Top Shimane Prefecture How to Get Around in 2026

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Eastern Shimane! Shimane Prefecture sits on the southwestern portion of Japan's main island of Honshu, and is the perfect spot to visit if you're looking for an off the beaten path travel experience. Often overlooked by visitors in favor of more well known destinations, the region has culture, nature and history by the bucketload – just without the massive crowds to battle! Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.

Explore the timeless charm of Matsue Castle Town on a scenic moat cruise. Glide along tranquil waterways to the National Treasure Matsue Castle, step inside its historic keep, then wander through atmospheric streets lined with samurai residences and cultural landmarks. This immersive 4-hour journey invites you to see, walk, and truly feel the living history of Matsue.

Skip the crowds—this is a private tour for your group only. An exclusive private tour for all the romantics of the world! Together with the professional local guide, you will visit the most romantic places in the city. Enjoy a hugely romantic getaway in one of the most exciting cities in Japan. You will feel spellbound in a charming atmosphere. What is considered as one of the best places to have a date in the city? Where can you make lovely photos? You will be surprised how many historical love stories are hidden in the streets, buildings, parks of the city. From heartbreaking and tragic, to the hilarious or spicy ones. Why is Izumo Taisha Shrine known as a spot that grants luck and good fortune in love and relationships? What is the most famous historical couple in Japan? What is the famous beautiful love story of princess Inata Hime and Susanoo? This tour is especially recommended in the Saint Valentine period!

Skip the crowds—this is a private tour for your group only. Together with the professional guide, you will visit the most charming places in the city. Why does Matsue attract visitors around the world all year round? Known as the “City of Water”, Matsue is so rich in cultural assets and historical sites that most of Japan's ancient legends have their roots from Matsue. You will have a chance to explore the city while hearing fascinating facts and legends. How was a man named Gensuke sacrificed during the construction of the Matsue Ohashi Bridge to appease the spirits of the river? Gensuke is now a legend of the Matsue Ohashi Bridge. You will be surprised how many stories are hidden in the streets, buildings, and corners of Matsue. Your charming guide will tell you what is special and unique about living in this city. Perfect for those who are visiting the city for the first time and want to get the most of it!

Matsue, a city rich in history and culture, awaits your exploration with the Discover Another Japan Pass (DAJP). This tour provides a 1-day pass that unlocks access to around 120 facilities in the San'in region. With a knowledgeable guide fluent in English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese by your side, you can navigate the city effortlessly and tailor your own itinerary. The pass allows for flexibility in your journey, ensuring you experience the best of Matsue and even includes guidance at locations not covered by the DAJP. - Access to approximately 120 facilities with DAJP - Explore at your own pace and create a personalized itinerary - English, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese-speaking guide available - Flexible tour design with guidance for non-DAJP locations

- Explore Shimane with a private car with a comfortable air conditioned. - Places that are hard to reach by public transport are now easily accessible by private car. - You can also visit the sights that are not included in the day trip, Matsue Castle, Adachi Museum of Art and Izumo Taisha Shrine. You can learn the history of Shimane deeper and immerse the culture and tradition with long history Izumo. - You can customize the itinerary based on this default schedule.

Make the most of your time in Eastern Shimane with a private day tour of Matsue and the surrounding area. Skip the rigid itineraries of group tours and customizable your tour by choosing 3–4 attractions that appeal most to your interests. Check out Matsue Castle, the Izumo Grand Shrine, Inasa Beach, or other cultural and natural attractions.

Schedule: 14:00 Meeting at the lobby of Matsue New Urban Hotel 14:15 Matsue Castle — Otemon Gate 14:30 Matsue Castle Keep 15:30 Meimei-an Teahouse for tea ceremony & garden viewing 16:30 Dispersal at the site or Matsue New Urban Hotel Note: - To enter the site, we need to take off shoes. - Tours are available even from 2 persons (max. 6), offering a personal experience with a local guide. - English and French audio guides are available for Matsue Castle Guided tours. - Tours run in light rain; in case of severe weather, arrangements will be discussed. - Matsue Castle has steep stairs. Guests may wait at the base if preferred. Children aged 6 and above are welcome for the tour.. - All bookings are non-cancellable and non-refundable once confirmed.

