View of Matsushima

When we were awakened on the morning of March 11, 2011, we couldn't believe the news that we were hearing on the radio.  There was a deadly earthquake on off the coast of Miyagi, and a tsunami devastated the coastal area.  Hiroko is not from Tohoku, but we have a strong feeling for Sendai since we had just visited the area in late January.  We were in Sendai!  We spent half a day in Matsushima!  We were there in Shiogama!  We were there!  We were horrified to see the disastrous images of Tohoku region that we had recently come to love so much on TV.

Since we learned on "60 Minutes" on Sunday, March 20 that this picturesque resort town was wiped out by the tsuami, we wanted to post some beautiful images of Matsushima that we remember.  Matsushima was known for being one of "the three greatest views in Japan."

After traveling the short distance from Sendai City that morning, we were greeted by the scent of the ocean as left the train at JR Matsushima Kaigan station.  Matsushima was a small tourist town with lots of omiyage shops, oyster restaurants, and cruise marina.  We walked around Oshima, visited Godaido, worship hall, and walked crossed a long red bridge to Fuku Urajima covered by 300 kinds of trees and wild grasses.  It was a quiet beautiful day with blue sky with little wind.  It was chilly, but the sunshine was warm.

Here are images of beautiful Matsushima.  We pray that most of people there are safe.