Shimane Travel Guide

The prefecture of Japan with the second-lowest population, Shimane is located along the western coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu. Stretching against the Sea of Japan, Shimane includes the Oki Islands. It is bordered by Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, and Tottori.

The largest city and capital of Shimane is Matsue, nicknamed the “City of Water” because it is bordered by three bodies of water: Lake Nakaumi, Lake Shinji, and the Sea of Japan. It is a castle town, home to the national treasure Matsue Castle, one of only 12 remaining original castles in Japan, which houses a museum and a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Another building with a view is the Shimane Art Museum, especially beautiful at sunset. Both Western and Japanese collections of paintings, sculptures, modern art, and photography can be viewed. Across from the museum is Lake Shinji, which is famous for its Seven Delicacies available during different times of the year: whitebait, Shijimi clams, eel, shrimp, bass, smelt, and carp.

Izumo is another city in Shimane, notable for the Izumo-taisha Shrine, one of Japan’s most ancient Shinto shrines, so old that the date of its establishment is not available in any historical records. In 2009 in Izumo City, archeologists excavated tools from an estimated 120,000 years ago, the oldest in Japan. The city is also known for “Izumo soba,” which has a stronger buckwheat taste than other common varieties of the noodle.

For a taste of Shimane’s more recent history, visit Historic Tsuwano, a sleepy castle town nestled in the mountains. While the castle no longer stands, samurai residences with their original architecture can still be admired in the Tsuwano’s “Old Town,” known as the “Little Kyoto of the San-in Region.” Another notable attraction in Tsuwano is Taikodani Inari Shrine, one of Japan’s five great Inari Shrines, with a tunnel of vermilion torii gates leading up to the shrine.

Prefer water sports to history? Shimane’s Oki Islands are a cluster of paradisiacal islands with abundant natural attractions, where visitors can enjoy adventurous activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing. Of course, beach bums can also catch some rays from the safety of the sand and soak in the views of clear water and skies. For those who prefer to stay on dry land, the islands offer campsites that boast running water (Yes, that means showers!), and shrines like Takuhi Shrine, Nishinoshima's oldest shrine, housed partially in a cave. Oki beef and local seafood are must-eats on the Oki islands.