Take a romantic boat ride through thousands of pink flowers during the famous Lotus Festival at Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma, a popular destination in northern Miyagi for nature lovers. Operated by local fishermen, the rides take around 30 minutes and offer a perfect opportunity to take in the spectacular sight of lotuses floating on the lake.

Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma, which is internationally recognized under the Ramsar Convention for its importance as a natural habitat and wetland, features over 200 species of birds and fishes and nearly 500 types of plants, including several water lily and lotus varieties. In the winter, the wetlands offer a stunning display of over 170,000 geese taking off in the early morning to starting foraging for the day; in the summer, the area is transformed into a blanket of lilies and lotuses that cover about 75% percent of the lake's surface.

Don't forget to check out the nearby Izunuma-Uchinuma Sanctuary Center for a free in-depth look at the diverse nature and wildlife in the area—most exhibits offer English explanations.