Sakaiminato, Matsue, Izumo, Lake Nakaumi, Lake Shinji, and Mt. Daisen Region (Yonago City, Sakaiminato City, Daisen-cho, and Hoki-cho, Tottori Pref.) (Matsue City, Izumo City, Yasugi City, Higashi Izumo-cho, and Hikawa-cho, Shimane Pref.)

At a glance

A region replete with history

A castle town with spectacular waterfront vistas where visitors can connect with the essence and culture of the Edo period.

Izumo Taisha Shrine
Izumo Taisha Shrine

This shrine is dedicated to the god of marriage. It is said that the gods congregate at the shrine every year in the 10th month by the old lunar calendar, so the 10th month is known as the month when the gods are in attendance. The main hall of the shrine is an example of large shrine construction and it has been designated as a national treasure.

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Highlights

Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum

This museum exhibits a variety of creative objet d'art items created by Mizuki Shigeru and other objects related to spirit-monsters collected from around the world.

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Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum


Yume-Minato Tower

The observatory at the top of Yume-Minato Tower stands forty-three meters above the ground and commands a wonderful 360-degree panoramic view of Mount Daisen, Miho Bay, Nakaumi, the Shimane Peninsula, and more. A corner of this facility is devoted to introducing the cultures of the countries bordering the Sea of Japan and highlighting Tottori Prefecture.

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Yume-Minato Tower


Umi to Kurashi no Shiryokan (History Museum)

Housed in a converted old sakagura, Umi to Kurashi no Shiryokan boasts the highest number of stuffed fish, crab, and other marine specimens in Japan as a "water-less aquarium". It is a facility where visitors can view displays on different fishing methods and fishing implements and learn about the relationship between the sea and mankind.

Sakagura:
Storehouse containing Japanese sake

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Umi to Kurashi no Shiryokan (History Museum)


Miho Shrine

This old shrine is noted as existing at the end of the Nara Period (according to the historical volume Izumokuni Fudoki). The main hall is divided into two structures, which is rare in the construction of shrines, and this type of construction became known as Miho construction. The shrine has been designated as an important national cultural property.

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Miho Shrine


Ichibataji Temple

This temple is well known nationwide for its healing properties, and its stone stairs with 1,300 steps is also very famous.

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Ichibataji Temple


Daisenji Temple

At the foot of the beautiful Mount Daisen you can visit the temple in the midst of the grand natural environment.

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Daisenji Temple


The mirror of the pond at Yaegaki Shrine is used for marriage fortune telling.

 

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The mirror of the pond at Yaegaki Shrine is used for marriage fortune telling.


Matsue Castle, a historical site

This castle was constructed about 400 years ago, and the triangular eaves (plover gables) of the observation tower have been reconstructed, reminding us of the wings of a plover floating on the wind. The castle is also known as the Plover Castle.

A free guidebook, the Goodwill Guide, is available in English for tourist visiting from foreign countries

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Matsue Castle, a historical site


The "Gururutto Matsue - Horikawa Meguri" Tour on the Horikawa Excursion Boat

This is an excursion boat that takes 50 minutes to go around the moat at Matsue Castle, featuring views of the castle and the old samurai residences, with the atmosphere of the Edo Period (17th-19th centuries). In the winter, tours are conducted on the Kotatsu Boat (heated).

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The "Grurutto Matsue - Horikawa Meguri" Tour on the Horikawa Excursion Boat


The "Meimeian" Tea-ceremony Room

This tea-ceremony room was built by the lord of the Matsue clan, Matsudaira Harusato (also known as Fumaiko, the light-hearted lord) and it is located on a high piece of land, making it possible to see the whole of Matsue Castle from the tea-ceremony room. Due to the influence of its lord, tea-ceremonies are still very popular in Matsue.

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The "Meimeian" Tea-ceremony room


Streets Along Momen Kaido

The streets along Momen Kaido exist as living vestiges of Hirata, which grew as a market town during the Edo period (17th to 19th centuries). White clay walls and lattice windows are integrated into town houses built as two-storied tsumairi structures standing side-by-side in a row. Such buildings still remain in various locations throughout the town.

The environs of the area formerly known as Hirata-Funagawa is home to numerous establishments that have been operating since the Edo period, including Shogato, a traditional confectionary, sake storehouses, and soy sauce production and sales outlets. Visitors are invited to indulge their particular cravings in this district.

Hirata-bune is a pleasure boat that has been recently restored to give people the option of sightseeing on land or on water.

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Streets Along Momen Kaido (1)Streets Along Momen Kaido (2)


Isshiki Kazari

Isshiki Kazari is a traditional event that involves items made with articles for daily use – such as pottery and lacquer ware – and that has been held since the Edo period. Just as with sets of Buddhist alter fittings and sets of sake merchant devices, Isshiki Kazari can also be regarded as a pleasurable hobby for expressing different scenarios using materials from the same genre.

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Isshiki Kazari


Access information

Sakaiminato

By air:
Haneda Airport - Yonago Airport; 1 hour 20 minutes
Yonago Airport - Sakaiminato Station; 15 minutes by bus/train
By train:
Tokyo Station - Sakaiminato Station; 6 hours 10 minutes

Lake Nakaumi, Lake Shinji, Mt. Daisen Region

By air:
Haneda Airport - Izumo Airport; about 1 hour 20 minutes
Haneda Airport - Yonago Airport; 1 hour 20 minutes
By train:
Tokyo Station - Okyama - Yonago Station; about 5 hours 45 minutes

Matsue

By air:
Haneda Airport - Izumo Airport; 1 hour 20 minutes
Izumo Airport - Matsue; 25 minutes by bus
By train:
Tokyo Station - Okyama - Matsue Station; about 6 hours
Shin Osaka Station - Matsue Station; 3 hours 30 minutes

Izumo

By air:
Haneda Airport - Izumo Airport; about 1 hour 20 minutes
Izumo Airport - Hirata; 15 minutes by taxi
By train:
Tokyo Station - Okyama - Matsue Station; about 6 hours
Shin-Osaka Station - Matsue Station; 3 hours 30 minutes
Matsue - Hirata; 35 minutes by taxi

Related information

Sakaiminato Industrial Environment Department, Commercial Division
Tel: +81-859-47-1068
Sakaiminato Tourism Association Office
Tel: +81-859-47-3880
Sakaiminato Information Office for Tourists
Tel: +81-859-47-0121
http://www.sakaiminato.net/site2/page/foreign/eng/(English)
Lake Nakaumi, Lake Shinji, Mt. Daisen Region Tourism Promotion Association
http://furusato.sanin.jp/p/language/english/(English)
Matsue City
http://www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou/en/(English)
http://www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou/ch/(Simplified Chinese)
http://www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou/kr/(Korean)
Matsue International Tourism Office
Tel: +81-852-21-4034 (English)
Official website of Shimane Prefecture
http://www.kankou.pref.shimane.jp/e/(English)
http://www.kankou.pref.shimane.jp/c/(Simplified Chinese)
http://www.kankou.pref.shimane.jp/t/(Traditional Chinese)
http://www.kankou.pref.shimane.jp/k/(Korean)

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