Local Events & News

On Friday, July 3, 2026, the TBS special program "Kuchi wo Soroeta Fushigi na Hanashi — Early Summer Nationwide Mystery Spot Investigation SP" featured "Marusen," a local shop located just a 1-minute walk from MARUKI Saifuku.

Marusen is a quietly famous "power spot" said to be home to three zashiki-warashi — benevolent household spirits from Japanese folklore named Kotaro, Michi, and Sacchi — who are believed to dwell in the shop's storehouse. Visitors travel from all across Japan to pay their respects. On this program, Shintaro Fukazawa of Snow Man — who openly says he has the ability to sense things others cannot — took on his long-awaited zashiki-warashi investigation. Together with comedian Takashi Sakai of The Mammy, he explored the storehouse and reacted with genuine surprise to one mysterious occurrence after another.

Since the broadcast, our website has received a wonderful surge of visitors. We hope the program conveyed a different, deeper side of Kakuda — one where warm, nostalgic folk beliefs still quietly live on, alongside its well-known identity as the "City of Space."

And here's a little wonder of our own to share. Not long ago, one of our guests — someone who says they can sense such presences — stayed with us right after visiting Marusen. According to them, they sensed something here at MARUKI Saifuku, too. "Perhaps I brought one along with me from Marusen," they told us with a smile. In Japanese folklore, a zashiki-warashi is said to bring good fortune to the home it settles in — so if one truly has found its way here, we couldn't be more delighted.

Stay at MARUKI Saifuku and Marusen is just steps away. We'd be delighted to be your base for a trip to meet the zashiki-warashi of Kakuda. The episode is available for catch-up streaming on TVer (for a limited time).

This summer, a truly special exhibition awaits just a few minutes' walk from MARUKI Saifuku — where the world of Pokémon meets the mysteries of the universe.

The "Pokémon Astronomical Observatory" is a special exhibition that lets visitors explore the many wonders of the universe through the fascinating ecology of Pokémon from the Pocket Monsters game series. From our familiar Moon and Sun to the far reaches of distant galaxies — embark on an adventure with Pokémon and peer into the vast, mysterious cosmos.

The Miyagi venue for this nationally touring exhibition is Kakuda Denen Hall in Kakuda City. The event is organized by the Kakuda City Board of Education and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, with cooperation from JAXA — a fitting collaboration for Kakuda, known as the "City of Space."

The exhibition runs from July 5 to September 15 — spanning about two and a half months of summer. It's perfect for children's summer homework projects, and adults too will enjoy this unique experience of exploring cosmic mysteries alongside Pokémon.

If you stay at MARUKI Saifuku, the venue is just a short walk away. Imagine enjoying the exhibition first thing in the morning, then leisurely strolling through Kakuda town — a perfect summer day. Tickets are available through Seven Ticket.

The rice paddies are filled with water and the satoyama hills are deepening into lush green. Today we'd like to introduce a local festival in early summer Kakuda where you can savor the season's best.

Kakuda City is known as the "Village of Plum Blossoms" for its thriving plum production. The "Ume Plum Festival in Kakuda" is held every year at peak green plum season at Michi-no-Eki Kakuda — just about 10 minutes by car from MARUKI Saifuku — making it a beloved early summer tradition.

The star of the festival is "Shiraga" (白加賀), a premium variety of large, high-quality green plums considered ideal for making umeshu (plum wine) and plum juice. Prized for their generous flesh and rich aroma that produces a mellow finish, these plums are so popular that long queues form before the doors even open. The venue also features an array of homemade products from local producers — umeshu, umeboshi (pickled plums), plum sweets, and more. The classic "old-fashioned sour and salty umeboshi" unique to Kakuda is a must-try.

Doors open at 9:00 AM and sales continue until sold out, so an early visit is recommended. It's the perfect stop after check-out or as a morning outing the day after your stay.

Preparing homemade umeshu or plum preserves at home — "ume-shigoto" (plum work) — is a special ritual where every time you open the jar, memories of early summer in Kakuda come flooding back. When staying at MARUKI Saifuku, why not make it a trip to bring home seasonal Shiraga plums?

