Shimane in 1 night / 2 days: choose Matsue or Izumo
Stay one night in Matsue for separate castle and lakeside-art days, or in Izumo for separate shrine and beach days. Day 2 of the Matsue course uses a return walk from the station to the museum. Reduce sightseeing for a late arrival or early final-day departure.
Choose a 2 days / 1 night itinerary
Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art
Stay one night near Matsue Station. Visit the keep first and the lakeside collections on Day 2. Use Lakeline both ways for the castle, then walk from the station to the art museum and back.
Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art →2 days / 1 night BIzumo Taisha, Shinmon-dori and Inasa Beach
Stay one night near Izumoshi Station. Give the shrine and approach street one day, and the beach another, without travelling to Matsue or Yasugi.
Izumo Taisha, Shinmon-dori and Inasa Beach →Matsue Castle keep and lakeside art
Stay one night near Matsue Station. Visit the keep first and the lakeside collections on Day 2. Use Lakeline both ways for the castle, then walk from the station to the art museum and back.
Day 1: Matsue Station → Matsue Castle → Matsue Station
Visit Matsue Castle, then return to Matsue Station.
- Matsue Station → Matsue Castle stop
Take Lakeline from Matsue Station stand 7 to Kokuhou Matsue-jo (Otemae), 国宝松江城（大手前）. Follow castle signs from the stop to the keep entrance. Check the current timetable for your return to the station too.
- Matsue Castle stop → Keep and lunch
Follow park signs through Honmaru to the keep entrance. Walking from the stop is extra. Allow a suggested 90 minutes for the keep, including interior stairs and removing shoes, plus about 60 for castle-area lunch/rest. Follow facility reception deadlines.
Official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating information
- Matsue Castle → Matsue hotel
Board Lakeline at the same stop, continuing in the same loop direction to Matsue Station. This differs from regular buses by the prefectural offices; the return follows the remaining loop after the castle. Stay in Matsue tonight.
Day 2: Shimane Art Museum and lakeside
View Shimane Art Museum’s collections and walk beside the lake.
- Matsue Station and hotel → Shimane Art Museum
Walk about 15 minutes from Matsue Station to Shimane Art Museum. Visit collections, then return by the same route.
- Art museum entrance → Collections
After the 10:00 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for collections. For a Tuesday closure, change to another open date or omit interiors. Special exhibitions are excluded. Allow extra time to rest by the lake or have lunch afterwards. A lakeside walk does not necessarily coincide with sunset.
- Shimane Art Museum → Matsue Station and departure
Return by the same route, about 15 minutes on foot to Matsue Station, where this course ends.
Included: Matsue Castle 1,200 yen + Lakeline 250 × 2 + art collections 400.
Extra costs and conditions: With collections, the total is 2,100 yen; without them due to closure or other reasons, 1,700. Walk both ways to the museum; no separate bus is counted. Special exhibitions, accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted transport/activities are extra.
Official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating informationOfficial English hours, fees and walking accessMuseum FAQCurrent hours and fees
Izumo Taisha, Shinmon-dori and Inasa Beach
Stay one night near Izumoshi Station. Give the shrine and approach street one day, and the beach another, without travelling to Matsue or Yasugi.
Day 1: Izumoshi Station → Izumo Taisha and Shinmon-dori → Izumoshi Station
Visit Izumo Taisha and Shinmon-dori, then return to Izumoshi Station.
- Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae
From JR Izumoshi’s north exit stand 1, take an Izumo Taisha-bound bus via Aeon Mall to Seimon-mae (正門前). Adults pay 510 yen one way or 1,020 return; do not apply this fare to Youme Town services. Events may change stops/times; check current operator notices and returns together.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/faresRegular 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 Seidamari’s large torii, then follow the approach, Harae Bridge and pine-lined path into the grounds. Allow a suggested 75–90 minutes for the shrine and about 60 for Shinmon-dori lunch. The area behind the main hall closes at 16:30; Treasure Hall is excluded. Entrance walking and food-order queues are extra.
Walk to main gate and approach guidanceMore transport and operating information
- Shrine and Shinmon-dori → Izumoshi hotel
Return from Seimon-mae on an Izumoshi Station-bound bus via Aeon Mall, choosing a service after worship and lunch. Stay in Izumoshi tonight.
Regular return timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th
Day 2: Izumoshi Station → Seimon-mae → Inasa Beach → Izumoshi Station
Travel from Izumoshi Station via Seimon-mae for an Inasa Beach walk, then return to the station.
- Izumoshi Station and hotel → Seimon-mae
From JR Izumoshi’s north exit stand 1, take an Izumo Taisha-bound bus via Aeon Mall to Seimon-mae (正門前). Adults pay 510 yen one way or 1,020 return; do not apply this fare to Youme Town services. Events may change stops/times; check current operator notices and returns together.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/faresRegular outward timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th
- Seimon-mae → Inasa Beach
Walk about one minute to Seidamari’s large torii, then head west from the shrine-area starting point to Inasa Beach. The 15-minute walk in tourism guidance starts at the shrine; allow extra time from the bus stop. Follow on-site crossing signs. The shrine’s surrounding-area map separately marks beach parking and toilets.
Walk to main gate and approach guidanceShimane tourism beach informationMore transport and operating information
- Beach entrance → Beach walks
Allow a suggested 30–45-minute walk without repeating yesterday’s shrine visit. Omit the beach return in rain, strong winds or when departure leaves too little time.
- Inasa Beach → Izumoshi Station and hotel
Return by the same route towards the main gate and find Seimon-mae’s Izumoshi-bound boarding position. Take an Aeon Mall service, 510 yen one way. Reduce the beach trip for wind/rain or insufficient final-day departure time. This route ends at Izumoshi Station.
Regular return timetableSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12thCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/fares
Included: Four Aeon Mall bus rides at 510 yen and free beach walks.
Extra costs and conditions: Four rides total 2,040 yen; omitting day-two beach travel leaves day-one return of 1,020. Accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted JR/private railway/bus journeys are extra. Paid prayers, Treasure Hall and other separately charged options are excluded.
Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/faresShimane tourism beach information
Frequently asked questions
Can I follow the same course after an afternoon arrival?
Reduce sightseeing to fit your arrival. Matsue Castle’s keep reception closes at 16:30 in October–March, as does the area behind Izumo Taisha’s main hall. Choose a place with enough time to visit and return before closing; otherwise move it to the next day.
Official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating information
What if the art museum is closed during my one-night Matsue stay?
Shimane Art Museum normally closes Tuesdays. If Tuesday is a Japanese public holiday, it opens and closes the next day. Exhibition schedules may alter closures, so choose the castle/museum order from your dates’ opening calendar. Omitting indoor collections deducts 400 yen, leaving 1,700; both visits total 2,100. Accommodation, meals, airport travel and special exhibitions are extra. Walk to the museum and back from Matsue Station.
Official English hours, fees and walking accessMuseum FAQCurrent hours and feesOfficial Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating information
Official sources and check dates
- Official Matsue Castle information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Museum FAQ ·
- Official English hours, fees and walking access ·
- Current hours and fees ·
- Shimane tourism beach information ·
- Special timetable for the 10th–11th ·
- Special timetable for the 12th ·
- Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/fares ·
- Walk to main gate and approach guidance ·
- Regular outward timetable ·
- Regular return timetable ·