Shimane in one night and two days: choose Matsue or Izumo
Spend one night in Matsue for separate days at the castle keep and lakeside art museum, or in Izumo to separate the shrine visit and beach walk. On the Matsue route's second day, walk from the station to the museum and back. Reduce sightseeing if arriving late or leaving early on the final day.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art
Spend one night near Matsue Station. Visit the castle keep on Day 1 and the lakeside collection exhibition on Day 2. Take the Lake Line bus to the castle and back on Day 1; walk from the station to the art museum and back on Day 2.
Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art →2 days / 1 night BIzumo Oyashiro Shrine, Shinmondori and Inasa Beach
Spend one night near Izumoshi Station. Visit the shrine and approach street on Day 1, then walk by the sea on Day 2. This route does not travel to Matsue or Yasugi.
Izumo Oyashiro Shrine, Shinmondori and Inasa Beach →Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art
Spend one night near Matsue Station. Visit the castle keep on Day 1 and the lakeside collection exhibition on Day 2. Take the Lake Line bus to the castle and back on Day 1; walk from the station to the art museum and back on Day 2.
Day 1 · Matsue Station → Matsue Castle → Matsue Station
Travel from Matsue Station to visit Matsue Castle, then return to the station.
- Matsue Station → Matsue Castle bus stop
Board the Lake Line at stand 7 at Matsue Station and get off at National Treasure Matsue Castle (Otemae), 国宝松江城（大手前）. Follow signs through the grounds to the keep entrance. Use the current timetable to choose a service back to Matsue Station after your visit.
- Matsue Castle bus stop → Castle keep and lunch
Follow signs through the Honmaru grounds to the keep entrance. Allow extra time to walk there from the bus stop. We suggest about 90 minutes for the keep, including stairs and removing your shoes, and about 60 minutes for lunch and a break nearby. Follow the facility's last-admission time.
Open official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating information
- Matsue Castle → Accommodation in Matsue
Return to the same stop and board the Lake Line in the same loop direction for Matsue Station. This is a different service from regular buses at the prefectural office: it completes the remaining loop after the castle. Stay in Matsue tonight.
Day 2 · Shimane Art Museum and the lakeside
See the Shimane Art Museum collection and walk beside the lake.
- Matsue Station or accommodation → Shimane Art Museum
Walk about 15 minutes from Matsue Station to the Shimane Art Museum. After seeing the collection, follow the same route back to the station.
Official English hours, admission and walking directionsMuseum FAQ
- Museum entrance → Collection exhibition
Allow 60–90 minutes for the collection after the museum opens at 10:00. If it is closed on Tuesday, visit on another opening day or omit the indoor visit. Special exhibitions are outside this itinerary. Allow separate time for a lakeside break or lunch afterwards. The lakeside walk does not guarantee a sunset view.
- Shimane Art Museum → Matsue Station and departure
Walk back along the same route for about 15 minutes. This itinerary ends at Matsue Station.
Official English hours, admission and walking directionsMuseum FAQ
Included: Matsue Castle JPY 1,200 + Lake Line JPY 250 × 2 rides + art museum collection JPY 400.
Extra costs and conditions: The subtotal is JPY 2,100 with the museum visit, or JPY 1,700 if you omit the collection exhibition because of a closure or another reason. The museum leg is on foot in both directions, with no additional bus fare counted. Special exhibitions, accommodation, meals, airport transfers and unlisted transport and activities cost extra.
Open official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating informationOfficial English hours, admission and walking directionsMuseum FAQCurrent opening and admission information
Izumo Oyashiro Shrine, Shinmondori and Inasa Beach
Spend one night near Izumoshi Station. Visit the shrine and approach street on Day 1, then walk by the sea on Day 2. This route does not travel to Matsue or Yasugi.
Day 1 · Izumoshi Station → Izumo Oyashiro Shrine and Shinmondori → Izumoshi Station
Travel from Izumoshi Station to visit Izumo Oyashiro Shrine and Shinmondori, then return to the station.
- Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae
From stand 1 outside the north exit of JR Izumoshi Station, take a bus towards Izumo Oyashiro Shrine via AEON Mall and get off at Seimon-mae, 正門前. The adult fare is JPY 510 each way, or JPY 1,020 return. Do not apply this fare to services via Youme Town. Events can alter stops and times, so check the operator's current notices and your return service.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresRegular outward departuresSpecial timetable for 10–11 OctoberSpecial timetable for 12 October
- Seimon-mae → Shrine and Shinmondori
Walk about one minute from the stop to the large Seidamari torii, then follow the approach, Harae Bridge and pine-lined path into the grounds. We suggest 75–90 minutes at the shrine and about 60 minutes for lunch on Shinmondori. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 16:30; the treasure hall is outside this itinerary. Allow extra time for the approach walk and food queues.
Walk to the main entrance and shrine approachMore transport and operating information
- Shrine and Shinmondori → Accommodation in Izumoshi
Take a bus from Seimon-mae to Izumoshi Station via AEON Mall. Choose a return service you can catch after the shrine visit and lunch. Stay in Izumoshi tonight.
Regular return departuresSpecial timetable for 10–11 OctoberSpecial timetable for 12 October
Day 2 · Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae → Inasa Beach → Izumoshi Station
Travel from Izumoshi Station via Seimon-mae to walk Inasa Beach, then return to the station.
- Izumoshi Station or accommodation → Seimon-mae
From stand 1 outside the north exit of JR Izumoshi Station, take a bus towards Izumo Oyashiro Shrine via AEON Mall and get off at Seimon-mae, 正門前. The adult fare is JPY 510 each way, or JPY 1,020 return. Do not apply this fare to services via Youme Town. Events can alter stops and times, so check the operator's current notices and your return service.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresRegular outward departuresSpecial timetable for 10–11 OctoberSpecial timetable for 12 October
- Seimon-mae → Inasa Beach
Walk about one minute to the large Seidamari torii, then head from the shrine-side starting point towards Inasa Beach on the coast to the west. The tourism agency's roughly 15-minute walk starts at the shrine, rather than when your bus arrives. Follow local signs for crossings. The shrine's surrounding-area map also marks the beach car park and toilets.
Walk to the main entrance and shrine approachShimane tourism agency beach informationMore transport and operating information
- Beach entrance → Beach walk
We suggest 30–45 minutes for a walk. There is no repeat visit to the shrine grounds from Day 1. Omit the beach round trip in rain, strong winds or if you cannot leave enough time for your departure.
- Inasa Beach → Izumoshi Station or accommodation
Follow the same route back towards the shrine's main entrance and the Izumoshi-bound boarding point at Seimon-mae. Take a bus via AEON Mall back to the station for JPY 510 one way. Shorten the beach trip in wind or rain, or if your final-day departure leaves little spare time. This itinerary ends at Izumoshi Station.
Regular return departuresSpecial timetable for 10–11 OctoberSpecial timetable for 12 OctoberCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and fares
Included: Four bus rides via AEON Mall at JPY 510 each and a free beach walk.
Extra costs and conditions: Four bus rides total JPY 2,040; omitting the Day 2 beach trip leaves the Day 1 return fare of JPY 1,020. Accommodation, meals, airport transfers and unlisted JR, private railway and bus services cost extra. Paid options such as prayers and the treasure hall are excluded.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresShimane tourism agency beach information
Frequently asked questions
Can I follow the same itinerary if I arrive on the first afternoon?
Adjust by reducing sightseeing. Last admission to Matsue Castle keep is 16:30 from October to March, and the area behind Izumo Oyashiro Shrine's main sanctuary also closes at 16:30. Choose places where your actual arrival leaves enough time to visit and return before closing, or move the visit to the following day.
Open official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating information
What if the art museum is closed on the one-night Matsue route?
The Shimane Art Museum normally closes on Tuesdays. When Tuesday is a Japanese public holiday, it opens that day and closes the next. Exhibition schedules can affect closures, so order the castle and museum visits to suit the calendar for your date. Omitting the collection visit subtracts JPY 400, leaving JPY 1,700. Visiting both costs JPY 2,100; accommodation, meals, airport transfers and special exhibitions cost extra. Walk to the museum and back from Matsue Station.
Official English hours, admission and walking directionsMuseum FAQCurrent opening and admission informationOpen official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating information
Official sources and dates checked
- Open official Matsue Castle information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Museum FAQ ·
- Official English hours, admission and walking directions ·
- Current opening and admission information ·
- Shimane tourism agency beach information ·
- Special timetable for 10–11 October ·
- Special timetable for 12 October ·
- Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and fares ·
- Walk to the main entrance and shrine approach ·
- Regular outward departures ·
- Regular return departures ·