Which sights should you visit in Matsue, Yasugi and Izumo?
Choose Matsue Castle to climb inside the keep and look over the town, or Horikawa boats to explore the waterways. For gardens and Japanese paintings, choose the Adachi Museum of Art in Yasugi. Combine Izumo Oyashiro Shrine and Inasa Beach for worship and a seaside walk. Check art and history museum closures when choosing indoor exhibitions.
Choose sights separately from the itineraries
Matsue Castle
松江城
At Matsue Castle, you can explore the historic wooden keep. Climb inside to see its structure. The Honmaru grounds are free to visit; admission to the keep is paid. There are steep stairs inside, and you must remove your shoes. Follow notices for your visit date about access restrictions near the north gate.
- AdmissionAdults pay JPY 1,200; primary and junior high school students enter free. These revised fees apply from 1 July 2026. The Honmaru grounds are free to enter.
- Opening hours and closuresThe keep opens daily from 08:30–18:00 in April–September, with last admission at 17:30, and 08:30–17:00 in October–March, with last admission at 16:30. Events may affect hours.
- Getting thereTake the Lake Line from Matsue Station to 国宝松江城（大手前）, then follow signs through the grounds to the keep. After your visit, take the loop bus from the same stop back to the station. Regular buses from the prefectural office require separate fare and timetable checks.
Open official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating informationMore transport and operating information
Izumo Oyashiro Shrine
出雲大社
Walk along the pine-lined approach and worship at the worship hall. Enter from Shinmondori and look at the shrine buildings along the way. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 16:30, so arrive earlier if you want to see it.
- AdmissionThe official information does not specify an admission fee for general worship. Check separate fees if you want prayers or a treasure hall visit.
- Opening hours and closuresGeneral worship hours are 06:00–19:00. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 16:30.
- Getting thereFrom stand 1 outside the north exit of JR Izumoshi Station, take an Ichibata Bus towards Izumo Oyashiro Shrine or Hinomisaki and get off at Seimon-mae, 正門前. Services via AEON Mall cost JPY 510 one way for adults, or JPY 1,020 return on the same route. Return using an Izumoshi-bound bus from Seimon-mae, checking operating notices and both services for your travel date. The usual private railway route runs from Dentetsu-Izumoshi via a change at Kawato to Izumo Taishamae, although some services are direct.
Open official Izumo Oyashiro Shrine informationMore transport and operating informationCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresSpecial timetable for 10–11 OctoberSpecial timetable for 12 October
Adachi Museum of Art
足立美術館
See garden scenery and Japanese paintings together. You view the gardens from inside the museum, rather than walking freely through them. The museum recommends a visit of at least two hours.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 2,500 for adults, JPY 2,000 for university students, JPY 1,000 for senior high school students and JPY 500 for primary and junior high school students.
- Opening hours and closuresThe museum opens daily from 09:00–17:30 in April–September and 09:00–17:00 in October–March, with separate annex closures for exhibition changes. Announced annex closures in 2026 are 20–23 October and 16–17 November.
- Getting thereThe free shuttle from JR Yasugi Station takes about 20 minutes. Its stop is about 15 metres to the right outside the station building. Capacity is 25, first come, first served, with no reservations. Collect one numbered return ticket per person at the museum entrance.
Open official Adachi Museum of Art informationMore transport and operating informationMore transport and operating information
Horikawa Sightseeing Boat
堀川遊覧船
Take the Horikawa Sightseeing Boat to explore the waterways around Matsue Castle. You need to duck beneath some low bridges. Choose castle keep admission and the boat trip separately.
- AdmissionDay tickets cost JPY 2,000 for adults, JPY 1,600 for secondary school students, JPY 1,000 for primary school students and JPY 500 for preschool children. One preschool child per adult travels free. Repeat rides are allowed that day, but you may have to wait when busy.
- Opening hours and closuresThe first departure is at 09:00. The last is at 17:00 from March to September and 16:00 from October to February. Boats leave Fureai Plaza about every 20–30 minutes and Otemae Plaza about every 15–20 minutes; a full loop takes about 50 minutes. Reception closes 10 minutes before services end, or 20 minutes before at Karakoro Plaza. Karakoro has no scheduled departures: you board a passing boat only if it has spare seats. Weather and water levels may affect services.
- Getting thereTake the Lake Line from JR Matsue Station to 大手前堀川遊覧船乗場・歴史館前. Go to reception at 大手前広場乗船場 inside Matsue Castle's Otemae car park. This is separate from the Fureai Plaza boarding point. Small groups normally travel without reservations; reserved groups of 10 or more board only at Fureai Plaza. Check local directions for crossings, access and walking time from the stop to reception.
