Sendai is the main city for a region of Honshu known as Miyagi, and was a great stopping point between my travels between Hokkaido to the north and Tokyo/Kyoto to the south. The surrounding areas had plenty to see and do and all within a short set of train journeys away. As well as that the city itself was relatively big and had such pleasures as a local cat cafe, a pokemon centre and plenty of hidden bars and cafes.
If you're in the area and want a good place to base yourself, I'd recommend Sendai wholeheartedly.