Social Event

Social Event
Wednesday, December 9
Afternoon in Matsushima

Our social event will take us away from the conference hall and Sendai city center to one of Japan's most storied landscapes.
After lunch, buses depart for the short ride (about an hour) to Matsushima Bay, ranked among Japan's three most celebrated scenic views and a place that has drawn poets and painters for centuries.

First stop: Zuigan-ji, a National Treasure Zen temple whose roots date back to the early 9th century and which was rebuilt into its present form under the powerful daimyo Date Masamune, in 1609.
An English-speaking guide and volunteer team will lead a tour of its halls and grounds (about an hour), with tickets handled in advance so the group can move straight in.


From the temple, it's a short walk to the harbor to board a chartered pleasure boat for a cruise past Matsushima's famous pine-covered islets ; the coast and archipelago have been immortalised in Japanese art and literature and widely celebrated as one of Japan’s “Three Most Scenic Views” (Nihon Sankei).


After some free time to explore at your own pace, the day continues at the Sendai Kokusai Hotel for a banquet beginning at 7:00 pm.
Two special performances bring local history and culture to the table: the Date Busyoutai, Sendai's beloved samurai troupe, and the electrifying, fast-fingered sounds of Tsugaru-jamisen.
History, scenery, swordplay, and shamisen, an unforgettable way to close out the conference day.