Which attractions should you visit in Matsue, Yasugi, and Izumo?
Choose Matsue Castle to enter the keep and look out over the town, or a Horikawa boat for the waterways. Adachi Museum in Yasugi offers gardens and Japanese paintings. Combine Izumo Taisha with Inasa-no-hama for a shrine visit and beach walk. Check art museum and history museum closures when choosing indoor exhibits.
Choose attractions independently of an itinerary
Matsue Castle · 松江城
Matsue Castle松江城
Explore the historic wooden keep's interior and structure. The Honmaru area is free to visit, while the keep requires admission. Its interior has steep stairs, and you remove your shoes to enter. Follow notices for access restrictions around the north gate on your visit date.
- AdmissionAdults: ¥1,200; elementary and junior high school students: free. Prices revised July 1, 2026. The Honmaru area is free.
- Hours and closuresApril–September: the keep is open 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m., admission until 5:30 p.m. October–March: the keep is open 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., admission until 4:30 p.m. Open year-round; events may change hours.
- Getting thereTake the Lakeline from Matsue Station to Kokuhō Matsue-jō (Ōtemae) · 国宝松江城（大手前）, then follow signs through the grounds to the keep. Return from the same stop on the circular Lakeline. Ordinary buses at Kenchō-mae require separate fare and timetable checks.
Official Matsue Castle guideMore transport and operating detailsMore transport and operating details
Izumo Oyashiro Shrine · 出雲大社
Izumo Oyashiro Shrine出雲大社
Follow the pine-lined approach to pray at the worship hall. Enter from Shinmon-dori and explore the shrine architecture along the way. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 4:30 p.m., so arrive earlier if you want to visit it.
- AdmissionOfficial guidance does not specify a general shrine-visit admission fee. Check separate fees if you want formal prayers or a treasure hall visit.
- Hours and closuresYou can visit the shrine from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The area behind the main sanctuary closes at 4:30 p.m.
- Getting thereFrom JR Izumoshi Station's north-exit stop 1, take an Ichibata Bus toward Izumo Taisha/Hinomisaki and get off at Seimon-mae · 正門前. The Aeon Mall route costs ¥510 per adult each way or ¥1,020 return on the same route. Return on an Izumoshi Station-bound bus, checking service notices and both directions for your date. The standard private railway route goes from Dentetsu-Izumoshi via a transfer at Kawato to Izumo Taisha-mae; direct services also exist.
Official Izumo Taisha guideMore transport and operating detailsCurrent Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and faresSpecial timetable for the 10th–11thSpecial timetable for the 12th
Adachi Museum of Art · 足立美術館
Adachi Museum of Art足立美術館
Enjoy garden views alongside Japanese paintings. You view the gardens from inside the museum rather than walking freely through them. The museum recommends at least two hours for a visit.
- AdmissionAdults: ¥2,500; university students: ¥2,000; high school students: ¥1,000; elementary and junior high school students: ¥500.
- Hours and closuresApril–September: Adachi Museum is open 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. October–March: Adachi Museum is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Open year-round, with separate new-annex closures for exhibition changes. Notices list annex closures October 20–23 and November 16–17, 2026.
- Getting thereFree shuttle from JR Yasugi Station: about 20 minutes. Use the stop about 15 meters to the right after leaving the station building. Capacity is 25, first come, first served, with no reservations. Collect one boarding ticket per person for your return shuttle at the museum entrance.
Official Adachi Museum guideMore transport and operating detailsMore transport and operating details
Matsue Horikawa Sightseeing Boat · 堀川遊覧船
Horikawa Sightseeing Boat堀川遊覧船
Take a Horikawa sightseeing boat to explore the waterways around Matsue Castle. Some low bridges require you to duck. Choose castle keep admission and a boat ride separately.
- AdmissionOne-day boat ticket: adults ¥2,000; junior and senior high school students ¥1,600; elementary school students ¥1,000; preschool children ¥500. One preschool child per adult rides free. Repeat rides are allowed that day, with waits possible when busy.
- Hours and closuresFirst departure: 9 a.m. Last departure: 5 p.m. March–September, 4 p.m. October–February. Boats leave Fureai Hiroba roughly every 20–30 minutes and Otemae roughly every 15–20 minutes; a circuit takes about 50 minutes. Ticket reception closes 10 minutes before the end, or 20 minutes at Karakoro Hiroba. Karakoro has no scheduled departures; you board a passing boat only if seats are available. Weather and water levels may change services.
- Getting thereTake the Lakeline from JR Matsue Station to Otemae Horikawa Yūransen Noriba/Rekishikan-mae · 大手前堀川遊覧船乗場・歴史館前. Go to the Otemae Hiroba boarding reception · 大手前広場乗船場 inside Matsue Castle's Otemae parking lot; distinguish it from Fureai Hiroba. Small groups normally ride without reservations. Reserved groups of 10 or more board only at Fureai Hiroba. Check on-site guidance for crossings, access, and walking time from the bus stop to reception.
