Japan’s All-Inclusive Onsen Resort in Matsushima, One of the Most Scenic Spots | Matsushima Ichinobo

Japan’s All-Inclusive Onsen Resort in Matsushima, One of the Most Scenic Spots | Matsushima Ichinobo

Today’s journey starts with a ride on the Shinkansen. We couldn’t find seats together in the regular class, so we decided to try something special. We’re riding in Gran Class, known as the “First Class of the Shinkansen.” First, we’re heading to Sendai Station, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan. Welcome Set. A bottle of water. A hand towel and candy called “Salt Choco.” You can even take the slippers home. The seat reclines forward, so you don’t disturb the person behind you. The table is hidden inside the armrest. Gran Class on this trip includes light meals and beverages. My husband’s meal is a Japanese-style set in a black box. It includes roasted duck, seaweed quiche, and more. A wide variety of colorful dishes. I chose the Western-style set in a white box. It features four stylish items, including a savory cake. Drinks can be ordered as many times as you like. I started with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. It’s a small meal, but perfect as a light snack before the trip. Rich and flavorful, it pairs well with drinks. The reading light can be adjusted to any angle. The Salt Chocolate was salty, crunchy, and delicious! Sometimes, it’s nice to treat yourself to Gran Class. After arriving at Sendai Station, we’ll transfer to the Senseki Line and head to Matsushima-Kaigan Station. It’s about a 40-minute ride. Wow, we can see the bay! Looks like we’re getting close to Matsushima. We’ve arrived at Matsushima-Kaigan Station, the gateway to Matsushima. There’s also a station called “Matsushima,” but for sightseeing, this station is more convenient. We bought tickets for a Matsushima Bay Cruise at a booth near the station. We walk through Matsushima-Kaigan Green Plaza to the tourist spots and boarding area. A robot is diligently mowing the grass. Keep it up! About an 8-minute walk from the station, we arrive at the central plaza with the boarding area. Before boarding the bay cruise, we visit Godaido, a symbol of Matsushima. Its red bridges are iconic. Godaido was rebuilt in 1604 and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. It’s on a tiny island in Matsushima Bay, and the view behind is just stunning. To begin with, ‘Matsushima’ refers to the name for over 260 islands scattered in and around Matsushima Bay. The Matsushima Bay Cruise “Niohmaru Course” departs every hour. And takes 50 minutes to cruise around the islands. Off we go! By purchasing a Green Ticket, you can sit on the second floor, including the observation deck. Green Tickets cost 600 yen and can be purchased on board. Matsushima took its shape 5,000 years ago from crustal movements and rising sea levels after the Ice Age. The cruise tours some of the over 260 islands with guided explanations. The most famous Nioh-jima Island! In Matsushima, only four of the islands are inhabited. That’s Katsurashima! ‘Matsu’ means pine, and as the name suggests, most of the islands are covered with pine trees. The natural scenery here is truly captivating! It was fun to see the islands’ views that can only be enjoyed from the boat. Today’s inn is a 20-minute walk from Matsushima-Kaigan Station. You can call for a free shuttle bus, but the weather was nice, so we ended up walking. We’ve arrived at today’s accommodation! It’s an all-inclusive hot spring hotel with a stunning view of Matsushima Bay. The first thing we saw was a spacious parking area. Check-in starts at 3 PM. The warm and modern Japanese-style lounge features soothing colors. It’s a large space with plenty of chairs and sofas, perfect for relaxing. Since it’s all-inclusive, you can enjoy any of the drinks on display. And it’s not just a basic juice bar—there’s a wide variety of unique options. Pink grapefruit vinegar. I’ll mix it with soda. Facing the windows overlooking the sea and the inn’s private garden are rows of sofas. Each seat has a cute oyster cushion! My husband got a hot coffee. They also have snacks and ice cream. This chocolate cake was so tasty! The view of the garden is lovely. Let’s go explore it later. The lineup changes depending on the time, and they also serve alcohol. Here’s a non-alcoholic sparkling drink. Asahi Draft Beer. The best part of an all-inclusive stay is not having to carry your wallet around. I’m enjoying a drink in the afternoon today. Even the water is infused with fruit and tastes amazing. A piano played by an invisible performer. A select shop selling original goods and the region’s famous beef tongue. Oyster cushions! They’re too cute. Across the way is a glass museum shop. They have glass ornaments and accessories crafted by artists. Now let’s visit the garden we saw from the lounge. You can step outside from the first floor. I’m glad the weather is so nice today! This garden features Matsushima’s iconic pine trees. It’s vast, spanning about 23,000 square meters. It’s a beautiful Japanese-style garden. Here’s what the building looks like from the garden. In winter, you can see snowy landscapes. I wonder how much snow we’ll get this year? It’s been a mild winter, and it’s still pretty warm even in December. Are lawn-mowing robots common in Matsushima? A glass chapel. The inn consists of three buildings: Kasho-kan, Matsushima-Club, and Senshin-kan. Our room is in Kasho-kan. To the top floor, the 5th floor. There are various room types, including ones with open-air baths or hammocks. The overall room sizes are relatively similar. Our room type is a ‘Deluxe Twin’. The price is 90,200 yen (599.42 USD / € 569.13) for two people per night. A spacious entrance. Disposable slippers you can take home. Durable slippers for use in the hotel’s public areas. It’s simple but spacious at 45㎡. Such a clean room! In Japan, having Simmons beds is considered a mark of a high-quality hotel. And beyond the windows, a breathtaking view of the water garden and Matsushima! Such a beautiful view. A desk and two chairs face the window. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, making it easy to work on a laptop at the desk. There’s a shelf in front of the bed. It’s tall enough to hang long clothes. Bath towels. Plastic bags and in-room wear. A basket that’s handy for visiting the public bath. Inside are a tenugui towel and socks. A safe for keeping valuables secure. Ah, even the refrigerator door has a wooden finish. 2 complimentary bottles of water. Glasses and an electric kettle. The sink area is near the entrance. A clean vanity. Toothbrushes and mini towels. Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. We’ll probably use the public bath instead, but the shower room is perfectly sized. A clean toilet with a bidet. On the first floor, there’s an indoor bath with a löyly sauna and bedrock bath. But, we’re heading to the open-air bath on the 5th floor. We’ll switch elevators to go to the annex’s 5th floor. There are two types of baths. If you have tattoos, you cannot use the public bath, so we recommend booking a room with a private bath. The first bath has both an indoor bath and an open-air bath. Even in the indoor bath, the view is lovely. Now to the open-air bath. Wow! It’s so beautiful! The bath is surrounded by rounded stones, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The water is alkaline hot spring, sourced from 1,500 meters underground. It has a silky texture that feels amazing on the skin. The view is incredible, overlooking Matsushima Bay, the garden, and the vast sky. That was such a wonderful bath. The second bath only has an open-air bath. There’s a spacious washing area indoors. The observation open-air bath features a striking triangular roof. It’s quite large and can accommodate many people. This bath also offers breathtaking views of Matsushima Bay and the garden. So warm and cozy. Thanks to the roof, it’s great even on rainy or snowy days. This bath is also an alkaline hot spring. Soft, silky, and absolutely luxurious water. The unique enveloping sensation of alkaline hot springs feels so relaxing. In winter, you can even watch the sunrise over Matsushima Bay while soaking in this bath. That’s the privilege of waking up early. Awesome. Now it’s time for dinner. The restaurant offers an order-style buffet, with freshly prepared dishes from the chefs. Here’s what the venue looks like. A spacious and artistic space with high ceilings. A set of three sushi pieces prepared by a sushi chef. A variety of dishes featuring local ingredients, including smoked Miyagi salmon, are available. And the menu is structured like a course meal. The menu offers a well-balanced selection from appetizers to main dishes. Speaking of Miyagi, it’s all about beef tongue. Thick slices of beef tongue at a buffet? That’s amazing. Sashimi, including locally sourced natural bluefin tuna. You can even choose your soy sauce. Tempura is fried fresh to order. Served with tempura sauce and yuzu salt. Hot dishes stay hot, and cold dishes stay cold. It’s such a joy to eat everything exactly as you like. Drinks are also included at no extra charge. The variety of alcoholic beverages alone is incredible! Wine, draft beer, and Japanese sake. I think I’ll try Miyagi’s local sake. It’s chilled perfectly with ice. Let’s eat! The local tuna is so tender and has a refined flavor. We are enjoying comparing different soy sauces. It’s so delicious. The taro tempura is crispy and fluffy. The beef tongue was so tasty I went back for more several times. We’re so happy with all this delicious food, but we need to watch out not to overeat. Let’s not forget dessert! Crème brûlée. All the desserts were so tasty. Having baked goods at a buffet feels surprisingly unique. Even though I was full, I couldn’t stop eating. The crème brûlée was crispy on top and creamy inside. There were also refreshing options like fruit jellies. The cookies were my favorite. Everything was so good. Thanks for the meal. From 7:45 PM, there’s a 40-minute live performance in the lounge. During bar time, they serve original cocktails, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. Rosemary Gin Tonic. Vodka Pine. Tonight is piano music, but on other days, they might feature saxophones, flutes, or other live performances. The garden at night is beautifully lit up. Holding a cocktail in hand, we felt relaxed by the vibrant and romantic scenery. Good night. Good morning. Breakfast is also an order-style buffet, just like last night. Grilled Sasakama fish cakes from Matsushima. Miyagi-brand grilled silver salmon. Japanese Rolled Omelette made with local eggs. Tuna with grated yam. Last night’s dinner was so good that I was already looking forward to breakfast as soon as I woke up. In addition to Japanese dishes, they have options like roast chicken and cream chowder. All freshly prepared, of course. Wow. French toast topped with green soybeans cream and whipped cream. And finally, I poured plenty of syrup on top. Onigiri made with local white rice. They make three kinds: kombu, salmon roe, and salted rice balls. Let’s make sure to eat some vegetables too. Adding croutons and potatoes made for a cute salad. Oh, the coffee is freshly brewed too. We got lots of breakfast! Let’s eat. Fried chicken tenderloin and oyster cream croquettes. The cream croquettes were especially good!!! You can enter and leave the restaurant at any time during its operating hours. This allows for a stress-free dining experience that suits your mood and condition. My husband and I shared lots of dishes and were completely full. Everything was so delicious! Thank you for the meal. After the meal, we relaxed in the lounge. We’re making the most of the all-inclusive experience. Black beer? It’s actually cold crema coffee. Cheers. Ah, yum. Check-out is until 11 AM. Before checking out, we’re visiting the glass museum attached to the hotel. There’s a free shop area and a paid exhibition space. But overnight guests can access everything for free. The museum features numerous works by glass artist Kyohei Fujita. Kyohei Fujita was the first glass artist to receive the Order of Culture. The world of glass art was magical and so beautiful. The museum shop displays glass art and accessories by artists from all over Japan. In the limited-time exhibition area, there were glass displays for Christmas and New Year. The glass kagami mochi is so adorable! I fell in love with the glass snake for the 2025 zodiac year. We picked up some lovely souvenirs—what a great stay. A 10-minute taxi ride from the inn… The staff recommended a hidden gem in Matsushima, so we’re checking it out. We’re walking along a very steep path. We made it! “Uma no Se”! Wow! You can walk here, but the path is narrow, no railings, and pretty scary. If you fall, it’s over!! Stay focused!! It juts out into the sea, offering panoramic views of the scenic Matsushima Bay. “Uma no Se” was formed over many years by wave erosion, giving it this slender shape. ‘Uma no Se’ means ‘horse’s back’ in Japanese. After walking to the edge, this is the view. Thrilling. Got to be careful on the way back too. Thank you so much for watching! Be sure to check out the other travel videos on this channel! See you next time!

