Matsue

Top Things to do

• Matsue Castle

  4.5

  1440 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Tonomachi 1-5

  A flatland mountain castle located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture which was completed in 1611, the castle tower, a designated National Treasure, is said to be the only orthodox-style original castle tower still standing in Japan. Covered with black-painted siding on most of its walls, the castle is designed as a watchtower and the top floor offers a sweeping view of the city of Matsue. Relatively simple in design, a characteristic of castles built in the early Momoyama period, the castle is also known as “Chidori Castle.” The area surrounding the castle has been turned into the Matsue Jozan Park; a famous cherry blossom-viewing destination, in spring some 200 cherry trees come into bloom on the park’s grounds. The park has even been selected as one of the 100 best places for cherry blossom viewing in Japan.

• Adachi Museum of Art

  4.5

  1010 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Yasugishi Furukawachou 320

  An art museum located in Furukawa Town, Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture which focuses on displaying modern Japanese paintings. The museum’s collection includes master Japanese painter Yokoyama Taikan’s masterpieces “Koyo” and “Ame hareru,” in addition to works by other modern Japanese painters such as Takeuchi Seiho and Hashimoto Kansetsu, in addition to ceramics by renowned artist Kitaouji Rosanjin. The museum’s exhibit is changed four times a year in line with the seasons. The museum is also famous for Japanese gardens such as the Karesansui-tei rock garden and Hakusaseisho-tei sand and pine garden, totaling some 50 thousand square meters in all. The museum’s gardens are revered around the world and they have long ranked in at number one on the American Japanese gardening magazine “Journal of Japanese Gardening’s” list of top gardens.

• Yaegaki Jinja Shrine

  4.5

  438 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Sakusachou 227

  This shrine in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture is famous for marriage and enshrines the gods Susano-no-mikoto and Inatahime-no-mikoto. The three-paneled Itae Chakushoku Shinzo pictures (wall painting in the honden) in the treasure storage room has been designated as an important cultural property. On the grounds are many popular spots for women, including the Meoto-sugi (coupled cryptomeria trees), Meoto-tsubaki (coupled camellia) and Kagami-no-ike (mirror pond), where the appearance of a suitable marriage partner is predicted by the speed of which a piece of Japanese paper sinks after a coin is placed on top.

• Yuushien Garden

  4.5

  260 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Yatsukachouhanyu 1260-2

  The largest Japanese garden surrounding a pond in the San’in region, which opened in 1975, is located on Daikonshima Island in a lake called Nakaumi (Middle Sea) in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. It is an idyllic garden of a simple and subdued refinement with its black pine, a waterfall, and Yukimi (snow viewing) lanterns in the center of the pond. It is famous for its peony and other seasonal flowers. In addition to the interior garden Peony Hall, where you can appreciate peony throughout the year, a Spring Peony Festival is held from late April to mid-May when about 20,000 trees of 250 species of peony color the garden. There are also places to eat and shops available. Goods using the special product Ginseng are popular.

• Shimane Art Museum

  4.0

  281 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Sodeshichou 1-5

  An art museum which first opened in 1999. Located in Sodeshi Town, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, the Shimane Art Museum is one of the largest in the San’in region. A modern structure standing on the bank of Lake Shinji, the museum’s theme is an “art museum which harmonizes with water.” The museum’s collection consists of outstanding works of art in every genre, including paintings, sculptures, crafts, and photographs; the museum also displays numerous artworks which make use of water. The museum’s entrance lobby has giant windows facing Lake Shinji, and the view of the setting sun from here is spectacular (visitors may enter the entrance lobby free of charge).

• Horikawa Pleasure Boat

  4.5

  302 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Kurodachou 507-1

  A pleasure cruise which goes on a 50 minute tour of the moat surrounding the National Treasure-designated Matsue Castle in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. The cruise’s coarse is dotted with famous and elegant castle town sights such as Shiomi Nawate-dori Street and the Former Samurai District. The water birds, flowering plants growing by the water, and other highly seasonal scenery is also a must-see. The cruise boat itself is eight meters long, two meters wide, and covered with a small roof; a toasty kotatsu (table with a blanket and heater underneath) is provided in winter. The Hori River the boat travels is spanned by 17 bridges, and when the boat travels under particularly low bridges, the roof must be lowered to pass.

• Miho-jinja Shrine

  4.5

  209 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Mihonosekichoumihonoseki 608

  An ancient Shinto shrine located in mentioned in the “Izumo no Kuni Fudoki,” a book documenting local customs and culture. The shrine is the head shrine of all shrines dedicated to Kotoshironushi (Ebisu). The main shrine building, a designated National Treasure, is built in the Miho-zukuri (hiyoku taisha-zukuri) style and consists of two halls joined together. The one on the left facing the building is dedicated to Kotoshironushi, while the one on the right is dedicated to his mother, Mihotsuhime-no-mikoto. The shrine is believed to grant worshippers a variety of benefits, including not only prosperity in business but also large harvests, maritime safety, and luck in public performance. The shrine’s Aofushigaki Shinji ritual, held on April 7, and Morotebune Shinji ritual, held on December 3, are connected with the “kuni-yuzuri,” a legend relating the transfer of the rulership of Japan to the gods of Heaven, and during these times great numbers of people from around the country come to witness the events.

• Former Residence of Koizumi Yakumo

  4.0

  164 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Kitahorichou 315

  Known as the author of “Mimi nashi hoichi” and “Yuki Onna”, Koizumi Yakumo whose original name was in fact Lafcadio Hearn is also known for having taught Japanese culture and customs to the West. The former Koizumi Yakumo residence in Matsue is a mansion which Yakumo lived in for about five months from May 1891. A feature of viewing the former residence is that the “garden” is what people come to see when they visit. I definitely want you to see the garden which is the setting of one of the works, “The Unknown Japanese Shadow” by Yakumo. This building which is preserved as it was at the time when Yakumo lived there is now the only former residence of Koizumi Yakumo in existence.

• Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum

  4.0

  164 Reviews

  Shimane Pref. Matsueshi Okudanichou 322

  This is a memorial museum for Lafcadio Hearn, adopting the Japanese name, Yakumo Koizumi, known for his works of Hoichi the Earless, and the Yukionna (Snow Fairy) introduced in the storybook, Kaidan (Japanese ghost stories). This museum opened in 1934 is housed in the Japanese architectural structure adjoining the former residence of Yakumo Koizumi. It was renovated in 2016. This museum introduces the Greek born Irishman, Hearn, who arrived in Japan, via stays in England and the United States, and was then naturalized. The multifaceted aspects of Yakumo as an author, instructor, and journalist can be seen through the displayed mementos, manuscripts and writings revealing a portrait of his person.