Matsue

5150 Music Cafe Bar

A hard rock music bar popular with the local English teacher crowd. Often hosts international events.

Open now · closes 5 am

AEON Matsue Shopping Center

The largest and most popular shopping mall in Matsue. Features many cafes and restaurants, a supermarket, many boutique shops and a cinema.

Closed · opens 9 am

Akabeko

赤べこ

A small, cozy sushi bar popular with the locals. Uses fresh, local ingredients. Has a special sushi sample course of around ¥1000 aimed at foreign visitors. Vegetarian sushi is available.

¥1000

Al Sole

アル ソーレArusōre

A small family owned Italian restaurant. The chef likes to use high quality local ingredients in his cooking. Portions may be on the small side for Western tastes. Vegetarian friendly.

Mon-Sat 11:00-15:00, 18:00-22:00·Lunch ¥900, dinner ¥2500

Cafe Puente

Chill vinyl bar that serves a variety of drinks. The bartender/owner is very friendly and speaks some English.

Caffe Vita

This cafe specializes in espresso coffee. The owner was Nr 1 at the Japanese national barista competition.

10:00-20:00, closed Thu

Capriciosa

カプリチョーザ

Capriciosa one of Japan's oldest chains of Italian restaurants. Do not let that scare you off, because its founders actually went to Italy to learn about Italian food. Serves decent pastas and pizzas at mid-range prices. Has nice views over the Matsue station area. Vegetarian friendly.

Closed · opens 11 am·¥900

Castle Festival

Held yearly from late March to mid April. Around this time the cherry trees around the castle will be in full bloom, and many people have hanami picnics on the castle grounds. In the evening lanterns are lit, making it possible to picnic until 9PM. On the weekends various events are held on the castle grounds.

Closed · opens 7 am·Free

Floating lanterns on Lake Shinji

Held each year mid August at the end of the Obon festival. The sight of floating paper lanterns being placed on Lake Shinji, symbolizing the return of ancestor spirits to another realm, is quite breathtaking. In 2012 this event will be held on the 16th of August.

19:00

Fudoki-no-Oka

風土記の丘

Ancient burial mounds and relics from the Kofun period (3rd to 6th centuries CE).

Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00·¥200

Furyudo

風流堂 Fūryū-dō

Specializes in Yamakawa pale pink and white confections, another favorite of Lord Fumai.

Gessho-ji

月照寺 Gesshō-ji

While the temple was destroyed during the Meiji Period, the temple grounds still contain the graves of the Matsudaira clan, including the first Daimyo, who was also the grandson of Tokugawa shogunate founder Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·¥500, 50% discount for foreigners

Horan-enya

ホーランエンヤ

A very special festival, held only once every 12 years. Very colorful boats with many rowers and dancing kabuki actors on them accompany a portable shrine from Jozan Inari Shrine at Matsue Castle to a shrine in Higashi-Matsue. The festival lasts for three days, with the boats putting on a show underneath the bridges of Matsue on day 1 and 3, and a smaller show in Higashi-Matsue on day 2. Expect huge crowds especially on the final day. The next Horanenya festival will be held in May 2021.

Free

Horikawa Sightseeing Boat

Take one of these boats through the moat around Mastue Castle and the neighboring canals for a totally different perspective on the city. The boats feature traditional charcoal heated low table or kotatsu during colder weather. There are several stops for getting on and off, the main one being right behind the parking area of Matsue Castle.

Closed · opens 9 am·¥1200 adults, ¥400 children. 33% discount for foreigners

Indo-or - Sri Lankan Curry Shop

印度亜

Nice selection of authentic Sri Lankan curries. Vegetarians should call one day in advance.

Daily 11:30-14:30, 17:30-22:00·¥800-1250

Jozan Inari Shrine

城山稲荷神社, Jōzan Inari Jinja

An Inari "fox" shrine surrounded by hundreds of fox statuettes. This shrine was one of Irish writer Lafcadio Hearn's favorite places in Matsue. It is the starting point and ending of the three-day Horanenya festival, which is held only once every 12 years.

