Matsushima Bay is a very quick train ride from Sendai (it’s about a half hour away), and the consensus is that it’s one of the most scenic spots in Japan. Obviously, if you’re in Sendai, you’ve gotta check it out.
Though you need to hop on a boat to check out most of the islands, there’s a pedestrian bridge connecting one of them to the mainland.
For 200 yen, you can cross over the 252 metre bridge onto Fukuurajima Island.
It’s definitely worth visiting, with scenic hiking trails, picnic spots, and even an ice cream shop.
There are also a few spots where you can see some of the neighbouring islands.
It’s quite impressive.
But if you really want to take in the best that the islands have to offer, you’ve gotta get on a boat.
This isn’t cheap (it costs 1500 yen, or about $18 Canadian), but it’s clearly worth it. The sights are quite memorable.
Hot tip: there are two boats you can take. One loops around and winds up right back at Matsushima. The other one goes to the nearby town of Shiogama. When I was there, the one that returned to Matsushima was absolutely packed.
Meanwhile, I was on the Shiogama boat, and it was literally just me. I effectively had my own private cruise. And the train returning to Sendai from Shiogama is slightly cheaper than the one from Matsushima, so it’s win-win.
Anyway, as you can tell from the photos, the boat ride is incredibly scenic. Don’t miss it.
Fukuurajima Island: Senzui-39-1 Matsushima, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi 981-0213
Sightseeing Boat Pier: Chōnai-98-1 Matsushima, 松島町 Matsushima, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi 981-0213