KameshimaKanejima, one of the many famous islands that dot the archipelagoThe view from GodaidoSagakei at MatsushimaOne of the islands of MatsushimaOne of the islands of MatsushimaChōmei-ana in Komonejima, about five meters in height, was known in folklore that people who passed through there in a pleasure boat would live three years longer. However it collapsed in the Sendai earthquake.[1]Ojima whose name is Utamakura. The red "Togetsukyō Bridge", about twenty meters in length, was wholly lost in the Sendai earthquake.[1]Another viewSea gulls at Matsushima
Matsushima (松島) is a group of islands in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. There are some 260 tiny islands (shima) covered in pines (matsu) – hence the name – and it is considered to be one of the Three Views of Japan.
A well-known haiku describes the islands as so striking that the poet is at a loss for words:
松島やああ松島や松島やMatsushima ya / aa Matsushima ya / Matsushima ya
Matsushima ah! / A-ah, Matsushima, ah! / Matsushima, ah!
While often attributed to Matsuo Bashō, the earliest known publication is in the Matsushima Zushi (松島図誌), published in 1820 over a century after Bashō's death, which attributes it to the kyōka poet Tawara-bō (田原坊).[2] While Bashō did visit Matsushima in Oku no Hosomichi, its only haiku about Matsushima was written by his travel comparison Kawai Sora.[3]
Four views of Matsushima
There are four well-known spots to view the Matsushima, known as the Magnificent View (壮観, sōkan), Beautiful View (麗観, reikan), Enchanting View (幽観, yūkan), and Grand View (偉観, ikan).
Magnificent View: The view from Otakamori
Beautiful View: The view from Tomiyama
Enchanting View: The view from Ogitani
Grand View: The view from Tamonzan
Cruise
Tourists can view the islands from up close on cruise boats.
Despite the proximity of Matsushima to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the area was protected by the islands and suffered relatively little damage.[4][5] The initial tsunami was 3.2 metres (10.5 feet) with the second 3.8 metres (12.5 feet). Electricity was restored by March 18, water fully restored by April 16th and the Senseki Train Line between Takagimachi Station and Sendai by May 28. Nevertheless, three people were confirmed killed in Matsushima (including by aftershocks) with 18 killed while out of town.[6]
Activities
Around the island travelers can go on a cruise and view the islands up close, and around the Matsushima shore travelers can rent bikes.[7]
