Matsushima

Yesterday a group of ALTs visited the town of Matsushima, one of the three most scenic areas in Japan, and roughly twenty minutes from my apartment. The town is small, but fairly tourist due to its reputation. Usually one goes to Matsushima to take a boat tour around the pine-clad islands that dot the bay, but we had other objectives; we were here to see the interior of Godai-do, a small Buddhist temple that is only opened once every 33 years. The interior itself wasn't anything spectacular, but it was well worth the wait in the GIANT line in the sweltering heat to experience the crowd and the festivities. Afterwards, we grabbed some soba and stopped by a zen garden. I'd put some pictures up but my battery ran out about half way through the day and the pictures from the first half are rubbish, so I guess you'll have to see it yourself in 2039.