Based on recommendations from travel websites and AI tools (ChatGPT and Mindtrip), I took a day trip to Matsushima, also known as Matsushima Bay. I took a local train to Matsushima Kaigan Station, which was about an hour's ride if I remember correctly. The train wasn’t too crowded since I traveled during off-peak hours. My first stop in town was Entsuin Temple and Zuiganji Temple, both just a short walk from the station. Each had a pretty decent Zen garden, though temples aren’t really my thing. From there, I wandered into the town and stumbled upon a seafood market. Since I was traveling solo, I usually avoid expensive individual meals, so I skipped the seafood. Next, I visited Godaido Temple, a small and simple temple compound. From there, I took a tourist boat tour around the bay (the jetty is just a short walk from Godaido). Initially, I had planned to depart from Matsushima and arrive further down at Shiogama, as suggested in travel forums and websites, but it seemed that rou...
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