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There are four great views of Matsushima, the Four Great Views
Spectacular (Otakamori), Beautiful (Toyama), Magnificent (Tamonzan), Pleasant (Ogidani)
It is called
It is said that the name was given by Funayama Mannen, a Confucian scholar from the Sendai domain, and that it came to be called the "Four Great Views" because he praised them as "the magnificent view of Otakamori to the east, the mysterious view of Ogigayatsu to the west, the magnificent view of Mt. Tamon to the south, and the beautiful view of Toyama to the north."
So, this time I'll introduce each spot with photos in the order that I visited them
[South] The magnificent view of Mt. Tamon
Mount Tamon is located in Yatsugamori, Daigasakihama, Shichigahama Town, and is the most well-equipped of the four major viewing spots
You can see Umahojima and Jizojima right in front of you, and although it is not visible in the photo, there is a thermal power plant on the right, which is also surprisingly impressive
The name of Mt. Tamon comes from Bishamon-do, where the statue of Tamonten is enshrined, and the recommended observation point is behind Bishamon-do. There is a clean parking lot, toilets, and a park, so it is a highly recommended place for families and dates
Tamonyama Parking LotBishamon-do
It takes about 7-8 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the observation point behind Bishamon-do Temple. It's a gentle mountain path, so you can easily reach the observation point
It was difficult to find the entrance to the western Ogidani
It's on the way to Matsushima on R45, but I passed it twice. There is a small sign at the entrance, so be careful when heading towards Ogiya
Ogiya entrance
As the name suggests, Ogidani gets its name from the fact that the landscape of the inlet spreads out like a fan
The observation point has a plaza with a small rest area, and after climbing a few stone steps you will find Daruma Hall
This place is not very conspicuous now, but it is also where the Rinzai monk Kumoi Kio, who came to Matsushima at the repeated request of Date Masamune and Date Tadamune, built a hermitage in 1634
Ogiya Observation Area SquareParking lot? I think
Ogiya is a relatively close location, and it takes less than 5 minutes to get from the parking lot to the observation point, but the stone steps were quite a sight to behold
However, even if the stone steps are a bit tough, the view once you reach the top is truly breathtaking
Perhaps because there was no one around and the only sound I could hear was the birds singing, I feel like I understand a little bit of the meaning of "Yuukan."
Of the four major temples, it is the closest to Zuiganji Temple, so it is highly recommended as a starting point for your Matsushima sightseeing
The beauty of Toyama is so spectacular by Utagawa Hiroshige in his illustrated guide to famous places in the Rokujuyoshu (60-odd Provinces)"The scenery of Matsushima is all in Toyama," and the area has long been famous for its breathtaking scenery.
However, don't underestimate it, to get here you have to climb a mountain path that is only wide enough for one car
Mountain road photographed from inside the car
The drive distance from the entrance is about 2km, but there are falling rocks along the way, so you need to be very careful when driving
Maybe a parking lot?Enter the approach to the shrine from right in front of the parking lot
To be honest, I underestimated the approach to the shrine in Toyama. When I did my research, I read something like "It's best to wear comfortable shoes," but I thought I'd be fine
However, no matter how much I climbed, there were only stone steps. I was really regretting my lack of physical strength
The approach to the shrine continues and continues
Once you reach the top, you will see the Toyama Kannon Hall, which is said to have originated when a statue of Kannon Bodhisattva created by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi) was enshrined at the top
However, this Kannon Hall is not the goal this time. There is an observation deck right in front of the Kannon Hall, and you can see the best view from there, but today's destination is a little further ahead
We head for Daio-ji Temple, located right next to the Kannon Hall
To enjoy the view from Daio-ji Temple, you will need to pay an entrance fee of 100 yen, but you will definitely be satisfied. The view is amazing. I think it's the best place to sit at Shiunkaku and relax after a long journey (climbing the stone steps)
Luckily, there was no one else there that day, so I was able to relax for an hour
Otakamori Observatory offers a view from the summit of a mountain 105m above sea level on Miyato Island in Oku Matsushima
As this is the summit of a mountain, there are no obstacles to get in the way, allowing you to enjoy a magnificent panorama. It is so powerful that it will take your breath away
This is a nationally famous photography spot, and many of the photos you see in brochures and tourist guides are of views from Otakamori Observatory
There are two parking lots: the parking lot at Aomina, which provides local tourist information and sells local specialties, and the parking lot at the Oku Matsushima Jomon Village Historical Museum. However, it is recommended that you plan your trip well in advance, as Aomina closes its parking lot at 5pm
Mountain trail entrance
The Otakamori Observatory requires climbing a mountain 105m above sea level, so it can be considered a beginner's hike
There is still a long way to go up the stone steps
There are chairs set up for resting quite frequently along the way, so don't push yourself too hard and take breaks as you go
After climbing the steep stairs and winding path, you will be greeted by a 360-degree panoramic view. If the weather is good, you can even see the Zao mountain range in the distance
On this day, we used the parking lot on the Aomina side, so we were unable to see the sunset, but next time I would like to go and see the sun setting
Spectacular (Otakamori) <Information>
Name: Spectacular (Otakamori)
Address: Miyato Otakamori, Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture, 981-0412
Google Map
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How was it?
Just to let you know, I'm sorry for the poor quality of the photos!!
However, I would encourage you to visit the Four Great Views to see for yourself what I have written. The views are truly breathtaking, and everything is breathtaking
Matsushima is famous as one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, but many people wonder where the best view is actually from. Each view has its own unique character, so you're sure to find a view that suits your taste
But honestly, it's tough to see everything in one day. It's better to narrow it down to one place. I went home exhausted and drank a lot of beer while looking at the photos I had taken
I'm a member of the Neft editorial team. I love alcohol, music, and traveling, so I indulge in some drinks after work on weekdays, and on weekends, if I have free time, I travel to nearby areas. I work hard every day with the goal of eventually traveling overseas to find connections to Tohoku through NEFT reporting.