Fresh green leaves are shining brilliantly this season. Today we'd like to introduce a music festival that fills the streets of Sendai with melody on the first Sunday of June — a quintessential early summer experience.

The "Totteoki Music Festival" is a street music festival born in Sendai in 2001. Its philosophy is to create a world where people with and without disabilities enjoy music together, aiming for a "barrier-free heart." The motto is "Everyone is different, and that's wonderful." It is the largest festival of its kind in Japan, and this year marks a milestone 25th edition.

For the 25th festival in 2026, 312 artists and groups will perform across 29 stages throughout central Sendai — including Kotodai Park Citizens' Plaza, Higashi-Ichiban-cho Shopping Street, and the area in front of Sendai Mediatheque. Regardless of professional or amateur status, diverse genres from jazz, chorus, and taiko drums to gospel and brass bands will echo through the streets all day long. The stages are within walking distance of each other, making it a delight to stroll with a map in hand, discovering your favorite sounds. Food trucks will also be set up around the venues, offering delicious dining in the pleasant early summer weather.

Admission is free, and you're free to choose whichever stage appeals to you — that sense of openness is part of the charm. It's a special once-a-year Sunday when the city of Sendai itself becomes the stage.

Why not depart a little early the morning after your stay at MARUKI Saifuku and head into central Sendai? You're sure to discover a "totteoki" (special) sound that stays with you.

The pleasant May breeze has arrived. Rice paddies in Kakuda are filled with water, and the satoyama hills are lush and vibrant.

We'd love for you to visit "Michi-no-Eki Kakuda" (Roadside Station Kakuda), just about 10 minutes by car from MARUKI Saifuku. Opened in 2019 as a community hub for Kakuda, it features freshly harvested vegetables delivered by local farmers each morning, seasonal fruits, and a wide selection of local products.

May is peak season for early summer greens — freshly picked asparagus, snap peas, and crisp lettuce fill the shelves. Kakuda is also known for its three signature products: rice, soybeans, and plums. You'll find popular local items like miso and tofu made from Kakuda-grown soybeans, as well as plum preserves. For a unique souvenir, look for products featuring Kakuda's "space rice" or the local shochu "Muuhime no Koi," made from Kakuda-grown space potatoes.

The attached food court also serves dishes featuring Kakuda-grown ingredients. Why not stop by during your drive and take home a taste of Kakuda?

For guests staying at MARUKI Saifuku, it's the perfect stop before check-in or after check-out.

As the trees reach their most vibrant greens, we'd love to recommend the "Abukuma Line Boat Ride" in neighboring Marumori Town.

Drift along the gorge carved by the Abukuma River over millennia, guided by a boatman on a leisurely 70-minute journey. May is when the fresh greenery on both banks is at its most beautiful — the reflections of verdant leaves and striking rock formations on the water create a natural scroll painting. The river breeze and gentle pace offer a perfect escape from everyday life.

The boatman's stories about the history of the Abukuma River and local life in Marumori add a special charm to the trip. Passengers of all ages are welcome aboard.

After the boat ride, we recommend exploring Marumori Town. Visit "Sairi Yashiki," a historic merchant estate open to the public since the Edo period, or enjoy forest bathing at "Fudoson Park" along the clear stream.

Marumori Town is only about 20 minutes by car from MARUKI Saifuku — a perfect activity for the day after your stay.

On May 5 (Tue, National Holiday), the "33rd Kakuda Space Kids Festival" will be held at Daiyama Park in Kakuda City.

Kakuda is home to the JAXA Kakuda Space Center, and this annual festival offers unique space-themed experiences including water rocket launches and daytime astronomical observations. There are also activities for the whole family such as trout catching, tree climbing, and yosakoi dance performances.

Children (elementary school age and under) can collect stamps on a planetary stamp rally — collect 4 stamps for a chance at the capsule toy machine. Food stalls will also be available.