Things to do in Matsue

No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shimane Prefecture

Matsue Castle

Matsue Castle is one of Japan's most beautiful historical castles. Its graceful appearance and surrounding moat display the atmosphere of the Sengoku period. Buildings such as the castle tower and turret, which have been designated as national treasures, show the rich culture and thoughts of Oda Nobunaga's era. Visitors will be able to fully enjoy the charm of Japan's history and architecture. The gardens and views within the castle are breathtakingly beautiful, and you can enjoy the scenery in each season. For history buffs and tourists, Matsue Castle will surely bring you a moving experience.

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shimane Prefecture

Adachi Museum of Art

The Adachi Museum of Art, located in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading art museums and a cultural facility renowned worldwide for the harmonious blend of its Japanese garden and art. Founded in 1970 by Zenko Adachi, a local businessman and art collector, the museum has continuously pursued the beauty of gardens as art, based on the philosophy that "a garden is also a painting." The museum houses numerous masterpieces of modern Japanese painting, including works by Yokoyama Taikan, and its quality and quantity are highly regarded by art lovers both in Japan and abroad. In particular, works by Yokoyama Taikan are on permanent display throughout the year, and together with themed exhibitions that change with the seasons, visitors can enjoy the profound charm of Japanese painting. Furthermore, the museum also boasts a rich collection of crafts such as ceramics, wood carvings, and lacquerware, making it a great place to enjoy traditional Japanese culture from multiple perspectives. On the other hand, an indispensable feature when discussing the Adachi Museum of Art is its overwhelmingly beautiful Japanese garden. Spread across a vast area of ​​approximately 50,000 tsubo (about 165,000 square meters), the garden skillfully incorporates various styles such as dry landscape gardens, pond gardens, and moss gardens, allowing visitors to appreciate it like a painting. The large windows inside the museum act as frames, allowing visitors to quietly enjoy the art woven from nature and human hands while remaining indoors. The garden changes its appearance according to the changing seasons, showing a different kind of beauty no matter when you visit: the fresh greenery of spring, the deep green of summer, the autumn leaves, and the snowscape of winter. Furthermore, the gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art are highly regarded overseas, and have been ranked as the best in Japan for many years in a ranking by an American magazine specializing in Japanese gardens, demonstrating their international recognition for beauty. This reputation is supported by the thorough maintenance and management of the gardens carried out on a daily basis, and the meticulous care of the gardeners ensures that the landscape is always at its best. The Adachi Museum of Art is a special place where two art forms—artworks and gardens—enhance each other, providing visitors with profound inspiration and tranquility. It continues to be loved by many as a space where they can experience Japanese aesthetics and a view of nature.

Yuushien

Dagen Island, located in Matsue City, is the origin of Japanese peonies. In the central part of Dagen Island, there is a Japanese garden, Yuzhi Garden. This large garden on the back of the mountain covers an area of more than 30,000 square meters. In spring, peony, cherry blossoms, and azaleas; summer pansies and hydrangea; autumn crape myrtle and red leaves; winter peony and camellia; Beautiful plants can be seen in all seasons.

Miho Shrine

Yaegaki Shrine

Legend has it that Yaegaki Shrine is the place where Susanoo, the hero who slew the eight-headed serpent in mythology, held his wedding with Princess Inada, and it is therefore considered the birthplace of ancient wedding ceremonies. In the woods within the shrine grounds lies theMirror Pond, where Princess Inada is said to have looked at her reflection. Place the special divination paper into the pond, and then place a coin on top of it. If the paper sinks quickly, it means your love will soon come true.

Shimane Art Museum

Matsue Vogel Park

Matsue Vogel Park is an all-weather floral and avian theme park in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, overlooking Lake Shinji. Its main Center House is Japan's largest greenhouse (8,000㎡), with 15,000 blooming plants year-round, including begonias and fuchsias. The park houses 400 birds of 90 species, such as penguins, owls, and flamingos. Daily highlights include penguin parades and owl flight shows, with up-close feeding interactions available. The observation deck offers panoramic views of Lake Shinji and, on clear days, distant Mount Daisen. A popular family and photo spot in the San'in region, it's open year-round.This is a paradise for flowers and birds. There are large-scale exhibition greenhouses. There are thousands of varieties of flowers in the park. In addition to flowers, there are 90 kinds of rare birds in the park.

No. 1 of Hot Springs Attractions in Shimane Prefecture

Tamatsukuri Onsen

Tamatsukuri Onsen is located just 2 km from Lake Shinji and is considered one of the three famous hot springs of the Heian period, as well as a representative hot spring of the San'in region. The area has a long history, with the crafting of magatama from local specialty agate having flourished here since ancient times.

Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum

fcadioHearn (1850-1904), whose Japanese name is Koizumi Yakumo, is a famous writer and scholar. He has written many books introducing Japan and Japanese culture to the West. originator. He lived in Kumamoto for several years (1891-1894), and his former residence in Kumamoto is now open to the public as his small museum.

Kumano Grand Shrine