Izumo & Matsue

Izumo Taisha, the sacred shrine of matchmaking, and Matsue Castle, a National Treasure with its original keep, along with sunsets over Lake Shinji and the Japanese gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art—plus an easy day trip to the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.

Izumo & Matsue lie in eastern Shimane Prefecture in Japan's San'in region, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north, with two connected lakes, Lake Shinji and Lake Nakaumi, stretching between them. Izumo is the setting of the myths in the Kojiki, and Izumo Taisha enshrines Okuninushi, the deity of matchmaking and relationships; in the tenth lunar month the gods of all Japan are said to gather here, which locals call Kamiarizuki, the “month with gods.” The prefectural capital Matsue is a “City of Water,” where the National Treasure Matsue Castle, its moats and samurai residences form a well-preserved castle town; the writer Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) once lived here.

Areas to explore: ① Around Izumo Taisha—Izumo Taisha, Shinmon-dori, Inasa Beach and the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, with Hinomisaki Lighthouse and Hinomisaki Shrine farther west; ② Matsue castle town—Matsue Castle, Horikawa boat tours, Shiomi Nawate street and Lafcadio Hearn's former residence, and Gesshoji Temple, ending at the lakeshore for sunset over Lake Shinji; ③ Matsue's southern outskirts, the “Yakumotatsu Fudoki-no-Oka” area—Yaegaki Shrine, Kamosu Shrine, Kumano Taisha and Tamatsukuri Onsen; ④ The east—the Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi, Yuushien garden on Daikonshima in Lake Nakaumi, Miho Shrine in Mihonoseki, and Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture; ⑤ Day trips—the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (about 1 hour's drive south of Izumo) and boat tours of the Kaga-no-Kukedo sea caves on the Shimane Peninsula.

Best seasons: cherry blossoms at Matsue Castle in April, hydrangeas at Gesshoji in early summer, and in November autumn leaves at the Adachi Museum of Art and the Kamiarizuki festivals; winter is the season for crab and Lake Shinji's shijimi clams, and the lakeside sunsets are at their finest. Getting there: Izumo and Yonago airports have flights from Tokyo; from Okayama, the JR limited express “Yakumo” takes about 2.5 hours to Matsue; between the two cities the Ichibata Electric Railway takes about 1 hour. In Matsue, the Lake Line loop bus circles the sights. Allow 2–3 days; public transport to the eastern and peninsula sights is limited, so driving is more efficient.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries