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Beautiful in all seasons for all time

Things to do in matsushima.

Entsuin Temple

Zuiganji Temple

The Mysterious Island of Oshima

Matsushima Bon Festival

About matsushima.

The name Matsushima conjures ancient images – clusters of rugged, pine-clad islets in a snowy winter mist or framed in a glittering bay and magnificent summer sunset.

Though the islands are legendary here, venerated as one of the Three Views of Japan in 1643 and immortalised by the poet Basho in The Narrow Road to the Deep North , they continue to carry great weight in the Japanese psyche in the modern era.

Today, they serve as possibly the premiere tourist attraction in Miyagi and though their great fame has seen the bay developed and re-developed, the rugged outcrops remain much as they have always been.

The waterfront itself is lined with piers for pleasure cruises through the islets, from which tourists can gain a closer view of the many unique islands while throwing snacks to pursuant seagulls. Foreign and Japanese tourists swarm the promenade while loaded buses thunder along the main road. The area’s fabled calm is sadly lost to antiquity.

Though Matsushima found itself at the epicenter of the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, the bay’s sheltered geography miraculously kept damage to a minimum while towns to the north and south were demolished by the ensuing tsunami. Sadly, a 5 metre natural arch did not survive.

Though not untouched, the town has quickly returned to business as usual, though trains only run from and to Sendai – a replacement bus service will run from Ishinomaki for several years into the future.

The bay itself is far from the only point of interest in the area. The waterfront promenade features many seafood stalls, tourist attractions and omiyage shops – all equally overpriced, but selling local seafood and goods.

Zuiganji temple carries its 1,000 years of history with gravity. It’s hushed, pine-covered approach is lined with ancient caves, carvings and moss-covered Buddhas and feels many miles away from the swarming waterfront by which it sits.

A nearby onsen hotel offers an open service into the late afternoon, featuring panoramic views over the bay from outdoor rotenburo baths. An aquarium can also be found on the seafront.

Hikers will be glad to know that many paths are available to reward the determined with peace and quiet, a path to the less developed Oku-Matsushima or the finest views of the inlet.

For anybody visiting Tohoku, it goes without saying that Matsushima is a necessary stop – whether for one day or several, it offers a wide enough variety of experiences to satisfy every palate. Roughly three million people pass through in a year - though it’s busy in all seasons, especially summer, such popularity is reinforced by a millennium of history and absolutely justified. Even for those of us who typically prefer quiet locations off the beaten path.

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Where to eat in matsushima.

Matsushima is famous for seafood but where can you find fresh seafood for affordable prices? Try the Matsushima Fish Market!

Places to stay in Matsushima

Uchi Guesthouse

Uchi guesthouse is an amazing place to stay in Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture. Not only are the prices significantly less than..

Matsushima Hotel Sohkan

Hotel Sohkan is a great hotel, especially for families, in Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture. The four floor hotel comes with conf..

Latest Matsushima Reports

Oshima is one of the many islands of Matsushima. With a nice bay, sandy beach, and walking trails with views of Matsushima Bay,..

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The Umi no Bon Festival is Matsushima's version of the summer time custom to remember ancestors and unite the community. The..

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Tohoku | Miyagi | Matsushima

Matsushima cruise.

Matsushima Bay has been known as one of the top most scenic places in all of Japan for many years. Without a doubt the most popular and best way to see the bay is by boat cruises. There are many cruises available for visitors to ride on to experience one of Japan’s best scenic views.

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Winter in Matsushima - Matsushima Bay

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Winter in Matsushima

We went here by car last December. It took about 30 minutes by car from Sendai. Matsushima is an old city, quite known for its Temple and the beautiful islands. This is a nice and peaceful place to explore. There's a separate island that you can explore. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge. You can explore the island for about 20-30 minutes and costs around 200 yen per person. There's nothing much to see on that island but the air is very refreshing and clean. It soothe my nose which suffered a lot during the cold winter in Japan. There are also many souvenir shops and restaurants in this city which mostly serve oysters. I am not sure what this place looks like on other season, but it was a truly great experience. I had a nice time taking pictures. There are also small temples in the islands where you can drop your coin, ring the bell and pray to Kamisama to grant your prayers.

