Shimane in two days: choose Matsue or Izumo
Stay one night in Matsue for separate castle and lakeside art museum days, or in Izumo for separate shrine and beach days. On the Matsue itinerary's second day, walk both ways between station and museum. Reduce sightseeing after a late arrival or before an early final departure.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art museum
Stay one night near Matsue Station. Visit the keep's interior on day one and the lakeside museum's collection on day two. Use the Lakeline bus both ways for the castle, and walk from the station to the museum the next day.
Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art museum →2 days, 1 night BIzumo Oyashiro, Shinmon-dori and Inasa-no-hama Beach
Stay one night near Izumoshi Station. Split the shrine and approach street on day one from the beach walk on day two. This itinerary does not travel to Matsue or Yasugi.
Izumo Oyashiro, Shinmon-dori and Inasa-no-hama Beach →Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art museum
Stay one night near Matsue Station. Visit the keep's interior on day one and the lakeside museum's collection on day two. Use the Lakeline bus both ways for the castle, and walk from the station to the museum the next day.
Day 1 · Matsue Station → Matsue Castle → Matsue Station
Matsue Station → Matsue Castle → Matsue Station
- Matsue Station → Matsue Castle bus stop
Take the Lakeline bus from bay 7 at Matsue Station and get off at Kokuhō Matsue-jō (Ōtemae) (国宝松江城（大手前）). Follow the castle signs from the stop to the keep entrance. Use the current timetable to choose your return service to Matsue Station after visiting.
- Matsue Castle bus stop → Keep and lunch
Follow the park signs through the Honmaru to the keep entrance. Walking from the stop is extra. Allow about 90 minutes for the keep, including interior stairs and removing shoes, and about 60 minutes for lunch and a rest nearby. These are suggested visiting times; follow the facility's reception deadline.
Official Matsue Castle guideAdditional transport and operating information
- Matsue Castle → Matsue hotel
Return from the same stop on the Lakeline bus in the same loop direction. This differs from the ordinary bus at the prefectural office; it follows the rest of the loop after the castle to Matsue Station. Stay in Matsue tonight.
Day 2 · Shimane Art Museum and lakeside
Museum collection and a lakeside walk
- Matsue Station and hotel → Shimane Art Museum
Walk about 15 minutes from Matsue Station to Shimane Art Museum. Visit the collection, then return to the station by the same route.
- Museum entrance → Collection visit
After the 10:00 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for the collection. If closed on Tuesday, choose another opening day or omit the indoor visit. Special exhibitions are outside this itinerary. Allow separate time for a lakeside rest or lunch afterwards. The lakeside walk does not guarantee a sunset viewing.
- Shimane Art Museum → Matsue Station and departure
Walk back along the same route to Matsue Station, about 15 minutes. This itinerary ends at Matsue Station.
Included: Matsue Castle ¥1,200 + Lakeline ¥250 × 2 rides + art museum collection ¥400.
Extra costs and conditions: Including the indoor museum visit costs ¥2,100; omitting the collection because of a closure or other reason reduces it to ¥1,700. The museum is a return walk from the station, with no extra bus calculated. Special exhibitions, accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted transport or activities are separate.
Official Matsue Castle guideAdditional transport and operating informationOfficial English hours, prices and walking accessMuseum FAQCurrent opening and price guide
Izumo Oyashiro, Shinmon-dori and Inasa-no-hama Beach
Stay one night near Izumoshi Station. Split the shrine and approach street on day one from the beach walk on day two. This itinerary does not travel to Matsue or Yasugi.
Day 1 · Izumoshi Station → shrine and Shinmon-dori → Izumoshi Station
Izumoshi Station → shrine and Shinmon-dori → Izumoshi Station
- Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae
From bay 1 at JR Izumoshi Station's north exit, take an Izumo Oyashiro-bound bus via AEON Mall and get off at Seimon-mae (正門前). The adult fare is ¥510 each way or ¥1,020 return; do not apply this fare to services via Youme Town. Events may alter stops and times, so check the operator's current notices and return service together.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresOrdinary outward timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th
- Seimon-mae → Shrine and Shinmon-dori
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. Suggested time is 75–90 minutes at the shrine and about 60 minutes for lunch on Shinmon-dori. The area behind the Main Hall closes at 16:30; the treasure hall is excluded. Approach walking and ordering queues are extra.
