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Mataró

Mataró is a city of 129,000 people (2023) in Catalonia. Mataró is the birthplace of noucentista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who designed the ajuntament (town hall) and several other notable buildings in the town. Nearby the town are the archaeological remains of the Roman villa of Can Llauder.

By plane
Barcelona El Prat Airport - is about 1 hour away by car. Barcelona city lies between the Barcelona airport and Mataró, so if you plan to go by car, it can take well over 2 hr in the rush hour. By train, travelling time is around 1 hr 30 min and you must switch trains at Sants station. Take line   to Sants. There, you must change to , direction Mataró-Maçanet/Massanes. One-way tickets are €4.60 (August 2023).

Girona/Gerona/Costa Brava airport  is about 1 hour away by car. Going by bus/train is possible, but probably is eassier to go to Barcelona and then from Barcelona to Mataró.

By train
Mataro is served by Rodalies-RENFE Rodalies-Renfe trains. It's on the line that goes from Molins de Rei to Maçanet/Massanes, crossing Barcelona city. A ticket to-from Barcelona costs around €4.6 (August 2023).

. Taxis from the train station to hotels in the centre of Mataró are approximately €3.

By bus

 * The bus lines and,  do the route Mataro - Barcelona
 * The goes north to nearby villages of Llavaneres and St.Vicenç de Montalt
 * The goes south to Vilassar de Dalt, with stops in Cabrera, Vilassar de Mar and Premia de mar.

By car
You can get to Mataró by:
 * Free motorway (few years ago it was a paid motorway). It comes From Barcelona to the south, and from Blanes and Costa Brava to the North.
 * It comes from Granollers and connects with the (the motorway to France)

 * The  goes parallel to C-32 but along the coast, crossing all villages
 * Several local roads

By boat
Mataró has a sports port with a marina. It has 1080 docking places for boats up to 18 m long. It also has fuel service open 24 hr, a big boat area and hosts a sailing school. Channel 9 VHF is available to boats.

Get around
It's small enough to walk just about anywhere in Mataró. If you're feeling particularly lazy, the Mataró Bus network has 10 different lines and a very clearly laid out map at every bus stop (€2 per journey).

See

Sports

 * Hire a boat at the marina.
 * Run or swim at the beach.
 * Rock climb on the artificial wall in one of Mataró's parks.
 * Mountain bike in the Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor with lots of routes and trails.
 * Road cycling The route from Barcelona to Mataro along the coast in the N-II road is one of the favourites by road cyclers, its completly flat. However if you enjoy climbing there are several ports in Orrius and Dosrius.

Events
Les Santes : Jul 24th to Jul 29th. Mataró's Festa Major, known as "Les Santes," honors the city's patron saints and has been celebrated since the 19th century. It is considered one of Catalonia's best major festivals due to factors such as its historical significance, civic recovery, liturgical elements, and innovation. The festival's success is attributed to the enthusiastic public participation, dedicated collaborators, and the devotion of the citizens, which permeates all aspects of the celebration. Divided into four stages, the festival includes pre-events, the official call by the mayor, the main celebration on the patronesses' feast day, and a concluding epilogue. The festive spirit truly comes alive in the streets of Mataró during Les Santes.

Buy
The buzzing market at Plaça de Cuba, every Saturday morning, is good to pick up fresh fruit and veg, as well as to soak up the atmosphere.

Eat

 * La botigueta del Malambo Camí Ral 540. +34 93 798 80 59. Food to take away and products from Argentina. Weekend menu €11.95.
 * Cavall D'Or, Camí Ral, 624, +34 93 757 87 10. Cheap and tasty Chinese food, such as Sizzling Chicken Plate for €6.45.
 * Pizzeria Lluis, Baixada Escaletes 10, +34 93 796 29 68.  Great food, friendly staff and quite cheap—pasta dishes for €5-6.  They only have menus in Catalan, though, so you may need to ask the staff for advice.
 * La botigueta del Malambo Camí Ral 540. +34 93 798 80 59. Food to take away and products from Argentina. Weekend menu €11.95.
 * Cavall D'Or, Camí Ral, 624, +34 93 757 87 10. Cheap and tasty Chinese food, such as Sizzling Chicken Plate for €6.45.
 * Pizzeria Lluis, Baixada Escaletes 10, +34 93 796 29 68.  Great food, friendly staff and quite cheap—pasta dishes for €5-6.  They only have menus in Catalan, though, so you may need to ask the staff for advice.
 * Cavall D'Or, Camí Ral, 624, +34 93 757 87 10. Cheap and tasty Chinese food, such as Sizzling Chicken Plate for €6.45.
 * Pizzeria Lluis, Baixada Escaletes 10, +34 93 796 29 68.  Great food, friendly staff and quite cheap—pasta dishes for €5-6.  They only have menus in Catalan, though, so you may need to ask the staff for advice.

Go next

 * Barcelona — main city of Catalonia
 * Santa Susanna — beach city in Maresme county
 * Sant Pol de Mar — beach city in Maresme county

title: Mataró


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Matawai

Matawai is a very small settlement on State Highway 2 in the Gisborne Region of New Zealand. It is on the upper reaches of the Motu River, which flows into the eastern Bay of Plenty, and is about half-way between Gisborne and Opotiki.

Understand
With a population less than 100, Matawai is a very small village. Despite its size it's a popular destination for mountain bikers, kayakers and other adventurers. This is because the start of the Motu Road Trail and the Motu River are nearby.

See

 * Waterfalls

Do

 * Bush walks

Buy

 * Matawai Gallery

Eat

 * Hard Drive Cafe

Sleep

 * Matawai Camp

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Matawai


text:
Matemo

Matemo Island is in Mozambique in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, and is part of the Quirimbas archipelago. Matemo is one of the southern islands that fall within the Quirimbas National Park.

Understand
The island is 100km north of Pemba, 6km from the mainland and approximately 2400 hectares in size. It has palm groves, palm vegetation and pristine beaches as well as a number of small indigenous villages. The islanders main source of income is from fishing.

The island features the Matemo Island Resort, which opened late in 2004. The resort solved the problem of lack of fresh water by installing a desalination plant, which also provides fresh water to islanders.

The resort provides the only job opportunities on the island for the community, other than subsistence fishing. The community is said to be given first option for jobs and encouraged to learn new skills.

Get in

 * The 30 minute flight from Pemba is included in the cost of accommodation at the resort.
 * Speed boats run here from Ibo, Quilaléa and Guludo.

Do

 * Treat yourself to an underwater wonderland with captivating diving and snorkeling where you can experience some of the world's richest coral reefs. Diving: $40/50/60 pp for near / central / far reefs (min 3 pax). Scuba refresher for divers who have not dived in last six months: $40. PADI resort course (incl an open water dive): $99. Prices inclusive of scuba equipment.
 * Take a walk through the local villages, stop for a friendly chat (if you can speak Portuguese), or take a village tour offered by the resort, $29.50/person.
 * Take a fishing charter, $440/715 per trip (max 3 pax) for half day / full day.
 * Dhow Sunset Cruise,$27.50/person.

Eat

 * The only restaurant is at the Matemo Island Resort.

Drink

 * Zanzi-bar at the Matemo Island Resort.

title: Matemo


text:
Matemwe

Matemwe is a village on the East Coast of Zanzibar.

title: Matemwe


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Matera

Matera is the capital of the Matera province in the Basilicata region of Italy. It boasts the sassi: well-preserved rock-cut settlements that are a World Heritage site and one of Southern Italy's many important attractions.

Understand
Matera is a fairly big city of around 60,000 people. One of its quarters is the old city. Just outside the old city are the Sassi - cave houses dug into the limestone rocks. The sassi are located on both sides of a valley. On the north side the Sasso Barisano have been partially commercially developed as offices and housing. The Sasso Caveoso, on the south side, is the most historically interesting.

Matera is a "European Capital of Culture" for 2019, an honour it shares with Plovdiv. Be prepared for huge tour groups clogging up the narrow alleys and stairways in the old town, especially on Sundays and holidays.

Get in
Matera is most easily reached from Bari in the Apulia region. The Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) runs trains from Bari to, taking 1 hr 30 min with departures every 1-2 hr during the daytime. The FAL train station in Bari is just outside of Bari Centrale and is toward the left as you walk out onto the large piazza with the buses and fountain. The FAL does not run trains on Sunday, and does not accept rail passes. Tickets are approximately €5 each way; be sure to stamp your ticket with the machines before boarding. There is a direct bus connection to Bari Airport with Pugliairbus (1 hr 15 min, tickets from €3).

Get around
After exiting Matera Centrale, there is a piazza to the left with various buses. From here, "Linea Sassi" buses to I Sassi di Matera every 30 min; the inexpensive tickets are sold upon boarding. The Sassi can also be reached on foot in about 20 minutes by walking straight ahead downhill from the piazza. The Sassi can only be explored on foot, and tourist information is available locally.

See
Old city. From the station walk down via Roma to Piazza Veneto and take the stairs down into the old city.

Churches

 * Caveoso cave churches. Entrance to the four main ones is €6.
 * Caveoso cave churches. Entrance to the four main ones is €6.
 * Caveoso cave churches. Entrance to the four main ones is €6.
 * Caveoso cave churches. Entrance to the four main ones is €6.

Do

 * Hike in the hills around Matera. For example walk down from the north east of the city, cross the ravine and hike back up the hill to the for a view of the city from the other side.
 * The Women's Fiction Festival is held late every September in the Sassi District, and attracts an international contingent of writers, agents and editors.

Eat
There are many restaurants in the old city as well as outside.

