“It was a very ordinary thing for the fishermen of Matsushima Bay to dock their boats on an island to have lunch. So I decided to start doing that with my customers. That was how it started,” laughs Captain Sakurai, an archetypical “man of the sea.” At Harbor House Kaname, you can enjoy fishing and marine sports with Captain Sakurai.

Tour plans vary depending on the season. You can experience boat fishing, wakame seaweed harvesting, and even banana boating. You can also try your hand at drive fishing, a traditional fishing method; swimming on an uninhabited island; barbecuing on a raft; and even an oyster hot pot!　

"Matsushima is the place where the Date family came to enjoy boating. The scenery and environment are great, so there are plenty of ways to enjoy the bay!”

After choosing a plan according to the time of day, set off for the bay in a fishing boat! Unlike large boats, the fishing boat pulls in close enough to touch the islands’ surfaces.

“The feudal lords took time to carefully examine the patterns on the islands’ surfaces and the pine trees’ shapes. Look carefully at each pine tree as you gaze at the islands. That’s what a real island tour is all about.”

During the island tour, you can also land on Zaijojima, a small island where Lord Date Masamune is said to have held moon-viewing parties.

"This indentation is thought to be a staircase that Masamune carved to make it easier for him to climb. If you climb to the top, you can see the same view that Masamune saw.”

Captain Sakurai hopes this experience will help people build strong spirits and a resilient way of life.

“Drive fishing is possible because of the intricate topography of Matsushima Bay; wakame seaweed cultivation is possible because of the calm waves. I want people to not only see and experience, but also learn about the topography, tides, winds, and other things they can learn from the sea.”

With the bay as your field, you can experience history and culture, and therefore play, learn, and build a strong spirit. Those are the kinds of experiences Matsushima Bay offers.