Full-Day Historical Bike and Boat Tour of Matsushima Including One-Way Train Ticket from Tokyo

Full-Day Historical Bike and Boat Tour of Matsushima Including One-Way Train Ticket from Tokyo

Book this 2-day Matsushima local experience tour that includes homestay, fishing experience, VIP access to a historical tea house and much more! Matsushima is well known as one of Japan’s three most scenic destinations. Matsushima is famous not only as a popular destination with amazing landscapes for Japanese people but also as a historically important location for being a base of the shogunate during the Sengoku (Warring States) period. Your tour guide will show you the mesmerizing view of Matsushima while telling you the story about the local legendary warrior, Masamune Date, the samurai ruler who was known as ”Dokuganryu” (one-eyed hero) as he could only see with one eye.

Day 1 [D]:

6:45 AM (Recommended) - Arrive at Tokyo Station 

7:16 AM - Bullet train (shinkansen) leaves from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station. Transfer at Sendai Station to JR Senseki line to Hon-Shiogama Station

9:40AM - Arrive at Hon-shiogama station and a guide will be waiting for you at the ticket gate

10:10 AM - Visit a local green tea shop to learn about local green tea culture and experience green tea tasting

11:00 AM - Go to a famous sake brewery. Learn about the sake manufacturing process and enjoy sake tasting.

If you are traveling on Sunday, the sake brewery is closed and you will be taken on a short sightseeing boat ride in Matsushima Bay instead.

12:30 PM - Lunch

1:30 PM - Tea ceremony and walking tour in Matsushima

Tea ceremony will be held at a property that is not open to public. Enjoy VIP access to a private tea room with beautiful traditional Japanese wall paintings. Later, a walking tour will takes you to some of the most popular attractions in Matsushima including the Zuiganji Temple (National Treasure and Important Cultural Property), Godaido Temple (Important Cultural Property), Entsuin Temple and, if time allows, Pine Tree of "Saigyo Modish".

4:30PM - Transfer to the accommodation

5:30PM - Check in to the accommodation and relax. In the evening, enjoy local style dinner with your host family. Learn the fascinating history as well as local lifestyle of Matsushima

Day 2 [B, L]:

8:00 AM - Enjoy breakfast

9:00 AM - Local fishery experience with English translation support. Be a local Japanese fisherman for 3 hours and learn some secret tips from your guide

12:30PM - Seafood BBQ lunch. Learn more about local fisherman's daily lives while enjoying the freshest seafood BBQ. After lunch, you will be transferred back to Nobiru station for your onward journey