In the first year of the Genroku era, Basho arrived at Matsushima Coast by boat and first visited Zuiganji Temple before visiting Oshima Island. He composed the poem "Who will wait for the morning beauty, one-sided heart?" It expresses the sentiment that "I continue to yearn for Matsushima, which I visited on the Narrow Road to the Deep North, morning and night, all alone." The beauty of Matsushima, which was so deeply engraved in Basho's eyes and heart, continues to fascinate people as it did in the past. From Matsushima Taikanso, located on high ground, a magnificent view of Matsushima unfolds across Oshima Island, where the monument with the poem stands. The scenic beauty is depicted by over 260 islands of various sizes. The scene of the islands eroded by the waves and wind, and the greenery of the native pine trees blending with the light and sea is so beautiful that it leaves you speechless. It is like admiring a masterpiece, and you will want to stare at it forever.
"The islands are broken into a thousand pieces in the summer sea." This is another haiku that Basho wrote in Matsushima, but from Matsushima Taikanso, where you can get a wider view of Matsushima, you can see the islands beautifully scattered in the sea as if they were right in front of your eyes.

The luxury of doing nothing while gazing at Matsushima in a sophisticated and elegant hotel... The ocean-facing rooms at the seven-story Shoinkaku and five-story Shofukaku will make that wish come true. You'll have the beautiful ocean view all to yourself, as it changes from day to night. All rooms at Shoinkaku are either six-tatami or nine-tatami Japanese-style rooms or Japanese-Western rooms with twin beds, creating a modern space where modern Japanese style, Scandinavian taste, and the warmth of wood blend together. You can see Matsushima from your bed. Some of the rooms will be renovated in April 2024. Meanwhile, all rooms at Shofukaku are 10-tatami Japanese-style rooms, providing a relaxing space. In the ocean-facing rooms, you can spend a relaxing time soothed by the greenery of the pine trees of the islands and the scent of the tatami mats.

The open-air bath and large public bath allow you to enjoy the spacious location that stretches out towards Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Spots, with a particularly open feeling. The seascape of Matsushima, which changes color and expression, will refresh your soul. The open-air bath, which juts out to blend in with nature, is like an infinity bath. You can enjoy the unobstructed view and feel as if you are floating in Matsushima Bay.

After the bath, you can enjoy various aromatherapy treatments and foot reflexology massages. What's great is that the open-air bath opens at sunrise time. The jet-black Matsushima Bay gradually turns crimson red, and the sight of the islands floating in the light is breathtakingly beautiful. The inn will also tell you the sunrise time for that season. After the bath, you can quench your thirst with lemon water or other drinks.

This is a region with an endless supply of delicious seafood, including the famous oysters. There are two types of buffets to enjoy. The high-end dining space "Isogao," which reopened in 2021, is popular for its "Japanese-style seafood buffet," where you can enjoy the freshest seafood caught that day by local fishermen. You can eat as much sushi, tempura, fried oysters, robatayaki cooked right in front of you, and local fish sashimi, all made by skilled craftsmen. You can also order unpasteurized sake delivered directly from the prefecture's udon factory.

The other is the Japanese, Western and Chinese buffet, which can be enjoyed in La Cerace, an open-ceiling space with a calming color scheme. The menu, which is carefully prepared in a lively open kitchen, is surprisingly authentic and varied. Japanese, Western and Chinese cuisine, focusing on seasonal ingredients, is also available, as well as a variety of children's dishes. If you want to enjoy kaiseki cuisine in a peaceful setting, head to the Japanese restaurant Tensho. You can savour a variety of dishes made with carefully selected ingredients at seats overlooking the garden or at tatami tables.

If you have plans for the next day, why not consider taking a sightseeing boat around Matsushima Bay, which has gentle waves? We recommend the "Niomaru" course, which is a regular course that departs from Matsushima Bay and circles the bay, taking about 50 minutes to visit the islands that symbolize Matsushima, such as Niojima, Kanejima, Senganjima, Oshima, and Futagojima. You can see the beauty and power of nature's formations up close. Travel time with Matsushima. We head home, reluctant to leave the beautiful scenery behind.