【Zatsu Tabi-That’s Journey-】 Matsushima Town, Miyagi County, Miyagi Prefecture
What is Zatsu Tabi?
“Zatsu Tabi-That’s Journey-” is a travel comic essay written by Kenta Ishizaka and serialized in Dengeki Maoh (KADOKAWA). It depicts the protagonist, Chika Suzugamori, an aspiring manga artist, breaking out of a negative cycle of rejected scripts by traveling to various places in a “casual” manner.
It was adapted into a TV anime in spring 2025 and aired on major national TV stations and various streaming sites nationwide. The appeal of the work lies in introducing famous sites, history, and culture from all over Japan from a unique perspective not found in tourist guidebooks. Through the protagonist Chika’s feelings and discoveries at each location, viewers themselves can discover new ways to enjoy traveling. The work becomes one where you can find your own joy in exploring.
In anime episode 2, Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture was selected as a travel destination based on survey results, and the spectacular scenery of Matsushima, one of Japan’s Three Great Views, historic temples, and gourmet spots appeared. The episode depicts Chika gaining new stimulation while visiting famous places that Matsuo Basho also visited.
Overview of Miyagi Prefecture Matsushima Edition
Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture is a famous tourist destination known as one of Japan’s Three Great Views, alongside Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture and Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture. Approximately 260 islands are scattered throughout and around Matsushima Bay, and their beautiful scenery has fascinated many literati and artists since ancient times.
In Zatsu Tabi episode 2, the story begins with the protagonist Chika traveling from Sendai Station to Matsushima Kaigan Station via the Senroku Line in approximately 40 minutes. Starting from Matsushima Kaigan Station, the gateway to Matsushima, the narrative follows Chika’s experience of Oshima Island, Zuiganji Temple, island-hopping sightseeing boat, and local gourmet delights, fully capturing the charm of the Matsushima area.
The work introduces the historical background of how Matsushima came to be called “Matsushima,” as well as fascinating episodes related to Matsuo Basho, making it more than just a tourist guide with deeper content.
Detailed Explanation of Pilgrimage Spots
Sendai Station
Sendai Station, the gateway to Miyagi Prefecture, is the starting point for Zatsu Tabi’s Miyagi edition. In the work, Chika transfers to the Senroku Line here to head for Matsushima Kaigan Station. Sendai Station is also a stop on the Tohoku Shinkansen, making it easily accessible from all over Japan.
The station interior has numerous souvenir shops and restaurants dealing in Miyagi’s specialty products, where you can enjoy local cuisine such as gyutan (beef tongue) and sasagamaboko (bamboo-leaf fish cake). It’s also recommended to sightsee in Sendai city before or after your pilgrimage.
Matsushima Kaigan Station
After approximately 40 minutes on the Senroku Line, you arrive at Matsushima Kaigan Station, the gateway to Matsushima tourism. Though small, the station building is constructed to evoke the atmosphere of Matsushima. The work depicts Chika alighting at this station, making it the genuine starting point for the pilgrimage.
The major tourist spots of Matsushima are within walking distance from the station—Oshima Island is about a 15-minute walk away, and Zuiganji Temple is about a 5-minute walk. There’s also a tourist information center nearby where you can obtain the latest local information.
Oshima Island (Oshima)
Oshima Island is one of the important settings in Zatsu Tabi’s Miyagi edition. This small island floating in Matsushima Bay measures approximately 40m east-west and 200m north-south. It is known as a sacred place where the Buddhist monk Kenbusshonin practiced meditation during the late Heian period.
Gagetsu Bridge
To cross to Oshima Island, you cross the crimson “Gagetsu Bridge.” This bridge extends approximately 252 meters in length. Historically, when monks entered Oshima, they would severe their ties to the secular world on land, leading to its also being called the “Bridge That Severs Bad Connections.” This episode is featured in the work, and Chika’s scene crossing the bridge is depicted impressively.
The current bridge features red railings and creates beautiful photo opportunities with its contrast against the blue sea and green pines. From atop the bridge, you can view the entire landscape of Matsushima Bay, enjoying different expressions depending on the time of day.
Highlights of Oshima Island
Before crossing the Gagetsu Bridge, you pass through a path carved into the rocks. This passage itself conveys a sense of history and heightens anticipation for visiting Oshima.
