1-Day Tour from Sendai: Matsushima Bay — Highlights from One of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views

Take a walk through one of Japan’s most treasured picturesque sights.

Located in the northeastern part of Miyagi Prefecture, Matsushima Bay’s 260 pine-clad islands create a breathtaking view that is a must-see while visiting the Tohoku region of Japan. On this tour, you will walk through history, take in the ocean-side views, and discover the quaint charms of this seaside town.

Highlights

• Walk the tranquil gardens within Entsuin Temple
• View national treasures located at Zuiganji Temple
• Travel back in time with a visit to a quaint retro museum
• Taste a Miyagi delicacy zunda mochi paired with traditional matcha 
• Enjoy one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views via boat cruise of the bay

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Sendai Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the stained glass window (“Morinosanka”) near the west side exit of the main concourse (2F). There are coin lockers available at the station if you wish to leave any belongings behind, but we ask that you show up a bit earlier to the meet-up spot if this is the case.

We will then head off to our destination, Matsushima Bay, via the Senseki Line.

Our first stop is Enstuin Temple, the treasure of the historical Date Clan. Here you can walk through the tranquil meditation grove of cedar trees, rose garden, rock garden, and learn the history of the National Important Cultural Property situated on the grounds. 

We will then continue on to Zuiganji Temple, one of Tohoku’s most important Zen temples. Your guide will accompany you through the grounds offering historical insight and context to the grounds and interior of the main building of Zuingaji. You will be able to take in the gorgeous gold leaf paneled doors while your guide informs you of the Date Clan and their historical significance to all of Tohoku.

You will also have the chance to enter the Zuiganji Museum located within the property. This impressive museum houses 211 original Edo paintings, approximately 30,000 historical artifacts and much more. There are also temporary exhibitions that vary by season and theme. Photography is prohibited inside the Zuiganji main building and museum, so this will be an especially cherished memory for your trip!

We will then walk our way toward Matsushima Bay where you will be able to take in the historical sight of Zuiganji’s Godaido which looks out toward the bay. This National Important Cultural Property is the oldest Momoyama-style building in northeastern Japan.

Before traveling to our next destination we will take a short moment to appreciate the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami memorial site. It is a quiet moment of reflection to gain further appreciation for the beautifully protected history and nature of the area.

For lunch, we will travel back inland toward the Matsushima Fish Market. Here you will have plenty of time to either grab some food within the market building itself, do some souvenir shopping, or head off for some free time. There are plenty of restaurants, food stands, and shops along the main street so you will not have to travel far to find something tasty!

We will meet back up after lunch and free time to journey on to our next stop. 

We will then take about an 8 minute walk to the Matsushima Retro Museum. This unexpectedly quaint museum is jammed packed with memorabilia from days gone by. It is a mere fraction of the personal collection of Aburaya Michio, who began collecting folk crafts at a young age. After WWII, Aburaya recognized these items' cultural value and eventually strived to preserve as many as possible.

We will then travel back toward the waterfront to experience a truly breathtaking sight of Matsushima Bay at the historic teahouse, Kanrantei. Its name means “Place to Watch the Ripples,” and sure enough this is a great spot to get that perfect shot of the bay. You will also be able to try a delectable matcha set–we highly recommend the zunda (sweetened crushed edamame) mochi set. There is also a small exhibition hall you can walk through to see some interesting artifacts and learn about the bay’s flora and fauna.

Our final activity for this day trip is a 50-minute boat cruise along the bay. This leisurely cruise allows you to take in the gorgeous sights, especially the pine-clad islands, that pepper the bay. The boat has interior seating as well as a standing-room only dock on the backside of the boat. It’s open air, so you can feel the cool ocean breeze and take in the magnificent scenic views of Matsushima Bay. Your guide will accompany you should you need any assistance at any point during the trip on the water.

We’ll wrap up our day by returning to Sendai Station, where your guide will say their goodbyes. The tour will conclude around 4:50 PM. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations or instructions back to your hotel.

TOUR MEETUP POINT

SENDAI STATION @ 9:00

The meetup point is at the base of the giant stained glass window called Morisnosanka (杜の讃歌), located near the west exit of the main concourse (2F). 

If you are arriving via JR lines, the stained glass should be located directly in front of you as you exit the central gates.

If you are arriving via a Shinkansen, please look for signs directing you towards the main concourse on the 2nd floor. If you go down the escalators you will see the stained glass window ahead of you.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the west exit. In this case, enter through doors near to the giant SENDAI letters outside the station and the stained glass window will be to your right or left.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We recommend arriving early as Sendai station can be quite crowded due to local train and shinkansen crowds. 

NOTES

Included

• English speaking guide
• Train fare to and from Matsushima Bay
• Entry fee at all locations
• Matcha and sweets set

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Transportation to/from Sendai Station before/after the tour

Other Information

• Please note that this tour uses public transportation, not a private vehicle. Due to this tour using public transportation, timings are subject to some change if traffic is poor or the day of travel is particularly busy. 
• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• Due to this being a walking tour, it is advised that you do not bring any luggage or large bags with you on the tour. It is advised that you check if your hotel can store your luggage for you until after the tour, or store your luggage at or near Sendai Station.
• Be advised that while perfectly safe, about 24 minutes into the boat cruise, the route proceeds into open ocean where it can get rocky. We recommend sitting inside should guests be nervous about feeling unwell during this short duration.
• There will be free time midway through the day for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.

Tour Availability Disclaimer

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.