Drink

 * Cafe Stone Age close to St. Antonius church in th Caveoso has a nice little terrace with flowers in pots and cold beers from all over the world.

Sleep
There are common hotels in Matera, but sleeping in the caves is a completely different experience. There are hotels, but consider that you can enjoy the place staying in one of the many B&Bs in the old town.

Cope
If you hire a tour guide, be sure it is a licensed one. Many people there might stop you, and attempt to offer unofficial tourist services. Don't trust them much, they only care about getting money from you.

title: Matera


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Matheran

Matheran is the closest hill station to Mumbai. It is in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. There are a number of lookout points that provide spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys.

Understand
Matheran is situated at a height of above sea level. Since 1907, a narrow-gauge railway connects Matheran to Neral in the plains. Motor vehicles are completely banned in Matheran, making it quite peaceful despite the thousands of visitors that come here, mostly from Mumbai.

Matheran is a plateau with a reasonably dense forest cover. Being a hill station it is pleasant almost throughout the year. In winter, the nights can get a bit chilly though. The best time to go to Matheran is post-monsoon. It is truly spectacular at this time of the year with lush greenery, waterfalls and a lake full of water.

Talk
People here can speak Marathi, Hindi and basic English. You may come across some tourist guides speaking Konkani or Urdu.

By train
You can catch either a Karjat-bound local train or the Deccan Express from Mumbai CSMT to.

From Pune, catch any Mumbai-bound train and get off at Karjat (Around 95 km from Pune). Then catch a CSMT-bound local train from Karjat and get down at Neral (21 km, would take around 15 min).

From Neral Junction, there is the Matheran Hill Railway which runs to about 4 times a day. The toy train is not operational when the railway route is under maintenance or when there is a perceived hazard e.g. the monsoons. Unfortunately, the only way to find this out is at Neral.

Neral to Matheran tickets as of November 2009 costs are 1st Class ₹210, 2nd Class Reserved ₹35, 2nd class unreserved ₹20. Tickets can be booked from 3 to 1 day in advance, and then on the day of travel from 45 minutes before the train.

The train is often full, so turn up in good time to ensure you get a ticket. You can also book the ticket online through IRCTC. If there's a queue of unmoving people at the ticket window with a salesman who is reading the paper, then all the 2nd class tickets are sold out. Jump the queue to the window and ask for first class as they're usually still available. Travelling in toy train takes around 2 hours.

There is sadly no convenient express train to get back to Mumbai CSMT in the evening. You can get a local train from Neral to Karjat (away from Mumbai), and then an express train back from Karjat into Mumbai. But this will take longer than just getting a local train from Neral back into town. One can get a train from Karjat to Pune on opposite direction.

By shared car
There are many share-a-cabs which take you to Matheran from Neral. The distance from Neral to Dasturi Point, the last point to which vehicles are allowed in Matheran, is 11 km. The drivers that ply through the roads have immaculate driving skills, so the real advice here is not to keep eyeing the blind turns and foot-to-brake coordination, but to just enjoy the breathtaking views as you climb up towards the Dasturi point. Also, make sure you take the rearmost seats as it will provide a relatively more comfortable journey. Once you have left the taxi, you can take a horse ride or get the help of porters to carry luggage up to the town. The drivers charge around 100 rupees per person, carrying up to 5 persons in a ride.

By car
Cars are not allowed within Matheran. However, you can drive up and park your car at Dasturi car point, or take the newly introduced minibus shuttle from Karjat or Neral railway stations up to Dasturi. From Dasturi you must take a 40-minute horseback or man-pulled rickshaw ride to Matheran along a mud track.

Alternatively, you can walk from Dasturi along the railway line and make your way up to Matheran - 20 minutes to half an hour. The rail track route is slightly shorter, more scenic and very much more comfortable than the rubbly, dusty main road route. Coolies or porters are available at Dasturi to carry your luggage. Remember to negotiate rates in advance. You can also go by group booking or alone.

On foot
There are several walking trails which ascend the Matheran Plateau. These are used by local people commuting to the hill station as well as the occasional intrepid holiday-maker.

From the eastern side, trekkers start at Neral (see above).

You can also approach from the Western side, which has the distinct advantage that you can be in the shade for most of the ascent if you start early in the morning. One route recommended during monsoon starts from the village of Dudhoni and brings you to Sunset Point in Matheran. It is suitable for beginners, and the ascent only takes 2 hours or so. There is apparently a side trip to a waterfall, but I have not done this. Dudhoni can be reached by autorickshaw from Panvel (accessible by bus or central line train). The trail is obvious in most places; when in doubt, ask a local.

Fees and permits
There is an entry fee of ₹50 for adult visitors and ₹25 for children. The proceeds from this are used for the upkeep of the place considering its fragile ecosystem.

Get around
As motor vehicles are banned, there are three ways of getting around in Matheran: walking (all the trails have signboards marking the way and the locals are quite helpful), on horseback, or by rickshaw.

See
Almost all the points offer pretty good sunrise, sunset, mountain and valley views, so walk or horse ride or take a rickshaw to whichever you want. Remember that the more popular points will be crowded, especially at sunset.

Some of the popular sights include:
 * Lake Charlotte - a spectacular waterfall overflows from the lake during and shortly after the monsoons. At other times, it is peaceful and surrounded by dense evergreen forests, bird songs and pretty butterflies. There is a gramadevatha temple nearby this lake.
 * Panorama point - This point is a very beautiful one, for you can see a panoramic view of the hills on the left and a beautiful Ulhas River to the right. This point is quite far from Matheran station / market, but you can negotiate a good price for your travel if you do not feel like walking. This point is perfect for Sunrise and is also called "Sunrise Point."
 * Heart Point - Here one can see a beautiful scene of the valley and this point looks like heart, so it is named so.
 * Monkey Point - Here you can see the monkeys in large numbers and their mischief life-sized.
 * Malang Point
 * Luisa Point - The view from here to the waterfall (run off from Charlotte Lake) during the monsoon is spectacular.
 * Honeymoon Hill - According to locals, a British officer had his honeymoon actually arranged at this point. Also, latter Parsis used to harvest honey at his point, hence its name.
 * Echo Point - True to its name, this point has some superb echo effect! Feel free to scream loud at the point and hear the echo coming from distant places through the valleys.
 * Lords Point
 * One tree Hill - A unique hill, which has only one big tree growing on it. The way to reach the hill is a bit risky and steep.
 * Olympia - There is a horse race course.
 * Paymasters Park
 * Mount Barry
 * Artist Point
 * Khandala Point - Very close to the Matheran market place.
 * Alexandar Point
 * Rambaug Point
 * Little Chowk Point - Spectacular view and towards the southmost tip of Matheran.
 * Chowk Point - Spectacular view and towards the southmost tip of Matheran.
 * Sunset (Porcupine) Point
 * Garbut Point

Do
Due to the prohibition of cars, Matheran is a relatively peaceful place. So walking is an activity that will be richly rewarding, especially for nature lovers, and more so just after the monsoons when wildflowers are in full bloom with their attendant butterflies. When the mass blooming of Karvy or Strobilanthes Callosa takes place, it is a spectacular sight.

It is not uncommon to sight golden langurs, snakes and the Matheran Giant Squirrels [Ratufa indica elphinstonii]. Apart from the ubiquitous bonnet macaque or aggressive Matheran monkeys

There are numerous points all over Matheran, many of which provide some fantastic views of the valley below. While the central area and marked vistas are crowded, it is quite easy to find yourself all alone if you step off the beaten track. There are numerous forested trails leading to most of the points. Wear thick-soled footwear and carry a walking stick for greater comfort as some of the trails are very rubbly, nothing more than dry river beds.

Horse riding is also quite a popular way of getting around in Matheran. Finding a horse is not very difficult, as there are many of them around. It is a great way to travel for people who prefer not to walk, but rates must be negotiated in advance.

One popular adventure in Matheran is the Valley Crossing from Honeymoon Point to Louisa Point. It's basically a U-shaped mountain and you have to go from one side to the other side (approx. 275 m) hanging on a rope, 300 m above the valley below. This works thanks to 3 ropes, pulleys and gravity. It is a one-way lane, so coming back is by walking or you can ask your horse-man to come to that point to pick you up. It is definitely not for the weak-hearted, but you get a bird's eye view of the valley.

Eat
There are all kinds of restaurants in Matheran serving various cuisines. Most hotels offer packages including all meals. Try the Gujarati Thali, or the Maharashtrian style Vada-Pav (Indian Burger) which is available at various points. Also, try the chikki which is available in different flavours in the main market. Unlimited Gujarati Thali at Hotel Gujarat bhavan (₹ 175 as of December 2010) and Hotel Regal (₹ 250, Dec 2010) are famous. Hotel Laxmi offers limited Gujarati Thali (₹ 80, Dec 2010), the food here is very homely, and less spicy. Though a limited version the quantity of food is enough for the average appetite.

Meat is available in some restaurants, notably in the popular and modern Khan's, who make very good Kebabs. Diwadkars opposite the station does very tastily non-veg. and veg. thalis, kababs, etc. at a reasonable price, they also serve alcohol. Shabbir's Biryani house is very famous for its meat preparations, but it is not a very neat place and if you are looking for a proper restaurant with people waiting for you then Shabbir's might not be the place. Shabbir Bhai's is an authentic home-run hotel, serving tasty Moghlai food. To reach here take the right from the Masjid and walk up for 2 minutes.

Hakimi's is a good place,where you can find good Chinese, Moghlai and Punjabi at a very very reasonable rate. It is right next to Pramod Bar (the only bar in Matheran). Also worth trying is the big Indian breads (called "pav") which you can find in the store right opposite to Pramod Bar.

