A Complete Guide to Matsushima, the Perfect Day Trip from Sendai
We first visited Matsushima during a 2-week road trip in the Tohoku Region of Japan. We have visited nearby Sendai a few times so we decided to head out for a day trip to Matsushima and my only regret is not spending even more time there!
Matsushima is a stunning coastal town that is surrounded by boundless natural beauty, including the 260 pine-covered islands that you can view from the town’s coastal walking path or by boat tour! Matsushima is also a very historic town sharing much history of Masamune Date, a Sengoku period general who was a representative of the Tohoku Region and founder of Sendai City. Because of this, you’ll find many of Matsushima’s historic monuments, shrines, and temples share this history.
In this Japan travel guide, you’ll find the best things to do in Matsushima and other travel tips to make the most out of a day trip to Matsushima!
How to Get to Matsushima
How to Get to Matsushima by Train
From Sendai, the fastest way to get to Matsushima is by taking the JR Tohoku Line from Sendai Station to Matsushima Station. It takes ~25 minutes and costs ¥420 one way. If you decide to travel to Matsushima from another major city in the Tohoku Region, you will most likely transfer to Sendai Station.
How to Get to Matsushima by Car
Since we visited Matsushima during a 2-week Tohoku road trip, we decided to drive from Sendai to Matsushima. This journey took approximately 35 minutes one way, excluding traffic. Once you arrive in Matsushima, there are a lot of large parking lots on the outskirts of the city and some lots near the temples and shrines available for daily use parking.
Places to Stay in Matsushima
While it’s easy to visit Matsushima on a day trip from Sendai, you can experience more of this quaint seaside town by staying at a local ryokan or hotel. Here are some of the best places to stay in Matsushima.
- Matsushima Ichinobo is a luxury all-inclusive retreat with each room boasting beautiful views of Matsushima. In the mornings, enjoy the sunrise views over Matsushima Bay from the outdoor onsen before heading out to town. On the hotel grounds, take time to stroll through the hotel garden and Fujita Kyohei Glass Museum. Then in the evenings, enjoy one of their nightly live concerts after dining at the custom-order buffet of Japanese and French cuisine. – Location
- Hotel Matsushima Taikanso is another luxury property located just outside of Matsushima city center. It has many scenic overlook areas with mountain and ocean view rooms, five dining facilities of various cuisines, and multiple onsen for guests to enjoy. – Location
- Palace Matsushima offers beautiful traditional Japanese and Japanese Western rooms with unobstructed views of Matsushima. Enjoy the many relaxation areas within the hotel, including onsen, massage chairs, and a lounge. Last, enjoy seasonal Kaiseki dining options prepared with only the freshest ingredients. – Location
The Best Things to Do in Matsushima
Try Sasa Kamaboko at Matsukama Sohonten
When Matsushima, make sure to try Sasa Kamaboko, a Miyagi Prefecture specialty snack! Sasa Kamaboko is a fish cake made from ground white fish shaped into a bamboo leaf. One of the best places to try Sasa Kamaboko is at Matsukama Sohonten.
You’ll first order the Sasa Kamaboko and then cook it yourself over a large grill towards the front of the store. It takes around 6-7 minutes to cook, and the results are a golden, delicious treat! Another yummy snack to get at Matsukama Sohoten is the fried tofu, which was my personal favorite!
Location: Chonai-120 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Take A Matsushima Sightseeing Cruise
Matsushima Bay is renowned for its stunning scenery, so while in Matsushima, take a sightseeing cruise! There are several options for cruises, including large tour boats and smaller chartered boats. But the most popular is the Matsushima Pleasure Boat. I recommend taking the Matsushima Island Sightseeing Boat Niohmaru Course, which takes 50 minutes and offers some of the best scenery of nearby islands and other distant scenery!
TIP: If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure you take some Dramamine or other motion sickness medication before your boat ride. The waters can be choppy some days!
Location: Japan, 〒981-0213 Miyagi, Miyagi District, Matsushima, Chonai−８５ // MAP
Snack on Senbei at Yukitakeya
Senbei, Japanese rice crackers, are one of my favorite snacks in Japan, and I always enjoy visiting local senbei stores to see what flavors they offer. Yukitakeya is a fantastic senbei shop to visit in Matsushima. More often than not, there is a flavor unique to the shop or prefecture I’m visiting. Some of my favorite, more unique flavors have been ume (plum), mentaiko (fish roe), and uni (sea urchin). But of course, you can find all of the classic flavors at nearly every senbei shop, like coarse sugar, shoyu (soy sauce), togarashi (chili pepper), and nori (seaweed).
Location: Japan, 〒981-0213 Miyagi, Miyagi District, Matsushima, Chonai−109 2F // MAP
Visit the Beautiful Moss Gardens at Entsuin Temple
Entsuin Temple is a beautiful, tranquil temple that has a significant samurai past. It was founded in 1647 and is devoted to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. It is also a tribute to Date Mitsumune, the grandson of Sendai City founder Date Masamune. At a young age Date Mitsumune was renowned by his family and peers as the next great leader. Sadly this dream never happened as he tragically passed away at 19.
Entsuin is also known as the “Rose Temple” because of the roses that Hasekura Tsunenaga brought back from Europe. Mitsumune’s mausoleum within the temple grounds continues this admiration with many paintings depicting roses and a rose garden available to view seasonally. However, year round you can enjoy the moss garden and rock garden, which are breathtaking! Photos truly can’t do it justice.
