Miyagi Prefecture of Tohoku Region has many wonderful attractions including one of the Nihon Sankei, Matsushima Bay. Other great places include historical Sendai City - the prefecture’s capital city, Tashirojima Cat Island, and a village of foxes. Shrines, temples, and local delights are also part of the prefecture’s charm.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Miyagi Prefecture
- Best Places to Visit in Miyagi Prefecture
- Miyagi’s Shrines and Temples
- Best Foods to Try
- Travelling to Miyagi from Tokyo
- Takeaway
Introduction to Miyagi Prefecture
History and Geography
Miyagi Prefecture can be found on the northeastern shore of Japan mainland, more specifically along the Tohoku region’s eastern area. It is bordered by Yamagata, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures from north, west, and south directions, and faces the Pacific Ocean to the east.
For more about the Tohoku Region:
Tohoku Region: the Wonders of Nature
Miyagi Prefecture is also renowned for its historical heritage especially in its capital city of Sendai that was founded by Date Masamune, a legendary samurai lord. However, that’s not where the prefecture’s history began. Miyagi’s history began way before the era of samurai as evidenced by the discovery of ancient shell mounds indicative of prehistoric civilization, though this is lesser known to that of Date Masamune’s impressive accomplishments
※ Visit Miyagi, "History" ※ Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., "Miyagi"
2011 Earthquake and Tsunami
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit Japan causing great damage to Miyagi Prefecture, particularly by the ensuing tsunami. Due to its proximity to Miyagi’s Sendai city, the incident is also known as the Great Sendai Earthquake amongst other names. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the earthquake’s epicentre was 80 miles east of Sendai City. Many of Miyagi’s coastal areas suffered from the tsunami including 5 cities and 3 towns. Ishinomaki City suffered the most deaths at over 3,000.
For the related Fukushima Nuclear Incident, please find a short summary here:
Fukushima, the Land on the Road to Recovery
※ Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., "Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011" ※ FDMA, 平成 23 年(2011 年)東北地方太平洋沖地震（東日本大震災）について, “（第 161 報）”
Writer's Pick
Best Places to Visit in Miyagi Prefecture
Without further ado, let’s have a look at the finest of Miyagi’s places to visit.
Sendai City
Miyagi Prefecture’s largest city and also its capital city, Sendai is perhaps the most popular place to visit in Miyagi. Aside from being the Data Masamune’s pride and joy, it is also a wealth of information to visitors wanting to learn more about Japan’s history. Not to mention the city is famous for grilled beef tongue, a must visit for foodies!
For a list of must-visit places in Sendai City and Gyutan Restaurants to dine at:
Historical Sendai City, Date Masamune’s Greatest Legacy
Matsushima Bay
今月開催予定の #サンセットクルーズ の時間がおおよそ決まりました🤗
— 【公式】松島島巡り観光船企業組合 (@nioumaru_kanko) October 2, 2019
10/26からスタートで、毎週金、土、日、祝日に出航します✌️
10/26の出航時間は16時20分予定で、日の入りに合わせて徐々に早くなって行きますので詳しくはお問い合わせ下さい👋#松島島巡り観光船 #仁王丸 pic.twitter.com/1GR5rqYpP2
Nihon Sankei 日本三景 are Japan’s top three sceneries consisting of Matsushima Bay in Miyagi, Miyajima in Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate in Kyoto. Around 30 minutes from Sendai City, Matsushima makes for a wonderful nearby sightseeing trip whilst in Sendai. Make the best of the trip by joining a sightseeing cruise tour around the bay’s islands and its pinetrees. Find out what exactly makes this place one of the best in Japan.
※ Nihon Sankei, “Matsushima”
Miyagi Zao Fox Village and Tashirojima Cat Island
今日は #寝狐の日 🦊💤 pic.twitter.com/ikQLNmFbQO
— キツネ写真館＠きつね飼養中 (@fox_info_net) February 22, 2022
Animal lovers rejoice, Miyagi has two wonderful animal villages - Miyagi Zao Fox Village and Tashirojima Cat Island. The Zao Fox Village has over 100 inhabitants, mainly foxes; they also have rabbits, goats, and ponies. They have a variety of fox breeds including silver fox (grey), Arctic fox (white), Japanese red fox (ginger), cross fox (black golden mix), etc. It is a great chance to see foxes up close.
※ Zao Fox Village, "Facility introduction"
雛壇争奪戦はわちゃわちゃ🤣 pic.twitter.com/4n6FU2CK2o
— 田代島にゃんこ共和国 島のえき (@nyanpro) March 3, 2022
For cat-lovers, the cat island of Tashirojima where cats outnumber humans is a must-visit. For more about this place, check this article:
Tashirojima Cat Island in Miyagi
Autumn Foliage Spots - Mt. Kurikoma, Naruko Gorge, Lake Choro
Miyagi Prefecture is one of the best places in Japan to enjoy autumn foliage. Though we only introduce these three famous ones, there are many more around the prefecture.
