Matsushima Bay Shore Excursions

Compare the tours

Here is how the private shore excursions on this page line up against each other.

If you are arriving from Sendai rather than by sea, the Sendai Daikannon and Matsushima tour by bus covers a full day by road instead.

Morning: the island cruise

Most visitors ride the Matsushima Shima-meguri island cruise, the loop among the pine-covered islands that the bay is named for. The tourist association lists two scheduled cruises, a bay loop and a run to Shiogama, both taking 50 minutes, and the loop is operated by two companies so boats leave often. Booking ahead gives a discount, accepted up to 30 minutes before departure.

For a sunset twist, during the Light-Up season the Matsushima Bay Light-Up Cruise leaves the Central Pier at 17:00 on weekends and holidays and runs 40 minutes. A Twilight Cruise runs daily in autumn, timed to sunset and lasting 60 minutes. Source: the Matsushima tourist association.

Afternoon: the temple quarter

On shore, the classic route visits Godaido Hall, then Zuiganji Temple, founded in AD 1609, with its treasure museum and samurai swords, then Entsuin Temple, founded in 1647, with a gold leaf mausoleum and a rock garden. Photography is not allowed inside Zuiganji and you must remove your shoes at one or more locations.

If time allows, Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park is 5 minutes by car from Matsushima-Kaigan Station and frames cherry blossoms and the bay islands from one viewing platform, though its access road closes in winter. Ogidani, a viewpoint called the Mysterious View, shows the whole bay and is 25 minutes on foot from the station. Sources: the Matsushima tourist association and Ogidani listing.

Scheduled cruise fares

The Matsushima tourist association lists both scheduled cruises, the bay loop and the Shiogama route, at $9.54 (¥1,500) per adult and $4.77 (¥750) per elementary pupil, with younger children free, for a 50 minute sailing. Marubun Matsushima Kisen sells upgrades on its loop, with a second floor Green class at $13.35 (¥2,100) for adults and a third floor first class at $18.44 (¥2,900), and departures run hourly from 10:00 to 15:00, per the operator's own fare page. Tickets bought at the office on the day sail at the regular undiscounted price, per the official operator.

Per person, the group rate is usually the better deal for two or more travellers.

The islands and the temples

The Matsushima tourist association describes the bay as having 260 small pine-covered islands, and its Japanese page says more than 260. Boats thread between them on 50 minute loops. On shore, Zuiganji Temple dates to AD 1609 and Entsuin Temple to 1647, and Godaido Hall sits at the water's edge.

The town also carries a story of survival. The association states that the bay's islands helped Matsushima escape destruction in the 2011 tsunami, though boats, shops and facilities were damaged. Source: the Matsushima tourist association.

Pick your mix

On the water, choose between the standard bay loop and the Shiogama route. On land, the temple trio of Godaido, Zuiganji and Entsuin takes a couple of hours. Viewpoint seekers can climb to Ogidani for the whole bay, best in autumn colour, or head to Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park in cherry blossom season.

Food lovers can add an oyster experience with a local fisherman, and the Kazuyoshi Nagashima Matsushima oyster tour is a good example. Travellers based in the city can fold the whole bay into one day with the full day cruise tour from Sendai or see things to do around Matsushima Bay on the homepage.

Timing and booking

You can reach the bay by train and boat, and a five-minute walk brings you to the sightseeing boat terminal. On the day, you collect pre-booked tickets at Ticket Window 1 by giving your booking name and cruise time, then line up at the pier where passengers board in order, so lining up early secures a window seat. Booking ahead also gives a discount, accepted up to 30 minutes before departure.

A private excursion removes the timing risk, since the driver matches your ship's schedule. The 4 hour option fits short calls, and the 6 hour option fills a full day in port.

Weather plan

The boat trip operates weather permitting, and in inclement weather free time in the Godaido area is extended instead. That makes the temples a natural fallback, since they sit close together and need no boat.

The checklist

Few stores accept credit cards or US dollars, so bring local currency. You must remove your shoes at one or more locations, so wear footwear you can slip off. Photography is not allowed at Zuiganji Temple. The boat and temple are not wheelchair accessible, so travellers with limited mobility should plan around it or book the private tour and stay at the waterfront sights. Source: the Seabourn port guide.

A licensed guide helps with all of this, and the Matsushima private tour with a national licensed guide or the bay walk and temple discovery walking tour both cover the ground on foot.

The Shiogama route

The association lists two scheduled cruises, the bay loop and the run to Shiogama. The loop is operated by Matsushima Shimameguri Kankosen and by Marubun Matsushima Kisen, while the Shiogama route is run by Marubun only. Both take 50 minutes, adults pay $9.54 (¥1,500), elementary pupils $4.77 (¥750) and younger children ride free.

That makes it simple to sail one way between the port and the bay and ride the train back. Source: the Matsushima tourist association FAQ.

How the booking works

Tickets bought at the ticket office on the day of the cruise are sold at the regular undiscounted price, per the official operator. Advance booking gives 10 percent off and is accepted up to 30 minutes before departure, per Marubun Matsushima Kisen. Pre-booked tickets are collected at Ticket Window 1, and early queuing at the pier gets you a window seat.

On busy days with ship calls, an advance ticket removes the risk of a sold-out sailing.

Winter notes

The Bay Light-Up Cruise leaves the Central Pier at 17:00 on weekends and holidays during the Light-Up season, running 40 minutes, and a Twilight Cruise runs daily in autumn timed to sunset. Source: the Matsushima tourist association. The Panorama Line road to Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park closes in winter, so swap the viewpoint for a temple visit or an extra sailing.

Cold air and low light make the winter islands look stark and dramatic from the water.

Three quick rules

Short port call or a small budget, take the Private Shore Excursion: Matsushima Highlights from Port at $476. Full day ashore and curious about the port town's shrine and market, take the 6-Hour Private Shiogama & Matsushima Shore Excursion at $688. Groups of two to four should compare the per group price against per adult options such as the guided walking tours and the day tour from Sendai linked throughout this page, since the private rate is per vehicle, not per head.

For dates and availability, start from matsushima bay tours and pick the tour that matches your port window.