“Japan Heritage” Certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in FY2016
The “DATE Culture” Fostered by Masamune

Constituent cultural property 34

34 Matsushima

With a gross area of 9,717 hectares and consisting of over 260 islands of various sizes, Matsushima has long been known for its scenic landscape. Its beauty changes with the seasons, and has been a long-time popular subject for poetry. Ever since its introduction by the famous 17th century haiku poet MATSUO Basho in his famous travel essay titled “Oku no Hosomichi”, many people have come to visit Matsushima. All of the islands and the entire coastal area are designated as a “National Special Place of Scenic Beauty.”

Tags

Stories :	3 Spreading of Culture After Masamune
Designated :	10 National Special Place of Scenic Beauty
Categories :	4 Restoration and Preservation of Poetry-associated Sites in the Michinoku Region by the Domain
Regions :	3 Matsushima Town 4 Shiogama City

DATA

Name :	34 Matsushima
Location :	Shiogama City, Miyagi / Higashi-Matsushima City, Miyagi / Matsushima Town, Miyagi-gun / Rifu-cho, Miyagi-gun / Shichigahama-machi, Miyagi-gun

Location/Ownership/Traditional place

Shiogama City / Matsushima Town

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Access and Tourists Spots

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Access and Tourists Spots

1. Marubun Matsushima Kisen, Co., Ltd. Matsushima Office

Take a tour around the famous picture-postcard scenery of the islands. Oyster pot cruise line enters service from December to March, which is very convenient for time-saving tourists who wish to enjoy the oyster cuisine and the scenery at the same time.

98-1 Chonai, Matsushima-aza, Matsushima Town
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2. Sokanzan

Sokanzan is the hilly cape that protrudes towards the south into Matsushima Bay. The upper area is a park with an observatory deck where visitors can enjoy the views of both Shiogama and Matsushima, which is why this location was given a name which literally means, “mountain of two views.” The view reaches as far as the Oshika Peninsula and Mt. Kinka-san. The view of the sun rising over the Mt. Kinka-san is especially noteworthy, taking viewers’ breath away with its solemn and elegant beauty.

Osawadaira, Matsushima-aza, Matsushima Town
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3. Daigyoji Temple

This temple was built upon the donations made by the first daughter of DATE Masamune named Princess Iroha. The 100th master priest of Zuiganji temple named Dosui Zenji also served as the founding priest of the temple. It is a prestigious temple that once had the honor of an Imperial Visit by the Emperor Meiji in 1876.

93 Miura, Tetaru-aza, Matsushima Town
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4. Four Great Views, Ogidani (Mysterious view)

The spot is located on the highland behind Sokanzan. From the top, the inlets of Matsushima Bay resemble a floating fan, which gave Ogitani its name (literally "fan-shaped valley"). It is one of the few place where the entire view of Matsushima Bay can be observed. In autumn, the changing color the maple leaves adds interest to the view.

Sakuragaokairi, Matsushima-aza, Matsushima Town
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5. Kyohei Fujita Museum of Glass

This museum exhibits works of FUJITA Kyohei, an internationally recognized Glasswork artist. Other than his works, it provides occasional planned exhibitions, and holds a museum shop where jewelry, tableware and furniture made of glass from both inside and outside of the country, as well as a tea room where visitors can take a break.

1-4 Takagihama, Matsushima Town
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6. Matsushima Island Sightseeing Tour Cruise Ship Consortium

Sightseeing cruise on a small pleasure boat will allow visitors to fully enjoy the ever-changing sceneries of various-sized strangely shaped rocks of Nio-jima, Kane-jima and Katsura-jima, or to take a close look at the details of rock surface or branches of pine trees.

98-1 Chonai, Matsushima-aza, Matsushima Town
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