15 Things to Do in Shimane

The best season to visit Shimane is in the fall.
In November, when all the gods of Japan are said to gather in Shimane, solemn rituals such as the "Kamimukaesai" and "Kamiarizai" are held at the region's historic shrines.
If you plan to visit, consider timing your trip to coincide with these traditional events to fully experience Shimane's rich cultural heritage.

Shimane Prefecture is accessible via Izumo Airport (Izumo Enmusubi Airport), with flights from Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya taking about 1 to 1.5 hours. Additionally, with international flights available at Izumo Airport, it is also easily accessible from overseas.

Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine is one of the most revered, ancient shrines in Japan, along with Ise Jingu Shrine. Its records go as far back as writings from the Kojiki, Japan’ oldest historical account compiled in 712. The deity enshrined here is Okuninushi no Okami, who is known as the deity of love and marriage.

The founder of the museum is a successful businessman, Adachi Zenko, who was born in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture. Bringing together the modern Japanese paintings of renowned artists such as Yokoyama Taikan, Yokoyama Seiho, Uemura Shoen, Hashimoto Kansetsu, Sagakibara Shiho, the museum stores about 2000 artworks, including ceramic arts and wooden sculptures. These artworks are exhibited in rotation. In particular, they collected about 120 works by Yokoyama Taikan, and are often called the "Taikan Art Museum.” In the specialized exhibition room, approximately 20 works by Taikan are always displayed.

The 43m-tall lighthouse stands on Cape Hino at the western edge of Shimane. 63m above sea level, this is Japan's tallest stone lighthouse. This large western-style lighthouse was selected into the IALA list of 100 lighthouses as historic and architectural monuments and 50 Best Lighthouses in Japan.

Locatated in Shimane Prefectural Iwami Seaside Park, this is the largest aquarium in Japan’s Shikoku and Chugoku regions. Inside you’ll find 10,000 different sea creatures, representing some 400 different species of animal.
Shimane Aquarium Aquas is the only aquarium in west Japan that raises beluga whales, which original hails from the Artic sea. As nicknamed the “canaries of the sea”, the underwater beluga show is where you’ll find the ever popular “bubble rings”, and “magical happiness ring” that appears above their heads. You can even catch them as they slip through the “Happiness Loop Miracle Ring”, an absolute must-see!

Tamatsukuriyu Shrine is an ancient shrine described in Izumo no kuni fudoki (description of the culture, climate, etc. of Izumo province). It is located in the back of Tamatsukuri Hot Spring, which has a 1,300-year history. In the Edo period, it was familiar as the hot spring of the gods. The lords of Matsue Domain from generation to generation often stayed in the area to take a bath and often visited this shrine.

This shrine is located at the westernmost tip of the Shimane Peninsula in Hinomisaki, and is described as 'Misakino yashiro（Misaki Shrine）in the "Izumo no kuni fudoki". It has two main shrines: the lower shrine "Hishizuminomiya" in front, and the upper shrine "Kaminomiya" on a small hill on the right. The shrine is said to protect the night of Japan in comparison to Ise Jingu Shrine, which protects the day time of Japan.

A 300m-long promenade was set up along the east side of national highway route 9 so visitors can enjoy the sunset over Lake Shinji, one of Japan's Top 100 Sunset Views. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport assigned the location as the Parking Lot to Capture the Sunset (Torupa) and people love to take a snap here.

This mine was Japan’s major producer of silver, known not only domestically but also globally. Iwami silver mine was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2007. Omori district and Ginzan district were the center of mining and economy in Sennoyama area. Between the two districts, there is the Iwami Ginzan Tourist Information Center.

One of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts among mountains upstream of Tamayu River from southern Lake Shinji. An ancient book, Isumo-no Kuni Fudoki, states “Bathing here once will make you beautiful and bathing here twice will heal any illness.” Sei Shonagon praised the beautifying quality of the hot spring in her classic “Pillow Book”.

Perched on a 29-meter tall hill in the flatlands near Shinji Lake, Matsue Castle was designated a Japanese national treasure in 2015. It was built some 400 years ago by Yoshiharu Horio, the lord of Izumo and Oki Provinces. The castle is sometimes nicknamed “Plover Castle” due to the castle gables resembling a plover bird with outstretched wings.

Located about a 5-minute drive from Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, this tourist-oriented winery was established in 1986 with the aim of utilizing Izumo's house grapes, a nationally renowned specialty. The Delaware grapes harvested from April to June are especially popular for their high sugar content and juicy, rich flavor. The wines, carefully brewed using high-quality local grapes, have recently received high accolades in various competitions.

This tour boat with a roof floats on the 3.7km-long moat around the national treasure, Matsue Castle. The boatman gives a guide with humorous stories, while you relax and watch scenery.

The tour takes about 50 minutes - around a historical area preserved since E

Steam locomotives (SL) disappeared as the railway became modernized. In 1979, it came back to Yamaguchi Line and has been running as a temporary express tour train.

Yuyado, Souan is located in the Yunokawa Onsen, known as one of the three hot springs for beauty effects in Japan. The kominka (traditional town residence) from the Edo Tempo period situated in a tranquil rural area was transformed into this 17 room onsen ryokan.

This inn in Tamatsukuri Onsen Resort provides an outdoor bath for all the guestrooms. Experience the hot spring water called natural cosmetics, which is also mentioned as the Beauty Water in the ancient journal “Izumo no Kuni Fudoki” 1300 years ago.