Drink
There are all kinds of restaurants in Matheran serving various drinks, try the unique Kokam Sherbat there. Liquor is available only in certain hotels and restaurants.

Sleep
During the peak season, when it is very busy, prices are often as high as four times the off-season (winter) price. Be ready to shell out minimum of ₹ 2000 for a modest non AC double bed room on a weekend. As it is a popular weekend trip from Mumbai, mid-week is less full so you should be able to negotiate better prices. While there are many hotels in the centre of town, there are more secluded hotels down the paths away from the central buildings. Its always better to stay in hotels in the market as you can roam around there once it gets dark. In far off hotels you would get locked up in the room as it won't be advisable to venture out in the dark in forest. Better do not book any rooms from the agents who would surround you at Neral Station. There are many rooms (hotels, cottages, resorts) up at the Matheran Market and it is better to actually check the rooms and then deal directly with the owners as this can save money as well as the disappointed of being dubbed into a poorly maintained and sub-standard room. Given most hotels can offer food, it needn't be an inconvenience being out of the town centre. Due to the space in Matheran, hotels often have extra facilities from table-tennis tables and swings to swimming pools.

 * Byke One of the oldest resorts; definitely the oldest 3 star resort in Matheran. Its well away from the crowds and has been around for 20 years. Mainly consists of several colonial style cottages and has managed to preserve some of the old world charm & character. Has a mid sized swimming pool for adults and a small pool for children, rain dance area, restaurant, tennis & badminton courts, a small discotheque with a stage, health club, games room, several swings that you can relax on. Its nice & green and the food is decent.
 * Byke One of the oldest resorts; definitely the oldest 3 star resort in Matheran. Its well away from the crowds and has been around for 20 years. Mainly consists of several colonial style cottages and has managed to preserve some of the old world charm & character. Has a mid sized swimming pool for adults and a small pool for children, rain dance area, restaurant, tennis & badminton courts, a small discotheque with a stage, health club, games room, several swings that you can relax on. Its nice & green and the food is decent.
 * Byke One of the oldest resorts; definitely the oldest 3 star resort in Matheran. Its well away from the crowds and has been around for 20 years. Mainly consists of several colonial style cottages and has managed to preserve some of the old world charm & character. Has a mid sized swimming pool for adults and a small pool for children, rain dance area, restaurant, tennis & badminton courts, a small discotheque with a stage, health club, games room, several swings that you can relax on. Its nice & green and the food is decent.

Another good budget option for the families is Woodlands Hotel. Situated in the forest as the name suggests but just 10 mins. walk from the Station/Market. Homely atmosphere with good food and service. Pets are welcome.

There are plenty of hotels to suit all budgets. Maharashtra Tourism's site MTDC has a list of home stays as well. Most Matheran hotels and resorts advertise in the local Mid Day travel classifieds so it is easy to compare prices.

Most of the above-mentioned websites do not mention the following small hotels which allow you lodging and boarding:

 * Hotel Preeti. This is a clean and neat place with considerable space for people to sit outside their rooms on swings and sofas. The rooms are clean and the beds look warm. The price is ₹ 300 for one person a day without food. With food, which includes breakfast tea and two meals it is ₹ 600 for one person. (Rates on a summer Saturday)
 * Krishna Villa. This place is not the best place to be if you are going with your family, but if you are with your friends and don't care too much about the rooms being slightly small this place can give you a good deal at ₹ 240 per head without the food. (Rates on a summer Saturday)
 * Meghdoot. This is slightly better than Krishna Villa but not as good as Hotel Preeti.
 * There are several locals who have turned their houses in the villages into tourist cottages. These are very cheap and clean but don't expect too much service. You will not these days near the "Pramod Bar".

Cope

 * Carry a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. Matheran is quite dusty and there is red soil everywhere.
 * The roads can be rough with many small stones in them, but they are not sharp craggy rocks. If you wear a good pair of shoes with thick soles you should be fine.
 * The weather is truly excellent as you can walk around even in summer without feeling too uncomfortable. Morning is the best time from trekking but be ready for a hazy view as the cloud covers the place at early morning.
 * You can trek right down from Dasturi to Neral station, either following the ghat roads or the toy train tracks. The best would be to combine both the routes for a spectacular view. This trek will take around 1 hour and you would find only 1-2 small tea stalls. Carry water.
 * Avoid carrying too much baggage with you. You can't take it up by car and need someone to carry it for you. Some of these porters are women and you may not feel right about a woman carrying your heavy bag. Anyway, it's quite easy to find a male porter (also called "coolie" in India). They may charge around ₹ 60-100 for carrying your bags to your hotel depending on where your hotel is. Also they are reliable and you can safely hand over your bags to them and take any route you want. They will be at your hotel before you.
 * The charges for horses differ. The horse keepers charges anything between ₹ 100-500. You can bargain.
 * Carry enough cash with you, as there is only one ATM in Matheran and unfortunately it often does not work during monsoon.
 * There are monkeys around. They will not hesitate to snatch your belongings especially anything remotely resembling food. Don't feed them or play with them. Besides this they are pretty harmless.

Go next

 * Lonavla

title: Matheran


text:
Mathura

Mathura is a city at the banks of the Yamuna River, in Uttar Pradesh, India.

By plane
The nearest airport is Agra, 50 km from Mathura. Most of the international and domestic flights land at IGI Airport, Delhi which is 150 km from Mathura. An upcoming new international airport will also be accessible via the Taj Expressway, 1½ hours from Mathura.

By train
. Most trains between Delhi and Agra stop in Mathura. The journey from Delhi takes 2-3 hours depending on the train type, while from Agra the trip takes about one hour. Most of the south-bound and west-bound trains stop at Mathura. However, Vande Bharat trains don't stop at Mathura.

By bus
Many state transport departments busses run through Mathura. There are also ISBT (Inter State Bus Terminal) services from Delhi Sarai Kale Khan with a frequency of 25 minutes.

By car
Mathura sits between Delhi and Agra on NH 44, about 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km north of Agra. The Yamuna Expressway is to the east of the city. Mathura is well connected to the national capital Delhi, state capital Lucknow and all major Indian cities by road.

By taxi
To travel from Delhi to Mathura or from Agra to Mathura via taxi, you have a few options. Mathura is approximately halfway between Delhi and Agra. It is approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Delhi, and approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Agra.

Buy

 * Brass, or Copper Pooja Articles
 * Clothes
 * Leather shoes from factory Outlets on NH-2 (towards Agra)
 * Milk Products
 * Pooja Articles
 * Sweets
 * Sweets

Eat
Sweets made of milk and milk products are the specialty of Mathura. Mathura is famous for "pede" (sweet made of milk and sugar).The best shop for trying sweets is "Brijwasi Mithai wala" which are located at 4-5 places in Mathura like Opposite Janmbhumi, in Holigate, in Chowk Bazaar and at the New Roadways bus stand. Other good sweet shops are Gosai Pede Wala, Radhika Sweets, Shankar Mithai Wala, and Bharatpuria.

Another famous food item in Mathura that is the most common breakfast in the city is Kachori and Jalebi. Kachori is a snack served with "Alloo Ki Subji"(Spicy Potato Curry) and Jalebi is a sweet. One can find a near rush in front of Kachori Shops in the morning in Mathura. If you are in Mathura then you must try Kachori and Jalebi for your break fast. Although there are many Kachori and Jalebi Shops, but most famous among them is OMA Pahalwan KachoriWala, that is situated at Holigate in front of Brijwasi Mithai Wala. Another famous item worth trying in Mathura is "Chat", specially "Gol - Gappey" (Pani-Puri).There are many chat walas, it depends upon your taste. You can taste these chat on the vendor who are situated from Holi Gate to Chowk bazaar.

For street food, fast food or restaurants, try one of the following

Drink

 * Jaljeera - a digestive drink.
 * Lassi served in a clay glass
 * Milk Badam(almonds and other dryfruits minced in chilled milk)
 * Sweetened hot milk served in a clay glass
 * Thandai

Go next

 * Back Water of Gokul Barrage (2 km south)
 * Baldeo (22 km southeast)
 * Gokul (10 km east)
 * Goverdhan (20 km west)
 * Govardhan for parikrama (circle or pradakshina). While some walk, some do sashtang namaskar every step, some walk every foot by foot, while old people who cannot walk take vehicle or rickshaw. Remember to chant Sri Krishna all the time while you are circling, or when you are in brajbhumi in general.
 * Keetham Bird Sanctuary, Keetham, NH-2 (35 km south)
 * Kelva Dev Sanctuary, Bharatpur (35 km west)
 * Rural Mathura on bank of river Yamuna
 * Vrindavan (10 km northeast)

title: Mathura


text:
Matin Abad

Matin Abad is in Natanz County, Isfahan Province in Iran.

Get in
Natanz County is half way between Isfahan city and Kashan.

Abyaneh city
If you want to visit Abyane through Matin abad, you will go from desert to mountain with crossing the distance about 40 km from height of 980 m to height of 2300 m. in the you will cross of Hanjan, Barz, Toreh and Kamjan villages till you arrive to Abyaneh. Characterized by a peculiar reddish hue, the village is one of the oldest in Iran, attracting numerous native and foreign tourists year-round, especially during traditional feasts and ceremonies.

Ardestan and Zavareh villages
Ardestan is about 60 km in southeast of Matin Abad in the transit road of Bandar Abbas. After arriving to Zavareh two way continue to Zavareh where you can visit natural attractions, Jame mosque and old quarters then after drinking.

