What to see in Matsushima

Zuiganji TempleThe Hondo of Zuiganji Temple, a national treasure, has been closed to the public since Sep. 2009 due to major repairs, but since Apr. 2016 it has been open to the public for the first time in about seven years. Founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin, it is the leading Zen temple Oshu. Hondo, Onari genkan, and kuri are designated national treasures, while Onari, Chu-mon Gate, and Taiko-bei wall are designated important cultural properties, making it one of Matsushima most popular tourist attractions.

If you want to take your time to explore Matsushima, we recommend taking a sightseeing boat. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults, while feeling the refreshing breeze. You can see a variety of scenery depending on the season, such as the sunrise and sunset.

The four temple corridor refers to Matsushima and Zuigan-ji in Miyagi prefecture, Yamadera- Risshaku-ji in Yamagata prefecture, and Iwate- Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji in Hiraizumi prefecture, all of which are ancient Michinoku temples founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin (794-864) in the Heian period.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), Matsuo Basho visited these temples on his Okunohosomichi (Narrow Road to the Deep North).

This is the place where Saigyo, during his pilgrimage around the country, met Doji under a large pine Kinoshita, had a Zen debate with him, was defeated, and gave up on going to Matsushima.
The entire Koen is a famous spot for its over 260 cherry trees, and from the observation deck you can enjoy a unique cherry Hanami where the cherry blossoms and the view of Matsushima come together.

Further inside from the main hall is the Sankeiden, the mausoleum of Mitsumune, one of the finest examples of Date clan architecture, designated as an Important Cultural Property by the national government. The shrine is decorated with a picture of a rose that Hasekura Tsunenaga brought back from the West, and Entsuin is known as the "Rose Temple" with its rose-themed garden. The autumn foliage illumination is very popular.

It is said to have been founded by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, but later came to be called the Godaido Hall after Jikaku Daishi enshrined the Five Great Wisdom Kings here.
The current building was rebuilt by Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai domain, who invited carpenters from Kishu to rebuild Zuiganji Temple, and is the oldest surviving Momoyama period building in Tohoku region.

Sagakei is one of the three major valleys in Japan, along with Geibikei in Iwate Prefecture and Yabakei in Oita Prefecture. It is an area around a peninsula that juts out from the southeastern tip of Oku Matsushima and Miyatojima. In contrast to the feminine scenery of Matsushima Bay, this area is attractive for its impressive scenery of masculine, rugged rocks.

Sanriku oysters are in season from October to Mar. It has been about five years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, but oyster production is on the rise, so why not go out and try some authentic oysters, which are said to be a symbol of the recovery from the earthquake?

It is said that the origin of this dish dates back to the early Meiji period, when a large catch of flounder was turned into paste and made into kamaboko in the shape of a bamboo leaf as a way to preserve the fish. It came to be called sasa kamaboko after the bamboo of the Date clan's crest, "bamboo and sparrow."

The history of beef tongue, a famous Sendai specialty, dates back to the postwar period. When the occupying forces were stationed in Sendai, beef consumption increased, and much of the tongue and tail were thrown away. A Sendai yakitori restaurant noticed this and developed a grilled beef tongue that suited Japanese tastes, and it rose to become a Sendai specialty through word of mouth.

The hot soup made with shark fins produced in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, which boasts the largest shark landings in Japan, will warm your body and soul. Tours with a treat, as well as souvenirs that can be easily prepared with a single egg, are also popular.