NOTE: In March of 2011 a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck east of Sendai, creating a tsunami that wiped out most of the city and caused severe damage to the nuclear power facility, the radiation eventually travelling along the Japanese current to the northwest coast of North America.
In 2003 we travelled to Sendai and took a 50-minute ferry ‘tour’ to Matsushima past many of the 260 unique landforms and islets between Sendai and Matsushima.
Tied up at the ferry dock was a fantastical rooster boat. 
However, we were directed to board this gorgeous peacock boat.
Detail of the peacock head. 
Seagulls perched on the peacock tail.
There were a variety of islets highlighted on the tour itinerary that I’ve included at the bottom of this post.
Comorants resting on a balanced rock. I assumed that this probably hadn’t survived the tsunami, but from the handout brochure below I saw that it is called Niou-jima Island, and from Google I learned that it is still there. 
I wanted to be in a much smaller boat to explore these hidden areas and islands, many of which contain shrines.
What can I say? I have ferry boat envy.
A sea stack in the background, along with several sea arches in the foreground.
A weathered islet.
The seaside village of Matsushima was spared the worst of the 2011 tsunami because the many islets that protected it.
The 50-minute trip showed us many of the islands in between Sendai and Matsushima. The islands have their own names, each relating to a Japanese legend. As the above photos are all scanned I don’t have any sense of order and can not tell you which is which. (Click to enlarge.)
The next page… 
More of the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: On the Water.
Albatz Travel Adventures 
Interesting post, but sorry for the losses that occurred in the tsunami.
The tsunami and the resulting damage to the nuclear plant is still having repercussions today – it was very sad as this part of Japan was spectacular!
What a great blend of natural sights and man-made boats! My favorite picture is of the cormorants on the rock — Great capture! Thanks for participating with such remarkable photos.
Japan is interesting that way – a mix of modern, often fantasy images, and a worship of nature, especially in all its imperfections…
I loved all of these but oh, that ferry!!!
janet
The ferries transformed the journey into something other-worldly – from what I can see they have been replaced by sleek modern vessels – so sad…
🙁
This is an absolutely gorgeous spot in Japan, Elizabeth! I had no idea how beautiful it is. Yes, it is sad and tragic about the damage from the tsunami. Your photos give us a sense of our loss. I also love the ferry boats. What terrific decorations!
It is one of the ‘Three Views of Japan’, designated as one of most scenic places in Japan way back in the 1600s. There are countless artworks and poetry written about it, and it appears that the mass of islets actually helped save from worse damage.
Really! Wonderful!
How tragic that a tsunami has affected such an amazing spot. So very sad. Enjoyed your tour very much
Tina, you got me started scanning my Japan photos with your wabi-sabi challenge. I had forgotten how amazing Japan was and have been enjoying the tour a lot the second time around…
Fantastical indeed! Unique boats, unique earth formations.
I suspect that ferries as magical as these will never be seen again – they were a trip into a wonderland… However it appears that most of the islets survived so those unique landforms are still there.
Wow, love the details of the two boats!
We were using film – I can’t begin to imagine how many photos we would have taken if we had been using digital!
That is one good thing about digital photography. But I guess film’s texture is still on top of that!
What an amazing area
The islands look like Japanese paintings waiting to happen – and I suspect they have already been painted multiple times – it is listed as one of the three most scenic places in Japan, a list that goes back to the 1600s.
Ah, interesting…and I can see why
I loved the colorful rooster boat! Gorgeous.
If we had caught the rooster boat I could have called this post ‘Riding the Red Rooster’…
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Those are the most visually interesting ferry boats I have ever seen.
They are the most interesting ferry boats I’ve ever been on!
Thank you for sharing photos of such beautiful places. Tsunamis create such havoc and destruction. In spite of everything, human beings are helpless.
I mentioned the tsunami, partially because there’s an exhibit of related artworks at the local museum of Anthropology for the 10-year anniversary of the tsunami. I haven’t made it there yet but coronavirus has been lightening up somewhat so I’m hoping to go soon.
What an interesting tour of the many islets and ferry boats, it looks so beautiful there! Thank you for sharing this.
Jason is amazing and the art in the photos show culture and talent –
Hope some artifacts survive all the storms
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