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💻Matsushima Ichinobo
Website: https://www.ichinobo.com/matsushima/
*This video was filmed with the hotel’s permission.

🗒 How to book
Agoda: https://px.a8.net/svt/ejp?a8mat=3TLBA5+BIDQL6+4X1W+BW0YB&a8ejpredirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.agoda.com%2Fmatsushima-ichinobo%2Fhotel%2Fall%2Fmiyagi-jp.html
Trip.com: https://www.trip.com/t/yqLjiQrD6Z1
Expedia: https://expedia.com/affiliate/rLpWohQhttps://expedia.com/affiliate/rLpWohQ
Hotels.com: https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/CTLJBQs

🚃🚶‍♀️How to Get There
Approximately a 20-minute walk from Matsushima-Kaigan Station. Free shuttle service is available for guests.
MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/u4LhojpBQHAegvuCA

💰 Price
Deluxe Twin on the top floor: 90,200 yen (599.42 USD / € 569.13) for two people per night.
*Prices may vary depending on the season and room type.

🚃 JAPAN RAIL PASS is an economical and convenient way to travel throughout Japan by rail!!
https://click.jrpass.com/aff_c?offer_id=19&aff_id=1038

⌛️ Timestamps
0:00 Opening
0:12 Shinkansen Gran Class
3:21 Transferring to the Senseki Line
3:57 Matsushima Sightseeing
5:11 Godaido Temple
5:47 Matsushima Bay Sightseeing Cruise
7:57 How to Get to the Ryokan
8:40 Lounge
11:19 Select Shop & Glass Shop
11:57 Ryokan’s Private Garden
14:01 Going to the Room
14:46 Deluxe Twin Room Tour
18:26 About Public Baths
19:06 ①Indoor Bath & Open-Air Bath
20:37 ②Open-Air Bath
22:44 Dinner at the Order Buffet Restaurant
27:31 Live Music & Bar Time in the Lounge
28:41 Breakfast at the Order Buffet Restaurant
32:14 Coffee Time at the Lounge
32:55 Kyohei Fujita Glass Museum
34:56 Hidden Gem in Matsushima: Uma no Se

#onsen #hotspring #matsushima #miyagi #japan #japantravel #asmr #cc_for_subtitle

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・Titles, descriptions, and subtitles are provided by automatic translation and may contain inaccuracies.
・The prices in the video are based on the exchange rate at the time of editing.
・Prices may vary with the season.
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