Walk to the main entrance and shrine approach guideAdditional transport and operating information
- Shrine and Shinmon-dori → Izumoshi hotel
Return from Seimon-mae on an Izumoshi Station-bound bus via AEON Mall. Choose a service you can reach after worship and lunch. Stay in Izumoshi tonight.
Ordinary return timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th
Day 2 · Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae → Inasa-no-hama Beach → Izumoshi Station
Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae → Inasa-no-hama Beach → Izumoshi Station
- Izumoshi Station and hotel → Seimon-mae
From bay 1 at JR Izumoshi Station's north exit, take an Izumo Oyashiro-bound bus via AEON Mall and get off at Seimon-mae (正門前). The adult fare is ¥510 each way or ¥1,020 return; do not apply this fare to services via Youme Town. Events may alter stops and times, so check the operator's current notices and return service together.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresOrdinary outward timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th
- Seimon-mae → Inasa-no-hama
Walk about one minute to the large Seidamari torii, then head from the shrine-side starting point to Inasa-no-hama on the western coast. The tourism body's roughly 15-minute estimate is from shrine to beach, rather than from bus arrival. Follow on-site signs for crossings. The shrine's surrounding-area map also marks the beach parking and toilets separately.
Walk to the main entrance and shrine approach guideShimane tourism body's beach guideAdditional transport and operating information
- Beach entrance → Beach walk
Allow a suggested 30–45 minutes for walking. Do not repeat yesterday's shrine grounds visit. Omit the beach return walk in rain, strong winds or when there is too little time before departure.
- Inasa-no-hama → Izumoshi Station and hotel
Return by the same path to the shrine's main entrance, then find the Izumoshi Station-bound boarding point at Seimon-mae. Take the ¥510 bus via AEON Mall back to the station. Shorten the beach return walk in wind or rain, or if time before your final departure is tight. This itinerary ends at Izumoshi Station.
Ordinary return timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12thCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and fares
Included: Four ¥510 bus rides via AEON Mall and a free beach walk.
Extra costs and conditions: Four bus rides cost ¥2,040; omitting day two's beach trip leaves day one's ¥1,020 return. Accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted JR, private railways or buses are separate. Paid options such as prayers and the treasure hall are excluded.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresShimane tourism body's beach guide
Frequently asked questions
Can I follow the itinerary after an afternoon arrival on day one?
Adjust by reducing sightseeing. Matsue Castle's keep reception ends at 16:30 in October–March, and the area behind Izumo Oyashiro's Main Hall also closes at 16:30. Choose a place with enough time for visiting and returning between your actual arrival and the deadline. Move it to the next day if time is insufficient.
Official Matsue Castle guideAdditional transport and operating information
What if the art museum is closed during a one-night Matsue stay?
Shimane Art Museum usually closes Tuesdays. If Tuesday is a Japanese public holiday, it opens that day and closes the next. Exhibition schedules may change closures, so order castle and museum visits around your date's opening calendar. Omitting the indoor collection removes ¥400 for a ¥1,700 subtotal. Visiting both gives ¥2,100; accommodation, meals, airport travel and special exhibitions are separate. Walk both ways from Matsue Station to the museum.
Official English hours, prices and walking accessMuseum FAQCurrent opening and price guideOfficial Matsue Castle guideAdditional transport and operating information
Official sources and check dates
- Official Matsue Castle guide ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Museum FAQ ·
- Official English hours, prices and walking access ·
- Current opening and price guide ·
- Shimane tourism body's beach guide ·
- Special timetable for the 10th–11th ·
- Special timetable for the 12th ·
- Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and fares ·
- Walk to the main entrance and shrine approach guide ·
- Ordinary outward timetable ·
- Ordinary return timetable ·