Shiomi Nawate Street
A 500 meter long street where the former residences of mid-ranking Edo period samurai stand located along the moat on the north side of Matsue Castle in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. The street is a Matsue City Designated Traditional Beautiful Sight District. The area retains the most remnants of the city’s castle town history, including the former residence of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, an old retreat once used by the seventh lord of Matsue Domain, and former samurai residences open to the general public. There are also magnificent old pine trees lining the street which are believed to have been growing here since the Edo period.