Which attractions should you see in Matsue, Yasugi and Izumo?
Choose Matsue Castle to enter the keep and look over the town, or Horikawa boats for the waterways. Adachi in Yasugi suits gardens and Japanese paintings. Combine Izumo Taisha and Inasa-no-Hama for worship and a beach walk. Check art and history museum closing days when choosing indoor exhibitions.
Choose attractions separately from the routes
Matsue Castle
松江城
Matsue Castle preserves an old wooden keep you can enter to examine its structure. The Honmaru grounds are free, while the keep charges admission. Inside, steep stairs and removing shoes are part of the visit. Follow visit-date notices for restrictions near the north gate.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 1,200 for adults. Primary and junior high school pupils enter free. These rates took effect on 1 July 2026. Honmaru grounds are free.
- Hours and closuresThe keep opens from 08:30 to 18:00 in April–September, with admission until 17:30, and from 08:30 to 17:00 in October–March, with admission until 16:30. It opens throughout the year, subject to event changes.
- Getting thereFrom Matsue Station, take the Lake Line to 国宝松江城（大手前）, then follow signs through the grounds to the keep. Afterwards, return to the same stop for the circular Lake Line back to the station. Ordinary buses at Kencho-mae require separate fare and timetable checks.
Open Matsue Castle’s official guideMore transport and operating informationMore transport and operating information
Izumo Taisha
Izumo Oyashiro Shrine出雲大社
Follow the pine-lined approach to worship at the haiden hall. Enter the grounds from Shinmondori and look at the shrine buildings along the way. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 16:30, so visit early if you want to see it.
- AdmissionThe official guide does not list an admission fee for ordinary worship. Check separate charges for prayer services or the treasure hall if choosing them.
- Hours and closuresWorship is available from 06:00 to 19:00. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 16:30.
- Getting thereFrom stand 1 outside JR Izumoshi Station’s north exit, take an Ichibata bus towards Izumo Taisha or Hinomisaki to Seimon-mae (正門前). Adult fare via AEON Mall is JPY 510 one way or JPY 1,020 return on the same route. Return from Seimon-mae towards Izumoshi Station and check notices and both services for your travel date. By private railway, the usual route is Dentetsu-Izumoshi → change at Kawato → Izumo Taisha-mae; some services run through.
Open Izumo Taisha’s official guideMore transport and operating informationIchibata Taisha Line current timetable and faresSpecial timetable for 10–11 OctoberSpecial timetable for 12 October
Adachi Museum of Art
足立美術館
See Japanese paintings alongside garden scenery. You view the gardens from inside the museum rather than walk freely through them. The museum recommends at least 2 hours for a visit.
- AdmissionAdmission costs JPY 2,500 for adults, JPY 2,000 for university students, JPY 1,000 for senior high school students or JPY 500 for primary and junior high school pupils.
- Hours and closuresThe museum opens from 09:00 to 17:30 in April–September and from 09:00 to 17:00 in October–March. It opens throughout the year, with separate annex exhibition-change closures. The announced annex closures are 20–23 October and 16–17 November 2026.
- 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, with no reservations. Collect a numbered return ticket for each person at the museum entrance.
Open Adachi Museum’s official guideMore transport and operating informationMore transport and operating information
Matsue Horikawa sightseeing boat
Horikawa Sightseeing Boat堀川遊覧船
Take a Horikawa boat to see the waterways around Matsue Castle. You need to duck under some low bridges. Keep admission and the boat ride are separate choices.
- AdmissionA one-day boat ticket costs JPY 2,000 for adults, JPY 1,600 for junior and senior high school students, JPY 1,000 for primary pupils or JPY 500 for preschool children. One preschool child per adult travels free. Repeat rides are allowed that day; queues may occur.
- Hours and closuresFirst departure is 09:00; last departure March–September 17:00, October–February 16:00. Boats leave Fureai Hiroba roughly every 20–30 minutes and Otemae roughly every 15–20 minutes; a full circuit takes about 50 minutes. Reception closes 10 minutes before the end, or 20 minutes before at Karakoro Hiroba. Karakoro has no scheduled departures: board a passing boat only if seats are available. Weather and water levels can change operations.
- Getting thereFrom JR Matsue Station, take the Lake Line to 大手前堀川遊覧船乗場・歴史館前. Reach the Otemae Hiroba boat reception inside Matsue Castle’s Otemae car park; it differs from Fureai Hiroba. Small parties normally need no reservation; reserved parties of 10 or more board only at Fureai Hiroba. Check local signs for crossings, entrance routes and the stop-to-reception walk time.
