Matsue

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

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

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

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

Kōunkaku

興雲閣

A sort of colonial house with Japanese architectural elements.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·Free

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

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 History Museum

松江歴史館 Matsue Rekishikan

The Matsue History Museum offers a glimpse into the past of Matsue and the surrounding area. The museum also houses the Matsue International Tourist Information Office. The staff speaks English and can help with booking a hotel.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·¥500 for adults, ¥250 for children, 50% discount for foreigners

Matsue Vogel Park

松江フォーゲルパーク

One of the largest greenhouses in the entire world, Vogel Park has an impressive variety of flowers and greenery. It is also an aviary housing many different species of birds, including a popular quartet of penguins.

Summer: 10:00-16:45, winter: 10:00-16:15·¥1500, 30% discount for foreigners

Samurai Residence

武家屋敷 Buke Yashiki

The residence of a former samurai housing many of his weapons and other artifacts.

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

Shimane Art Museum

島根県立美術館 Shimane Kenristu Bijutsukan

Works by artists from Shimane prefecture as well as from other parts of Japan are on display. The museum also has a nice selection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. There are often special exhibitions featuring Japanese and international artists. The museum has a lakeside sculpture park. When you encounter the statues of a line of hopping rabbits be sure to rub the head of the foremost rabbit as it is said that this brings good luck.

Wed-Mon 10:00-18:30·Permanent exhibition ¥300, special exhibitions ¥1000. Foreigners get a 50% discount on special exhibitions

Shimane University Museum - Old Okudani Lodging

島根大学旧奥谷宿舎 Shimane Daigaku Kyū Okudani Shukusha

Part of Shimane University Museum, this European style house was built in 1924 for foreign teachers at Matsue senior high school.

Sat Sun 10:00-17:00·Free

Shiomi Nawate

塩見縄手

This old samurai residential street runs along the north east side of Matsue Castle, across the moat. Many of Matsue's musea and other historical attractions can be found in this area.

Sunset over Lake Shinji

Among Japanese sunset connoisseurs the sunsets over Lake Shinji rank as number 2 on the national list (the number 1 spot being taken by the floating torii at Miyajima). A special sunset viewing platform (Yuuhi Spot) which has been constructed along the lakeside is the best place to see the sun go down behind Yomegashima island. Especially on the weekends dozens of photographers gather here to try to take the perfect shot of the sunset.

Depending on the season. Sunsets tend to be the most spectacular during late summer·Free

The Entrance to the Underworld

黄泉比良坂 Yomotsuhirasaka

According to the Kojiki, Japan's oldest collection of myths from the 8th century CE, the entrance to Hell or the Underworld (Yomi, 黄泉) is in the province of Izumo, in what now is the eastern part of Matsue. The Underworld is ruled over by Susanoo, the god of sea and storms. The entrance to the underworld has been sealed off by a large boulder place there by the creator god Izanagi.

Free

Yaegaki Shrine

八重垣神社 Yaegaki Jinja

This shrine is dedicated to the gods of Japan's first official marriage and attracts many people who come and pray for a marriage partner or a divination of their future love life. In the woods behind the shrine is a small mirror pond on which people float fortune papers purchased at the shrine on which they place a coin to weigh them down. The time it takes for the paper to sink symbolizes the time it will take before a marriage partner will be found. Also note the small shrine with large stone genitalia on display. These carvings were not prayed to for fertility, but for the healing of various genital disorders.

Closed · opens 9 am·Free

Yuushien Garden

由志園 Yūshien

This garden is on nearby Daikonjima island and has been designed so that it shows different flowers in each season. Daikonjima is famous for its peonies and 250 different kinds are on display at Yuushien.

Closed · opens 8:30 am·¥600