Karkas Village
A drive to Karkas heights could also be interesting. You can walk in the Karkas Tour includes walking Karkas mountainous and its village and continues to Chime and Takieh villages after crossing Hanjen village in the Chimeh ro road and at the end arrive to Firizhand Beautiful village. There is also a famous warm mineral water lake called the Red water. After another 2 km there is also Bidhed village that is located in a beautiful valley. In this village that is about 5 km from Firizhand you can see glorious top of Karkas Mountain.

Matin Abad ( 1 Day )
Day 1:

Early in the morning drive to Matin Abad camp, eating breakfast and camel riding in Matin Abad, then continue to Abyaneh where you will eat lunch and visit picturesque mountain village of Abyaneh, continue to Kashan and visit Fin Garden and Boroujerdi's House, drive to Tehran or continue to Isfahan.

Matin Abad ( 2 Days)
Day 1:

Early in the morning drive Qom and Kashan, in kashan visit Fin Garden and Boroujerdi's House. Continue to Abyaneh, eating lunch and visiting picturesque mountain village of Abyaneh. In the evening drive to Matin Abad camp. Local kebab in Matin Abad. O/N in Matin Abad

Day 2:

Early in the morning camel riding and eating breakfast, continue to Natanz, where you will visit Jame Mosque and Imamzadeh Aqha Ali Abbas, eating lunch, drive back to Tehran or continue to Isfahan.

Do

 * Camel riding in the desert
 * 4x4 rides in the desert
 * Biking in the desert
 * Desert excursions
 * Astronomy- Due to the open space and the clear skies of the desert, many go to these parts for astronomy purposes. There are also some facilities available in the Matin abad camp.

Eat

 * Camel kebab
 * Camel milk

title: Matin Abad


text:
Matinhos

Matinhos is a small town in Coastal Paraná.

Understand
The colonization of Matinhos began in the middle of the 19th century, when the Carijós Indians inhabited the Paraná coast, discovered in 1820 by Frenchman Augusto de Saint'Hilaire. Its first name was Matinho, the name of the river in the town, and its first settlers were Portuguese and Italians, who founded a farming colony. In 1927, the Estrada do Mar highway was inaugurated, connecting Paranaguá to Praia de Leste, which brought various families, mostly Germans, to settle in Matinhos.

By car

 * BR-412/PR-412 connects to Pontal do Paraná and Paranaguá to the north

By ferry
A ferry connects the town to Guaratuba on the other side of the bay to the south.

Go next

 * Guaratuba
 * Ilha do Mel
 * Joinville
 * Paranaguá
 * Pontal do Paraná

title: Matinhos


text:
Matlock

Matlock is a town in Derbyshire, on the edge of the Peak District National Park, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Derby.

Understand
Matlock is really two destinations: The town is the main shopping and administrative centre for the area, while Matlock Bath a few miles down the road is the tourist trap.

Matlock Bath merits a visit for its natural setting and Victorian charm. The riverside is developed on one side only — the West bank — with woods and crags on the opposite bank, through which wind the Lovers' Walks. Although about as far as one can get from the sea in England, it has an almost seaside feel and none of the elegance of spa towns such as Buxton, Cheltenham, Leamington or Bath.

 * Matlock visitor information

By bus
Regular TransPeak long-distance bus services from Derby or Manchester (via Buxton ) or 6.1 service bus from Derby or Bakewell.

Also accessible via frequent bus services to/from Sheffield and Chesterfield.

By train
Matlock is the terminus station on the Derwent Valley branch railway from Derby, from where connections can be made to all major cities in UK. Railway stations at for the town or  (1.5 miles S) for the scenic Derwent gorge area, the Heights of Abraham attraction, caves and cable car service.

By car
Matlock is on the A6 Derby-Stockport road south of Buxton. The nearest motorway junction is J28 on M1, then A38 westbound to Alfreton, then A615 westbound to Matlock.

By plane
Nearest airport is East Midlands Airport, accessible by regular shuttle bus to/from Derby railway station.

Get around
Local bus services are operated by Trent Barton and a number of small independent operators such as G.J. Holmes, TM and Hulleys. See the Derbyshire County Council public transport website for timetables and information for all buses countywide.

There are regular services northwards towards Bakewell, Buxton and Manchester, and southwards towards Belper and Derby. Services linking the smaller villages away from the main A6 trunk road may be restricted to certain hours of the day (e.g. school runs) or even certain days of the week.

There are two bus stations in Matlock, one is next to the railway station on Derwent Way, and the other is situated on Bakewell Road in the town centre.

See
There are pleasant river views from Hall Leys Park in the town centre. A riverside walk starts in the park and proceeds into the Derwent gorge towards Matlock Bath; this also gives access to a footpath up the East side of the gorge and along the cliff tops above High Tor, the spectacular sheer limestone crag between Matlock and Matlock Bath.

Do
The town comes alive at weekends in summertime, particularly on Sundays when large numbers of motorcyclists converge on the promenade to meet up and show off their machines. Matlock Bath is the biggest regular bike 'meet' in the Midlands and attracts bikers from many miles around; its appeal dates back to late Victorian times, when it became a popular destination for bicycle touring clubs from industrial cities such as Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham.

Buy
Spinderella

Drink
For a relatively small town, Matlock has a number of bars centred around the Dale Road area, although there are numerous other venues around the town centre.

Connect
As of March 2024, Matlock and its approach roads have 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.

Go next

 * Bakewell
 * Cromford

title: Matlock


text:
Matmata

Matmata is a village in the south of Tunisia, famous for its troglodyte (cave) dwellings. Scenes from a number of Star Wars movies were filmed here.

Get in

 * There are regular daytime services by louage (shared taxi) or bus (8 daily) from Gabes (40 km north-east).
 * SNTRI provides a daily bus service from Tunis Sud station (leaving at 21:30, 23.800 DT) via Sousse (leaving at 23:15, 16.870 DT) and Sfax (leaving 02:00, 10.610 DT), arriving at Matmata at 05:00 (Mar 2017).
 * By car - Matmata lies about 45min inland (south-west) from Gabes on a sealed road. Douz lies about 1 hr 30 min to the west. It's an 1-hour drive from Medenine across mountain roads, passing the historic town of Toujene.

Get around
Matmata is very small, so you can easily walk between places.

See

 * Ask your hotel if they can arrange a tour of a traditional troglodyte (cave) dwelling; many such properties are located around the village and are today still inhabited by local families. You may give the family a small tip (no more than 5DT)
 * There is a small museum behind the Hotel Sidi Driss, displaying local history. No written information in any language is available, so better come with a guide. DT3 per person (February 2018)
 * Mos Espa, home to a young Anakin Skywalker, was constructed from scratch in the desert near Tozeur, and traditional Berber architecture in the Tataouine area was used to portray the slave quarters where Anakin lives with his mother.
 * Mos Espa, home to a young Anakin Skywalker, was constructed from scratch in the desert near Tozeur, and traditional Berber architecture in the Tataouine area was used to portray the slave quarters where Anakin lives with his mother.
 * Mos Espa, home to a young Anakin Skywalker, was constructed from scratch in the desert near Tozeur, and traditional Berber architecture in the Tataouine area was used to portray the slave quarters where Anakin lives with his mother.

Eat
There are a few restaurants serving typical Tunisian cuisine in the town center (where the three roads meet).

Go next
Tounine, Beni Zelten, Matmata Nouvelle, Mareth, Douz, Bazma

 * SNTRI provides a daily bus service leaving from Matmata at 20:30 to Sfax (arriving 23:30, 10.610 DT), to Sousse (arriving at 02:15, 16.870 DT), and to Tunis Sud station (arriving at 04:00, 23.800 DT) (Mar 2017).

title: Matmata


text:
Mato Grosso

Mato Grosso is a state in the Central West of Brazil. The state is home of important landscapes of the Amazon and the Pantanal.

Cities

 * — the state capital is a good starting point for trips to the Pantanal
 * — a city at the southern edge of the Amazon rain forest that is a popular eco-tourism destination
 * — thermal bath and bathing resort, on the border to Goiás in the east
 * — considered the "Gateway to the Pantanal" and has an interesting old town from the early 19th century, and is known for the international fishing festival
 * — a small city with several caves, rivers with limpid waters
 * — annual events include a fishing festival on the banks of the Juruena River, an agricultural exhibition, and an indoor rodeo
 * — a charming agricultural town surrounded by lush green fields and rolling hills
 * — a gateway to the João Basso Ecological Park, which has waterfalls, caves, cave inscriptions and trails
 * — the Teles Pires river is great for sports activities such as amateur and sport fishing, canoeing, and rafting
 * — has suitable places for sport fishing, and offers extreme sports

Other destinations

 * — its colonial-baroque-style church Nossa Senhora de Santana do Sacramento dates from 1779. The city lies on the edge of the national park of the same name with waterfalls, caves and diverse animal and plant world, landscape form: cerrado and rain forest
 * — one of the largest swamplands on earth, occupies the south-west of the state on the border with Bolivia
 * — a national park created to protect the environment and the several tribes of Xingu indigenous peoples in the area
 * — a national park created to protect the environment and the several tribes of Xingu indigenous peoples in the area

Understand
The state is characterized by three major landscapes: the Amazon rainforest in the north, the Cerrado savannah in the center and the Pantanal swamp area in the south.

Get in
Marechal Rondon International Airport, near Cuiabá, in the suburb of Várzea Grande, is the principal airport in the state.

See
The Chapada dos Guimarães National Park, with its caves, grottoes, tracks, and waterfalls, is one of its tourist attractions. The extreme northwest of the state has a small part of the Amazonian forest. The Xingu Indigenous Park and the Araguaia River are in Mato Grosso. Farther south, the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, is the habitat for nearly one thousand species of animals and many aquatic birds.

