Matsushima Bay

Matsushima Bay is the inner part of Sendai Bay, immediately south of the Ojika Peninsula on the east coast of Honshu. The name means, "island of pines", referring to the pine covered rocky islands and islets, more than 260 in number, which give this area its special character. The scenery of the region, diversified by its varied rock formations and the bizarrely shaped trees, which grow in its scanty soil, has long been renowned throughout Japan.

Together with Ama-no-hashidate and Itsukushima in Hiroshima Bay, Matsushima is one of the three famous stretches of coastal scenery in Japan, the sankei. The islands consist partly of volcanic tuffs, partly of white sandstone (which is also found in most of the coastal rock formations). A few of the larger islands are inhabited, but the smallest are no more than rock rocks of a few square yards in extent. The waves have cut deeply into the rock creating numbers of caves, tunnels, pinnacles and arches. A few wind battered pines contrive to cling to even the steepest walls of rock.

This has long been a popular holiday region for the Japanese, and along the 7 1/2mi/ 12km stretch of coast running from north to south there are more than 40 Japanese-style hotels (ryokan). In spite of this it is essential to book accommodation in advance.

There are many viewpoints along the coast and on the islands from which to see the scenery of the bay and the islands - always changing as the light changes at different times of day and different seasons; but the highly formalized Japanese approach to scenery, influenced by landscape painting, distinguishes four particular viewpoints, the Matsushima shi-daikan ("the four most excellent views of Matsushima"):

Otakamori, a hill (348ft/ 108m) on the island of Miyato, in the eastern part of the bay.

Ogidani, a hill to the south of Matsushima Station in the central part of the bay.

Tamonzan, a low hill on Cape Yugasaki, in the southwestern part of the bay.

Tomiyama, a hill 20 minutes' walk north of Rikuzen-Tomiyama Station. On the hill is the Daigyoji Temple (17th C).