Shimane in 2 nights / 3 days: art or a move to Izumo?

For an art-focused trip, stay two Matsue nights and visit Yasugi. For shrine and beach visits, consider moving to Izumo on Day 2. The courses finish at different stations. Reach Adachi via the Yasugi shuttle and collect your numbered return tickets before viewing the museum.

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Choose a 3 days / 2 nights itinerary

3 days / 2 nights A

Castle, Adachi gardens and lakeside art

Stay two nights near Matsue Station. See castle and Adachi gardens/Japanese paintings, then finish with prefectural art collections in Matsue. Visit Yasugi as a day trip from Matsue.

Day 1: keep visit and Matsue overnight

Visit the keep and stay in Matsue tonight.

  1. 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.

    More transport and operating information

  2. 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

  3. 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.

    More transport and operating information

Day 2: Adachi day trip via the free Yasugi shuttle

Take a day trip to Adachi Museum using the free Yasugi shuttle.

  1. Matsue Station and hotel → Yasugi shuttle stop

    Take a Yonago-bound ordinary JR train from Matsue to Yasugi. The free Adachi shuttle stop is about 15 metres to the right outside the station building. Choose services allowing platform/exit access between JR arrival and shuttle departure.

    Dynamic journey resultsMore transport and operating information

  2. Yasugi Station → Adachi Museum of Art

    The free shuttle takes about 20 minutes to Adachi. Its 25 seats are first come, first served; JR arrival does not secure a seat. If full, choose the next free service or official paid Yellow Bus, adding paid fares to the partial total.

    More transport and operating information

  3. Adachi entrance → Return-shuttle tickets and visit

    On entry, first collect return-shuttle numbered tickets for everyone at the entrance counter. Divide gardens, Japanese paintings and lunch around your secured return. The museum recommends at least two hours; ticketing and meal queues are extra. Check annex closure conditions too.

    More transport and operating informationOfficial Adachi Museum information

  4. Adachi Museum of Art → Matsue hotel

    Take the shuttle shown on your ticket to Yasugi, then Matsue-bound JR. If no free return is available, check paid Yellow Bus: about two minutes’ walk from the museum to the stop, adding 200 yen one way. Stay in Matsue; look up JR to fit your chosen return.

    More transport and operating informationDynamic journey results

Day 3: collections then Matsue Station

View the collections, then return to Matsue Station.

  1. 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.

    Official English hours, fees and walking accessMuseum FAQ

  2. Art museum entrance → Collections

    After the 10:00 opening, allow 60–90 minutes for collections. For Tuesday closure, move to an earlier open day or omit final-day art. Do not wait until sunset on departure day.

    Current hours and fees

  3. Shimane Art Museum → Matsue Station and departure

    Walk back the same way, about 15 minutes to Matsue Station. On this final day, leave after viewing the collections instead of waiting for sunset. The course ends at Matsue Station.

    Official English hours, fees and walking accessMuseum FAQ

Partial total of checked items: 5,440 yen

Included: Castle 1,200 yen + Adachi 2,500 + Lakeline 250 × 2 + art museum 400 + Yasugi JR 420 × 2.

Extra costs and conditions: Uses Adachi’s free shuttle. Yellow Bus adds 200 yen one way or 400 return. Accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted JR/private railway/bus journeys are extra.

Official Matsue Castle informationOfficial Adachi Museum informationMore transport and operating informationOfficial English hours, fees and walking accessDynamic journey results

3 days / 2 nights B

Castle and shrine, then beach on the final day

For shrine worship and beach walks instead of castle/art-focused travel, stay one Matsue night, then move for one Izumoshi night.

Day 1: keep and first Matsue night

Visit the keep and spend your first night in Matsue.

  1. 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.

    More transport and operating information

  2. 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

  3. 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.

    More transport and operating information

Day 2: move to Izumo for shrine and Shinmon-dori

Move to Izumo for the shrine and Shinmon-dori.

  1. Matsue hotel → Izumoshi Station and new hotel

    Take Izumoshi-bound JR from Matsue to move cities. Stay in Izumoshi and visit shrine/Shinmon-dori today. Choose a bus allowing intercity travel and shrine visits without a rushed connection immediately after JR arrival.

    Dynamic journey results

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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 3: Inasa Beach then departure from Izumoshi

Walk Inasa Beach, then depart from Izumoshi.

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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.

    Shimane tourism beach information

  4. 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

Partial total of checked items: 4,330 yen

Included: Castle 1,200 yen + Lakeline 250 × 2 + Aeon-route bus 510 × 4 + Matsue–Izumoshi JR 590.

Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, airport travel and unlisted JR/private railway/bus journeys are extra. Paid prayers, Treasure Hall and other separately charged options are excluded.

Official Matsue Castle informationMore transport and operating informationCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/faresDynamic journey results

Frequently asked questions

How do I return if Adachi’s free shuttle is full?

The free shuttle is first come, first served and cannot be reserved. Collect a numbered return ticket on entering the museum and choose your departure. If the free return is full, check Yasugi-bound Yellow Bus. It costs 200 yen one way, adding 400 if used both ways. This fare is outside the course’s base cost. Recheck date-specific timetables and seats.

More transport and operating information

How do I get from Izumoshi Station to Izumo Taisha?

From JR Izumoshi north-exit stand 1, take an Aeon Mall service towards Izumo Taisha/Hinomisaki to Seimon-mae. Allow time between JR arrival and reaching the exit/stand; also choose a Seimon-mae–Izumoshi return. Follow operator notices for event-related stop changes.

Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable/faresSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th

Official sources and check dates