My friends and I went to Matsushima to see the autumn trees at Zuiganji. Every November they have a "Light Up" part of the grounds after dark. We arrived early, so we visited Godaido, Fukuurajima, did some shopping, and had some dinner on the second floor above the curry pan place. We were able to get onto Fukuurajima even though it was after hours technically. We were lucky because we got to see a huge low bright moon coming up on the left and the sun going down on the right. It was very special! The sunset there is very beautiful. I love to look for new Japanese cloths called tenugui, and there's a great store that sells those on the right side of the main as you are walking back to the station from Fukuurajima. After trying gyutan and my husband trying oyster, two of Matsushima's specialties, we walked around the corner to where the fall trees were being lit up. It cost 500 a person and it was quite crowded when we went, but it was very beautiful. Tons of people taking pictures everywhere. Last year, there was a man playing an acoustic guitar when I went, but this year there was a man playing traditional Japanese music with a flute. It really set the mood of a place back in time in Japan. I really enjoy meandering through Matsushima. It's a nice change of pace, especially when things begin to wind down in the evening. Relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the Japanese culture.

I went to there in summer. Before I go there, I searched about there by reading some guidebooks, so the book recommended to ride a cabin cruiser when I want to enjoy the sight of Matsushima. So I rode that about 50 minutes, and that was splendid!! I could see some curious rocks, and I could feed many sea gulls from my finger. That was very near!! This experience was precious for me. These was very marvelous!! But I have a but things in this trip of cruiser. This boat has too many passengers, there was too crowded. So I could see only sometimes edge of boat, and this boat has some seat, but I couldn't seat. As all this trip, that was happy memories. I was glad to go there.

A very beautiful place, kept safe from Tsunami 2011, many attractions and beautiful Japanese gardens, shrines are distributed in the area, nice view, in addition to that, Matsushima Aquarium are excellent place for teens, exciting trip.

About 45min train ride from Sendai, stop at Matsushima Kaigan. When we arrived, there was a Matsushima is recovering campaign being held and we were offered free tea :D Nice start to the sunny day. Walk about 3 mins and you will see pine trees and the ocean. Be prepared to take some time to get used to the salty air. A bit further down the coastline you will some of Matsushima Bay's beautiful islands. Most of Matsushima's attractions, the Godaido, Zuiganji, cruises, Fukuurajima are along the coastline. If you have time to spare, definitely visit Matsushima. You can spend about half a day there.

After 5 days in Tokyo my 8 year old son and I headed for Matsushima.Wetook the shinkansen to Sendai [less than 2 Hours] using JR Pass and after sampling some of the cakes and pastries available from the many outlets in Sendai station we took the JR Senseki line train to Matsushima,about 30 minutes.Just outside the railway station there is a tourist centre and the people here were so friendly and gave us plenty of advice on things to do around the area. We headed for the nearby piers and boarded a sightseeing boat for a wonderful trip around the bay.Well worth the cost though to go out on the open upper deck there is an extra fee still well worth it and my son had a great time feeding the many seagulls that followed the boat.After the boat trip we strolled along the waterfront before crossing to one of the islands via a mighty impressive 252m long bridge.small toll to cross on the bridge was well worth it as the island was so calm and beautiful.Paths and maps made for easy navigation and the woods were such a joy to stroll through.My son enjoyed a paddle and playing on the shore not to mention running wild through the woods.Fresh air peace and quiet after the throngs of Tokyo this was the perfect way to recharge the batteries before the next phase of our trip. After a stroll around the town we set off to find our room for the night at Ryokan Seiunkaku. Once we had checked in we had a wonderful soak in the hot traditional bath and feeling refreshed we ventured out to find somewhere to eat.The Ryokan owner sugested a restaurant a little way down the road so off we went in search of same.As we passed the restaurant a woman came out to call us as the Ryokan owner had phoned ahead and asked her to keep an eye out for us.The food was terrific a selection of local fresh produce and even y son was happy as they did a special plate of curry and rice for him.To say I was well satisfied would be an understatement and then when it was time to leave we were told to wait a little and the woman gave us a lift back to the Ryokan.Such thoughtfulness and kindness will always be remembered,unfortunately I cannot recall the name of the restaurant.But rest assured the next time I visit I will definately call again. After a sound nights sleep it was time to be on our way so we strolled around some more sights called at the aquarium which has an interesting collection of marine life.Followed by a small seal show for Kids and my son certainly enjoyed this.After that iewas back to the train station for the next leg of our journey.I was sorry to be leaving Matsushima and wished I could have stayed longer.But all good things come to an end. To the people of Matsushima thank you for your friendliness and kindness I will return soon I hope. Arigatogazaimasu Richard.