Horikawa boat operatorOperator boarding-point mapReservations and full-circuit ridesMore transport and operating detailsCity Hall boarding-point location and floor planCity Hall Otemae reception floor plan
Inasa-no-hama Beach · 稲佐の浜
Inasa-no-Hama (Inasa Beach)稲佐の浜
A small shrine sits on Bentenjima rock by this white-sand beach. Walk here after visiting Izumo Taisha if you want to see the sea; it is about 15 minutes from the shrine. The beach is free to visit.
- AdmissionFree.
- Getting thereThe tourism agency lists about a 15-minute walk from Izumo Taisha. This starts at a different point from the 20–25-minute walk from Izumo Taisha-mae Station. The 15 minutes excludes travel from Seimon-mae · 正門前 bus stop to the shrine.
- Suggested visiting timeAllow 30–45 minutes at the beach as a suggested stay. Skip the walk in rain or strong wind. On departure day, shorten your visit to fit the return bus and your booked departure service.
Shimane tourism agency beach guideEnglish name from Izumo Tourism Association
Matsue History Museum · 松江歴史館
Matsue History Museum松江歴史館
Explore the permanent exhibition to learn about Matsue's castle-town history. You can visit the castle keep's architecture and the town-history exhibits on separate days. Allow 60–90 minutes to read the displays.
- AdmissionPermanent exhibition: ¥700 for adults living outside Matsue City; free for junior high school students and younger. Special exhibitions have separate prices.
- Hours and closuresMatsue History Museum is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; admission until 4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays (the next weekday if Monday is a public holiday) and December 29–January 1. A notice lists a special opening on November 2, 2026.
- Getting thereTake the Lakeline from Matsue Station stop 7 to Otemae Horikawa Yūransen Noriba/Rekishikan-mae · 大手前堀川遊覧船乗場・歴史館前, then walk about three minutes. Return from the same stop on the loop bus.
- Combined ticketAdult castle keep and history museum permanent exhibition combined ticket: ¥1,520, valid for 10 days from first use. Separate tickets cost ¥1,200 plus ¥700. Special exhibitions are excluded from the combined ticket's permanent exhibition coverage.
History museum hours and pricesWalk from the bus stopTourism agency combined-ticket validity
Shimane Art Museum · 島根県立美術館
Shimane Art Museum島根県立美術館
After the museum's collection exhibition, walk beside Lake Shinji. The itineraries exclude special exhibitions and waiting for sunset; a lakeside walk does not guarantee a sunset view.
- AdmissionThe official English guide lists collection admission of ¥400 for adults and ¥260 for university students, with high school students and younger admitted free. Special exhibitions cost extra.
- Hours and closuresOctober–February: Shimane Art Museum is open 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. March–September: Shimane Art Museum is open 10 a.m. until 30 minutes after sunset. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Closed Tuesdays and December 28–January 1; when Tuesday is a public holiday, closed the next day. Exhibition schedules can change hours and closures.
- Getting thereWalk about 15 minutes from JR Matsue Station, allow 60–90 minutes for the visit, then return along the same route. If you choose a bus due to rain or walking difficulty, check its fare and services separately.
- Luggage storage¥100 coin-return lockers are beside the main reception. Larger bags that do not fit can be left at reception. Bring a ¥100 coin; it is returned after use. Ask reception if lockers are full or you have a large bag. Museum FAQ, checked October 8, 2026.
Museum FAQOfficial English hours, prices, and walking accessCurrent opening and price guide
Frequently asked questions
Does this route walk through Adachi Museum's gardens?
You view the gardens from inside the museum and visit Japanese painting exhibits, rather than walking freely through the gardens. Allow about two hours as a planning suggestion; travel from Yasugi Station and waiting for the shuttle take additional time.
More transport and operating detailsOfficial Adachi Museum guide
Does the castle/history museum combined ticket include special exhibitions?
The ¥1,520 ticket covers Matsue Castle's keep and Matsue History Museum's permanent exhibition. History museum special exhibitions cost extra. Distinguish it from separate tickets of ¥1,200 plus ¥700, totaling ¥1,900.
Tourism agency combined-ticket validityHistory museum hours and pricesOfficial Matsue Castle guide
Official sources and checked dates
- Horikawa boat operator ·
- Official Matsue Castle guide ·
- More transport and operating details ·
- More transport and operating details ·
- Official Izumo Taisha guide ·
- More transport and operating details ·
- Official Adachi Museum guide ·
- More transport and operating details ·
- More transport and operating details ·
- History museum hours and prices ·
- Walk from the bus stop ·
- Tourism agency combined-ticket validity ·
- Museum FAQ ·
- Official English hours, prices, and walking access ·
- Current opening and price guide ·
- Shimane tourism agency beach guide ·
- English name from Izumo Tourism Association ·
- Official JR journey search ·
- Reservations and full-circuit rides ·
- Operator boarding-point map ·
- City Hall boarding-point location and floor plan ·
- Special timetable for the 10th–11th ·
- Special timetable for the 12th ·
- Current Ichibata Taisha Line timetable and fares ·
- City Hall Otemae reception floor plan ·