Itineraries

 * Paraguay River

Do
Fishing in the Teles Pires, São Benedito and Azul rivers is productive practically all year long.

The Pantanal's backbone is the Paraguay River, which cuts through the region from north to south. The Miranda, Aquidauna, Taquari, and Cuiabá rivers flow into the Paraguay River. From October to April, the high waters reveal outsized lakes, bays, river branches, and outlets. The Transpantaneira Highway connects the town of Poconé to Jofre Port, along the Cuiabá River bank. It is a dirt road with 126 wooden bridges, and extends for 149 km (93 mi). On the way, it is possible to observe wild animals, especially alligators, capybaras, and birds, among other wild animals.

The Gruta da Lagoa Azul State Park  is a state park in the municipality of Nobres, Mato Grosso, with an area of 12,513 ha (30,920 acres). The blue lagoon cave holds a pool of blue water formed from underground water of the Saloba River. The park has several other limestone caves. It is covered with deciduous forests, and is home to howler monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, and macaws.

title: Mato Grosso


text:
Mato Grosso do Sul

Mato Grosso do Sul is a state of the Central Western region of Brazil, and is known for its natural beauties.

Cities

 * - cross the border into Bolivia and take the death train to Santa Cruz.
 * - Lots of rivers where you can go diving, waterfalls and grottos.
 * Aquidauana
 * - the gateway to the Pantanal, a beautiful region abundant with wildlife and wonderful landscapes.
 * - second largest city in the state.
 * Naviraí
 * Nova Andradina
 * Paranaíba
 * Ponta Porã
 * Sidrolândia
 * Três Lagoas

Other destinations

 * - Fishing, safari and photography.

Understand
Mato Grosso do Sul literally means "thick southern forest".

Get in
By plane to Bonito Airport or Corumbá Airport.

title: Mato Grosso do Sul


text:
Matsalu National Park

Matsalu National Park is in Läänemaa county, western Estonia.

Understand
Matsalu National Park includes Matsalu Bay, the delta area of the Kasari River, and the surrounding flooded meadows, coastal meadows, reed beds and forests.

Landscape
Matsalu Bay is shallow, brackish and rich in nutrients. Väinameri Sea bordering the Matsalu Bay includes more than 40 islands which are also part of the park. The bay is 18 km long, 6 km wide and only 1.5 metres deep.

Flora and fauna
Matsalu National Park is one of the largest and most important autumn stopping grounds for migratory birds in Europe. 275 bird species have been recorded in Matsalu, among which 175 are nesting and 33 transmigrating waterfowl. Thousands of geese and dipper ducks can be seen on the floodplains, the coastal meadows are crowded with Branta species and the bay area is alive with swans, coots and diving ducks.

49 species of fish and 47 species of mammals are registered in the area of the nature reserve, along with 772 species of vascular plants.

Get around
You can explore the landscape on foot, by bicycle or by boat (to Matsalu Bay).

See
Matsalu International Nature Film Festival is held every autumn in nearby Lihula town.

Penijõe manor is the regional centre of State Nature Conservation Centre. A small exhibition of nature, slideshows and videos can viewed.

Do
Most observation towers are accessible by car or bus, only Penijõe observation tower requires a short walk from the Matsalu Nature Centre. In the spring to autumn period and during rainy seasons visitors should bring along waterproof boots.

Boat trips are held along the reed channels in spring and summer when the water level is above average.

Go next

 * Haapsalu – "Venice of the north", and a major seaside resort and medium-sized port city, good for visiting spas, taking mud baths, sailing and swimming. But also interesting monuments of the middle ages, like the cathedral and the Ruins of Haapsalu Castle, and a famous and picturesque Railway Museum can be seen here.

title: Matsalu National Park


text:
Matsu

Matsu (馬祖 Mā-cū in Mindong, Mǎzǔ in Mandarin) is the name for a group of islands off China's southern coast, approximately 160 km (100 miles) NW from the island of Taiwan. The island falls under the jurisdiction of the Taiwan-based Republic of China (ROC), and along with Kinmen, forms the front lines between the ROC and the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Islands
The main islands of the Matsu archipelago are, in order of size:

Understand
These are small, rural islands, and visitors should prepare accordingly - for example, there is no international ATM at the main harbor (though Google Maps says there's a Bank of Taiwan near the airport), and there are no official money exchange facilities for travelers heading to or arriving from Mainland China. Many shops do accept Chinese renminbi currency, but often at an unfavorable exchange rate.

There is military everywhere. Since each island is essentially a large military fortification with small civilian villages scattered throughout, try not to end up on one of their installations, which they prefer you not take pictures of either. Although controlled by the Taiwan-based Republic of China government, the Matsu islands are officially considered to be part of Fujian province and not part of Taiwan by both the PRC and ROC governments.

The culture of the islands is a mix of modern influences from Taiwan and historical influences from Fujian province. The local language is more similar to Fuzhou dialect than to Taiwanese (though almost everyone is fluent in Mandarin too), and close observers will notice a different combination of deities worshiped in temples here than in Taiwan. Those with a keen eye will also notice that the architecture of temples here is similar to Fuzhou-style temples, in contrast to the South Fujian style temples that dominate on the main island of Taiwan.

Locals generally identify as "Matsunese" or "Chinese" rather than "Taiwanese". Almost all support closer ties with mainland China over formal Taiwanese independence, and vote accordingly. Matsu is even more opposed to Taiwanese independence than the already deep-Blue Kinmen is because Matsu is not a part of the Min Nan cultural region. That does not mean they want to be unified with mainland China — they are generally proud citizens of the Republic of China. When asked if they're worried that pro-China politicians could allow them to be reunified with mainland China under communist rule, a common refrain is "it'll never happen". That being said, the DPP has made inroads among the younger generation.

Talk
Unlike the rest of the ROC-controlled territories, where Minnan (also known as "Taiwanese") dominates, residents of Matsu speak Mindong (Eastern Min) or Fuzhou Hua, which is not mutually intelligible with Minnan. However, most residents are bilingual in Mindong and Mandarin.

Domestic
Regular ferry service used mostly by military personnel runs between Matsu and Keelung daily, except for there are no departures from Keelung on Tuesdays or from Matsu on Wednesdays (Official website / English information). The Tai-Ma Ferry (tel. 02-24246868) takes 10 hours and departs nightly from Keelung at 23:00, calling at Dongyin after eight hours and then arriving two hours later at Nangan every other day, or going to Nangan first then Dongyin on the other days. Normal fares start at NT$1050 one-way for a bunk bed in a dorm, but private rooms are also available at higher prices. (official fare table). Non-sleeper seat tickets for NT$630 each way are ONLY available when all beds have sold out, which normally only happens on long holidays or when flights are canceled. Round-trip discounts are only for groups of 20 people or more. A one-way ticket can be reserved within 7 days before the ferry departure date, though that's usually unnecessary. Tickets can be bought at the terminals, though ticket desks may not open until about 90 minutes before departure. On Dongyin it's common to by a ticket the day before from the ticket office in the village next to the post office, or from the desk of the hotel across the square. Schedules can be found at this link. Bookings can be made at +886 2 2424 6868 or online.

On the day of the week that the ferry doesn't run (Tuesdays from Keelung, Wednesdays from Matsu), there is a military transport that reserves some space for locals, but foreign citizens are not allowed on board (you could give it a shot if you have a Taiwan/ROC passport).

International
There is also a small daily ferry to mainland China, specifically Mawei, a suburb of Fuzhou. The island itself is called Langqi, and this is also the name used on the Matsu side (with the other mainland ferry going to Huangqi, see below). The ferry costs ¥350 from China and NT$1000 from Matsu, and there is a discount if you buy a round trip ticket. The trip takes two hours. In 2024, it departs from Matsu in the morning at 10 AM and from Langqi in the afternoon. Tickets can be purchased at the terminals. You will need your passport, and if applicable, a visa for Mainland China or Taiwan (or both). There are no currency exchange desks or international ATMs at the ferry terminals. The new ferry location on the mainland side is here. This is far away from much of the other port infrastructure and a taxi driver is unlikely to know the location, so be prepared. There is an infrequent and slow bus to the location, number 201. It could depart only a few hours after arrival in the mainland from Matsu. Catching a taxi dropping of passengers doing the reverse journey should be possible.

As Matsu is controlled by the Taiwanese government, leaving the mainland for Matsu is considered to be leaving China, so be sure to have a multiple entry visa should you wish to re-enter the mainland.

There is a cheaper (NT$650) ferry between Matsu's northern island and the nearest point of mainland China, on the Huangqi peninsula, but because of limitations to immigration facilities, it apparently only accepts Taiwan/ROC citizens as passengers at this time (schedules and fares).

By plane
Matsu is served by Beigan and Nangan Airport with domestic flights from Taipei and other cities in Taiwan but mainly from Taipei. Nankan has a larger landing strip, so more frequent flights, from Taipei and Taichung touch down here. Beigan is served by only one carrier, few flights daily from Taipei. Fog can often delay flights, particularly between March and May. Ticket prices are set by the government, but travelers are advised to purchase the tickets a few days in advance (particularly over weekends/holidays) as the aircraft are small and the flights are often full on departure.

Purchasing a package is one way to travel to Matsu. Eztravel offers great deals that include hotel, flight, and breakfast. It seems travel agents buy out summer tickets, so it may be the only option to travel there in the summer on a weekend.

