Matsushima (松島), Miyagi (宮城)
Tohoku, Honshu, Japan
Autumn 2009
Tohoku, Honshu, Japan
Autumn 2009
For many centuries, the people of Japan have been designating the best and most beautiful places and events in their country: there are Japan's top three gardens, Kyoto's top five Zen temples, Japan's top three festivals featuring floats, Kamakura's top ten wells and countless other rankings. Most famous among the many designations are probably Japan's three most scenic places, nihon sankei (日本三景). Selected several centuries ago, they consist of Matsushima, Miyajima and Amanohashidate:
Matsushima is located in the central part of Miyagi Prefecture. Some 260 islands, large and small, are scattered in picturesque Matsushima Bay. The view of Matsushima changes from place-to-place and from-season-to-season, and is so beautiful that it is considered one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan. Dotted with small islands covered by black and red pines and grayish white rocks, the views of Matsushima Bay from the four islands of Ogi-ga-tani, Tomi-yama, Otaka-mori, and Tamon-zan are truly spectacular, which is called "Matsushima Shidaikan," the four grandest views in Matsushima. With its stunning island scenery, the place is frequented by visitors all year round.
By day, it is a quiet port with fishermen dozing at their boats and boats berthed at the bay...
By day, it is a quiet port with fishermen dozing at their boats and boats berthed at the bay...
Autumn panoramas from the Zuigan-ji Temple (瑞巌寺)...
Picturesque scenes as we ascend upwards for one of the 4 scenic views of the bay...
"The View"...
Souvenirs sold in the shops near the bay - kokeshi dolls, 100 million yen notes, porcelain monks...
A plethora of seafood is sold at affordable prices in scenic dining environments...
Views from and of islands in the middle of the bay...