Numerous stone monuments and rock caverns dot the island’s interior, allowing visitors to sense the footsteps of practicing monks. From the late Heian period through the Kamakura period, many monks are said to have practiced here, and the entire island is enveloped in a sacred atmosphere.
In the depths of the island stands a small shrine called “Mishima Shinju Inari Daimyojin,” with its crimson torii gate and main sanctuary creating a striking impression. This shrine appears in the work, with a scene of Chika offering prayers. In this quiet space, you can spend time facing yourself.
The views from Oshima are also magnificent, offering close views of the islands throughout Matsushima Bay. The scenery at dusk is particularly spectacular, making it a popular spot for photography enthusiasts.
Zuiganji Temple (Zuiganji)
Zuiganji Temple is a representative Zen temple of Matsushima, formally known as “Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enfu Zen Temple.” It was founded in 828 by the Buddhist priest Jikaku Daishi Ennin during the Heian period and was later reconstructed by Date Masamune over five years, beginning in 1609.
Approach Path
The approach to Zuiganji Temple is lined on both sides with towering cryptomeria trees, creating a solemn atmosphere. Simply walking this path feels as though your spirit is being cleansed. Partway along the approach, rock caverns carved by practicing monks dot the landscape, and you can feel the weight of history.
National Treasure—Kuri (Temple Kitchen)
What particularly captivated Chika in the work was the “Kuri,” designated as a national treasure. While the kuri is typically the kitchen of a temple, Zuiganji’s kuri is no ordinary kitchen but is renowned for its solemn decoration and architectural beauty.
The massive Tang-style doors at the entrance, the thick beams inside, and the intricate carvings are full of highlights. Reflecting the authority and aesthetic sensibility of Date Masamune, this structure continues to fascinate many visitors. The work features an impressive scene of Chika being moved by its beauty.
Main Hall and Treasure Hall
The main hall is also designated a national treasure, characterized by opulent and elaborate interior decoration representing the pinnacle of Momoyama culture. The fusuma paintings and transom carvings showcase masterful craftsmanship in every detail.
The adjoining treasure hall allows visitors to view items related to Date Masamune and temple treasures, enabling deeper understanding of Matsushima’s profound connection to the Date clan.
Matsushima Island-Hopping Sightseeing Boat
The Matsushima island-hopping sightseeing boat allows you to enjoy the beauty of Matsushima from the sea. The work features a scene of Chika boarding the sightseeing boat and enjoying the spectacular views of Matsushima Bay.
Niohmarukosu Course
The sightseeing boat offers several courses, and the one featured in Zatsu Tabi is the “Niohmarukosu Course.” On this course, while touring representative islands throughout Matsushima Bay, you can listen to onboard announcements explaining each island’s name origin and characteristics.
Highlights of the Islands
Kaneshima (Bell Island): An island with four caverns that produces bell-like sounds when waves hit it, hence its name. You can observe the mystical formations created by nature up close.
Niohojima (Nioh Guardian Statue Island): Named for its two rocks standing like Nioh guardian statues. Its powerful appearance is impressive and represents one of Matsushima’s iconic landscapes.
Senganjima (Thousand Kwan Island): A beautiful island with a legend that Date Masamune said, “I will give a thousand kan to anyone who can move this island to my garden.” The contrast between the green pines and exposed rock faces is magnificent.
The views from the boat offer a different perspective on Matsushima’s beauty compared to viewing it from land. The approximately 50-minute boat journey provides valuable time to experience the world of the work.
Fukuura Bridge and Fukuura Island
Fukuura Bridge connects Matsushima Kaigan and Fukuura Island, spanning 252 meters in length with a crimson color. Also called the “Meeting Bridge,” it is known as a power spot for forming good relationships.
Fukuura Island is designated as a prefectural natural park with maintained walking trails throughout. You can enjoy seasonal plants while strolling, and the island’s observation deck offers panoramic views of Matsushima Bay. Particularly beautiful during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons, it attracts many tourists.
Matsushima Sakana Ichiba (Fish Market)
Matsushima Sakana Ichiba is a gourmet spot where you can enjoy fresh seafood. The work depicts a scene of Chika visiting and enjoying delicious local seafood.
Fresh fish and shellfish hauled from the Sanriku offshore waters—oysters, scallops, tuna—line the market. There’s a grilled oyster corner where you can cook and eat on the spot, and dining establishments serving seafood bowls, making it a popular dining destination during Matsushima sightseeing.