Get around
Google Maps now includes roads in the Matsu Islands (tested on Nangan and Dongyin) - travelers had reported in 2012 that it they did not. Unlike in Mainland China, the roads are mapped in their correct GPS positions. Additional transportation information can be found here

By boat
Nangan's Fuaogang (Fuao Harbour) is the central terminal for all inter-island ferries. Main routes departing from Nangan include:
 * Beigan's Baishagang (Baisha Harbour): NT$110. Regular, hourly service starting at 07:00 and ending at 17:10.
 * Dongyin (via Taima Ferry, every other day but not Wednesdays): NT$350. There may be smaller ferries going between Nangan and Dongyin on some other other days - if you're on Dongyin looking to go to Nangan, ask locals or the Taima ticket office about the 小白船 (xiao bai chuan) "little white boat".
 * Jyuguang: 3 sailings per day, departing from Nangan at 07:00, 11:00, and 14:30. The first stop at from Sijyu (even numbered months) or Dongjyu (odd numbered months) at 07:50, 11:50, and 15:20. The other Jyuguang island is the second stop at 08:10, 12:10, and 15:40, returning to Nangan. NT$200.
 * Dongjyu and Sijyu: 4 sailings per day, both directions. NT$80.

By scooter
"Scooters" (mopeds) are considered the best way of transportation around the islands. On Beigan's FuAo harbour contact 0933933124 for scooter rentals, or ask at any of the shops/hotels a few hundred metres from the docks. On Nangan, there are rental shops within walking distance of both Baisha Harbour and the airport. At the airport you can ask them to order one for you and they will pick you up.

Rent is usually NT$500-600 per day, but you can negotiate for multi-day discounts.

On foot
The islands are relatively small, but very hilly. If you are in good shape, it is possible to hike around an island within 6 hours or so (not including stops at attractions), but sunscreen and lots of water are highly recommended during the summer.

By taxi
Taxi services are available on the larger islands, including Dongyin. Price unknown.

By bicycle
No bicycle rentals exist (as of 2012), but it is possible to bring a bicycle with you on the ferry.

By bus
Regular public bus service is provided on Beigan and Nangan by Lienchiang County Bus during daylight hours. http://www.matsu-news.gov.tw/ftp_data/s-bus.htm Schedule for Nangan. The fare is NT$15 per boarding, payable by cash or EasyCard.

There is no bus service on Dongyin Island, though this island is smaller than Nangan and Beigan, so walking is even more viable of an option.

By car
There is probably nowhere to rent a car, but it is possible to take one on the ferry from Taiwan if arranged in advance.

See
The Matsu Islands have been designated an official National Scenic Area by Taiwan's government, and there are extensive interpretive signs and directions posted throughout the islands in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. There is a full list of official sightseeing destinations on the scenic area's official website. Most or all destinations, including former military sites, and be visited completely free of charge.

 * The Blue Tears (藍眼淚) - an annual bloom of bio-luminescent algae than makes parts of the coastal seawater glow blue at night. This is the islands' most famous attraction among domestic tourists from Taiwan. It starts in early April and continues at least until July, but depends on the weather (locals say it's best on days with a light wind from the south).
 * Iron fort - Built as an outpost manned by special forces near a location vulnerable to water ghosts (Chinese People's Liberation Army frogmen infiltrators), the fort has been decommissioned and opened to tourists. You must travel down a winding road. Few decide to visit this location, and it can be dark going through the bunker.
 * Mazu Temple - The religious center of Matsu, goddess of the sea. Matsu was supposedly buried here once, her personal belongings are interred in the center.
 * Folk Cultural Artifacts Exhibition Hall - Museum sheds light on life and culture on Matsu. Also has AC, so great way to escape the heat.
 * Andong and Beihai tunnels on Dongyin Island - Hollowed out tunnels going in for hundreds of metres, almost like an underground rebel base out of a Star wars movie. Previously used by the military, they are now open to the public.
 * Suicide cliff - Located near Dongyin's lighthouse, a short stairway down to a viewpoint inside a huge crevasse between two granite cliffs, with the other end open to the sea.
 * Dongyong and Dongcyuan lighthouses - Dongyong Lighthouse on Dongyin Island (possibly the other one too?) was built over a hundred years ago by a British architect working for the Qing Dynasty, making it one of the few historic sites that predates the islands' militarization due to the Chinese Civil War.
 * Bird Watching  - Due to its proximity to Mainland China, Matsu has some different bird species from Taiwan proper (specialties include the Blue Whistling Thrush, common in the forested areas of Nangan). Dongyin Island is known for its colony of Black-tailed Gulls, which due occur in Taiwan but not in such great numbers.
 * Fujian architecture  - Matsu has distinct traditional architectural styles than the main island of Taiwan, including wooden facades and stone houses. Take a moment to notice the quirky roofs of the traditional houses, where the tiles are not attached, but only held down with stones placed on top.
 * Fujian architecture  - Matsu has distinct traditional architectural styles than the main island of Taiwan, including wooden facades and stone houses. Take a moment to notice the quirky roofs of the traditional houses, where the tiles are not attached, but only held down with stones placed on top.

Do

 * Circumnavigate your island of choice in a single day, zipping between small villages, abandoned fortifications, and active military facilities while locals and troops eye you with amusement.
 * Visit fortifications dating from the days when the Cold War was hot, and locals and troops hunkered down in bunkers and tunnels to face regular artillery shelling, and the threat of Chinese PLA frogmen infiltrators.
 * See authentic stone houses built in the traditional eastern Fujian-style, dating from the 19th century days when the islands were inhabited by fishermen, merchants, and mariners.
 * Travel from island to island, imagining what it must have been like for a conscript from Taiwan serving when the slogan "Reconquer the Mainland" was still serious business.
 * Meet the 9000 or so locals, who have made these tiny islands their home, where practically everyone knows everyone else.
 * Sample the local kaoliang and laojiou liquors. The Matsu Distillery on Nangan, which makes the sorghum-based kaoliang (pinyin: gaoliang) has a showroom that's popular among domestic tour groups from Taiwan.

Eat
Matsu is famous for its fantastic seafood. Be sure to try superb authentic northern Fujian cuisine at East Fujuin Pearl (22 Matzu village, Nankan) - the specialty is "Buddha Hand clams".

Fish noodles (ground fish meat combined with potato starch and salt to form a dough, which is then cut into noodles) is a local specialty - best place is Qinbi village on Beigan.

Jiguang pastry - Made from flour and baked in charcoal urns, these pastries resemble bagels in appearance (and slightly so in taste). They were used by General Chi Jiguang in the Ming Dynasty, so that his soldiers could carry their food on strings on their chests during long marches.

Golden dumplings: Made from sweet potatoes, with sweet peanut and sugar filling. Served cold with sweet pea soup.

Drink
Matsu distills Tunnel 88 brand kaoliang (38 and 58 proof) sorghum liquor, and aged laojiou rice wine (around 30% alcohol). Free tastings and a video about the process at the Matsu distillery on Nangan Island.

Respect
Locals generally prefer to be called "Matsunese" or "Chinese" rather than "Taiwanese". To be safe, you should call the country as whole the "Republic of China", and use "Taiwan" only to refer to the island of Taiwan.

Stay safe
Though actual fighting ended many decades ago, Matsu is still something of a frontline area. Visitors are strongly advised not to wander off paved roads when exploring the island due to the possibility of running across old unmarked minefields. It is also advisible to avoid traveling to certain sensitive areas after dark, such as coastal areas or areas near military installations. Visitors should also obey all orders given by military personnel and avoid entering or photographing sensitive areas.

title: Matsu


text:
Matsudo

Matsudo (松戸市 Matsudo-shi) is located east of Tokyo, in the northwestern part of Chiba prefecture. It has about 400,000 inhabitants.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

Get in
Matsudo is located on the JR Joban Line. It is linked to Ueno station in Tokyo by rapid trains running at frequent intervals of 10 min or less. The ride from Ueno takes as little as 20 min (on some midday services, 15 min at a cost of ¥290.

Matsudo also serves as the terminating point on the Shin-Keisei Line, which runs to Tsudanuma (45 min, ¥250). If going to Matsudo from Narita airport, take a Narita Sky Access train and change at Shin-Kamagaya for the Shin-Keisei Line (65 min, ¥1,070). Limousine bus service runs from Narita airport to Matsudo, but it takes longer (2 hr 15 min) and costs more (¥1,900).

From Haneda airport, there are several ways you can reach Matsudo by train. One example is to take the Tokyo monorail to Hamamatsucho, then take the JR Yamanote Line to Ueno or Nippori, where you can pick up the Joban Line train to Matsudo (approx. 75 min, ¥850).

Get around
Matsudo is a pretty small town and most places can be reached by foot. There aren't a lot of buses that stop in Matsudo, but there are many taxis. Both buses and taxis can be found outside of Matsudo Station.

Buy
Matsudo is known for its yoichizuke, pickled small eggplants with soy sauce and malt.

Go next

 * Kashiwa
 * Nagareyama
 * Kamagaya
 * Ichikawa
 * Shiroi
 * Misato
 * Yoshikawa
 * Koshigaya
 * Tokyo

title: Matsudo


text:
Matsue

Matsue (松江) is an old castle town at the heart of Izumo Province (present-day Shimane Prefecture), and with a population of approximately 207,000 is its largest city.

Understand
This laid-back samurai city is home to one of the few authentic wooden castles in Japan, and is also famous for its sunsets and traditional "wagashi" confectionery. Sitting between the shores of Lake Shinji and an inner sea, the city is rich in canals and is often called "City of Water". Matsue and its surrounding area is rich in cultural assets and historical sites, and many of Japan's most ancient legends are set in the area.

