'''Matsue''' (___]) [http://www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou/en/] is the capital of Shimane prefecture, Japan.

Get in

By plane

'''Izumo Airport''' (_o_____`, '''IZO''') fields flights to major Japanese cities and is about 30 minutes away by car. Direct bus service to Matsue train station. The airport in Yonago, to the east just across the prefectural boundary, is also a viable option and even fields a solitary flight to Seoul.

By train

Matsue is on the San'in Main Line, which runs along western Honshu's Japan Sea coast, starting in Kyoto and passing through Tottori and Matsue on its way to Shimonoseki. Frequent Trains run from Okayama to Matsue before continuing to Izumi-shi , departing every hour from 0700 until 2130 daily taking approx 2 hrs 30 mins, costing 5360 yen.

Get around

  • Take a '''boat trip''' around the moat of Matsue Castle - hop on and hop off the boat at various points. Fun for kids.
  • Use the '''Matsue Walker Bus''' it runs in a loop around all of the major attractions, every 30 mins, 300 yen for a unlimited pass.
  • See

  • Matsue Castle. ntrance fee is \550. Foreign visitors can enter for half price with passport or alien registration card.. The main castle building is original from the 1600s. Lots of original artifacts from the Matsudaira clan including original armor, swords, and helmets. Great views of Matsue from the top of the castle.

  • Lafcadio Hearn Residence. ___________. The residence of the famous Irish writer. He spent only 15 months here, but during that time he married a Japanese woman, naturalized and adopted the Japanese name '''Koizumi Yakumo''' and started his career writing about Japan.

  • Matsue Vogel Park. 2 Ogaki-cho. 85-288-9800. ttp://www.vogel.jp/English/index2.html. ntrance fee is \1500. Foreign visitors receive a 30% discount.. As one of the largest greenhouses in the entire world, Vogel Park has an impressive variety of flowers and greenery. Interestingly enough, it is also an aviary housing many different species of birds.

  • Yuushien Japanese Garden. 85-276-2255. :30 AM to 5:30 PM. ntrance fee is \600. This garden is unique in that it was designed so that visitors can enjoy blooming flowers during every season.

  • Yaegaki Shrine.

  • Buke Yashiki. 05 Kitatonomachi. 85-222-2243. pen from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM from April-September, 8:30 AM -5:00 PM from October to March. dmission fee is \300. The residence of a former samurai housing many of his weapons and other artifacts. A worthwhile visit.

  • Kokki Sake Factory. ttp://www.kokki.jp/.

    Although it's located in Yasugi, many people also travel to the Adachi Museum, because it is also on the list of discount locations for foreigners:

  • Adachi Museum of Art. ttp://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/ja/index.html. ntrance fee is \2200. Foreign visitors can enter for half price.. Although the garden truly is quite beautiful, visitors are only permitted to view it from within the museum building. The art within the museum is a private art collection with works by Taiken Yokoyama. While the garden is nice, the art displayed here is not of great interest. With the high entrance fee and exorbitant prices for anything inside (In order to see every angle of the garden, you must pay for the \1000 coffee to sit and see the portion of the garden viewable from the cafe area), the museum often feels a bit too stuffy and pretentious.

    Do

    Japan's largest ''konyoku'' (mixed) onsen is Yuyu[http://www.japanican.com/special/onsen/2008summer.aspx#onsen05] in Tamayu at JR Tamatsukuri Onsen stop (10 minutes from JR Matsue).

  • '''Matsue Moat Boat Ride'''. Ride boats in the moat around Mastue Castle and neighboring canals. Pass under at least 12 bridges. You can ride all day getting on and off at Matsue Castle, the microbrew Ji Beer Kan, and Karakoro Square, making this a relaxing way to get around town. The boats feature traditional charcoal heated low table or ''kotatsu'' during colder weather and your boatman may regale you with a song about Matsue.
  • '''Lake Shinji''', Watch the sunset over Shinjiko at Yomegashimi. (Past the Gusto restaurant on route 9). Get there slightly early to grab a good spot. Lake Shinji is the siteseeing symbol of Shimane-ken and the 7th largest lake in Japan.
  • Buy

    Eat

  • '''Beehive''', near Matsue the station. Follow main road - turn right at the intersection with the guitar shop - stay on the the RHS and walk a couple of blocks. Macrobiotic restaurant.
  • '''Daikichi''', Yakitori , reasonably priced place. The Chicken Hips were great!. English menu available. 491-1 Asahimachi, near the train station on the main street.
  • '''Yakumo-an''', Known for their Soba and Udon noodles. A great lunch spot next to the Buke Yashiki samurai house.
  • Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Terazuya Ryokan''' [http://www.mable.ne.jp/~terazuya/english/index.html] A Japanese family run ryokan. A nice place to stay while visiting Matsue. The hosts will pick you up at the train station. Nothing fancy. Shared bathrooms. A nice shrine across the street.
  • '''Matsue City Hotel''' is a quirky but centrally located business hotel. Tel. 0852-25-4100. Although fine for a solo traveler, avoid double occupancy as the rooms are small even by business hotel standards and the so-called doubles only have one single bed. This hotel is easy to find with a large clock tower on top. The owners have sprinkled their collection of antique clocks and other furniture throughout the hotel.
  • Toyoko Inn. 98-10 Asahi-machi. t's very close to the station. From the North Exit of Matsue Station, cross the street on the left side and walk for about 2 minutes.. 85-260-1045 . ttp://www.toyoko-inn.com/e_hotel/00098/index.html. :00 PM. 0:00 AM. rom \5040. An affordable hotel conveniently located near Matsue Station. All rooms have a TV, and the beds are quite comfortable. Internet access is available in the lobby, as well as coin laundry.

    Get out

  • Izumo - home to Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's most holy Shinto Shrines.
  • Iwami - Home to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Yasugi - The location of the famous Adachi Museum of Art, as well as many other museums.
  • Mount Daisen - The Fuji of the West, great for hiking and skiing.
  • Niimi - Famous for its two caves
  • Takahashi - A former castle town with Bitchu Takamatsu Castle, the only original mountain castle remaining in Japan.
  • Misasa - Home to the famous cliff temple Mitokusan Nageiredo.
  • Tottori - Tottori Sand Dunes (paragliding, hang-gliding, camel-riding, etc.) About 1.5-3 hours by train to JR Tottori