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Hanami 2015 Day 3 - Matsushima and the Shiogamazakura

Travel Reports by Aaron Chong view profile of Aaron Chong

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April 29, 2015 - Hanami 2015 Day 3 - Matsushima and the Shiogamazakura

Boats plying into Matsushima

No trip to Sendai will complete without a visit to Matsushima, one of the three great views of Japan alongside Miyajima and Amanohashidate.

After bidding farewell to the wonderful staff of Umebachi, we used the third day of the JR East pass for the travel between Sendai and Matsushima and the evening Shinkansen to Morioka where I've booked a hotel for the night.

We have received some pointers from the Keiko-san, the owner of Umebachi, not to miss out sasakamaboko, a local fish cake delicacy in Matsushima. They were indeed delicious and the oysters famous in the region were fresh, plump and juicy as well. Nevertheless, it was the views of the pine-clad islands of Matsushima that won our hearts.

From Matsushima-Kaigan station along the Senseki line, we started by visiting the nearby Oshima Island and from there made our way along the coast toward Fukuura Island, stopping by at Godaido Shrine along the way.

Bridge to Oshima island
Jizo statues among the pine trees
A glimpse of the pine clad islands of Matsushima bay
Couple holding hands while crossing the bridge to Godaido Shrine
A reminder of the tragedy that happened on 11 March 2011
Crossing the long bridge to Fukuura Island
Benches provided everywhere for people to relax and soak up the views of Matsushima
Wild sakura hidden in the pine forests
A sprinkling of pink polka dots on the leafy green foliage
A stunning view that represents the beauty of Matsushima
View of the Fukuura Bridge, the Matsushima Hotel and the fake castle from Fukuura Island
Practising my bokeh skills

After enjoying our trek around Fukuura Island, we were just in time for the 3pm ferry cruise departing for Shiogama, It was time to say goodbye to this wonderful place and admire some of the strange rocks and islands that Basho, the famous Edo poet, had seen before.

Sayonara Matsushima
Island inhabited by seagulls
Hello there! Enjoying the view?
This one is as holey as Swiss cheese
This rock looks like the head of a bird
Oyster rafts
Coast guard ships as we approach Shiogama port

Our next stop was the Shiogama Shrine, 30 minutes by foot from the ferry terminal. We were told that the Shiogamazakura had fully bloomed by one of the patrons at Sushi Tetsu two nights ago. We were very lucky to be able to see this special cultivar of cherry blossom that usually blooms in early May, but bloomed more than a week early due to the strange warm weather. There were also other types of sakura and other flowers cultivated in the shrine complex.

A Shiogamazakura branch welcomes you to climb up the hellish steps to the shrine
The Shiogama Shrine sure is quiet today
Shiogamazakura branches reaching out to the ornate shrine roof
Light and fluffy like little pom-pom balls
The not-so-attractive green sakura variety known as Gyoiko
Other flowers can also be found on the grounds of Shiogama Shrine. I wonder what these are...
Last look at Shiogama and Matsushima

We left Shiogama and finally bid farewell to the city of Sendai as we took the leisurely Yamabiko service to our next destination, Morioka. Matsushima instantly became Alan's favorite place of the entire trip and for me, I finally got to tick one of the three great views of Japan off my bucket list.

For more pictures visit my Flickr albums below:

Matsushima
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124829205@N08/albums/72157652265877906

Shiogama
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124829205@N08/albums/72157651922911408

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List of Posts:
2019/05/31 - Matsue Horanenya - Koyasan
2019/05/30 - Matsue Horanenya - Horyuji and to Wakayama Prefecture
2019/05/29 - Matsue Horanenya - Uji
2019/05/28 - Matsue Horanenya - Amanohashidate
2019/05/27 - Matsue Horanenya - Tottori Sand Dunes
2019/05/26 - Matsue Horanenya - Kangyosai ŠÒŒäÕ
2019/05/25 - Matsue Horanenya - The World Heritage Sites of Hagi
2019/05/24 - Matsue Horanenya - Akiyoshido and Akiyoshidai
2019/05/23 - Matsue Horanenya - The Beluga Whales of AQUAS
2019/05/22 - Matsue Horanenya - Chunichisai ’†“úÕ
2019/05/21 - Matsue Horanenya - Matengai Cliff and the Kuniga Coast
2019/05/20 - Matsue Horanenya - Sakaiminato
2019/05/19 - Matsue Horanenya - Izumo Taisha
2019/05/18 - Matsue Horanenya - Togyosai “nŒäÕ
2019/05/17 - Matsue Horanenya - Getting to Matsue from KIX
2016/07/15 - Hokkaido Day 14 - End of the Trip and My Top Five Highlights
2016/07/14 - Hokkaido Day 13 - Biei's Patchwork Road and the Blue Pond
2016/07/13 - Hokkaido Day 12 - The Lavender Fields of Furano
2016/07/12 - Hokkaido Day 11 - Usuyukiso Habitat and Peach Rock
2016/07/11 - Hokkaido Day 10 - Rebun's 4-Hour Trekking Course
2016/07/10 - Hokkaido Day 9 - Wakkanai, the Northernmost City of Japan
2016/07/09 - Hokkaido Day 8 - Journey to the North
2016/07/08 - Hokkaido Day 7 - Last Day in Shiretoko
2016/07/07 - Hokkaido Day 6 - Bear Watching Cruise and Rausu
2016/07/06 - Hokkaido Day 5 - Shiretoko Five Lakes
2016/07/05 - Hokkaido Day 4 - Obihiro Butadon and the Kushiro Norokko Train
2016/07/04 - Hokkaido Day 3 - Hell Valley and Heavenly Ramen
2016/07/03 - Hokkaido Day 2 - Yoichi and Otaru
2016/07/02 - Hokkaido Day 1 - Late Night Ramen Dinner
2015/05/02 - Hanami 2015 Day 6 - The Wisterias of Ashikaga Flower Park
2015/05/01 - Hanami 2015 Day 5 - Kakunodate and Long Winding Route to Aomori
2015/04/30 - Hanami 2015 Day 4 - The Lonely Sakura of Koiwai Farm
2015/04/29 - Hanami 2015 Day 3 - Matsushima and the Shiogamazakura
2015/04/28 - Hanami 2015 Day 2 - Hirosaki
2015/04/27 - Hanami 2015 Day 1 - Shibazakura in Chichibu