Tamonzan (Ikan, the Magnificent View) Every time I spot an island, my hand just goes up.

In spring, I parked at Tamonzan Viewpoint Park in Shichigahama. As I walked toward Bishamondō Hall, the sea kept appearing and disappearing between the pine branches. The wind slipped through my pale lavender cardigan, and even my steps felt lighter. I held my guidebook shut; first, I wanted to see the view with my own eyes.

When I stepped out behind Bishamondō Hall, Matsushima Bay suddenly opened up before me. “Oh, I can see so many islands!” I blurted, and my hand shot up. My friend turned at the sound of my voice and came to stand beside me. The rocky island in front of us and the long island in the distance were both dotted with pines, with the calm sea stretching between them.

A small white tower stood on the nearby island. I traced a stone breakwater jutting diagonally out from the shore on the left, then let my gaze drift back to a distant island. Looking at the islands one by one, I could see how many different shapes there were in the same bay. I loved the rounded shape of the pines, and my eyes kept drifting back to them.

Apparently, the view from Tamonzan is known as Ikan, one of Matsushima’s Four Great Views. I opened my guidebook to check the name, and the view I’d just found suddenly felt a little more familiar. With the hem of my pink skirt swaying, I enjoyed chatting with my friend about which island we liked best.

On the way back, I want to look for Shichigahama roasted nori to take home. Oyashio Ichiban, made with nori grown in Shichigahama Town, would make a lovely souvenir. When I picture tomorrow morning’s onigiri, I feel as if the sea I saw here will stay with me long after the trip.

Before getting back on the road, I closed my guidebook again and gazed at the sea between the islands for a while. It was a springtime pause to see famous Matsushima from a little hill in Shichigahama. Rather than memorize every island’s name, I’d like to head home with the shape of one favorite island in my mind.