Miyagi Prefecture, with Matsushima Island which is one of the three best landscapes in Japan, is centrally situated in Tohoku district on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. There are many tourist attractions such as Sendai City, the prefectural capital. The prefecture has the Abukuma River in the south, the rias coastline on the east, 1,000m mountains in the west, and there are many hot springs at the foot of the mountains, which are the central attraction for the tourists coming to Tohoku district.
Located in Tohoku region on Honshu island, Miyagi faces the Pacific Ocean in the west, high mountains in the east, connected by continuous rice paddies. Along with “Matshushima”, the picturesque pine islands of 260, which was ranked at three stars by “Michelin Green Guide Japon” of France, Miyagi offers more than just a slice of nature. The capital is Sendai.
Flourished as the heart of Tohoku, experience the diverse traditional culture and local culinary delights rooted in Miyagi. Sendai is a modern city of more than a million people, which offers excellent shopping, dining, and attractions. Just outside of Sendai, relaxingly hot springs are nestled against the backdrop of rustic scenery. The blending of the unspoiled natural beauty and the modern life will undoubtedly impress you with each visit.
Climate and Vegetation
The prefecture possesses a climate which is typical in the Pacific side of Japan: high temperature with much rain in summer and low temperature with little rain in winter. It is relatively warm among the six prefectures of Tohoku district, and Sendai City has the average temperature of 12.6��. In winter, it is usually clear with little snow because of the Ou mountains. On the other hand, in the mountaneous region of Zao and Funagata areas, there are much snow and one can see the famous trees covered with ice. Off the coast of Sanriku and Kinkazan, we have the nice fishing spot because the warm and cold currents mingle there.
Geographical characteristics
The great Ou mountains of 550�H long run from north to south on the west boundary of the prefecture. Most of the mountains belong to the Nasu volcanic zone, and they include Mt. Bandai, Mt. Azuma, Mt. Zao, and Mt. Kurikoma. The coastline is divided by the Kitakami River into the deeply indented coast of Sanriku and the beach to the south of Matsushima. Plains spread around Sendai City, and the Senpoku area of the lower reaches of the Kitakami River, which has low temperature, produces 80�� of rice in the prefecture.
Men and history
Miyagi used to be called Mutsu country. Mutsu has been the political center of Tohoku district since the ancient Yamato era. In the Age of Civil Wars, the prominent commander Masamune Date appeared, and his unique behavior made the word “Date- mono”, meaning a gallant man. Masamune established a foundation of the fief of the Sendai clan as its first Daimyo, and he contributed much to its later developement. He is also famous for having built or re-built temples and shrines such as the Zuigenji Temple.What is called Date culture still remains now, and there is a rich cultural heritage from 13 generations of the Date clan. For example, the site of the Sendai Castle, Osaki Hachiman Shrine which Masamune built copying Kyoto Hokoku Shrine, and the Rinnouji Park. The Star Festival in August, which people of Sendai calls “Tanabata-san”, is famous as one of the three greatest festivals in Tohoku.
Industries
Paddy rice is cultivated almost all over the prefecture, and the yield of rice is one of the highest in Japan. Stockbreeding is also popular, and people keep dairy cattle in the broad areas of Zao, Kurikoma, and Sanriku. Fisheries of Sanriku and the offing of Kinkazan always give one of the best catches in Japan, and the processing of the marine products is also popular. Industrializing the area of Port Sendai attracts beer, pulp, electrical, and petroleum industries.
One-Point tourist guide
In Sendai City, there are many sites connected with the date clan, which are indispensable for a tourist route. Places for those who are interested in history are: Zuiganji in Matsushima, which is the Dates’ family temple, The grave of Kojiro Date in Tsuyama-machi,and Masuoka Park in Siroishi City. Matsushima, which is one of the three best landscapes in Japan, is like a beautiful garden with its four major views of Mt. Tamon, Mt. Tomi, Ogitani, and Otakamori.