Location: Chonai-67 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Explore the Caves and Museums at Zuiganji Temple
Zuiganji is one of the most famous Zen Buddhist temples in the Tohoku Region. It was founded in 828 but later rebuilt in 1609 by Date Masamune as the family temple. While walking to the main hall, you’ll walk down a path of cedar trees and another path that has a multitude of caves that were previously used for meditation and now contain Buddhist statues.
While visiting Zuiganji, save a little time to visit the Zuiganji Temple Museum Seiryūden, which has over 1,000 years of history inside. Displayed are many national treasures and important cultural artifacts, such as the five wooden statues of the Five Great Kings and over 160 paintings and murals from the Edo period.
Location: Chonai-91 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
You might also like: A Complete Sendai Travel Guide
Enjoy Delicious, Fresh Sashimi at Matsushima Fish Market
Because Matsushima is a coastal town it only makes sense that you can try some of the freshest sashimi at Matsushima Fish Market. One of the most well-known delicacies of this area is oysters! From October to March, you can try the rich flavor of oysters prepared in many different ways at Yakigaki House, which has an oyster buffet! Patrons are given 45 minutes to enjoy as many oysters as they desire for around 3,300 yen per person. Because this is only available for a limited time each year the line does get long so make sure to head there early if you want to enjoy the oyster buffet!
My personal favorite is tuna and there are many that are caught nearby resulting in some of the most buttery, delicious tuna sashimi I’ve ever tasted! Whether you decide to try sashimi, seafood donburi (rice bowl), or barbecued fish, there are many delicious things to discover at Matsushima Fish Market.
Location: Fugendo-4-10 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Shop for Souvenirs at Owariya Gift Shop
No trip to Matsushima is complete without a visit to a gift shop! One of my favorites there was the Owariya Gift Shop which has many handmade local products as well as other popular souvenirs from around Japan. Two of my favorite finds at Owariya Gift Shop were the beautiful pottery piece and the hand-carved kokeshi dolls, which, if you didn’t know, originated in the Tohoku Region during the Edo Period! They also have a selection of Fair Trade goods such as tea and chocolate.
Location: Chonai-104 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Browse (or Buy) Local Art at Art Gallery Atelier Zen
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to look for local art galleries that sell works from local artists. This is how I came to find Art Gallery Atelier Zen, which is located just off the main seaside street in Matsushima. The owner of the shop is also the artist and has the most stunning oil paintings of Matsushima scenery. He also does oil pastels, watercolors, and calligraphy work. We ended up bringing home four of his art pieces to display in our home and they are by far some of my favorite pieces we own! If you are shopping for art, make sure that you take cash with you in order to purchase.
Location: Chonai-151 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Enjoy Traditional Sweets at Kanrantei Tea House
Kanrantei is a traditional tea house that is over 400 years old! It was originally a tea house that was at Fushimi Momoyama Castle for Hideyoshi Toyotomi but was later moved to Edo by Date Masamune, followed by another move to its current location on Matsushima Bay by Date Tadamune. Out of the 11 buildings that were originally on the grounds, Kanrantei is one of the only original buildings that remains.
Today you can still visit Kanrantei and enjoy seasonal sweets and a cup of matcha while overlooking a stunning view of Matsushima Bay. It is also a popular place to watch the moon rise over the bay! I recommend ordering the tea set that comes with three seasonal sweets and tea for around 1,000 yen.
Location: Japan, 〒981-0213 Miyagi, Miyagi District, Matsushima, Chonai−５６ // MAP
Step Back in Time at the Matsushima Retro Museum
The Matsushima Retro Museum is a homage to past times, specifically Japan’s Showa period. They have over 8,000 nostalgic items on display including toys, electronics, games, and household goods, many of which you can touch! Step in to test your luck playing pachinko, 10-yen games, and other Japanese classics like kendama, a Japanese string toy game. Make sure to buy some old-fashioned candies before leaving! Museums like this are found in many places in Japan but are phasing out. The owner is such a kind person and really takes great pride in the museum.
Location: Fugendo-48-1 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Admire Seasonal Flowers and Foliage on Fukuurajima
Fukuurajima is a small island located just off the coast of Matsushima. Similar to Godaido, it is connected to the mainland by a 252-meter-long vermilion bridge that makes it easily accessible from many of the things to do in Matsushima. Once you arrive on the island you can enjoy over 300 species of plants, trees, and seasonal flowers alongside the walking paths!
Location: Senzui-39-1 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
Walk Across the Sukashibashi Bridge to Godaido Temple
Godaido Temple is one of the most iconic sights in Matsushima, but first, you have to cross the Sukashibashi Bridge to get there! Sukashibashi is often referred to as Deai Bashi, or “encounter bridge,” from the thought that you might meet a special person as you cross it.
Once you arrive on the other side you will immediately see Godaido Temple which was originally built in 807 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to honor Bishamon, the protector of warriors. It was later rebuilt in 1604 by Date Masamune and is named for the Five Great Wisdom King statues that are kept within the temple and are displayed only once every 33 years. These statues enshrined at Godaido serve as protectors of nearby Zuiganji Temple and the island is considered to be sacred ground.
Location: Chonai-111 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan // MAP
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