Feel the Bounty of Matsushima Bay

Matsushima Bay, with over 300 small islands that make up its stunning scenery, is recognised as one of the ‘three most scenic locations’ in Japan. It has also been designated as a member of the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Bays Club’. 

On this tour, you will enjoy the bounties of Matsushima Bay – from the delicious seafood it produces, to the unique lifestyle of the area. From an adventure perspective, you will walk the highlights of the world-famous Michinoku Coastal Trail (a 1,000-kilometer-plus seaside trail route) and kayak around nature-crafted bonsai-like islands floating in the Bay. The fact that Matsushima Bay is one of the leading oyster producing areas in Japan, coupled with plenty of high-quality rice and clean water, means you will surely be satisfied by the bounty of delicious local food and sake on offer throughout the tour!

Location: Tohoku Region, Miyagi Prefecture

Main Activity: Trekking (some walking)/ Sea Kayak/ Cultural Activities

Difficulty:2＋

OUTLINE

MEETING PLACE

TOUR COURSE

Day One

Meet your guide at JR Sendai Station.

Transfer to Matsushima by local train.

Enjoy a tasty lunch of Italian cuisine made using local seafood.

Take a relaxing tour of Matsushima Bay by sightseeing boat.

Learn about and help with activities to restore the marine ecosystem damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Once back on shore, take a walk through the tranquil and history-steeped temples and lush gardens of Matsushima, visited by many over the years, including Einstein! 

Your first night of accommodation is at a hot spring inn (ryokan) located on the mountainside, overlooking Matsushima Bay.

Enjoy stunning views of the Bay from your window. 

Be treated to some spectacular views, especially on sunny mornings.

The open-air hot-spring bath also offers panoramic views of Matsushima Bay.

Dinner will be a buffet style feast with a focus on local ingredients.

Day Two

Start the day by boarding an oyster farmer’s boat and visit the local oyster farms. 

The impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami saw all the oyster shelves washed away by the waves.

At that time, Hiroshima, France, and other famous oyster-producing regions around the world helped us recover by providing seed oysters and necessary materials to rebuild the farms.

These are all seed oysters. Because the waters of Matsushima Bay are so nutrient-rich, oysters can be grown to maturity and harvested after just one year.

If various conditions (such as tidal conditions and weather) align, you might even be lucky enough to experience standing on water! 

Next, hop over to the next group of islands – the four largest inhabited islands in the Bay – called the ‘Urato Islands’.

The hiking trail that connects the islands forms part of the ‘Michinoku Coastal Trail’. As with all sections of the trail, here you can also take in beautiful coastal scenery while also experiencing the local lifestyle and its recovery.

Many oyster farms are dotted in between the small islands, so you can really glimpse into local life as you watch the farmers and fishermen at work. 

 

The trail will take you to three of the main islands, using local shuttle ferries to hop from one to the next.

The total distance is about 10 km, and the paths are easy to walk and relatively flat. 

When we come across a beautiful view, we spread out our camp chairs and take a break to soak it up! 

We will brew delicious coffee with local water and local beans. Local sweets will also be served.

Dinner will be served at a creative modern-Japanese restaurant in Shiogama City, where you will enjoy pairing local ingredients with local sake.

Shiogama City is famous for seaweed-salt production. Enjoy sipping on sake the local way – can you see the lip of the bowl? Enjoy a salty sensation which will bring out the flavours in the local sake! 

As Shiogama is a port town, fresh seafood is landed daily – especially in the fall, when it is peak tuna season! Most of the tuna you come across in Japan has been frozen before being shipped to market. This is one of the few places in Japan where you can enjoy fresh tuna! 

This restaurant also makes use of oysters that would otherwise be discarded (due to their small size or other small imperfections) to make a delicious umami-filled soy sauce. This sustainable soy sauce is used in dishes and served with sashimi. 

Day Three

Today you will get off to an early start – but well worth it for the views! 

We will tour Matsushima Bay by sea kayak at sunrise, enjoying one of the most serene times on the water before the world wakes up.

When seen from this close, the pine-clad islands almost look like giant bonsai trees! 

We will get out on one of the islands for a tasty breakfast. The picture below is of Japanese-style food, but it is also possible to have coffee and croissants, depending on your preference. 

The tour will end after you check out of the hotel at 10:00 a.m. 

Enjoy your own leisurely sightseeing of the Matsushima town area and nearby Sendai City.

(Additional tours and experiences available in the surrounding area available upon request for additional fees).

Tour Course Image 

You can also see the route images of the featured tours on Google Maps.
You can also see the route images of the featured tours on Google Maps.
This is a trip around Matsushima Bay, where you can experience the richness of nature from various angles, the food it nurtures, and the warmth of the people of the area.

　　　　　　
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