Located in the northeastern part of Miyagi Prefecture, Matsushima Bay’s 260 pine-clad islands create a breathtaking view that is a must-see while visiting the Tohoku region of Japan. On this tour, you will walk through history, take in the ocean-side views, and discover the quaint charms of this bayside town.
This tour will start at Sendai Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the stained glass window (“Morinosanka”) near the west side exit of the main concourse (2F). Look for the SNOW MONKEY RESORTS sign. There are coin lockers available at the station if you wish to leave any belongings behind, but we ask that you show up a bit earlier to the meet-up spot if this is the case. We will then head off to our destination, Matsushima Bay, via the Senseki Line. Our first stop is Enstuin Temple, the treasure of the historical Date Clan. Here you can walk through the tranquil meditation grove of cedar trees, rose garden, rock garden, and learn the history of the National Important Cultural Property situated on the grounds. We will then continue on to Zuiganji Temple, one of Tohoku’s most important Zen temples. Your guide will accompany you through the grounds offering historical insight and context to the grounds and interior of the main building of Zuinganji. You will be able to take in the gorgeous gold leaf panelled doors while your guide informs you of the Date Clan and their historical significance to all of Tohoku. You will also have the chance to enter the Zuiganji Museum located within the property. This impressive museum houses 211 original Edo paintings, approximately 30,000 historical artefacts and much more. There are also temporary exhibitions that vary by season and theme. Photography is prohibited inside the Zuiganji main building and museum, so this will be an especially cherished memory for your trip! We will then walk our way towards Matsushima Bay where you will be able to take in the historical sight of Zuiganji’s Godaido which looks out towards the bay. This National Important Cultural Property is the oldest Momoyama-style building in northeastern Japan. For lunch, we will travel back inland towards the Matsushima Fish Market. Here you will have plenty of time to either grab some food within the market building itself, do some souvenir shopping, or head off for some free time. There are plenty of restaurants, food stands, and shops along the high street so you will not have to travel far to find something tasty!
We will then take about an 8 minute walk to the Matsushima Retro Museum. This unexpectedly quaint museum is jammed packed with memorabilia from days gone by. We will then travel back towards the waterfront to experience a truly breathtaking sight of Matsushima Bay at the historic teahouse, Kanrantei. You will also be able to try a delectable matcha set–we highly recommend the zunda (sweetened crushed edamame) mochi set. The last event of the tour is a boat cruise of the bay.