Terminal 1

Domestic and international share the same building at SDJ

Sendai Airport basically runs everything out of one main building, officially called Terminal 1, so domestic ANA/JAL and international flights all use the same check-in and security areas. Check-in counters line the 1st floor, security and departures sit on the 2nd floor, and the train station connection from Sendai city drops you right in front of the terminal in about 25 minutes on the Sendai Airport Line.

Layout: compact and easy to walk end to end

From one end of the departures concourse to the other takes roughly 5–7 minutes at normal walking speed, and there’s no train or bus between areas because everything sits in this single Terminal 1 building. Domestic gates cluster closer to the central security checkpoint, while international gates are pushed toward one side of the concourse, all within one straight hallway. Elevators and escalators connect arrivals on the 1st floor with departures on the 2nd floor in under a minute.

Food: gyutan, pasta, and coffee in the same terminal

On the landside departures floor, Gyutan Restaurant Jinchu serves Sendai’s signature grilled beef tongue, with set meals usually running around ¥1,800–¥2,500 and drawing people even on non-flight days. Nearby, Caffe & Bar PRONTO handles the espresso, beer, and simple pasta side, with morning sets under ¥700 and happy-hour drinks in the ¥500–¥600 range. Both sit before security in Terminal 1, so you can eat together with people not flying, then head upstairs to security about 30–40 minutes before a domestic departure.

Shops: souvenirs and convenience items in one place

ANA FESTA on the departures level sells local Miyagi sweets like zunda (edamame) mochi and regional snacks typically priced between ¥500 and ¥1,500 per box. SKY SHOP BOOMERANG stocks standard travel items, drinks, and last-minute gifts close to the main central concourse area, useful if you want a bottled tea or umbrella under ¥1,000 before heading to security. Dashi-ro－GoLD－ focuses on dashi and seasoning products tied to Tohoku flavors, with bottled stock and gift sets usually in the ¥800–¥2,000 range.

Lounges and seating situation

Terminal 1 at Sendai doesn’t list any airline-branded lounges or independent pay-per-use lounges, so status flyers on ANA or JAL mostly rely on gate seating. Power outlets are scattered along the main departure seating areas, especially near the central gates, and the airport’s free Wi‑Fi typically gives you enough bandwidth for streaming at around 5–10 Mbps in speed tests reported by visitors.

Ground transport and timing

The Sendai Airport Line train connects the terminal to JR Sendai Station in about 25 minutes, with most daytime departures running every 15–30 minutes and a one-way fare around ¥660 for adults. Buses and taxis line up directly outside the arrivals level, and a taxi run into central Sendai usually takes 35–45 minutes depending on traffic and costs several thousand yen. Build a 60-minute cushion from train arrival to domestic gate if you still need to check a bag at the Terminal 1 counters.

Last tip: eat before security

Since the main named spots like Gyutan Restaurant Jinchu and PRONTO sit landside in Terminal 1, you get the most choice if you arrive 60–90 minutes before departure and eat on the public side. After security, options shrink quickly and you may end up with just vending machines and small kiosks close to the domestic and international gates for anything under ¥500.