Matsushima

In 1689, haiku poet Matsuo Basho visited Matsushima on the trip recorded in Narrow Road to the Deep North. A well-known poem often (but, alas, falsely) attributed to Basho claims to record his reaction, signifying that nothing more could be said:

Today's Matsushima is perhaps a little less inspiring, but still a worthwhile day trip if in the region.

The town did not suffer significant damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake; the tsunami damage was minimal. The temples, shrines, and sights are still there and still worth the trip.

Tourist information site:

The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

The town is only a short distance from prefectural capital Sendai.

By train:

Most visitors arrive on the JR Senseki Line (仙石線) connecting Sendai and Ishinomaki. The most convenient station is Matsushima-Kaigan (松島海岸), which is 40 minutes from Sendai (¥420). During daytime hours there are usually only two departures per hour to Matsushima-Kaigan. Another hourly service runs as far as Hon-Shiogama (see below). If you buy a ticket in Sendai, be sure to have the name written in characters: the machines do not have an English option.

On the other hand, Matsushima station on the JR Tohoku Main Line is further away from the shore and requires a walk of at least 20 minutes, or a short taxi ride, to reach the ferry.

From Tokyo, the Shinkansen bullet train runs to Sendai for connection to the Senseki Line. The total one-way fare is ¥11,520 using the fastest, all-reserved Shinkansen service, and the journey to Matsushima-Kaigan lasts around 2 hr 45 min. There is no charge if you use the Japan Rail Pass.

By boat:

Ferries tour around the islands every half hour or so, and some of them do the trip to and from Hon-Shiogama on the JR Senseki line (don't mistake it with JR Tohoku line train to Shiogama station). The ferries are focused on sightseeing, and you won't miss any of the islands in the bay by taking the ferry to Hon-Shiogama. If you are flexible, you can do this trip on your return leg, as it is much more pleasant to be waiting at the wharf in Matsushima than at Hon-Shiogama (although the latter does have an air-conditioned waiting room, and a cafe).

From Hon-Shiogama train station to the wharf is a 500-m walk. You can see one from the other, or follow the signs.