When visiting Matsushima, besides taking a sightseeing cruise, I also highly recommend visiting Zuiganji Temple, one of the Tohoku region's foremost ancient temples with a thousand-year history. Admission for adults is JPY 1,000, and there are several paid parking lots nearby for about JPY 300 per hour. The temple grounds include a museum, the kuri, and the main hall, all simple and solemn, with a strong sense of history. I spent about an hour exploring at a leisurely pace and taking in the beauty of the temple. If you're traveling to Matsushima, it's a good idea to visit Zuiganji Temple and take a cruise on the same day, so you can experience the mountains, sea, and historic temple all at once.
Zuiganji Temple | Review by 楊雅雯
Other Reviews by 楊雅雯
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Toyama Castle (Toyama Municipal Folk Museum)
Toyama Castle was built during the Age of Civil Wars. Then, at the completion of the post-World War II reconstruction project, Toyama Industrial Expo was held, where this memorial was built. It models a three-layer and 4-story castle which is open to the public as a folk museum.
When you come to Toyama, don't miss Toyama Castle in the city center! It was once an important base for the Maeda clan's rule over Toyama and has stood through centuries of history since the Sengoku period. Today, it serves as a local history museum. Inside the castle, you can learn about its history, and the surrounding Castle Ruins Park is also quite pleasant. It's especially popular for cherry blossom viewing in spring, when the moat, green trees, and castle are reflected in the water. The blend of the historic castle and city scenery makes it a great place for a walk and photos.
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Toyama Castle Ruins Park
Nicknamed the "Floating Castle" for its appearance of floating on water, Toyama Castle Ruins Park is built on the historic site of Toyama Castle, once the residence of feudal lords who ruled the present-day Toyama region. The park retains portions of the original stone walls, moat, and the impressive Chitose Gate, preserving the grandeur of the past.
Toyama Castle Ruins Park is located in central Toyama City. It is an urban park that combines history and greenery. Centered around Toyama Castle, it preserves stone walls, the moat, and castle scenery, and the grounds are clean and pleasant. We were very lucky to have great weather that day. It's said that when the cherry blossoms bloom in spring, they complement the beautiful scenery along the Matsukawa River, and each season has its own charm. It's about a 10–15 minute walk from Toyama Station, and it's also easy to get there by streetcar. Although the park isn't large, it's a great place for a walk and photos. If you're visiting Toyama, it's worth stopping by!
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Matsushima
One of Three Great Views of Japan along with Kyoto’s Amanohashidate and Hiroshima’s Miyajima. The grand horizon of the Pacific Ocean and large and small 260 verdant islands have been attracting many visitors since the Heian Period.
Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Scenic Views, is truly breathtaking! We took a local train from Sendai, passing from underground stations through residential areas, fields, and lush green forests before arriving at Matsushima-Kaigan Station by the sea about 40 minutes later. The small islands scattered across the bay looked like a natural Japanese garden. The weather was perfect that day, with blue skies reflected in the turquoise sea, so every photo came out beautifully! Besides strolling around and enjoying the scenery, don't forget to take a sightseeing cruise to admire this iconic view from the water. It's definitely worth visiting in person.
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