History
Matsue has been the political, economic, and cultural capital of the region for much of the past two millennia. At the time of the agriculture-based Yayoi civilization, between the third century BC and CE, and even earlier, during the Jomon civilization, much of whay is now Matsue was underwater. A large inland sea once covered much of the area. As a result, most of the archaeological sites associated with the ancient Izumo tribe and the origins of Japanese civilization are found on higher ground, on the city's southern edge. The younger city center developed from 1607 with the construction of Matsue Castle.

Land of Myths
Many of the myths compiled in the Kojiki, Japan's oldest collection of Myths, dating from the early 8th century take place in the province of Izumo. All the gods of Japan descend upon Matsue before going to their annual meeting at the Grand Shrine of Izumo (in neighboring Izumo). The entrance to the Underworld, ruled over by the god Susanoo can also be found in Matsue.

Lafcadio Hearn
Irish journalist Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) was an author of many books about Japan. He came to work as a teacher in Matsue in 1890, and although he spent only 15 months there, during that time he married a Japanese woman, became naturalized Japanese citizen (adopting the name Koizumi Yakumo). Hearn wrote about his life in Meiji Era Matsue and chronicled many local legends and ghost stories he has become Matsue's favorite son, and the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and his former residence are among the city's most popular attractions. Matsue’s Hearn connection led the national government to proclaim it one of Japan’s three top international tourist cities, along with the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara. Because of Hearn's Irish roots there are cultural connections between Matsue and Ireland and an Irish festival and parade is held yearly.

Orientation
The city center is split into two parts by the Ōhashi River (大橋川). It forms a natural division between the ancient and modern parts of Matsue. Matsue Station, most hotels, shops and restaurants are clustered in the southern part, while most historical sites and attractions are found in the northern part. The city center is not too big and most attractions are at walking distance.

Tourist Information Site
Visit Matsue is the city's official multilingual guide site.

Climate
The northern side of the Chugoku area of Japan on which Matsue lies is called the San'in and the southern part (on the Hiroshima side) is called the San'yo. The San'in and San'yo are separated by a range of mountains which results in quite different weather on both sides. In the San'in there is much more precipitation than in the San'yo with quite some snowfall in winter. Summers are hot and humid with lots of rainfall during rainy season (June to mid-July), making spring and autumn the ideal times to visit.

By plane
Matsue is served by two nearby airports.

By train
Matsue is a major stop on the JR San'in Main Line, which parallels the Sea of Japan coastline for most of its length.

The main way to reach Matsue by JR is by using the Yakumo limited express, which runs about once per hour to/from Kurashiki and Okayama, the latter being a major stop on the shinkansen. The one way trip takes 2 hr 30 min and costs ¥6,140 for a reserved seat. Yakumo services continue on to Izumo, taking around 30 minutes.

Some other JR limited express services run through Matsue:
 * The Super Matsukaze runs a few times per day to Tottori (90 min, ¥4,700) and Masuda (2 hr, ¥5810).
 * The Super Oki runs a few times per day to Masuda and Yamaguchi (4 hr, ¥7,460). The Shin-Yamaguchi shinkansen station is another 15 minutes down the line (¥7,790), offering a scenic alternate if traveling between Matsue and western Chūgoku or Kyūshū.

The above JR services are all free with the Japan Rail Pass.

In addition, one of Japan's few remaining overnight sleeper trains, the Sunrise Izumo, runs through Matsue daily. The train departs JR Tokyo Station at 22:00 and arrives in Matsue at 09:29. The return journey leaves Matsue at 19:24 and arrives in Tokyo at 07:08. The trip cost is the basic fare of ¥16,040 plus additional fees depending on the accommodation. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can book a carpeted floor space on this service at no charge (¥3,830 without the JR Pass). Fees for compartments and rooms range from ¥9,900 to ¥17,280. Showers on board. The train is subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.

By bus
Highway buses connect Matsue and Tokyo (night bus only), Osaka, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Okayama, Kobe and Nagoya (night bus only). The ticket office is outside Matsue Station behind Lawson. Visit Matsue offers a discounted one-way fare of ¥500 for foreign tourists to use the highway buses between Matsue and Hiroshima. Tickets must be purchased on either the same day or the day before departure at a designated ticket office.

By car
If you're coming from Kansai, take the Chugoku Expressway west towards Hiroshima. At Ochiai JCT take the Yonago Expressway towards Yonago. Once in Yonago take the San'in Expressway to Matsue. Get off at Matsue Nishi. Alternately, take the free (but slower) Route 9 from Kyoto all the way here.

If you're coming from Yamaguchi or the west, the expressway is not totally complete. Take the Chugoku Expressway east. You can either take the Hamada Expressway at Chiyoda JCT towards Hamada and then Route 9 along the coast to Matsue, or to exit the highway at Miyoshi, take Route 314 through the mountains until Unnan(Mitoya-Kisuki) and then take the expressway to Matsue. Get off at Matsue Nishi. Both routes are of similar length.

On foot
Matsue city center is not that big, and most attractions are at walking distance. The Matsue International Tourist Information Office in front of the station has a free umbrella loan system where abandoned umbrellas are put to good use, so do pick one up in case the weather changes!

By bike
Bicycles are a quick and convenient way to get around Matsue. They can be rented at several locations. Around Matsue Station:

By bus
Matsue Bus is the local bus company, and these buses can take you all over the city.

By train
For most destinations, JR trains can take you there. Catch a train at Matsue Station.

By taxi
Taxis can be found waiting on both sides of Matsue Station. The easiest way to get a taxi when not around the station is to ask a hotel or shop operator to call one.

By car
A car is not needed in the city center, but it could be handy if you're headed to the countryside.

Events and festivals
Many festivals and events are held yearly. Mst official English Matsue tourism websites are rarely updated and will often show the dates and times of events held in previous years. It would be best to call the Matsue Tourist Association to verify the dates if you're planning your trip to Matsue to coincide with any events or festivals.

Recreation

 * Rest your wary feet in the public hot springs footbath at Shinjiko Station while chatting with the locals. Next to Shinjiko Station, free of charge.
 * Take a long soak in the hot springs at Tamatsukuri Onsen and Shinjiko Onsen.
 * Take a long soak in the hot springs at Tamatsukuri Onsen and Shinjiko Onsen.

Wagashi Japanese sweets
Matsue, as one of Japan's three largest centers for the tea ceremony, has been nurturing the art of Japanese-style wagashi confectionery for several hundred years.

Money
ATMs International ATMs can be found at most Post Offices. Many smaller post offices are closed on weekends and most ATMs shut down after office hours. The ATMs at Matsue Central Post Office have the longest hours of operation. Please refer to the Contact section for more information.

Currency exchange Most banks in Matsue will exchange money. The banking section at Matsue Central Post Office also offers money exchange services.

Sleep
For budget travelers or those with unexpected plans, it's possible to stay overnight in an internet cafe.

Connect
All phone numbers displayed on this page are in international format. To dial using local format substitute "+81" with "0".

WiFi hotspots
Most McDonald's restaurants in Japan offer complimentary WiFi internet

Day trips

 * Izumo - Home to the Grand Shrine of Izumo (Izumo Taisha), one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan
 * Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine - A UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * Yasugi - A town known for its sword making and home to Adachi Museum of Art and its famous gardens
 * Yonago - A neighbouring city known as "little Osaka", famous for its food and bar scene
 * Mount Daisen - This extinct volcano towering over the city of Yonago is also known the Mount Fuji of West Japan. Great for hiking and skiing.
 * Sakaiminato - Point of departure for ferries to Korea and Russia. Also known as the home town of cartoon character GeGeGe no Kitaro.
 * Hamada
 * Unnan
 * Takahashi

Further out

 * Oki Islands - A group of two small islands in the Sea of Japan, known for it's distinct landscape and history

title: Matsue


text:
Matsumae

Matsumae (松前) is a small town in Hokkaido. It has the only traditional-style castle in Hokkaido.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
From Hakodate, take the train to Kikonai. (It takes anywhere from 40-65 minutes depending on the train you take.) A bus leaves that station bound for Matsumae. (It takes about 90 minutes to get to Matsumae Castle and the fare is ¥1210.)

Matsumae Castle (Matsumae-jo) is not the last stop so be alert when you enter the town. As you drive along the coast, you can see the castle to your right. It will be behind a big building that is easy to identify as a hospital. When you can see it, ring the bell to get off. Then walk for about 10 minutes up the hill towards it.

See
There is a lack of signs in romaji (Roman alphabet). If you are lost and cannot speak Japanese, your best bet is to consult teenagers as they will be learning English in school.

When you go to the castle, you can get a free English map of the area. It is less detailed than the Japanese map.

 * Castle: Matsumae-jo is the only castle in Hokkaido.  It is a rebuilt castle with large concrete stairs inside.  The original one burned down in 1949.  The interior walls are lined with glass cases containing a few historical pieces and there is a display of shells on the top level.  If you have been to other Japanese castles, this one is not so enthralling but the entrance fee is only a few hundred yen.  The grounds are quite pretty.  The area is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, with 250 different varieties of cherry trees and boasts 8000 blossoming cherry trees at the end of April.  During the summer, the walkways are lined with blooming hydrangeas. See also Japanese castles.
 * Edo Village: Matsumaehan Yashiki is a recreation of a small Japanese village.  There are several buildings containing traditional items and dolls engaged in village activities.  It is a good place to get some pictures.  Unlike some Edo villages in Japan, this one is well kept.  Admission is ¥350.  It is about a 10-minute walk up from the castle (consult your map).