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• Coastal Miyagi

Matsushima 松島

Miyagi-gun, Miyagi-ken

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A bay of pine-covered islands and scenery worthy of a Basho haiku

You can walk to a few of those hundreds of islands and explore black and red pine forests and ancient temples, which includes Zuiganji Temple, the family temple of the powerful Date clan that ruled this region.

• Taking a sightseeing cruise around Matsushima Bay
• Exploring the history and hidden features of Zuiganji Temple
• Sampling the superb seafood of Matsushima

How to Get There

Matsushima is accessible by train and bus from major cities in Tokyo and the Kansai area.

From Tokyo take a 90-minute bullet train ride to Sendai on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen. An approximately 40-minute train ride on the Senseki Line gets you to Matsushima. Note: Get off at Matsushimakaigan Station (served by the Senseki Line), not Matsushima Station (served by the Tohoku Main Line), since the latter is far from the tourist attractions.

Take in the view

Take a walk to Matsushima's coastline and enjoy the scene at your own pace. For a loftier view of the landscape and the 260 islands in the bay, look out over the landscape from higher ground.

Other fine sights include the three islands with bridges that offer unique views, and the four recommended viewing spots—Ogitani, Tomiyama, Otakamori, and Tamonzan—collectively known as Matsushima Shidaikan. They take some time to reach but live up to their reputations.

Hop on a sightseeing cruise to enjoy the most popular close-up view of the islands. One course will take you on a loop of the bay, while the other runs one-way from Matsushima to the city of Shiogama. The sightseeing cruises run year-round. A bilingual audio announcement and maps detail the history and names of some of the more unusual islands.

Three footbridges to three islands

Three of Matsushima's islands are connected to the mainland by footbridges, and easy to explore.

The central island adjacent to the ferry terminal is home to the small Godaido Temple, which has become a symbol of Matsushima. It is believed that a temple called Bishamondo was built on the island in the early 9th century. The current structure was built in 1604 by Date Masamune, the first lord of Sendai. The ornately carved hall is the oldest existing example of Momoyama architecture (1573–1615), in the Tohoku region.

Fukuura Island is easily spotted thanks to its 252-meter-long red bridge. For a small entrance fee, you can cross and wander around the forested island. Follow the paths to the opposite side for another splendid view of the bay.

The other island you can walk to is Oshima Island. Exit Matsushima-Kaigan Station, head for the shore and then go south along the coast for five to ten minutes. The temples and hand-carved meditation caves used by ancient monks are perfect places to contemplate life.

Two temples of note

Zuiganji Temple is the most important Zen temple in the Tohoku region. The temple was originally founded by the monk Jikaku Daishi (Ennin) as Enpukuji Temple, a Tendai sect temple, in 828. It prospered during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) as a Zen temple patroned by Hojo Tokiyori (the fifth ruler of the Kamakura shogunate), but later fell into disrepair. In 1609, Date Masamune, the lord of the Sendai domain, rebuilt the temple as Zuiganji Temple over the course of five years to serve as the Date family's temple.

Next to Zuiganji Temple is Entsuin Temple, which was built by the Date clan leader Date Tadamune in 1646. The temple was constructed to mourn his son Mitsumune, who died at the young age of 19. The mausoleum holds a statue of the son on a white horse surrounded by Western motifs. Entsuin Temple has both a Japanese-style garden and Western-style rose garden. The autumn leaves here are particularly beautiful.

Feast on the bounty of the bay

Matsushima offers plenty of freshly caught, succulent seafood at its many restaurants and food stalls at Matsushima Fish Market. Locals highly recommend the oysters, including oyster burgers, and anago (saltwater eels) and grilled squid.