The souvenir corner is also well-stocked with Miyagi specialty products such as sasagamaboko and processed seafood products.
Other Dining Establishments
Takaraya Shokudo
A restaurant beloved by local residents with an abundant selection of set meal options. You can enjoy delicious meals at reasonable prices, making it recommended as a dining spot during your pilgrimage.
Una Shin Ishidaya
For unagi (eel) cuisine in Matsushima, Una Shin Ishidaya is recommended. It appears in the work with a scene of Chika savoring delicious eel. The eel grilled with their secret sauce is exquisite and will become a memorable meal from your Matsushima visit.
Matsushima Kamaboko Honpo
An established business that manufactures and sells sasagamaboko, a Miyagi specialty. Freshly made sasagamaboko is exceptionally delicious, and you can sample freshly grilled pieces in the shop. Perfect as a souvenir.
Matsushima Hotel Waraku
The hotel where Chika stayed in the work. Located with views overlooking Matsushima Bay, you can enjoy beautiful scenery from guest rooms and the hot spring.
The outdoor bath view is particularly wonderful, offering the luxury of soaking in hot springs while gazing at the islands of Matsushima. The meals feature abundant local seafood, allowing you to fully savor Matsushima’s charm. It’s an accommodation facility where you can experience the full appeal of Matsushima.
History and Culture of Matsushima
Origin of the Name Matsushima
While there are several theories about the origin of the name “Matsushima,” the most prominent relates to a legend about Oshima Island. During the late Heian period, when the Buddhist priest Kenbusshonin was meditating on Oshima, Emperor Toba acknowledged his virtue and sent him a thousand young pine trees. With these pines planted throughout the islands, the region came to be called “Matsushima.”
Indeed, many pine trees naturally grow on the islands of Matsushima Bay, creating Matsushima’s distinctive landscape through the contrast of green pines, blue sea, and white rock faces.
Matsuo Basho and Matsushima
Matsuo Basho, an Edo-period haiku poet, visited Matsushima during his journey on the “Oku no Hosomichi” (Narrow Road to the Deep North). While the work suggests Basho composed a famous haiku about Matsushima, in reality, Basho himself left no poems about it.
The haiku “Matsushima ya / Aa Matsushima ya / Matsushima ya” is widely known as a work by Basho, but it is actually attributed to a later comic poet. An anecdote remains that Basho was so moved by Matsushima’s beauty that he could not find words to express it, illustrating just how spectacular the landscape was.
Zatsu Tabi introduces this episode, with an impressive scene of Chika similarly being rendered speechless by Matsushima’s beauty.
Date Masamune and Matsushima
Date Masamune, the first daimyo of Sendai Domain, is known as a feudal lord who deeply loved Matsushima. He devoted considerable effort to reconstructing Zuiganji Temple, spending five years and an enormous sum to complete the magnificent temple visible today.
Masamune regarded Matsushima as a place worthy of being seen and used it to entertain the domain’s distinguished guests. The lavish decorations and architecture of Zuiganji Temple reflect Masamune’s aesthetic sensibility and power, continuing to captivate many people today.
Recommended Pilgrimage Courses
Day Trip Course
9:00 Depart from Sendai Station (Senroku Line)
9:40 Arrive at Matsushima Kaigan Station
10:00 Explore Oshima Island (Gagetsu Bridge, Mishima Shinju Inari Daimyojin)
11:30 Visit Zuiganji Temple (National Treasure Kuri, Main Hall)
12:30 Lunch at Matsushima Sakana Ichiba
14:00 Island-hopping sightseeing boat (Niohmarukosu Course, approximately 50 minutes)
15:00 Explore Fukuura Bridge and Fukuura Island
16:30 Purchase souvenirs at Matsushima Kamaboko Honpo
17:00 Depart from Matsushima Kaigan Station
17:40 Arrive at Sendai Station
This course allows you to efficiently visit the major spots featured in Zatsu Tabi. With extra time, you can also explore the Matsushima Central Plaza area and visit other dining spots.
