Momoyama style architecture. The golden paintings and sculptures of dragons and mythical creatures adorning the mausoleum are all keys to unlocking the secrets of the Lost Emissary. You will find vital information here about the fate of the lord of Sendai.

Finally, you return to Aoba-yama hill to visit Aoba Shrine, a Shinto sanctuary dedicated to Date Masamune, erected in 1874 on the ruins of Sendai Castle. This important historical site, 500 meters from the original keep, has become a major place of worship. Every May, the Aoba Matsuri festival celebrates Date Masamune with Edo-period costume processions. By completing your quest here, you will have assembled the fragments of a rich history, connecting the vestiges of the past to the vitality of Sendai, a city that, from the Heian period to the modern architecture of the Sendai Mediatheque, has constantly reinvented itself.