Sample green tea on a veranda overlooking the sea

For a Japanese tea experience, visit Kanrantei. This teahouse was a gift from the ruler of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to Sendai's daimyo Date Masamune. The Sendai feudal lord's son later moved it to Matsushima. Sip on bitter matcha green tea paired with a locally-produced Japanese sweet out on the engawa (an external corridor often used as a veranda), which offers a stunning view of the bay below.

* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.

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The Famous Bay with Pine-covered Islands

Matsushima is a bay of the Pacific Coast, located in the north-east of Sendai in Miyagi prefecture in the Tohoku region. Designed as one of Japan’s 3 most scenic places since the end of the Edo period (1603 - 1868), it is characterized by a string of 260 pine-covered islets shaped by weathering, that seem to float above the water.

Matsushima, whose name translates as " pine trees island ", is one of the most famous and visited of Japan’s traditional landscapes in Miyagi prefecture, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, 50 km to the north-east of Sendai and about 400 km north to Tokyo .

About 260 little islands and rocky islets surmounted by pine trees are sprinkled in the bay . Its appearance has barely changed since it was popularized more than 400 years ago by the Date clan that was ruling the area at the times. At the end of the Edo period, it was included in the Three Views of Japan (日本三景 Nihon sankei ) along with Miyajima in Hiroshima Bay and Amanohashidate in the north of Kyoto prefecture.

Access to the site is easy from Sendai, in less than 30 minutes by train  🚅 . Then, the exploration of Matsushima on foot or on bicycle is easy. The town facing the bay offers all the necessary shops to grab something to eat or buy souvenirs. Matsushima is a classic sightseeing destination where travelers can enjoy various activities, such as:

• Pleasure-boat cruising between the islands of the bay,
• Visiting historical constructions , such as the Kanrantei tea house and the Zuigan-ji, Entsu-in and Godaido temples , all built during the reign of Date Masamune (1567 - 1636) and heirs,
• Strolling on the shores and on the islands connected to the mainland by bridges, or,
• Reaching a height to admire a panoramic view on Matsushima .

Panoramic views on the bay

Take a comprehensive view of the place upon arrival. From Matsushima JR station, walk for a fifteen minutes to reach the Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park on a hill. The place was named after the monk and poet Saigyo Hoshi (1118 - 1190) and could be translated as "the pine that sent Saigyo home". The legend has it that traveling monk Saigyo rested under a pine tree at the top of the hill. There, he met a young man with whom he played a game of Buddhist riddles and lost. Thanks to this intellectual defeat, he returned to his temple to study more assiduously.

The peak of the park is now renowned for its pleasant outdoor observation deck on the bay . From there, one can see the string of islets appearing like a master’s artwork when the weather is clear. Some facilities, such as the Panorama House have been built for the comfort of sightseers and in spring the blooming of cherry trees  🌸 further embellishes the settings.

Other places in the surrounding also offer beautiful panoramic views on this unique landscape such as Matsushima shidaikan (松島四大観) that encompasses the 4 main viewpoints to experience from:

• Mount Otakamori (大高森),
• Mount Tomiyama and Daigyo-ji temple (大仰寺),
• Mount Ogitani (扇谷); and,
• Mount Tamonzan (多聞山).

These observatories can easily be reached by car  🚙 .

Godaido Temple, symbol of the eternal landscape

Overhanging the sea and facing Matsushima pier, a cluster of tiny islands is home to Godaido temple (五大堂). It is said to have been founded in 828 by Jikaku Taishi (794 - 864), a great Japanese Buddhist teacher of the Tendai school.

The present days’ construction, still in perfect condition, dates back to 1604 and was ordered by the warlord Date Masamune to celebrate the victory in the Battle of Sekigahara ( October 1600). As incredible as it may seem, probably thanks to its protected location above the water and ahead to the land, the temple miraculously suffered very few damages from the 2011 Tohoku ’s earthquake and tsunami .

For preservation purpose, the inside of the main pavilion is no longer accessible to the public, but it is still possible to admire the facades ornamented with beautiful wood carving . The attention is drawn toward the peculiar structure of the little red bridges , named sukashibashi , linking the islets together. The planks constituting the deck have indeed been spaced so as one has to stay focused when crossing, as part of the worshiping attitude.

