Kaki Nabe Cruise
2006.12.1 Fri. - 2007.3.31 Sat.Winter Limitation "Kaki Nabe (oyster casserole) " Cruise in Matsushima Bay is run from December to March.
Please ask each shipping company for details.
Place: Matsushima Bay
Info: Matsushima Tourist Association (+81)022-354-2618
About 8,000 fireworks are let off in the night sky and the lights of 3,000 lanterns can be seen on the bay.
It can look at gorgeous view which is not usual Matsushima.
Held on August 17 every year.
Visitors can enjoy an outdoor tea ceremony against the backdrop of Matsushima's entrancing scenery. There are eight tea ceremony areas for each of the eight different schools.
The first Sunday in October.
It is held on the first Saturday and Sunday in February every year as a festival where you can enjoy the representative winter dish, oyster.
You can enjoy various oyster dishes free of charge, and there are large BBQ areas where people can grill oysters and scallops over charcoal by hemselves. Both stomach and heart can be satisfied.
| August 6-8 | Zuiganji Todo | Zuiganji Temple |
| August 16 | "Osegakie" of Zuiganji Temple | Matsushima-Kaigan Central Park |
| August 17 | Lanterns and Fireworks Festival in Matsushima | Matsushima Bay |
| September - October |
Tsuki-no-Aki in Kanran Tei | Kanran Tei |
| The 1st Sunday in October | Matsushima Japanese garden tea party | Matsushima-kaigan Green Park |
| End of October Middle of November |
Matsushima autumnal-leaves lighting | Zuiganji Temple / Entsu-in Temple / Kanran-tei others |
| The 1st Saturday and Sunday in February | Matsushima Oyster Festival | Matsushima-kaigan Green Park |
By car･･･Sanriku Highway 5 min. from Matsushima-Kaigan IC
Tohoku Highway 30 min. from Taiwa IC
Nearby station･･･JR Senseki Line Matsushima-Kaigan Station
JR Tohoku Line Matsushima Station
Tohoku Highway 30 min. from Taiwa IC
Nearby station･･･JR Senseki Line Matsushima-Kaigan Station
JR Tohoku Line Matsushima Station
Matsushima has been boasting of its beauty, since the Heian period,
and is designated as a national special scenic beauty and a prefectural natural park.
A lot of people who visit this place were moved by its beauty and admired it by drawing pictures or
composing poems.
The views from four directions, north, south, east and west entices people with the beauty of a
different scene from each perspective. A perfect balance between the contrast of colors created by
green pine trees and the figurative beauty produced by small islands floating on the large sea is
kept, and its beauty is unchanged from whichever direction.
The views from four directions, north, south, east and west entices people with the beauty of a
different scene from each perspective. A perfect balance between the contrast of colors created by
green pine trees and the figurative beauty produced by small islands floating on the large sea is
kept, and its beauty is unchanged from whichever direction.
You can enjoy the changing scenery of big and small rocks one after another such as Nio island, Kane island, and Katsura island by "Regular cruise around the bay". You can see branches of pine trees and rock surface in islands close-up by "Demand responsive small sightseeing boat".
You can enjoy the oyster stew from December to March by "Regular course around the bay from Matsushima to Shiogama". You can enjoy masculine scenery peculiar to the rias coast, which is in contrast to feminine scenery within the bay by "Cruise around Oku-Matsushima and Saga-kei valley".
You can choose according to your purpose and time.
It is the greatest Zen temple in Ohshu area established by priest Jikaku Taishi Ennin in the fifth year of Tencho, and is the family temple of the lord of Sendai domain Masamune Date.
Masamune completed the current building in 1609 taking five years in total. In construction, 130 skillful craftsmen were gathered from all over the country, and construction materials were also obtained from Mt. Kumano. These efforts showed his enthusiasm as the winner in Ohshu area.
Especially, the paneled door, the fan light, or gorgeous paintings on the sliding doors and the alcove are regarded as perfection of artificial beauty that represents Japanese natural beauty.
It is said to be established by Tamuramaro Sakanoue in 807.
It is called Godai-do because priest Jikaku enshrined Godai Myohoh (Buddhist statue) afterward. The current building was rebuilt by the lord of Sendai domain Masamune Date who invited the carpenters from Kishu when the Zuigan-ji Temple was rebuilt, and is the oldest Momoyama style construction in existence.
Symbolic landmark of Matsushima (National important cultural properties)
It is one building of Fushimi-Momoyama Castle. It was given to Masamune by Hideyoshi, reconstructed in the Edo period, and then Tadamune reconstructed it in this place.
It was used by the successive lords of domain as a place to enjoy the cool of the evening and the moon. The taste of the green powdered tea while enjoying the views of Matsushima makes people feel the passage of time. (Prefectural important cultural properties)
Matsushima moon scenery - Did you see the streak of road that glittered in gold between islands of Matsushima? On day near full moon, there is gold wave that moonlight draws for about two hours after the moon has appeared. It is like a moon road.
When the moon begins to rise in the vicinity of the highest point, the sea puts up silver wave, changes into the silvery white world, and begins to draw the shadow of islands and the pine trees beautifully. We can also experience the elegance of the hazy moon, the increscent and the decrescent which Basho sought.
Photo: Hironori Ashikaga
If you want to taste the plump milk-white body of oysters, we recommend eating them raw.
It is suitable for various other dishes such as oyster rice, oyster stew, tempura and so on. Oyster season is from October to March.
Kouren rice cracker boasts a 700 year tradition as a famous delicacy of Michinoku.
It originated in the event that Sister Kouren grilled the rice crackers from rice flour that worshippers had offered to Kannon-do Temple, while gazing at the plum blossoms that bloomed near the eaves of her late husband Kotaro's house. Currently, the 43rd descendant is manufacturing it following the traditional method.