The area is dotted with temples, shrines, and graveyards.

During the Bon period in August there is a parade and beard-growing contest.

Go next
You can check the bus return times at the castle (just ask the attendant behind the glass at the entrance for help if you don't read kanji). There is a bus every two hours. The stop is straight back down the hill on the road beside the sea. There is a shelter with washrooms at the stop. The bus returns to Kikonai a few minutes before the train departs for Hakodate.
 * Kaminokuni
 * Esashi
 * Fukushima
 * Shiriuchi
 * Kikonai
 * Hokuto
 * Nanae
 * Hakodate
 * Assabu

title: Matsumae


text:
Matsumoto

Matsumoto (松本) is a city in Nagano at the eastern end of the Japan Alps. Kamikochi resort area in it has a separate article.

Understand
Matsumoto is best known as the home of Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's 12 original castles.

Tourist information site
Visit Matsumoto is the city's official multilingual guide site.

By plane

From the closest major airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya, Matsumoto can be reached by rail in roughly three hours by the Meitetsu line and JR limited express train (change in Nagoya). Buses connect Centrair with Matsumoto in around 3½–4 hr for ¥3,500.

From Narita Airport, Matsumoto can be reached in 4½–5 hr by limited express rail service (change in Shinjuku).

By rail
Matsumoto is located on the JR Shinonoi Line. It is four stops away from Shiojiri, the "mid-point" of the Chuo Main Line between Tokyo and Nagoya. There is a tourist information center inside the train station.

Limited express trains run to Matsumoto from Tokyo's Shinjuku station. The Azusa (あずさ) makes the journey in about 2¾ hr (¥6,500). Local trains also make the trip, but it's cheaper and faster to go by bus.

There's also the option of taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki (かがやき), Hakutaka (はくたか), or Asama (あさま) from Tokyo to Nagano station, then taking the Wide View Shinano (ワイドビューしなの) limited express to Matsumoto (2½–3 hr, ¥8,470).

The Wide View Shinano also runs from Nagoya station, where there are connections with the Tokaido Shinkansen (towards Kyoto and Osaka). The run from Nagoya to Matsumoto takes 2 hr on the limited express and costs ¥5,830; local trains cost ¥3,350 and take between 4–5 hr, depending on the available trains and connections.

All of the above-mentioned rail trips are free when using the Japan Rail Pass.

By bus
Highway buses from JR Matsumoto station connect to Shinjuku in Tokyo (3 hr, ¥3,400), Nagoya (3¼ hr, ¥3,460), and various destinations in the Japan Alps, notably the Oku-Hida Onsen Villages (1½ hr, ¥2,300–2,800).

On foot
You can walk to Matsumoto Castle, about a mile northeast of the station, in about 20 minutes.

By local bus
Alternatively, the Town Sneaker Bus by Alpico Kotsu departs from in front of Matsumoto Station every 30 minutes and makes a circular trip to all city sights — it costs ¥200 each time you get off. ¥500 for a day ticket. Half-price for children.

By rail
To visit the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, however, you will have to go by train or taxi or get the Town Sneaker to the City Government Office then walk for 25 minutes.

By bicycle
Bicycles are convenient for visiting sights not accessible by Town Sneaker bus.

Free bicycles are supposedly available daily 08:30–17:00 at various locations throughout town, including the Matsumoto City Museum next to Matsumoto Castle and the Kaichi Gakko Primary School. Ask the Matsumoto Tourist Information staff for details. However, as of 2023, they were nowhere able to be found

Otherwise, you can rent a bike from JR Eki Rent-A-Car beside the station for ¥1,500/day. Or the bicycle station north of the castle near the junction also offers bicycle for ¥1,000-2,000.

Do
Matsumoto is surrounded by numerous campsites and onsen. A hiking map in English can be picked up from the information center, a 5-minute walk south of the castle.
 * Hike to Misuzuko (美鈴湖) – To go down, take the bus from Matsumoto bus station (beside the Epsa supermarket) to Utsukushigahara-kogen (美ヶ原), 51 minutes, ¥930 (May 2009) to Lake Misuzu; walk around the east side of the lake to the Toy Box (もりの国) campsite (start along the main road, take a footpath to the right; when you come to another road, turn left along it until a path goes up to the left; follow this up to and through the campsite). Exit the campsite by its main gate, turn left, at the first guardrail leave the road to the right and follow the path down along a ridge. (Pause in the first section to admire the eagles.) There are no signposts, but the path is clear, with some trail markers; after about an hour you will find yourself among houses uphill from Asama-onsen (浅間); Matsumoto station is another hour and a half, of which part can be along the Metoba River (女鳥羽川). Not having completed the trail I cannot say how to find it from below.

Buy
Stores in Matsumoto offer pickled wasabi leaves, laquerware, and traditional crafts.

Eat
Matsumoto is mildly famous for its soba noodles, hopefully served with a dab of product from the world's largest wasabi farm nearby. You can have them as chilled zaru-soba in the summer, a refreshing way to experience the pure taste of the noodles, or in the winter as toji-soba, where you eat them by dipping a little bamboo basket into a pot of broth.

Matsumoto is also famous for its raw horse meat (basashi).

Drink
The backstreets of Nawate-dōri have small lively places where local people have food with drinks.

Go next

 * Azumino
 * Hakuba – A popular ski resort
 * Oku-Hida Onsen Villages – Some of Japan's best hot springs, 90 minutes away by bus
 * Kamikochi – One of the best hiking points in the Japanese Alps, en route to Takayama.
 * Chikuma - Visit the onsens, mountains and temples of this small city on the Chikuma River — take the Shinonoi railway northeast to Obasute or Inariyama stations
 * Norikura Kogen (乗鞍高原) – An alpine plateau alongside some of Japan's highest mountains and makes for a great day trip or longer stay in the mountains. There are hiking trails, cycling routes, skiing and spectacular mountain roads. There is the renowned milky-water valley onsen at Shirahone and a milky-water onsen at Norikura (near Kanko tourist centre) with mountain views, including Yukemurikan opposite the tourist centre and bus stop. For a day trip from Matsumoto, buy a combined train/bus return ticket from the first machines next to the ticket office — ¥3,300 to Norikura or ¥3,500 to Shirahone — and take the electric railway from track 7 to Shin-Shimashima, then transfer to the Alpico Highland Shuttle right outside the station gate. For Norikura, the best stop is probably "Kanko center mae", outside the tourist office and Yukemurikan. Check timetables first.
 * Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

title: Matsumoto


text:
Matsushima

Matsushima (松島) is a small town in Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan. The town faces Matsushima Bay, famous for some 260 tiny islands (島 shima) covered in pines (松 matsu) — hence the name — and ranked as one of Japan's Three Great Views.

Understand
In 1689, haiku poet Matsuo Basho visited Matsushima on the trip recorded in Narrow Road to the Deep North. A well-known poem often attributed to Basho claims to record his reaction, signifying that nothing more could be said: "Matsushima ah! A-ah, Matsushima, ah! Matsushima, ah!"

Today's Matsushima is perhaps a little less inspiring, but still a worthwhile day trip if in the region.

The town did not suffer significant damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake; the tsunami damage was minimal. The temples, shrines, and sights are still there and still worth the trip.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in
The town is only a short distance from prefectural capital Sendai.

By train
Most visitors arrive on the JR Senseki Line (仙石線) connecting Sendai and Ishinomaki. The most convenient station is Matsushima-Kaigan (松島海岸), which is 40 minutes from Sendai (¥420). During daytime hours there are usually only two departures per hour to Matsushima-Kaigan. Another hourly service runs as far as Hon-Shiogama (see below). If you buy a ticket in Sendai, be sure to have the name written in characters: the machines do not have an English option.

On the other hand, Matsushima station on the JR Tohoku Main Line is further away from the shore and requires a walk of at least 20 minutes, or a short taxi ride, to reach the ferry.

From Tokyo, the Shinkansen bullet train runs to Sendai for connection to the Senseki Line. The total one-way fare is ¥11,520 using the fastest, all-reserved Shinkansen service, and the journey to Matsushima-Kaigan lasts around 2 hr 45 min. There is no charge if you use the Japan Rail Pass.

By boat
Ferries tour around the islands every half hour or so, and some of them do the trip to and from Hon-Shiogama on the JR Senseki line (don't mistake it with JR Tohoku line train to Shiogama station). The ferries are focused on sightseeing, and you won't miss any of the islands in the bay by taking the ferry to Hon-Shiogama. If you are flexible, you can do this trip on your return leg, as it is much more pleasant to be waiting at the wharf in Matsushima than at Hon-Shiogama (although the latter does have an air-conditioned waiting room, and a cafe).

From Hon-Shiogama train station to the wharf is a 500-m walk. You can see one from the other, or follow the signs.

Get around
Matsushima's seaside attractions are within walking distance of the train station and ferry pier, but the best views are from mountaintops not so easy to reach on foot. The most spectacular views are from Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, a ¥660 cab ride up from the station. It is covered with cherry blossoms in the spring, but the food available there is nothing special. Other overlooks are Sōkanzan, a promontory that juts out into the bay, and Ōgitani, a hill across the coastal highway from Sokanzan.

Eat
Matsushima is famous for oysters grown in the bay. The oyster season starts on October. During the season, one can buy/eat oysters in all possible varieties (fresh, fried baked etc; take-out and eat-inside) along the main street starting from the railway station.

Go next

 * You can continue eastward from here towards Kinkazan.
 * Higashimatsushima
 * Ishinomaki
 * Shiogama
 * Shichigahama
 * Tagajo
 * Sendai
 * Osaki
 * Misato

title: Matsushima