Miyagi in Half a Day: @Matsushimakaigan Station — Guide Riko

What Is a Private Rainy-Day Tour of Matsushima and Shiogama Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors with roots partly connected to Asia, and Miyagi was their first visit, though they had been to western Japan several times before. Originally we were scheduled to arrive at Matsushima Kaigan at 9:52, but due to heavy rain the train was significantly delayed and we ran about 30 minutes behind schedule. I spent time chatting with the guests about various topics, including from the day before the tour. The rain did not let up at Matsushima either, and when one of the guests tried to put on only a raincoat and an extra plastic sheet, I suggested buying a vinyl umbrella, and indeed they agreed that an umbrella was needed and purchased one at the shop in front of the rest house. The footing at Godaido was unstable in the rain. Since we had been discussing the itinerary for several days, and because there are few places to see cherry blossoms in Matsushima, we decided to move to Shiogama Shrine. As it is on top of a hill, I proposed that if walking in the rain was difficult, we could go to the Urakasumi brewery instead (the originally planned Kirin Beer was closed on Mondays, so I had offered an alternative). One of the guests then said, "Let's go to both the shrine and the sake brewery." In Shiogama the rain eased slightly, and on the way, when I mentioned that I had done a soy sauce pressing experience at the Ota miso shop a few days earlier, they said they wanted to try it. At the shop it required a reservation a month in advance, so it was not possible, but since the stove was on, we were allowed to warm ourselves by the fire. At Ota's, they showed us a video about soy sauce making and offered us a tasting of amazake. It was their first time trying amazake, and when they said, "This is really delicious, I'll buy all the stock you have," even the shop staff were surprised. They asked to take a photo together, saying it was a wonderful experience they don't usually have. At Shiogama Shrine we walked the shortest route, and when we reached the Japanese garden, the cherry blossoms and rape flowers together drew an exclamation of "Wow!!" They seemed to enjoy the cherry blossoms even in the rain. We slowly descended the stone steps on the way back and walked to the Urakasumi brewery. As one of the guests loves sake, they greatly enjoyed the tasting. The return time ended up about an hour later than originally planned, but since we had been hit by the accident of a train delay, I felt this could not be helped. Concerned about this, one of the guests asked, "Where is the closest place to your home?" and when I said, "Shiogama is like my neighborhood," they replied, "Then there's no need to come all the way to Sendai. We can get back on our own, so please get off wherever is convenient for you." Taking them up on their kindness, I accompanied them to the nearest Tagajo Station and we parted ways in the train.

The guests had emailed me saying it was their first time in Miyagi and asking for recommendations for a three-day stay, so I suggested places with good access from Sendai Station. The day before, they had visited the row of cherry trees in front of Ogawara Station and Shiroishi Castle from Shiroishi Station. They were very moved and thanked me for the recommendations. For the day after the tour, they asked for other interesting places, so I wrote them a note: "If it were Tuesday, Kirin Beer would be an option. It has an English site, so make an online reservation and take the train to Tagajo Station, where I get off. There is a shuttle bus. Or, if you want to pick strawberries, take a taxi from Sendai Airport Station for about five minutes. I think the strawberry-picking farm called 'Kerokero no Mori' is the easiest to reach, so perhaps these would be the recommended places." I don't know whether they went on the 15th, but in a little over four hours, as the guests said, it was truly a tour unlike anything one usually experiences.

Click here for more details: Sendai & Matsushima Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Riko

Hello! I’m Riko, your local guide. During the week, I work at a local university, but on weekends, I love to guide visitors like you. This year(2024) marks my 6th year as a guide, and I’m thrilled to continue sharing the beauty of Japan with you.
I’m a certified Sake Navigator, so I have a wealth of knowledge about Japanese sake. Additionally, I’m well-versed in the gourmet scene of Sendai, Shiogama, and Matsushima, allowing me to tailor your tour to your culinary preferences!
I look forward to creating a memorable tour experience for you, full of fun and lasting memories of Japan. Thanks for choosing me as your guide!