Matsushima has amazing gulls

Someone's shoulder in the left bottom corner
photo taken while cruising on a boat

Matsushima, known as one of the three most scenic places in Japan since the 17^th century, revived itself swiftly after the great Tohoku earthquake which shook East Japan on March 11, 2011. A few people were sacrificed in Matsushima Town and the tsunami waves attacked the stores and pleasure boats for bay cruising. But compared with the neighboring communities like Shiogama and Higashi-matsushima, the town was spared from the total devastation. By the end of April, 2011, all tour boats resumed their operations.

Lots of black-tailed sea gulls live in the area and they fly to the boats for snacks. Bags of food is on sale on the boat. They are originally for humans and sold at supermarkets or many other places but here at Matsushima the food is used to feed the gulls. They are amazing. They can take food from your fingers or catch it in the air.

Thanks to some 260 islands in Matsushima Bay, the tsunami waves must have been mitigated. The great Zuiganji Temple survived the quake and tsunami with slight scar. All 1300 tourists managed to evacuate to higher places.

Matsushima got a story to tell; not an easy job to talk about the disaster but the locals have to let people know, and pass down the lesson learned.

Matsushima is particularly reputed to be an inspiring place for the moon viewing. Albert Einstein came to Matsushima in 1922. Local story has it that he was speechless, seeing the moon of Matsushima.