One-Night, Two-Day Course
Day 1
Morning Arrive at Sendai Station, travel to Matsushima Kaigan Station
Afternoon Tour Oshima Island, Zuiganji Temple, and the island-hopping sightseeing boat
Evening Check in at Matsushima Hotel Waraku
Night Enjoy the hot spring and dinner
Day 2
Morning Breakfast at the hotel, explore Fukuura Island
Afternoon Lunch at Matsushima Sakana Ichiba, purchase souvenirs
Evening Return to Sendai Station for sightseeing in Sendai or travel home
By staying overnight, you can enjoy the different expressions of Matsushima at dawn and dusk. The quiet morning Matsushima Bay is particularly extraordinary, allowing deeper appreciation of the work’s world.
Access Information
By Train
From Tokyo
Tokyo Station → Sendai Station (Tohoku Shinkansen, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes)
Sendai Station → Matsushima Kaigan Station (JR Senroku Line, approximately 40 minutes)
From Sendai Airport
Sendai Airport → Sendai Station (Sendai Airport Access Line, approximately 25 minutes)
Sendai Station → Matsushima Kaigan Station (JR Senroku Line, approximately 40 minutes)
By Car
Using the Tohoku Expressway
Sendai Miyagi IC → Matsushima Kaigan (General road, approximately 20 minutes)
Yamato IC → Matsushima Kaigan (General road, approximately 15 minutes)
Multiple paid parking lots are available around Matsushima Kaigan. During tourist season, congestion is common, making public transportation recommended.
Notes and Advice for Visiting
Optimal Visiting Season
Matsushima is beautiful throughout the year, but particularly recommended are the spring cherry blossom season (early to mid-April) and autumn foliage season (late October to mid-November). However, these periods attract many tourists, so weekday visits are recommended to avoid crowds.
Summer showcases beautiful green scenery, and winter offers scenic snowy landscapes of Matsushima. Since the work aired in spring, many fans visit Matsushima in spring.
Time Requirements
A half day suffices to visit the major spots, but for leisurely sightseeing, reserving a full day is recommended. Particularly, visiting Zuiganji Temple and Oshima Island takes more time than expected.
Plan for approximately 50 minutes for the island-hopping boat and about an hour for viewing Zuiganji Temple.
Clothing and Belongings
When exploring Oshima Island or Fukuura Island, comfortable walking shoes are essential. Oshima in particular features many paths utilizing natural topography, making heels inadvisable.
When boarding the sightseeing boat, bring a layer as sea winds can be strong. Ensure your camera or smartphone has sufficient charge, as abundant photo opportunities await. Many spectacular spots will provide ample photography chances.
Photography Etiquette
When taking photos during pilgrimage, be considerate of other tourists. Particularly within temples like Zuiganji, some areas prohibit photography—follow posted guidelines.
Gagetsu Bridge is a popular photography spot, but standing long on the bridge impedes pedestrian traffic, requiring caution.
Experiencing the Appeal of Zatsu Tabi On-Site
Zatsu Tabi’s greatest appeal lies in discovering history, culture, and people’s lives from perspectives not found in tourist guidebooks. The Matsushima edition provides deep knowledge—the origin of the name Matsushima, episodes involving Matsuo Basho, and accomplishments of Date Masamune—rather than merely viewing scenic vistas.
When visiting the actual location on your pilgrimage, keep the information featured in the work in mind while observing the scenery with your own eyes and feeling its emotion. Recreating the emotion and discovery that Chika experienced in the work will deepen your understanding of the series.
Additionally, by venturing to spots not featured in the work, you can enjoy your own unique “Zatsu Tabi.” Matsushima contains numerous other attractions, with the entire area being a treasure trove of history and nature.
Conclusion
The pilgrimage to “Zatsu Tabi-That’s Journey-” Miyagi Prefecture’s Matsushima edition offers a fulfilling journey enjoying Japan’s Three Great Views while touching profound history and culture. From the mystical atmosphere of Oshima Island to the solemn architectural beauty of Zuiganji Temple, the scenic views of Matsushima Bay from the island-hopping boat, and local cuisine, attractions abound.
With convenient access—just 40 minutes by train from Sendai Station—you can enjoy the area as a day trip, though overnight stays are recommended to savor Matsushima’s different morning and evening expressions.
Please personally verify the appeal of Matsushima as depicted by Kenta Ishizaka in the work and experience it through your own feelings. This will surely deepen your affection for the series, creating unforgettable travel memories.
Through pilgrimage, fully immerse yourself in the world of Zatsu Tabi and discover your own experiences and emotions. That may be the very essence of travel that Zatsu Tabi seeks to convey.
