Miyagi

Miyagi is a prefecture on the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region, northern Japan, centered on Sendai, the region's largest city. It wraps Japan's most famous bay and climbs inland to volcanic mountains that grow frost-covered snow monsters in deep winter, with rice plains and fishing ports in between.

Matsushima Bay's pine islands rank among Japan's three great views, cruised from the harbor town beside them. In Sendai, the mausoleum of warlord Date Masamune glitters with restored color, and grilled gyutan beef tongue is the signature dinner. Naruko Onsen pairs sulfur baths with a gorge that turns red in late October.

Winter belongs to the Zao range, where the ropeway climbs through the snow monsters, and summer brings the Tanabata festival streamers to Sendai's arcades. The shinkansen makes Sendai an easy base, and the whole prefecture works without a car. Coastal towns reward unhurried seafood stops.