Miyagi: Matsushima Bay's Pine Islands and Sendai's Grilled Beef Tongue

Matsushima Bay is dotted with over 200 small pine-covered islets and has been considered one of Japan's three classic scenic views for centuries. Sightseeing boat cruises loop through the bay and are the main way to appreciate the scale of it; the historic Zuigan-ji temple nearby is also worth the walk. It's popular enough that weekends and holidays bring real crowds, so a weekday visit is noticeably calmer.

Sendai is Tohoku's largest city and its main transport hub, with a shinkansen connection that makes it an easy base. The local specialty is gyutan — thick-sliced grilled beef tongue, usually served with barley rice, oxtail soup, and pickles — and there are entire streets of gyutan restaurants near the station. Statues and ruins connected to feudal lord Date Masamune, who founded the city, are scattered around town if you want a bit of history alongside the food.