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 Matsushima
Matsushima is regarded as one of the nation's three most famous scenic areas,
along with Miyajima in Hiroshima and Ama-no Hashidate in Kyoto.One anecdote about
the illustrious haiku poet Matsuo Basho relates that, when he visited Matsushima
during his travels, he was unable to compose a haiku about the place because he
was so awed by its beauty that he could not find words to adquately describe it.At
present, sightseeing cruisers regularly take visitors around the 260 islands that
dot the bay.
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 Zuiganji
Temple
Zuiganji Temple was built by Lord Date Masamune. The main hall was built in the
traditional study room style of architecture known as shoinzukuri. The roof of
its magnificent, single-story main structure is tiled in the hongawarabuki style,
in which round and square tiles are laid down alternately. Many parts of the temple
have been designated as national treasures or important cultural properties. The
main hall, priests' quarters and corridors are designated national treasures.
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 Ruins
of Sendai Castle
Date Masamune constructed this castle in 1603, and it was a residence for several
generations of the Date family. There was no tower. The castle was destroyed after
the Meiji Restoration, but the big steel gates that were moved from Hizen Nagoya
castle and Sumi Yagura were kept. However, they burned down in an air raid in
1945. This area is a park today, and Gokoku Shrine, a monument to Bansui Doi's
Kojo-no-Tsuki, a Toson Shimazaki poem monument, the Akitada monument, and a statue
of Date Masamune riding a horse stand where the main area used to be. Date Masamune
(1567-1636) His warrior name was Dokuganryu (one-eyed dragon) and he controlled
the Ou region. In 1591, he was ordered by Hideyoshi Toyotomi to move from Dewa
Yonezawa to Mutsu. He established a base at Tamatsukuri-gun Iwadeyama and began
constructing a new castle in Sendai in 1600.
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