Matsushima is a gorgeous coastal town in the
Tohoku region featuring a picturesque bay filled with
pine-
covered islets.
Matsushima is a
beautiful seaside city in Miyagi
Prefecture. The centerpiece of the city is breathtaking
Matsushima Bay, dotted with many small islands
covered
in pine trees. The inspiring beauty of the bay is such
that it
has been ranked among Japan’s three most scenic
views.
Matsushima’s natural charm can be enjoyed easily on a
relaxing one-hour cruise around the bay’s islets, or by
casual stroll on a series of footbridges. The bay also is
celebrated in Japanese culture by the pen of famed poet
Matsuo Basho.
In the town of Matsushima sits the temple of Zuiganji,
one
of the Tohoku region’s most important Zen temples. Built
in the mid-800s, it was restored by regional samurai lord
Date Masamune and designated as his family’s temple.
The temple was cunningly designed as a backup
fortress
with narrow passageways, a kitchen chimney hiding a
watchtower, and a hallway paneled with squeaking
“nightingale” floorboards to detect intruders.
Please see below for tours that include
Matsushima: