Fukuurajima - the Lucky Inlet

Matsushima's island of complete bliss in photos

Andrew Kehoe Jan 29, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>The long bright red foot bridge that connects Fukuurajima to the ticket office and the mainland.</p>

<p>Lookout from the furthest south point of Fukuurajima.</p>

<p>Bentendo, a small shrine at one of the many vista points.</p>

<p>Tree along the foot path heading towards the Azumaya.</p>

<p>View of islands looking south from one of the many lookouts on Fukuurajima's foot paths.</p>

<p>A small park on the Northeast side of the island with cherry blossoms and special grasses.</p>

<p>Close up of some blooming flowers in April.</p>

<p>Another lookout point along the footpaths.</p>

<p>Trees on a promontory pointing back towards the city at sunset.</p>

<p>View of the red bridge from Fukuurajima's first beach facing the mainland.</p>

<p>View from a secluded beach accessible just past the Bentendo down a little side trail.</p>

<p>View of Fukuurajima from the bay cruise tour.</p>

According to the English tourist map of Matsushima, Fukuurajima, “...is a natural garden covered with 300 kinds of trees and wild grasses, providing an atmosphere of complete bliss for roaming the island.” You read that right. Complete bliss. How could you miss it? Matsuo Bashō, one of Japan's most celebrated haiku poets, a man with complete mastery over language, was speechless when he came to Matsushima. You can be assured Fukuurajima played a part in that.

Fukuurajima is a combination of three words: fuku meaning luck, ura meaning inlet or bay, and jima (actually shima before a sound change) meaning island. I have chosen to translate Fukuurajima as the lucky inlet for this article, as I could not find an official translation.

The small island can be toured in about 2 hours. It is best done late in the afternoon to catch the sunlight illuminating everything on the island in gold and yellows. Fukuurajima should be visited in early spring for cherry blossoms, early fall or autumn colors, after a good snow storm and in the middle of summer for green foliage. There is a tea shop and many places to sit and enjoy the view. At ¥200 this place is a bargain for anyone looking for the definition of natural beauty.

Read more about Fukuurjima in the accompanying article here.

Andrew Kehoe @andrew.kehoe

Andrew is the Co-owner and Co-Editor in Chief of easydistance.com which specializes in adventure stories, ESL teaching, cooking and arguing with his wife about syntax. “An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly ﬁfty miles.” “And what is ﬁfty miles of good road? Little more than half a day’s...