Matsushima Bay

After much deliberation, and a very rough night on the seas, we decided the cruise ship's $159pp trip to Matsushima Bay was more than we could countenance. So instead, we disembarked after breakfast and caught the shuttle bus into Ishinomaki. This port town was devastated in the 2011 tsunami but seemed to have worked hard on its recovery - the very industrial port clearly in heavy use and the town incredibly welcoming to tourists. It is famed for its association with Manga, with a former resident being the artist of Cyborg 009.

We followed the route past tourist information (staffed by a guy from Rochester...really) to the train station from where we could get to Matsushima Bay ourselves for ¥1000 return (about £7). The forty minute train journey took us last JASDF Matsushima Air Base, home to the Blue Impulse where we saw a couple of F-2Bs taking off.

At Matsushima Bay, the temples and mausoleum are all famed for their relation to Date Masamune, Samurai ruler and founder of Sendai. We first visited the Zuiganji Temple, with its beautiful black lacquer and gold leaf wall panels, surrounded by manicured gardens with the remnants of snow. The path out was lined with wall caves and carvings used for religious and funeral services.

Over the road, the red bridges to the Gogaido pagoda made for a quick stop, albeit one teaming with coach-loads of tourists one group tours from our ship. En route back to the station, the Entsuuin was a mausoleum and gardens for the the grandson of Date Masumune.Read more