This page is supported by the “Miyagi International Tourism Theme Area Promotion Conference”(http://www.miyagitheme.jp/)
Tourism Div., Commerce, Industry and Tourism Dept., Miyagi Prefectural Government, Miyagi Prefectural Tourism Federation, 3-8-1 Honcho, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8570, Tel: 022-211-2822, Fax: 022-211-2829
E-mail: kan…@pref.miyagi.jp
Tourism and Products Service Center, Tokyo Office, Miyagi Prefectural Government. Association for the Promotion of the Products of Miyagi Prefecture Miyagi Furusato Plaza, 1-2-2-2 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013,
Tel: 03-5956-3591, Fax: 03-5956-3592
Tourism and Products Service Center, Osaka Office, Miyagi Prefectural Government, 1-3-1-900 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0001, Tel: 06-6341-7905,
Fax: 06-6341-7906
Miyagi Tourist Information Center, 1-16-4-703 Minami Ichijo Nishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0061, Tel: 011-223-1155,
Fax: 011-223-1156
Sendai City Tourist Information Center (JR Sendai Station 2F): Tel. 022-222-4069 Sendai International Center Koryu Corner: Tel. 022-265-2471 Akiu Onsen Tourist Information Center (inside Akiu Sato Center): Tel. 022-398-2323
Sendai City Miyagi-area Tourist Information Center (inside JR Sakunami Station): Tel. 022-395-2052
Historical City Tagajo Tourist Information Center (inside Tagajo Sta.): Tel. 022-364-5901 Shiogama City Tourist Information Office (inside Honshiogama Sta.): Tel. 022-362-2525 Matsushima Tourism Association (inside Matsushima Kaigan Rest House): Tel. 022-354-2618 Matsushima Kaigan Station V Information Center: Tel. 022-354-2263
Higashimatsushima City Tourist Information Center (inside Nobiru Sta.): Tel. 0225-88-2611
Furukawa Station General Tourist Information Center: Tel. 0229-24-0062
Naruko Tourist/Hotel Information Center (inside Naruko Onsen Station): Tel. 0229-83-3441
Ishinomaki City Tourism and Local Products Information Center (inside Roman Kaiyu 21): Tel. 0225-93-6448 Ishinomaki Tourism Association Oshika Office (in front of the Ayukawa Sightseeing Pier): Tel. 0225-45-3456
Ishinomaki Tourism Association Ogatsu Office: Tel. 0225-57-3339
Onagawa Town Tourism Association (inside Marine Pal Onagawa): Tel. 0225-54-4323 Kesennuma City Tourism Association (2F of Ace Port): Tel. 0226-22-4560
Kesennuma Station Tourist Information Center: Tel.0226-22-4669
Shiroishi Tourist Information Desk: inside JR Shiroishi Sta.: Tel. 0224-26-2042 inside JR Shiroishi Zao Sta.): Tel. 0224-24-5915
Zao Town Tourist Information Center: Tel. 0224-34-2725
Miyagi Prefectural Tourism Federation
http://www.miyagi-kankou.or.jp/tourist_infomation/en/index.htm
http://miyagi.web.transer.com/bb_url_ej.php?ctw_=sT,eCR-JE,bF,hT,uaHR0cD…,
Miyagi
Miyagi
Miyagi Transportation Brief: http://miyagi-kankou.or.jp/tourist_infomation/en/pdf/access.pdf
Miyagi Bus Association: http://www.miyagi-bus-kyokai.jp/ (Japanese) Miyagi Taxi Association: Tel. 022-288-1113
Miyagi Transportation. Co. (Miyakoh Group): http://www.miyakou.co.jp/ (Japanese)
East Japan Railway Co. Sendai branch office (JR EAST-SENDAI): http://www.jr-sendai.com/ (Japanese)
Tabi-Bus Nihon Sankei Kotsu – Bus hire in Miyagi: http://www.tabi-bus.co.jp/ (Japanese)
Miyagi Pretecture Souvenirs – Miyagi product promotion: http://www.miyagibussan.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Sendai Chamber Of Commerce And Industry: http://www.sendaicci.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Miyagi Prefecture Brewing Association: http://www.miyagisake.jp/