Horikawa operatorOperator’s boat landing mapReservations and full-circuit boat guideMore transport and operating informationCity boat landing location and planCity plan of Otemae reception
Inasa-no-Hama beach
Inasa-no-Hama (Inasa Beach)稲佐の浜
Bentenjima, a rock with a small shrine, stands on this white-sand beach. Walk here after visiting Izumo Taisha if you also want to see the sea. It is about 15 minutes on foot from the shrine, and beach access is free.
- AdmissionBeach access is free.
- Getting thereThe tourism guide’s roughly 15-minute walk starts at Izumo Taisha. This differs from the 20–25-minute walk from Izumo Taisha-mae Station. The 15 minutes exclude getting from Seimon-mae to the shrine.
- Suggested visit timeAllow a suggested 30–45 minutes at the beach. Omit the walk in rain or strong wind. On departure day, shorten your visit to fit the return bus and your booked onward service.
Shimane tourism beach guideIzumo Tourism Association’s English name
Matsue History Museum
松江歴史館
For the castle town’s history, visit the History Museum’s main exhibition. You can see the keep’s architecture and the town-history displays on different days. Allow 60–90 minutes to read the exhibitions.
- AdmissionMain exhibition admission costs JPY 700 for adults living outside Matsue. Junior high school pupils and younger enter free. Special exhibition prices vary.
- Hours and closing daysThe museum opens from 09:00 to 17:00, with admission until 16:30. It closes on Mondays, or the next weekday if Monday is a public holiday, and from 29 December to 1 January. A special opening was announced for 2 November 2026.
- Getting thereTake the Lake Line from Matsue Station stand 7 to 大手前堀川遊覧船乗場・歴史館前, then walk about 3 minutes. Return from the same stop on the circular bus to the station.
- Joint ticketThe adult joint ticket for the castle keep and main history exhibition costs JPY 1,520 and is valid for 10 days from first use. Separate tickets total JPY 1,200 + 700. The joint ticket covers the main exhibition; special exhibitions are excluded.
History Museum hours and admissionWalk from the stopTourism guide: joint ticket validity
Shimane Art Museum
島根県立美術館
After seeing the museum collection, walk beside Lake Shinji. Waiting for sunset and special exhibitions are excluded from these routes; the lakeside walk does not guarantee a sunset view.
- AdmissionThe official English guide lists collection admission of JPY 400 for adults and JPY 260 for university students; senior high school students and younger enter free. Special exhibitions cost extra.
- Hours and closing daysThe museum opens from 10:00 to 18:30 in October–February and from 10:00 until 30 minutes after sunset in March–September. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing. It closes on Tuesdays and from 28 December to 1 January; a Tuesday public holiday moves the closure to the following day. Exhibition schedules can change opening dates.
- Getting thereWalk about 15 minutes from JR Matsue Station. After a 60–90-minute visit, return along the same path. If using a bus because of rain or difficulty walking, check its fare and service separately.
- Luggage storageJPY 100 coin-return lockers are beside general reception. Oversized luggage can be left at reception. Bring a JPY 100 coin, which is returned after use. Ask reception if lockers are full or your bag is too large. Museum FAQ, confirmed 8 October 2026.
Museum FAQOfficial English hours, admission and walkCurrent opening and admission guide
Frequently asked questions
Does the Adachi route walk through the gardens?
No. View the gardens from inside the museum and see Japanese paintings. Allow a suggested 2 hours for the visit, with travel from Yasugi and shuttle waiting time extra.
More transport and operating informationOpen Adachi Museum’s official guide
Does the castle and history joint ticket include special exhibitions?
The JPY 1,520 joint ticket combines Matsue Castle keep and the History Museum’s main exhibition. Special history exhibitions cost extra. Separate tickets are JPY 1,200 + 700, totalling JPY 1,900.
Tourism guide: joint ticket validityHistory Museum hours and admissionOpen Matsue Castle’s official guide
Official sources and confirmation dates
- Horikawa operator ·
- Open Matsue Castle’s official guide ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Open Izumo Taisha’s official guide ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- Open Adachi Museum’s official guide ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- More transport and operating information ·
- History Museum hours and admission ·
- Walk from the stop ·
- Tourism guide: joint ticket validity ·
- Museum FAQ ·
- Official English hours, admission and walk ·
- Current opening and admission guide ·
- Shimane tourism beach guide ·
- Izumo Tourism Association’s English name ·
- JR official journey planner entry ·
- Reservations and full-circuit boat guide ·
- Operator’s boat landing map ·
- City boat landing location and plan ·
- Special timetable for 10–11 October ·
- Special timetable for 12 October ·
- Ichibata Taisha Line current timetable and fares ·
- City plan of Otemae reception ·