Sendai to Matsushima
After a day of foxes, castles and green milkshakes, we checked out of Sendai and headed for Matsushima, one of the Three Great Views of Japan (Nihon Sankei). It’s only about 25 minutes from Sendai on the JR Tohoku Line, so no need to rush.
Breakfast was the classic konbini sandwich on the train. Pathetic breakfast, but honestly Japanese egg sandwiches are elite.
We got off at JR Matsushima Station (not Matsushima-Kaigan, the one by the sea) because our ryokan was a short walk up the hill from there. Check-in wasn’t till 3pm, so we just dropped our bags and walked down to the bay. More on the ryokan later.
The Pier
The sightseeing boats leave from the pier at Matsushima Kaigan, right next to Godaido (the little temple hall on the rock) and with the red Fukuura Bridge in view. We bought tickets for the Niōmaru course, a 50-minute loop of the bay on a big boat.
Around the Pine Islands
Matsushima Bay has over 200 little islands, all covered in pine trees (hence the name, matsu = pine). The boat weaves between them while a recording tells you the name and story of each one in Japanese. We understood maybe 5% lol, but the views do the talking.
The back deck is the best spot for photos. It was also freezing, with the wind coming straight off the sea, but we stayed out there anyway for the obligatory flag photos.
Hoods up, beanies on.
At some point we retreated into the warm cabin, where we did what we do best.
Niō-jima
The highlight is Niō-jima, a little rock island with a pine on top that looks like a Niō guardian statue, the kind that stands at temple gates. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Everyone went back outside for this one.
The boat looped back to the pier just after 12. Next up: lunch, sort of. We were in a gyutan and kamaboko kind of mood, then Entsuin up the road.
Information About the Matsushima Bay Cruise
Fifty minutes, a few hundred pine islands, and a very cold back deck. Sit inside on the way out, go outside for Niō-jima.