Matsushima

Tohoku, Japan · Town / small city

More than two hundred pine-topped islets inside one bay, one of Japan's three classic landscapes, taken in from a sightseeing boat or, if you want to be among them, by kayak between the pines. On land there is Zuigan-ji, the Zen temple Date Masamune rebuilt, with an approach lined with cedars and caves cut into the volcanic rock where memorials to the dead were carved, and the Godaido hall out on its islet.

The essentials

Getting there

Train — Short train from Sendai

Frequently asked questions about Matsushima

What to do in Matsushima: 22 activities

• Scenic Bay Cruise 1.5 h must-see

  A boat tour among the bay's more than 200 pine-covered islets.

• Entsuin Temple 1 h

  A temple housing the mausoleum of feudal lord Date Masamune and a garden of roses and moss, next to Zuigan-ji.

• Godaido 0.5 h

  A small 17th-century Buddhist pavilion on an islet connected by bridges, decorated with carvings of the Chinese zodiac and an iconic symbol of the bay.

• Grilled oyster hut (all you can eat) 1 h

  A place devoted to oysters from the bay (best from October to March), in an all-you-can-eat grilled format; in February there is also the Matsushima Oyster Festival.

• Otakamori Viewpoint 1.5 h

  One of the bay's four great classic viewpoints, on Miyato Island, considered to offer the most spectacular views.

• Sea kayaking and paddleboarding among the islets 2 h booking

  A kayak or SUP route among the pine-covered islands of the bay, a far more active way to see the islets than the sightseeing cruise.

• Zuigan-ji Temple 1 h

  A Zen temple rebuilt in 1609 by the feudal lord Date Masamune, with an approach path between cedars and caves hollowed out of the volcanic rock, used since the Kamakura period to carve Buddhist memorials to the dead; the main hall combines a plain exterior with interiors of very elaborate paintings and carvings.

• Basho literary route 1 h

  Matsushima was a key stop for the poet Basho on his Oku no Hosomichi; monuments and memorial stones beside Zuigan-ji recall his passage, legend holding that he was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the bay that he could not manage a haiku.

• Fujita Kyohei Glass Museum 1 h

  A museum devoted to the glass artist Kyohei Fujita, a Living National Treasure, in a garden beside the bay.

• Fukuura Island via the Red Bridge 1 h

  A small botanical-garden island connected to the mainland by a long red-painted bridge.

• Hot spring bath overlooking the bay (Matsushima Onsen) 1.5 h

  Matsushima has its own genuine onsen; the ryokan Ichinobo combines natural thermal water with panoramic baths above the islets of the bay.

• Illuminated night cruise around the bay 1 h

  The night version of the sightseeing cruise, with the islets and pavilions lit; in winter it coincides with the special illumination of Matsushima Rikyu.

• Matsushima Fish Market 1 h

  A market by the harbour where you can try grilled oysters and other local seafood from the bay.

• Michinoku Date Masamune Museum 1 h

  Dioramas and wax figures telling the life of the feudal lord Date Masamune, very visual and easy to visit as a family.

• Oyster shucking with local fishermen 1 h booking

  A hut run by local fishermen where you learn to open oysters from the bay, a real trade in the area beyond simply eating them prepared.

• Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park 1 h

  Another of the great classic viewpoints over the bay, with a traditional cafe and good cherry blossom in spring; the name recalls the legend of a 12th-century monk who gave up his pilgrimage after losing a riddle contest to a child.

• The shopping street leading to Godaido 1 h

  A street of kokeshi shops, souvenirs and snacks on the way to the harbour, with tabearuki stalls for eating as you walk.

• Umi no Bon lantern festival (Ryuto-e) 2 h only 15-16 Aug

  On the nights of 15 and 16 August: thousands of floating lanterns in memory of ancestors are released into the bay, followed by fireworks.

• Zazen at Entsuin temple 1.5 h booking

  A guided zazen meditation session at Entsuin temple, next to the mausoleum of Date Masamune.

• Kanrantei Tea Pavilion 0.5 h

  A former moon-viewing pavilion, offering the best views of the bay.

• Matsushima half marathon 3 h booking

  An annual community race through the scenery of the bay, available only on its specific date.

• Naohide kokeshi workshop 1 h

  A small workshop and shop for traditional painting of Tohoku kokeshi dolls, in central Matsushima.

What only happens on specific dates

• Umi no Bon lantern festival (Ryuto-e) 15-16 Aug

Chains well with

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