Fukuurajima, the botanical garden above water

From Godaido, one can view Fukuurajima island , characterized by a 250 meters long red lacquered bridge named Fukuura-bashi . This long straight line above the water is the signature of Matsushima bay’s landscape and raises the curiosity of first-time visitors. Quite narrow and only accessible for pedestrians, walking on this bridge arises a strange feeling, as if going on an adventure.

Fukuura-jima is crowned by trees, and forms a somewhat wild botanical garden , gathering about 300 species of flowers, plants and trees. It does not take longer than one hour to tour the island. Benches arranged in quiet and unobstructed places allow to admire the original geological formations of the islands and the blue background of the sky and the water delicately outlining the pine trees pinnacles.

Hearty welcome of Matsushima’s shopkeepers

Matsushima-shi is the small town hugging the eponymous bay. Served by 2 JR lines, it is only consists of a few houses and a main street lined with shops, where travelers are kindly welcomed.

Seafood are the local specialties, and in winter the must-try is the oyster cooked on a plancha . The oyster bar Oyster Shack located in the city’s Tourism Association Building has a range of all you can eat menus. We also recommend to take a break at the Santori Chaya , a restaurant serving delicious local traditional dishes in a warm and family-like ambiance. The Matsushima Fish market is also worth the detour for purchasing fresh products.

The coast in the vicinity of the cruise boats pier was particularly well laid-out and it offers a pleasant walk. The various islands connected by bridges as well as paid sightseeing attractions ( museums and temples) are all within walking distance. There is also a modest castle   🏯 keep enclosed in a residential neighborhood but it is not authentic and only used as an observation tower on Matsushima archipelago, provided it is open.

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Matsushima 松島

• Published on : 28/09/2020
• by : Japan Experience
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Matsushima Bay

shohji from Pixabay

Matsushima is famous for its view of over the bay, considered one of Japan's Three Great Sights. However, it offers visitors ancient cultural treasures as well. 

Matsushima Travel Guide

Matsushima is famous for its view of over the bay of the same name containing 260 tiny pine-clad islands. This is considered one of Japan's Three Great Sights (Nihon Sankei). Matsushima's beauty was immortalized in one of wandering haiku-master Basho's most famous poems.

Matsushima ("Pine Islands") is a bay in Miyagi prefecture, 25 km north-east of the prefectural capital, Sendai .

Matsushima is very rural, with a local population of less than 20,000. It is also famous for the delicious oysters farmed in the bay, for its historically important temples, and for its colorful Obon lantern festival in August.

Matsushima Attractions - Matsushima Bay Cruises

As well as taking in the wonderful views of Matsushima Bay from the shore, visitors can enjoy sightseeing cruises on the water.

Matsushima Bay is dotted with around 260 small, pine-covered islands and is considered one of Japan's three big scenic views (nihon sankei 日本三景), all three being views of the sea. (The others are Miyajima Island in Hiroshima and Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture).

There are sightseeing cruises on the bay lasting about an hour run by Marubun Matsushima Kisen and a regular ferry service between Matsushima and Shiogama (50 minutes) operated by Matsushima Bay Cruise.

Miyato Island forms the eastern edge of Matsushima Bay, separating it from Ishinomaki Bay just east of it, and at its south-easternmost tip features the imposing Sagakei Gorge with cliffs that form a dramatic contrast with the tranquility of Matsushima Bay. Reasonably priced cruises of the cliffs leave from a jetty on Oku-Matsushima, accessible from Route 27, near the Ohtakamori Kanko Hotel.

Oshima Island (雄島) is a tiny island on the west side of Matsushima Bay accessible from the mainland by bridge. Oshima was where Zen monks did their ascetic training. There are Buddhist rock carvings and meditation caves. The island also has a lighthouse. Oshima is accessed from Matsushima Seaside Park, less than 10 minutes walk from Matsushimakaigan Station on the Senseki Line.

Fukuurajima is a larger island about 15 minutes walk further north around the bay, and is also reached by bridge - a picturesque 250m-long vermilion one. Fukuurajima is designated a park, is richly forested, and has remnants of ancient habitation, such as middens and an old Benzaiten shrine over 1,000 years old.

