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.

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.

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.