Mitsukoshi Department Store, managed by Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd. (Foreign Tourist Information Desk offer tourist pamphlets and maps in foreign languages, as well as a variety of guides and information that introduce our neighboring facilities): http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/
JTB Group, Tohoku (largest travel agency in Japan and one of the largest travel agencies in the world): http://www.jtb.co.jp/jtbtohoku/pc/ and corporate site: http://www.jtbcorp.jp/en/
Kinki Nippon Tourist(KNT) – hotel reservation and Travel Agents: http://www.knt.co.jp/en/top.html?aid=newtop_n
TOPTOUR Corporation – hotel reservation and Travel Agents: http://www.toptour.com/en/
Nippon Travel Agency Co., Ltd – travel Agents offer hotel reservation, Japan Rail Pass..: http://www.ntainbound.com/
Miyagi Credit Guarantee Association: http://www.miyagi-shinpo.or.jp/ (Japanese)
Tohoku Electric Power Co., Sendai, Miyagi: http://www.tohoku-epco.co.jp/index-e.htm
The 77 Bank, Ltd. (Japan’s 77th national bank, Headquartered in Sendai): http://www.77bank.co.jp/english/top.htm
The Sendai Bank Ltd.: http://www.sendaibank.co.jp/
East Japan Marketing & Communications, Inc. (JR Higashi Nihon Kikaku): http://www.jeki.co.jp/
East Japan Railway Company (JR East Shinkansen lines, the Tohoku Shinkansen): http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/tohokushinkansen.html
FUJIYA CO,.LTD. (Fujiya assists in your trade show displays and new store development in Japan): http://www.fujiya-net.co.jp/en/
Morioka And Rikuchu Kaigan National Park: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-202.pdf
Zao, Miyagi
Zao (Zao-machi) is a town located in Katta District, Miyagi, Japan.
Zao (Zao-machi) Town Government Zao Town Hall 10 Shiota N Nishiura S Katta-gun, Zao-machi, Miyagi 989-0892 TEL: 0224-33-2211 (Representative) FAX: 0224-33-4159
EMAIL: i…@town.zao.miyagi.jp
Zao-machi official website: http://www.town.zao.miyagi.jp/
Zao-machi Tourism Association 33-cho-cho, Katta-gun, MIYAGI Prefecture 989-0912 Tel.: 0224-34-2725 FAX: 0224-34-2772
Website: http://www.zao-machi.com/category/english
Zao-machi Chamber of Commerce: http://www.zao.miyagi-fsci.or.jp/
ZAO-town International Association: http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~zaia/english_page/index.html
Zao Town the board of education: http://www.dokitan.com/
Zao Town Department of Health and Human Service, Sendai, Miyagi: http://www.town.zao.miyagi.jp/nenrin/index.html
Zao hill climb committee of Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism Division: http://j-cycling.org/zao/ (Japanese)
Zao-machi Inns and Hotels Association: http://togatta.jp/
Togatta Hot Spring in Zao-machi Mountain (Togatta Miyagi Zao Onsen Ryokan Association): http://www.e-zao.net/e-u/in01.html
Miyagi Agricultural Cooperatives Sennan, Zao-machi: http://www.ja-miyagisennan.jp/ (Japanese)
Zao Green Tourism: http://www14.ocn.ne.jp/~komy8/index.html (Japanese) and http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kankou/EN/sightseeing/Green_Tourism/01_zao_ken… English)
Miyagi-Zao Eboshi Snow Resort: http://www.eboshi.co.jp/
Zao, Yamagata Prefecture: http://www.yamagatakanko.com/english/sightseeing/zao.html
Miyagi Zao Regional Development Promotion Council: http://www.miyagi-zao.net/en
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate….
Miyagi Zao Kokeshi Museum: http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~kokeshi/
Zao dairy center for natural cheese: http://www.zao-cheese.or.jp/
Zao blueberry farm: http://www.zao-blueberry.jp/
Maruyama – Palace Resort Shiroishi Zao (Maruyama also have Transportation, food production, Petroleum, Construction, Development division): http://www.maru-yama.jp/
Zao Konnyaku Dessert Shop: http://zao-marumiya.com/home.html
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate….