For the fourth leg of our trip, we went to the coast of Miyagi prefecture, to Matsushima. Although the town isn’t huge, the bay is to die for. With the boats, all the various little islands to explore, the shrines and the water, it feels like a true, hidden gem. Reading about the history of the shrines and the islands, and how they all got their names, was really interesting. I highly recommend this location with you’re looking for a cheap mini break in Japan which isn’t too far from Tokyo, but is far enough to be something that’s fresh and new for your senses.
We enjoyed shaved ice under the blazing sun and found a cosy, shaded corner of one of the islands to listen to the waves and watch the boats. It was peaceful and pretty perfect.
