Matsushima Bay in the Spring

The beauty of Matsushima Bay is the stuff of legends, and one so vast and sweeping that it is difficult to capture in photos. No matter the season, the coastline offers stunning views, but during a brief period at the end of April, the sakura bloom and add patches of rich warmth to the otherwise cool hillsides and craggy islands. The juxtaposition of the ephemeral sakura and the perennial pine is a gorgeous one, and an image so rich with symbolism it would make even the most daring of classical Japanese poets blush.