Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-05 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Zuigan-ji, in Matsushima, is a Rinzai Zen temple of the Myōshin-ji branch, founded in 828 by Jikaku Daishi; its principal image is Shō Kannon. Its full name is long, and it was commonly known simply as Matsushima-dera. The haiku poet Bashō came here on his journey of 1689, and the temple remembers it with a Bashō Festival every year on the second Sunday of November.
Matsushima-Kaigan Station is about 400 m away in a straight line. Entsū-in is right beside it, and the bay itself, Matsushima Bay, has its own page. We have not checked opening hours or fees.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- 211030 Zuigan-ji Matsushima Miyagi pref Japan11s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Seiryuden museum of Zuiganji 20181007 — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Principal image Buddha of Zuigan-ji Temple — Sakaori ( talk ) · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- Kuri of Zuiganji 20181007 — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Garyobai — Kumamushi · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- Approach of the Zuiganji in Autumn 2018 — 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211030 Zuigan-ji Matsushima Miyagi pref Japan36s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211030 Zuigan-ji Matsushima Miyagi pref Japan15s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211030 Zuigan-ji Matsushima Miyagi pref Japan08s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 211030 Zuigan-ji Matsushima Miyagi pref Japan01s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Zuigan-ji (瑞巌寺, Zuigan-ji) is a Buddhist temple in located in the town of Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Belonging to the Myōshin-ji branch of Rinzai school of Japanese Zen, its honzon is a statue of Shō Kannon Bosatsu. The temple's full name is Shōtō Seiryūzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji (松島青龍山瑞巌円福禅寺), but it was commonly known as "Matsushima-dera". It was founded in 828 during the Heian period by Jikaku Daishi. In commemoration of the haiku poet Matsuo Basho's pilgrimage in 1689 during the early Edo period, the Basho Festival is held annually at the temple on the second Sunday of November.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-05 · 拝観案内｜国宝 瑞巌寺
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Matsushima-Kaigan (Senseki Line), about 400 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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