Horikawa boat operatorOperator's boarding-point mapReservations and full-loop boat informationMore transport and operating informationCity boarding-point location and layoutCity Otemae reception layout
Inasa Beach
Inasa-no-Hama (Inasa Beach)稲佐の浜
The white-sand beach has Bentenjima rock, topped by a small shrine. If you want to see the sea after visiting Izumo Oyashiro Shrine, it is about a 15-minute walk from the shrine. The beach is free to visit.
- AdmissionFree.
- Getting thereThe tourism agency gives about 15 minutes on foot from Izumo Oyashiro Shrine. The 20–25-minute walk from Izumo Taishamae Station starts elsewhere. The roughly 15-minute walk excludes travel from the 正門前 bus stop to the shrine.
- Time to allowWe suggest 30–45 minutes at the beach. Omit the walk in rain or strong wind. On your departure day, shorten your stay to suit the bus back to the station and your booked onward service.
Shimane tourism agency beach informationEnglish name from the Izumo tourism association
Matsue History Museum
松江歴史館
Visit the permanent exhibition to learn about Matsue's castle town. You can see the keep's architecture and the town's history exhibition on separate days. Allow 60–90 minutes to read the displays.
- AdmissionPermanent-exhibition admission costs JPY 700 for adults living outside Matsue; junior high school students and younger enter free. Special exhibitions have separate fees.
- Hours and closuresThe museum opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. It closes on Mondays, or the next weekday when Monday is a public holiday, and 29 December–1 January. A special opening is announced for 2 November 2026.
- Getting thereTake the Lake Line from stand 7 at Matsue Station to 大手前堀川遊覧船乗場・歴史館前, then walk about three minutes to the museum. Return to the same stop after your visit and take the loop bus back to the station.
- Combined ticketThe adult combined ticket for the castle keep and history museum's permanent exhibition costs JPY 1,520 and is valid for 10 days from first use. Separate tickets cost JPY 1,200 + 700. Special exhibitions are outside the combined ticket's permanent-exhibition coverage.
History museum hours and admissionWalk from the bus stopTourism agency combined-ticket validity
Shimane Art Museum
島根県立美術館
After the collection exhibition, walk beside Lake Shinji. Waiting for sunset and special exhibitions are outside the itineraries; a lakeside walk does not guarantee a sunset view.
- AdmissionThe official English information lists collection admission at JPY 400 for adults and JPY 260 for university students, with senior high school students and younger free. Special exhibitions cost extra.
- Hours and closuresThe museum opens 10:00–18:30 in October–February and from 10:00 until 30 minutes after sunset in March–September. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The museum closes on Tuesdays and 28 December–1 January; when Tuesday is a public holiday, it closes the following day. Exhibition schedules may affect these arrangements.
- Getting thereWalk about 15 minutes from JR Matsue Station to the museum. After a 60–90-minute visit, return along the same route. If you choose a bus because of rain or difficulty walking, check its fare and service separately.
- Luggage storageThere are lockers beside general reception requiring a refundable JPY 100 coin. Larger luggage that does not fit can be left at reception. Bring a JPY 100 coin, which is returned after use. Ask reception if no lockers are free or you need to leave large luggage. Museum FAQ, checked 8 October 2026.
Museum FAQOfficial English hours, admission and walking directionsCurrent opening and admission information
Frequently asked questions
Does the Adachi Museum of Art itinerary let you walk through the gardens?
It does not involve walking freely inside the gardens. View them from inside the museum and see the Japanese painting exhibition. We suggest allowing about two hours for the visit, plus separate time for travel from Yasugi Station and shuttle waits.
More transport and operating informationOpen official Adachi Museum of Art information
Does the castle and history museum combined ticket include special exhibitions?
The JPY 1,520 combined ticket covers Matsue Castle keep and Matsue History Museum's permanent exhibition. Special exhibitions cost extra. Distinguish it from separate tickets at JPY 1,200 and JPY 700, totalling JPY 1,900.
Tourism agency combined-ticket validityHistory museum hours and admissionOpen official Matsue Castle information
Official sources and dates checked
- Horikawa boat operator ·
- Open official Matsue Castle information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Open official Izumo Oyashiro Shrine information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Open official Adachi Museum of Art information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- History museum hours and admission ·
- Walk from the bus stop ·
- Tourism agency combined-ticket validity ·
- Museum FAQ ·
- Official English hours, admission and walking directions ·
- Current opening and admission information ·
- Shimane tourism agency beach information ·
- English name from the Izumo tourism association ·
- Official JR journey search ·
- Reservations and full-loop boat information ·
- Operator's boarding-point map ·
- City boarding-point location and layout ·
- Special timetable for 10–11 October ·
- Special timetable for 12 October ·
- Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and fares ·
- City Otemae reception layout ·