Shimane in four days: add Adachi's garden or lakeside exhibits?
Stay two nights in Matsue followed by one in Izumo to split shrine and beach visits. For gardens and Japanese paintings, spend day two at Adachi Museum in Yasugi, allowing return JR and shuttle time. For the collection in central Matsue, choose Shimane Art Museum, reached by walking both ways from Matsue Station.
Choose a 4 days, 3 nights itinerary
Castle, garden, shrine and beach
Stay two nights in Matsue, then one in Izumoshi. See the castle and Adachi Museum first, then move to Izumo for separate shrine and approach-street visits and a beach walk.
Castle, garden, shrine and beach →4 days, 3 nights BCastle and lakeside exhibits, then Izumo
For the city collection and a lakeside walk, stay two nights in Matsue followed by one in Izumoshi. This option spends time in Matsue instead of a Yasugi trip to Adachi Museum.
Castle and lakeside exhibits, then Izumo →Castle, garden, shrine and beach
Stay two nights in Matsue, then one in Izumoshi. See the castle and Adachi Museum first, then move to Izumo for separate shrine and approach-street visits and a beach walk.
Day 1 · Matsue Castle keep and surroundings
Matsue Castle keep and surroundings
- 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 · Garden and Japanese paintings, then the same hotel
Garden and Japanese paintings, then the same hotel
- Matsue Station and hotel → Yasugi shuttle stop
Take a Yonago-bound JR local train from Matsue to Yasugi. The free Adachi Museum shuttle stop is about 15 m to the right outside the station building. Choose a connection with time to get from the JR platform through the exit to the shuttle.
Dynamic search pageAdditional transport and operating information
- Yasugi Station → Adachi Museum of Art
The free shuttle takes about 20 minutes to the museum. Its capacity is 25, with boarding in arrival order; reaching Yasugi by JR does not secure a seat. If full, choose the next free service or the official paid Yellow Bus, adding its fare to the subtotal.
- Adachi Museum entrance → Return shuttle ticket and visit
On entering, first collect one return shuttle numbered ticket per person at the entrance counter. Plan garden and Japanese painting visits and lunch around your secured return service. The museum recommends at least two hours for visiting; allow extra for ticket and meal queues. Check the New Wing's closure conditions.
Additional transport and operating informationOfficial Adachi Museum guide
- Adachi Museum of Art → Matsue hotel
Return to Yasugi Station on the shuttle shown on your ticket, then take JR to Matsue. If no free return service is available, check the paid Yellow Bus. Its stop is about a two-minute walk from the museum and adds ¥200 each way. Stay in Matsue tonight, and look up the JR connection around your chosen return bus.
Additional transport and operating informationDynamic search page
Day 3 · Move to Izumo for the shrine and approach
Move to Izumo for the shrine and approach
- Matsue hotel → Izumoshi Station and new hotel
Take an Izumoshi-bound JR train from Matsue to change cities. Stay in Izumoshi tonight and visit the shrine and Shinmon-dori. Choose a bus that leaves time for the city move and shrine visit, instead of a tight connection immediately after JR arrival.
- 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 4 · Beach walk and finish at Izumoshi Station
Beach walk and finish at 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: Castle ¥1,200 + Adachi Museum ¥2,500 + Lakeline ¥250 × 2 rides + bus via AEON Mall ¥510 × 4 rides + Yasugi JR ¥420 × 2 journeys + Matsue–Izumoshi JR ¥590.
Extra costs and conditions: Based on the free Adachi shuttle. The paid Yellow Bus adds ¥200 each way or ¥400 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.
Official Matsue Castle guideOfficial Adachi Museum guideAdditional transport and operating informationCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresDynamic search page
Castle and lakeside exhibits, then Izumo
For the city collection and a lakeside walk, stay two nights in Matsue followed by one in Izumoshi. This option spends time in Matsue instead of a Yasugi trip to Adachi Museum.
Day 1 · Inside Matsue Castle keep
Visit Matsue Castle's keep on day one and stay in Matsue.
- 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 hotel
Walk about 15 minutes back along the same route to Matsue Station. Stay in Matsue again tonight.
Day 3 · Move hotels to Izumo and eat on Shinmon-dori
Move hotels to Izumo and eat on Shinmon-dori
- Matsue hotel → Izumoshi Station and new hotel
Take an Izumoshi-bound JR train from Matsue to change cities. Stay in Izumoshi tonight and visit the shrine and Shinmon-dori. Choose a bus that leaves time for the city move and shrine visit, instead of a tight connection immediately after JR arrival.
- 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 4 · Inasa Beach and return to the station
Inasa Beach and return to the 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: Matsue Castle ¥1,200 + art museum collection ¥400 + Lakeline ¥250 × 2 rides + bus via AEON Mall ¥510 × 4 rides + Matsue–Izumoshi JR ¥590.
Extra costs and conditions: The museum is a return walk from the station. Subtract ¥400 if omitting the indoor collection visit. Special exhibitions, accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted transport or activities are separate. Paid shrine options such as prayers and the treasure hall are excluded.
Official Matsue Castle guideHorikawa boat operatorAdditional transport and operating informationCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresDynamic search pageOfficial English hours, prices and walking accessMuseum FAQCurrent opening and price guide
Frequently asked questions
Are Adachi Museum and the Izumo shrine visited on the same day?
The Adachi itinerary travels from Matsue to Yasugi on day two for the garden and Japanese paintings, then returns to Matsue. The shrine and approach are visited after moving to Izumo on day three. This avoids combining the museum and the move between cities in one day. Look up the return shuttle and JR departure from Yasugi together.
Additional transport and operating informationOfficial JR search entry point
Official sources and check dates
- Horikawa boat operator ·
- Official Matsue Castle guide ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Additional transport and operating information ·
- Official Adachi Museum guide ·
- 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 ·
- Official JR search entry point ·
- Dynamic search page ·
- 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 ·