Western Shimane: Iwami, Tsuwano and nearby places

Yunotsu hot-spring townYunotsu Onsen

Western ShimaneIwami · Tsuwano

Use Hamada Station as a base for Iwami Ginzan, Yunotsu Onsen, the coastal aquarium and the historic towns of Masuda and Tsuwano.

Events for your travel date
Shimane miniature worldBetaExplore this region in a 3D miniature worldTap scenery and objects to discover this month's events.(Japanese)

Sights

  • The entrance to Ryugenji Mabu mine tunnel, surrounded by greenery

    Omori, Oda · World Heritage and historic mineOfficial ↗

    Ryugenji mine tunnel(Japanese)

    A regularly open mine tunnel at the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan site. Walk past walls that still bear chisel marks.

  • Yunotsu hot-spring town

    Yunotsu, Oda · Hot springs and historic streetsOfficial ↗

    Yunotsu Onsen(Japanese)

    Hot springs in a port town associated with Iwami Ginzan, where traditional public baths and historic streets remain.

  • Mount Sanbe rising beyond Ukinuno Pond

    Sanbe, Oda · Mountains and highlandsOfficial ↗

    Mount Sanbe(Japanese)

    A mountain in a national park near the center of Shimane. Enjoy grassland walks, hiking and hot springs.

  • The beluga whale tank at Shimane Aquarium AQUAS

    Hamada and Gotsu · AquariumOfficial ↗

    AQUAS(Japanese)

    The only aquarium in western Japan with beluga whales. Their bubble-ring display is a popular attraction.

  • Coast and rock formations at Iwami Tatamigaura

    Kokubu, Hamada · Coast and Natural MonumentOfficial ↗

    Iwami Tatamigaura(Japanese)

    A nationally designated Natural Monument, with rounded nodules across a flat rocky shore roughly the size of Tokyo Dome.

  • The main gate of Ikoji Temple

    Masuda City · Temple and gardenOfficial ↗

    Ikoji Temple(Japanese)

    A temple with a pond garden said to have been created by the renowned painter Sesshu, designated a national Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty.

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  • Stone paving and white walls on Tonomachi Street, Tsuwano

    Tsuwano Town · Historic streets and castle townOfficial ↗

    Tonomachi Street(Japanese)

    A historic street in Tsuwano, often called Sanin's Little Kyoto. White walls and carp swimming in the roadside waterways create a distinctive townscape.

  • The vermilion buildings of Taikodani Inari Shrine

    Tsuwano Town · Shrine and torii gatesOfficial ↗

    Taikodani Inari Shrine(Japanese)

    One of Japan's five major Inari shrines. Around 1,000 vermilion torii gates line the approach.

From regions to towns

Explore the towns

Choose a town by its location and main sights.

TsuwanoOdaGotsuHamadaMasudaKawamotoMisatoOhnanYoshika

Points mark representative sights, not town boundaries or centres. Dashed lines are prefectural borders.
Terrain: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) / OpenFreeMap.

The beluga whale tank at Shimane Aquarium AQUAS
AQUAS
Hamada City

Shimane Aquarium AQUAS

An aquarium where you can observe beluga whales and other marine life, in a park area spanning Hamada and Gotsu.

Open the visitor guideEvents in this town(Japanese)
Photo source

Totti · CC BY-SA 4.0(converted to WebP, resized and cropped to fit)

Travel times and detailed visitor maps

Guide map

Sea of JapanHiroshimaYamaguchiNHamada Sta.Prefectural borderAQUASCar About 20 minRail About 20 minIwami TatamigauraCar About 20 minBus About 30 minutesIwami Ginzan Silver MineCar About 60 minRail About 90 minTsuwanoCar About 80 minRail About 70 minHagi-Iwami AirportCar About 50 minShared taxi About 60 minTo IzumoCar: About 1 hr 40 min

Tap labels for details. Orange labels open nearby regional guides. Schematic map; one-way times from Hamada Station.

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap / OpenMapTiles