“If you’re interested in knowing what Matsushima has to offer, please feel free to ask the Tourism Association anything,” says President Shiga of the Matsushima Tourism Association.

The Matsushima Tourism Association provides tourist information for guests visiting Matsushima from all over Japan and abroad. In addition, the association manages various local events, such as the Oyster Festival, and also runs an oyster shack.

Before working for the Tourism Association, President Shiga was a firefighter, who was involved in the town’s recovery and reconstruction efforts after the disaster. He’ll tell you about many wonderful places in Matsushima.

“Matsushima is a treasure trove of history. Even on a short walk around town you can see many temples and historical buildings. However, there are still many special places in Matsushima that you may not know about. I believe the role of the Tourism Association is to inform people about these hidden spots.”

Even if you revisit a path already trodden, you can discover something new if you look at it from a different perspective.

Secretary-General Katsumata tells a surprising story: "In Matsushima, students who visit on school trips have the chance to promote their own towns.

“We place importance on two-way exchange with the schools that visit us on school trips. There have been schools that sing songs or bring flowers from their towns for tourists. The students create their own ideas for promoting their towns in Matsushima. Some students have even brought handmade pamphlets about their towns.

“I hope that you’ll have an enjoyable school trip in Matsushima, and that in addition to discovering the charms of our town, you’ll rediscover the charms of your own as well.”