Matsushima

Group of islands in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan This article is about one of the Three Views of Japan. For other uses, including the town in this region, see Matsushima (disambiguation). Kameshima Kanejima, one of the many famous islands that dot the archipelago The view from Godaido Sagakei at Matsushima One of the islands of Matsushima One of the islands of Matsushima Chōmei-ana in Komonejima, about five meters in height, was known in folklore that people who passed through there in a pleasure boat would live three years longer. However it collapsed in the Sendai earthquake. Ojima whose name is Utamakura. The red "Togetsukyō Bridge", about twenty meters in length, was wholly lost in the Sendai earthquake. Another view Sea gulls at Matsushima Matsushima (松島) is a group of islands in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. There are some 260 tiny islands (shima) covered in pines (matsu) – hence the name – and it is considered to be one of the Three Views of Japan. Nearby cultural properties include Zuigan-ji, Entsū-in, Kanrantei, and the Satohama shell mound.

[edit] A well-known haiku describes the islands as so striking that the poet is at a loss for words: 松島やああ松島や松島や Matsushima ya / aa Matsushima ya / Matsushima ya    Matsushima ah! / A-ah, Matsushima, ah! / Matsushima, ah! While often attributed to Matsuo Bashō, the earliest known publication is in the Matsushima Zushi (松島図誌), published in 1820 over a century after Bashō's death, which attributes it to the kyōka poet Tawara-bō (田原坊). While Bashō did visit Matsushima in Oku no Hosomichi, its only haiku about Matsushima was written by his travel comparison Kawai Sora. Four views of Matsushima[edit] There are four well-known spots to view the Matsushima, known as the Magnificent View (壮観, sōkan), Beautiful View (麗観, reikan), Enchanting View (幽観, yūkan), and Grand View (偉観, ikan). Magnificent View: The view from Otakamori Beautiful View: The view from Tomiyama Enchanting View: The view from Ogitani Grand View: The view from Tamonzan Cruise[edit] Tourists can view the islands from up close on cruise boats. Niōjima Senganjima: Masamune Date's favorite island Komonejima Kanejima Futagojima Misagojima Kaerujima Takashima, also known as Meganejima (video) Several islands in 2008 before the Tōhoku earthquake changed their appearance.