Mt. Kurikoma
Known as the “Carpet of God”, the mountain plains of active volcano Mt. Kurikoma become bathed in a colourful carpet of leaves in autumn. Hence, it’s nickname. Enjoying the mountainview is best done via hiking. There are several hiking trails including some suitable for beginners. Since the area is volcanic, there are also several hot spring facilities to pamper yourself.
For more about the hiking trails, have a look at Kurihara City’s Tourist Portal Site with plenty of information.
※ Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization, "Mt. Kurikoma" ※ Visit Miyagi, “Mt. Kurikoma Hiking”
Naruko Gorge
Perhaps the most famous autumn scenic spot in the Tohoku Region, a photo of Naruko Gorge’s phenomenal autumn foliage speaks for itself. There are also several nature trails you can enjoy a leisurely hike on whilst enjoying the spectacular view. Some of the trails have been damaged by the 2011 earthquake and remain cut-off from access. For those just wanting to enjoy the autumn colours from a distance, Narukokyo Resthouse offers a great vantage point including the classic scene of Ofukazawa Bridge nestled amidst the colourful leaves.
※ Visit Miyagi, “Naruko Gorge Autumn Colours”
Lake Choro
Located near Zao Fox Village, Lake Choro is a considerably remote and quiet spot compared to other tourist destinations. The best time to visit is undoubtedly when it reaches peak autumn foliage when the trees surrounding the lake become colourful with yellows and reds without a leaf of green in sight. At this time of the year, the lake becomes more crowded as locals visit to enjoy the view. Though accessible by bus, the best way to reach is by car.
※ Visit Miyagi, “Lake Choro”
Miyagi’s Shrines and Temples
Miyagi is also home to a large number of Shinto Shrines and Buddhist temples. For ones in Sendai, check our Sendai article. For other noteworthy structures:
Naruko Onsen Shrine
Naruko is an onsen town that can be found in Miyagi Prefecture’s Osaki City. This shrine established around a thousand years ago is dedicated to onsen and the town’s protection. Drop-by the rustic old shrine when visiting Naruko which is famous for Kokeshi dolls as well. A large kokeshi doll can be found within the shrine.
Shiogama Jinja
Shiogama Jinja is located in Miyagi Prefecture’s Shiogama City. Tohoku’s locals believe that the shrine is home to a deity that protects the entire region. The highlights of the shrine include a variety of cherry blossom trees like weeping shidarezakura, a view of Matsushima Bay, and seasonal events and parades. The shrine’s museum is home to several artefacts that belonged to the Date clan.
Godaido Temple
Godaido Temple is located in Miyagi Prefecture’s Matsushima City. It is frequently called the symbol of Matsushima. The temple, founded in the 800s, stands in solidarity on an island in Matsushima Bay connected to the mainland by a brilliant vermillion bridge. The temple houses statues of the Five Kings of Great Wisdom that are hidden from public eyes. Only once every 33 years are visitors allowed to behold the precious sculptures.
※ Visit Miyagi, “Godaido Temple”
Best Foods to Try
A trip to Miyagi isn’t complete without trying some of the prefecture’s best delicacies. These are a small selection of the best foods to try:
Sendai Gyutan - A must-try that originated in Sendai City. For a selection of restaurants including the founding restaurant, check our Sendai article.
Matsushima Oysters - Matsushima is home to many oyster farms making Miyagi No.2 in Japan’s oyster production industry. They are usually eaten raw in appreciation of its freshness.
Zunda-mochi - Another Sendai origin food. Zunda-mochi is edamame paste wrapped mochi. It is a historical traditional sweet dating back to the Date-era.
Travelling to Miyagi from Tokyo
Getting to Miyagi Prefecture from Tokyo is easy with a variety of choices; shinkansen, highway bus, and car. The Tohoku Shinkansen route to Sendai is covered by the Japan Rail Pass; you can read up on it here:
An essential ticket for traveling: The Japan Rail Pass
Since Miyagi is very large, we recommend searching a direct route to your destination beforehand and finding the easiest method. For budget travellers without a Japan Rail Pass, the highway bus is highly recommended. As an example, it costs about 2,000 to 5,000 yen from Shinjuku Station to Sendai.
Takeaway
Miyagi Prefecture is a highly recommended destination to experience the best of Japan’s nature. Other things it has to offer are relaxing hot spring getaways, historical education trips, spiritual shrine and temple visitations, and cuddling with furry friends. Spoil yourself in Miyagi Prefecture on your next Japan trip!
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