#072: Matsu-shima (Semiweekly-pedia of Japan)

#072: Matsu-shima (category: beautiful scenery)

Matsu-shima has been a very famous tourist site and regarded as one of the Three Views of Japan from ancient times. The Japanese word "matsu" is "pine", and "shima" is "island", respectively. So, "Matsu-shima" literally means "Island of Pine". Actually, the name doesn't indicate a specific island but more than 260 islands altogether in Matsu-shima Bay in Miyagi Prefecture in Japan.

This area was close to the epicenter of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and was once devastated by the tsunami of the worst disaster. However, it is gradually being restored to its beautiful scenery with the help of many people.

(Friday, December 6th, 2013)    See Archive