How much do you know about Matsushima in Japan? One of the three best scenic places in Japan? Or you have not heard of it? Now let’s have a social studies time. Take a look at a map, please. First, find Tokyo. Go up north along The Pacific Ocean. Then you can see Fukushima prefecture. Go up a little more to north to Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture, and go to the northeast. You will find Matsuhima.
Strictly speaking it is Matushima town. Matsushima that I am going to write here is an area with hundreds of small islands. It is Matsuhima town’s famous tourist spot. Matsuhima town is also famous for its Gyutan or beef tongue. Gyutan plate has a side dish of pickled vegetables and it is so good by the way.
Back to the story. As I told you at the begging, Matsushima is one of the three best scenic places in Japan. The other places are Amanohashidate in Kyoto prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima prefecture. In the past when people often wrote poems, people often used the word Matsushima in them. Besides in Edo period where ukiyoe art was popular, a famous ukiyoe artist Utagawa Hiroshige painted Matsushima.
The moon that could be seen in Matsuhima was especially famous. It was said to be a good place when you look at the moon and that was even known to China during 14th Century. There is a Japanese word setsugetsuka, which literally means snow, moon and flower. The word has a meaning of beauty of nature. Putting snow, moon and flower to the three best scenic places, Matsuhima is moon. Many poets wrote poems with Matsushima’s moon. Even a world-known physician Albert Einstein was also obsessed with the moon in Matsuhima. He visited Matsushima and got speechless when he saw the moon there. Matsuhisma was loved by many people in this way.
There is the red bridge called Fukuura bridge that is a symbol of the area. It is across to Fukuura island. According to the local, they say that the bridge has magical powers and can help you meet people. If you want to find a new boyfriend or girlfriend, visiting and crossing the bridge might bring you good fortunes. You can walk around Fukuura island. It does not take times walking around the entire island. You can walk seeing ocean then into the inside of the island full of greenery. Enjoy many views!
The Great East Japan Earthquake happened in 2011 hit and severely damaged the coast of north east Japan. The area around Matsuhima was part of it, but tsunami was not so bad here in Matsushima. It is because of all the small islands in Matsushima. They saved this wonderful spot at that time. So Matsushima still looks the same.
By the way, Miyagi prefecture is one of the devastated prefectures by the earthquake. With the promotion to cheer those prefectures, they set a official Pokemon, Laplus to Miyagi. Laplus is a rare Pokemon on Pokemon Go app. So they have Laplus to attract people to Miyagi prefecture. There are many goods with Laplus sold only in the prefecture. You can buy them across the prefecture. Manhole covers here are also Luplus design too. (As of August, 2020)
———Information what I write here———
Matsushima　https://www.matsushima-kanko.com/
