Private Tour
Matsushima Private Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
I'm Mai, a national licensed tour guide who grew up this region.
Let’s enjoy the beauty of Matsushima, see historical places, enjoy local food with a knowledgeable guide!!!!
Matsushima is one of Japan's three best scenic places!
The bay is famous for about 260 small island covered with pine trees.
Matsushima also has been a place of worship, holy and spiritual place. Many temples there has hundreds of years history.
You can discover Matsushima more and get recommendation from your guide.
the bay around this area is know for having the best seafood in Japan. and Matsushima has many street food. so you can enjoy local food in this tour!
this tour stars from sendai and we take a local train to Matsushima (if you stay in Matsushima, we can start the tour Matsushima).
Matsushima is a small city so we visit all attractions on foot.
in the end we take a local train and go back to Sendai.
this tour is private so i can arrange it according to your preferences,
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
guide fee
your food and drink. Guide’s lunch.
transportation fee for you(local train for a round trip 840yen. you can use JR pass)
your entrance fee (Zuihoden 700yen, Entsuin 500yen, Fukuura island 200yen)
your Bay cruise fee(1500 yen. if I book it in advance it can be 1350yen)
What To Expect
Sendai Station
take a train to Matsushima. it costs 420yen. if you have JR pass you can use it.
visit a small island with lots of caves Buddhist monks made. it's said the history of Matsishima started from this island. while walk around this island you can find many ruins.
Options
Matsushima Private Guided Tour
Reviews
14 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A real addition to the trip
jennifercO4903ZW,
Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic day. Mia is a guide who will show you the most beautiful spots of Matsushima and knows local places to have a delicious lunch. We learned a lot about the area as well as Sendai. Highly recommended.
Versatile, exciting and informative
matthiasg2017,
Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Due to the really rainy weather forecast, our Japanese travel companion Mai suggested we adjust the tour program and visit the fish market in Shiogama instead. For us as lovers of seafood a great suggestion and we have really learned and learned a lot about local fishing. The subsequent visit to the Samiyabonden Shrine, located just outside and elevated, where we are instructed in the temple rituals from May, was also really worthwhile. Mai is a world-experienced and well-read conversation partner and the time on this tour passed far too quickly. We would have liked to have continued discussing with her for hours.
Wonderful Matsushima!
Brian S,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Both the temples and the cruise were fascinating! And Mai took us to an amazing local restaurant. Matsushima was a wonderful place to visit, even on a hot day!
A wonderful tour of Matsushima with local expert, Mai
WaiCheong T,
Sep 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an excellent private tour with local guide, Mai Honda. Her knowledge of the area and its history is outstanding. We learned a lot about the history of Matsushima including its famous samurai, Lord Date. She is also very flexible with the itinerary, customising and adapting it to suit the wishes of her clients. The tour from Sendai to Matsushima was well paced and smooth, aided by her expert knowledge of transportation and eating places. She knew which boat tour to take in order to avoid the crowds and which restaurant served the best sashimi and sake. We can say that this was the best tour by far we’ve had in Japan and also the best value. Highly recommended.
A private tour was a...
jane h,
Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A private tour was a great experience... like travelling with a friend. Mai proudly showed me around Matsushima. It is beautiful. Mai was a perfect host... so easy to talk with
Beautiful Matsushima!
Sandra M,
Jun 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a memorable day with Mai-san, who took us on a 40-minute train ride from Sendai Station to Matsushima and showed us around the islands while teaching us about the history of Matsushima and more generally about the Tohoku region. She also took us to a beautiful temple / garden and on a relaxing 50-minute cruise where we were able to see some interesting small islands up close. Matsushima was just as beautiful as everyone had told us it was, and the whole trip went smoothly.
Mai is a National Treasure of Sendai !!!
D7559ZZshaner,
Nov 25, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I took a month long vacation in Japan to explore Sendai and the Tohoku region, and hiring Mai was one of the absolute best parts of my trip :) She's fabulous, funny, fantastic, has a great personality and really loves meeting new people, having amazing conversations and showing them the incredible wonders her area of Japan has to offer. Mai is a total pro and hiring her is more like meeting a dear friend for a marvelous adventure. Her passion for Japanese culture and history is delightfully infectious, and her wealth of knowledge for shrines, temples, restaurants, local attractions, must see places, train and ferry schedules will be an extraordinary asset to your trip. Mai also offers an awesome assortment of tours including Yamadera, Sendai City tour, Chusun-ji and others not listed here, as well as creating customized tours based on your interests. Her extensive expertise of the region puts the best of the best at your fingertips. I ended up booking 5 tours with Mai and every one was such a magnificently rewarding experience. When bad weather was on the horizon, she kindly & wisely offered to swap the days of my Sendai City tour with the Matsushima tour to ensure I got the best tours possible, and she was 100% right, please see attached rainbow pics. I could go on all day, simply put Mai is phenomenal and I guarantee your day with her will be one of your favorite days in Japan and a memory you'll cherish forever :)
Fabulous day!
Donna W,
Nov 20, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Mai was excellent. We were shown the most glorious gardens and temples. Her deep knowledge added so much to the day. Lunch was delicious and the boat cruise was lovely, a terrific experience.
Superb guide
URM2013,
Oct 28, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent guide, excellent English, and most pleasant personality. After one day only and we already miss her. Matsushima is worth a visit, especially with Mai!
Great tour!
Brian C,
Oct 3, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Loved the tour we had with mai! She knows all the hotspots the tourists don't know and can tell you a lot about the history of the monks, samurais, the temples and the islands. We had a lot of fun and talked the whole time. Around lunchtime we really wanted to taste gyutan, so she looked for restaurants that served it. Would 1000% recommend her!
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