By Chensiyuan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5580478

Matsushima Temples

Zuiganji & Entsuin are two of the must-see Buddhist temples in Matsushima and are right next to each other.

Zuiganji Temple dates from the Heian Period, though the present buildings were constructed by Matsuname Date much later, in 1606. The main hall contains precious painted screens and ornate carvings. The approach to the temple is through an avenue of imposing cedar trees with meditation caves and Buddhist statues on your right.

Entsuin Temple is next to and just south of Zuiganji. Etsuin was built to commemorate Date Mitsumune, the grandson of Date Masamune. Mitsumune died in Edo Castle at age 19, feared poisoned by the Tokugawa regime. The grounds also contain a rose garden, a Japanese rock garden and statues of seven retainers who committed suicide when their lord Mitsumune died.

On Entsuin's grounds is Date Mitsumune's mausoleum, the Sankeiden. It is golden inside and contains European-style motifs of crosses and roses influenced by the journey of Hasekura Tsunenaga's embassy to the Americas and Europe at the request of Masamune from 1613-1620.

Godaido Temple is a small temple pavilion situated on a small islet just west of the Matsushima Century Hotel. Godaido is on the furthest of three tiny linked islands, reached by a vermilion bridge. The interior of Godaido temple is opened to the public just once every 33 years. The last time was in 2006. The temple was constructed on the orders of Matsuname Date in the early 1600s.

A little south-west of Entsuin is the Kanrantei pavilion, a tea house originally given as a gift to the Date clan by feudal warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and brought from Kyoto and reassembled here in its present location overlooking the bay. Matcha green tea is served and there is a small museum, the Matsushima Hakubutsukan , in the grounds.

Other museums in Matsushima include the Michinoku Date Masamune Museum dedicated to Sendai's greatest historical figure, this time using wax dolls to recreate his life and times. The Matsushima Orgel Museum exhibits 134 music boxes purchased from the National Museum of Belgium including the world's largest concert organ (7m by 9m); and the Kyohei Fujita Museum of Glass .

Festivals in Matsushima

Matsushima's major festivals are the Matsushima Oyster Festival in February held at the Matsushima Beach Central Plaza and the Toro Nagashi Hanabi Taikai during the Obon period in the middle of August. There are fireworks and lighted lanterns floated out in the ocean.

Nightlife & Eating Out

Matsushima pretty much shuts down after dark when the last tourist buses have departed. There are a few fine seafood restaurants to sample if you are staying overnight.

Access to Matsushima

Matsushima is a half-day or full-day trip from Sendai, or visitors may prefer to base themselves here and journey in to Sendai.

The nearest station to Matsushima Bay is Matsushima-kaigan Station on the JR Senseki Line. Express trains take 24 minutes from Sendai. JR Matsushima Station which is over a kilometer from the bay area can be reached in the same time by local train on the Tohoku Main Line from Sendai. Sendai is connected to Tokyo by the Tohoku Shinkansen with the journey taking just under two hours.

There is a regular ferry service between Matsushima and the fishing port of Shiogama (50 minutes) operated by Matsushima Bay Cruise.

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Matsushima - Winter

February 14, 2013 - matsushima - winter.

Matsushima is roughly 30 minutes by train from Sendai. It's famous for it's 200 or so islets along with temples. There are 2 stations you can catch to get to Matsushima. It takes 24 minutes to Mastushima on the Tohoku line (1KM walk to main area) or 38 minutes to Matsushima-kaigan which is a couple of hundred meters from the main tourist sites.

In winter, there is a pleasure boat that leaves roughly every hour. It costs 1400 Yen per adult with an option of 600 Yen extra to be on the second level. You'll notice that a lot of seagulls follow - this is the boats sell Seagull food. Note that birds can get really close.

Fukuura Island - which costs 200 Yen to enter. As Japan-Guide states, it's quite a nice way to waste an hour or so with some good views.

Zuiganji Temple - it is currently mainly closed for renovation until 2016. It's debatable if it's worth visiting until it's fully open in 2016 when it will probably be a must visit. Cost is 700 Yen to enter.

Entsuin temple - famous for it's moss gardens. This would be even more beautiful in spring or autumn. 300 Yen to enter.