An Outing to Matsushima

You can't mention Sendai without "Matsushima"

Just thirty minutes by train and costing only \360 (around $3.60) Matsushima is a must for anyone visiting Senai.

Matsushima was voted one of the three most beautiful places in Japan. The view, composed of over 260 islands scattered around the bay, is a natural masterpiece. It has attracted many people over the ages. A number of poets, including Matsuo Bashoh, praised it's beauty through their work.

There are two cities and four towns around Matsushima, each of them has famous scenic spots and historical sites.

There is a lantern and firework festival in Matsushima. The spectical can be seen every year on the 15th of August. Praying for the happiness of passed on ancestors, thousands of lanterns are released to the sea from small boats. With Matsushima's picturesque islands as a back drop the large scale fireworks are launched from boats in the bay. A spectacle not to be missed if your ever in the area in August.

Sankeiden shrine is in the grounds of the Sendai lord of the 1600's Masamune Date's Matsushima home. This and other photos are below, please click on them to take a closer look.

A Statue of Buddha in the grounds of "Zuiganji" Temple.	"Sankeiden"shrine in the grounds of the Matsushima home of the Date clan.
"Sei kanzeon bosatsu zazoh". This is in the Matsushima home of the Date clan.	A souvenir shop between "Zuiganji" temple and the home of the Date clan.
A sight-seeing boat in the shape of a dragon that runs between Matsushima and the nearby town of Shiogama.	A sight-seeing boat in the shape of a peacock that runs between Matsushima and the nearby town of Shiogama.
A jet skier in Matsushima bay.	An island in Matsushima bay.
Another island in Matsushima bay.