The Beauty of Matsushima
& Zao Fox Village
Once you have finished seeing Matsushima’s famous scenery, move on to the historical and cultural treasures preserved here. Date Masamune, a well-known figure from history, novels, anime, and games, left behind numerous architectural structures in Matsushima. The most famous of these is Zuiganji, a Buddhist temple and national treasure.
Zuiganji, previously named Enfukuji, was opened in 828 by Jikaku Daishi, the head priest of Enryakuji.
The temple deteriorated for some time during the Warring States Period, but it once again came into power under the protection of Sendai’s ruler Date Masamune after the Battle of Sekigahara.
This was when its name was changed to the current Zuiganji. The luxurious main building is dedicated to the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, known as Kannon in Japan.
The shining interior
Godaido
Kanrantei Tea House
The building contains a total of 10 rooms, each with different ceilings and fusuma paintings. Repairs were begun on the main building in 2009 and it was reopened to visitors in April 2016.
Other historical sites connected to Date Masamune include Godaido, a temple built on a small island in Matsushima Bay, and Kanrantei Tea House, which was transferred from Fushimi Castle in Kyoto.
Location: 91 Matsushima Aza-chonai, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi
Access: Walk five minutes from JR Matsushima-Kaigan Station
Zuiganji official website
Bus going to Fox Village
If you have time after seeing the famous Matsushima, check out the Fox Village in Shiroishi in southern Miyagi Prefecture.
Like Tashirojima, the Fox Village is a Miyagi Prefecture touristic site that has gotten a lot of attention from foreign tourists.
There are long distances to travel across the Tohoku region, so sightseeing with a rental car will save a lot of time.
But if you prefer to travel by public transportation like me and still want to go see cute foxes, you have to decide ahead of time which day you will go. There is a bus every Tuesday and Friday from JR Shiroishi Station to the Fox Village, which costs ¥200 one-way and takes around an hour.
To accommodate an ever-increasing number of tourists, Shiroishi City is experimentally increasing its number of buses on weekends and holidays (except from December 30 to January 1) from October 1, 2017 to March 18, 2018.
The bus fare is ¥500 per ride, and you can catch a bus from Joka Hiroba (Shiroishi Castle). This is very convenient for tourists making plans for a weekend or holiday.