Discover the profound spiritual significance of Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines. This guided tour invites you to explore the intertwining of sacred space, ritual, and mythology on your journey into the realm of the gods. Starting either at the shrine or Izumo-shi Station, you’ll learn about Shinto beliefs while participating in traditional rituals, including hand purification. As you walk through serene landscapes, stories of deities and ancient architecture unfold, enhancing your understanding of Izumo's unique place in Japanese culture. Reflect on your experience as you conclude your pilgrimage back at the starting point. - Immerse yourself in the spiritual landscape of Izumo Taisha - Participate in traditional rituals, including hand purification - Learn about Shinto beliefs and the significance of the surrounding nature - Explore the myths surrounding Ōkuninushi and other deities in Japanese culture

Explore Matsue castle with a local guide and discover its 400-year history, unique architecture, and hidden stories, including the little-known origins of the castle. Climb to the top floor and take in a 360-degree panoramic view: the shimmering expanse of Lake Shinji, the rooftops of the old castle town below, and on a clear day, the distant silhouette of Mount Daisen on the horizon. Look up. Four centuries of history are waiting. Schedule: 09:00 Meeting at the lobby of Matsue New Urban Hotel 09:15 Matsue Castle - Otemon Gate 09:30 Matsue Castle Keep 10:30 Dispersal at the site or Matsue New Urban Hotel

Rather than spending the day stuck in traffic or searching for somewhere to park, opt for a more immersive experience of Tsuwano on an electric bike tour. You'll cover more ground than you could on foot without having to expend too much energy thanks to the motor of your e-bike. Plus, your guide leads the way so that you don't need to keep stopping to check the map.

Step into his world, married into a samurai family and transformed Japan’s ghost stories into literature to the world. Explore his former residence and the places he cherished, from samurai districts to Gessho-ji Temple at your pace. Background: When Lafcadio Hearn arrived in Japan in 1890—during the country's rapid rush toward modernization—he set out to explore the vanishing spirit of Japan. In Matsue, he encountered the everyday lives of ordinary people upholding age-old customs, and with a deep sense of reverence for the unseen, he captured these experiences in his writings. Schedule: 13:20 Meeting at the lobby of Matsue New Urban Hotel 13:30 Depart - tour begins 13:45 Matsue Castle — Otemon Gate area 13:55 Matsue Jozan Inari Shrine 14:45 Lafcadio Hearn Museum & Former Residence 15:46 Taking the Lake Line Bus 15:51 Gesshoji Temple 16:20 Dispersal at the site or Matsue New Urban Hotel

Horikawa Komachi is a kimono rental shop in Matsue. It has a welcoming, at-home atmosphere. With a wide selection of colors and designs, you can choose the kimono or ninja costume that suits you the best. The friendly staff are waiting for you! Matsue Castle, a national treasure, and a townscape of former samurai residences are located near our rental shop, Horikawa Komachi, so you can feel just like a ninja! Anyone can enjoy our ninja experience, children, adults, men, and women. You can also rent small articles like katana. *We can accommodate heights from 120cm to 170cm.

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site. Flourishing from the 16th century to 20th century, its silver was exported globally, and it is said it produced one-third of the world's silver in the 17th century. This significantly boosted the cultural and economical development in East Asia. This area still preserves its historical townscapes of the middle ages, and shows the coexistence of human industrial activities and nature.

After a guided tour of Matsue Castle — one of only twelve surviving original castle keeps in Japan — guests visit the studio of a certified traditional indigo dye artisan along the moat canal for a hands-on natural indigo dyeing experience (small cotton scarf or towel). Interact directly with the artisan and create your own unique piece. Schedule: 09:00 Meeting at the lobby of Matsue New Urban Hotel 09:15 Matsue Castle — Otemon Gate 09:30 Matsue Castle Keep 10:30 Hands-on indigo dyeing experience 11:20 Dispersal at the site