Free

Kamosu Shrine

神魂神社 Kamosu Jinja

Built in 1583, Kamosu Shrine is the oldest shrine built in the "taisha-zukuri" architectural style remaining in Japan. The creator gods Izanami and Izanagi are enshrined together in Kamosu Shrine. It is believed to pre-date the Grand Shrine of Izumo, Izumo Taisha by several hundred years and is a designated National Treasure.

Free

Karakoro Art Studio

Housed in an old bank building, Karakoro Art Studio consists of a jewelry workshop, accessory shops, a bakery and different cafes and restaurants. Musical events are held here throughout the year.

Closed · opens 9:30 am

Keigetsudo

計月堂 Keigetsu-dō

This shop is famous for a sweet called Matsue-jō (Matsue Castle), which is a sweet paste-based, golden-floured confection.

Closed · opens 9 am

Kumano Grand Shrine

熊野大社 Kumano Taisha

Kumano Taisha (Kumano Grand Shrine) rests imposingly at the foot of Kumano Mountain across a bright red bridge at the headwaters of the Iu river. It has long been the region's Ichinomiya, or principal shrine, though today the nationally revered Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine ranks higher.

Free

Kuu

空 Kū

A cosy bakery with its own cafe. The bakery specializes in soft yeasty bread but also has a nice selection of European breads. The cafe serves light, mainly vegetarian lunches. If you like you select the bread you'd like to eat in the cafe.

Wed-Sun 07:30-18:00

Kyomise Street

A quaint cobbled street with lots of small shops selling accessories, Japanese sweets and clothing.

Kōunkaku

興雲閣

A sort of colonial house with Japanese architectural elements.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·Free

L'Arc en Ciel

ラルカンシェル Rarukanshieru

Chef Ohashi has studied cooking in France and is passionate about finding new ways to use and present local ingredients. English and French is spoken. Reservations are recommended. Vegetarians should call a few days in advance.

Daily 12:00 - 14:30, 18:00-21:30·Lunch: ¥2500-5500, dinner: ¥5250-8400

Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum

小泉八雲記念館 Koizumi Yakumo Kinenkan

Writer Lafcadio Hearn lived in Matsue from 1890 to 1891, and the museum was built next to his former residence. On display are many objects belonging to or related to Hearn, including his desk, his favorite quill and ink pot, manuscripts and several favorites from his large Japanese pipe collection.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·Adults ¥300, children ¥150, 50% discount for foreigners

Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence

小泉八雲旧居 Koizumi Yakumo Kyūkyo

The former residence of writer Lafcadio Hearn. Hearn spent many of his happiest months in Matsue. Here he wrote most of Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, his chief work, as well as large portions of what was to become Kwaidan.

¥300, 50% discount for foreigners

Lapin Quality Foods

Imported foods and delicatessen. A good place to go if you have a craving for a taste of home. Has a good selection of imported cheeses, cereals, wines and beers. Lapin has several stores throughout Matsue, but the store to the east of Matsue Castle is the easiest to get to on foot from the city center.

Closed · opens 9:30 am

Le Restaurant Hara

レストラン原 Resutoran Hara

A cosy restaurant run by chef Hara and his wife. Homely atmosphere and friendly staff. Vegetarians should call a day in advance.

Tue-Sun 11:30-13:30, 18:00-21:00; closed 3rd Sun of the month

Matsue Castle

松江城, Matsuejo

The castle keep is one of only twelve original castles left in Japan, dating back to 1611. Inside the castle you'll find an impressive array of original artifacts from the Matsudaira clan including original armor, swords, and helmets. The top of the castle offers a great view of Matsue City and Lake Shinji.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·Adults ¥550, children ¥280. 50% discount for foreigners

Matsue Dogyoretsu Drum Parade

An ancient and very loud festival, where massive drums on floats are pulled through the streets of Matsue. Every neighbourhood has their own drum, so competition to have the best drumming performance is fierce each year. Held yearly mid-October in the afternoon. Drummers gather around Matsue castle around noon and the parade starts at 2PM.

14:00·Free