Matsue · Castle & town walks
1. Matsue Castle
An original castle keep designated a National Treasure. Climb the keep for views over the castle town.
Eastern Shimane
Matsue & Yasugi travel guide
Stay in Matsue to explore the castle town, Lake Shinji sunsets, Tamatsukuri Onsen and the gardens of Yasugi.
Events for your trip ↓Things to see
Matsue · Boat cruise & waterways
2. Horikawa boat cruise
A boat cruise of about 50 minutes along the moat of Matsue Castle. The roof lowers when passing under low bridges.
Matsue · Sunset & lakeside
3. Sunset at Lake Shinji
Watch the sun set behind Yomegashima Island from the shores of Lake Shinji, one of Japan’s celebrated sunset spots.
Tamayu, Matsue · Hot springs & foot baths
4. Tamatsukuri Onsen
A historic hot spring mentioned in the Izumo Fudoki, known for its reputation for beautiful skin. Inns and foot baths line the Tamayu River.
Matsue · Shrine & connections
5. Yaegaki Shrine
A shrine associated with matchmaking. At Kagami no Ike pond, visitors float paper with a coin to tell their fortune.
Yatsuka, Matsue · Gardens & flowers
6. Yuushien Garden
A Japanese garden on Daikonshima Island in Lake Nakaumi, with peonies and other seasonal flowers.
Mihonoseki, Matsue · Shrine & port town
7. Miho Shrine
The head shrine dedicated to Ebisu. The nearby Aoishidatami stone street preserves the atmosphere of an old port town.
Yasugi · Japanese gardens & art
8. Adachi Museum of Art
Known for its extensive Japanese gardens and modern Japanese paintings, including works by Yokoyama Taikan.
Take a closer look at a city
Getting here & getting around
Approximate journey times, not live schedules. Waiting and sightseeing time are additional unless specified.
Travelling from outside Sanin
Rail
- Okayama → MatsueAbout 2 hr 35 minYakumo limited express
- Shin-Osaka → MatsueAbout 3 hr 30 minShinkansen + Yakumo limited express (change at Okayama)
- Nagoya → MatsueAbout 4 hr 30 minShinkansen + Yakumo limited express (change at Okayama)
- Hakata → MatsueAbout 4 hr 30 minShinkansen + Yakumo limited express (change at Okayama)
- Tokyo → MatsueAbout 6 hrShinkansen + Yakumo limited express (change at Okayama)
- Tokyo → MatsueAbout 12 hr 7 minSunrise Izumo sleeper train (direct)
Take the Shinkansen to Okayama and change to the Yakumo limited express for Matsue. The overnight Sunrise Izumo sleeper also runs directly from Tokyo.
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29Flight
- Tokyo (Haneda) → Izumo AirportAbout 1 hr 30 min
- Tokyo (Haneda) → Yonago Kitaro AirportAbout 1 hr 20 min
Airport buses reach Matsue Station from Izumo Airport in about 35 minutes and from Yonago Airport in about 45 minutes. Izumo Airport also has flights from Osaka (Itami), Nagoya (Komaki) and Fukuoka.
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29Bus
- Osaka (Umeda) → MatsueAbout 4 hr 40 min
- Hiroshima → MatsueAbout 3 hr
- Okayama → MatsueAbout 3 hr 6 min
- Nagoya → MatsueAbout 7 hr 20 minOvernight service
- Fukuoka (Hakata) → MatsueAbout 8 hr 26 minOvernight service
- Tokyo → MatsueOvernight service
Services also run from Kyoto and Kobe. Check each operator’s timetable for service frequency and boarding points.
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29From the local station
Times start at the base station. Walking from a bus stop or station to each sight may take extra time.
Matsue Station → Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle (Otemae entrance)
Car: About 10 min
Matsue Lake Line sightseeing bus: About 10 min
Take the sightseeing bus from stop 7 at Matsue Station. Walk from the stops around Matsue Castle to the keep.
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29Matsue Station → Tamatsukuri Onsen
Tamatsukuri-Onsen Station
Car: About 15 min
JR San-in Line local train: About 8 min
From Tamatsukuri-Onsen Station, reach the hot spring town by bus (about 10 minutes) or taxi (about 5 minutes).
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29Matsue Station → Adachi Museum of Art
Adachi Museum of Art
Car: About 34 min
JR train + free shuttle bus: About 45 min
Take JR to Yasugi Station and change to the museum’s free shuttle bus (about 20 minutes). Transfer waiting time is not included.
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29Matsue Station → Izumo Airport
Izumo Airport
Car: About 30 min
Airport bus: About 35 min
The airport bus fare is ¥1,300. Buses departing the airport wait for flight arrivals and baggage collection.
Timetable & route information ↗Information checked: 2026-09-29Between Sanin regions
Approximate journey times, not live schedules. Waiting and sightseeing time are additional unless specified.
- Hamada → Matsue Station
Car: About 2 hr 5 min · Includes toll roads
Information checked: 2026-09-30Route source ↗
Rail: About 1 hr 38 min · Direct limited express - Izumo → Matsue Station
Car: About 47 min · Check with the route planner
Information checked: 2026-09-29Route source ↗
Rail: About 24 min · Direct limited express - Yonago → Matsue Station
Car: About 34 min · Includes toll roads
Information checked: 2026-09-28Route source ↗
Rail: About 26 min · Direct limited express - Kurayoshi → Matsue Station
Car: About 1 hr 33 min · Includes toll roads
Information checked: 2026-09-30Route source ↗
Rail: About 53 min · Direct limited express - Tottori → Matsue Station
Car: About 2 hr 7 min · Includes toll roads
Information checked: 2026-09-30Route source ↗
Rail: About 1 hr 22 min · Direct limited express
Events for your trip
Event names are retained in their original language. The short summaries, dates and locations below help you choose; full details and some external sites are in Japanese.
All event dates and times are in Japan Standard Time (JST).
Exhibition · MatsueOfficial event name (Japanese)
連続テレビ小説「ばけばけ」ドラマ館
Sun, 17 May 2026 – Wed, 31 Mar 2027
Daily 09:00〜16:30 JST
松江市役所
Free admission
Event details (Japanese) →
Exhibition · YasugiOfficial event name (Japanese)
現代日本画名品選Ⅱ「ずらり100点」
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 – Mon, 19 Oct 2026
Daily 09:00〜17:30 JST
足立美術館
Admission charges apply; check prices and conditions in the details.
Event details (Japanese) →
Exhibition · YasugiOfficial event name (Japanese)
秋季特別展 侍－日本画の革新に挑んだ7人－
Mon, 31 Aug 2026 – Mon, 30 Nov 2026
Daily 09:00〜17:30 JST
足立美術館
Admission charges apply; check prices and conditions in the details.
Event details (Japanese) →
Activities & tours · MatsueOfficial event name (Japanese)
VIVANT × SHIMANE 特別任務スタンプラリー
Tue, 1 Sept 2026 – Sun, 8 Nov 2026
Daily 08:30〜18:00 JST
松江国際観光案内所
Free admission
Event details (Japanese) →
Exhibition · MatsueOfficial event name (Japanese)
四季の茶道具「月夜見の会」
Fri, 18 Sept 2026 – Sun, 25 Oct 2026
Daily 09:00〜17:00 JST
田部美術館
Admission charges apply; check prices and conditions in the details.
Event details (Japanese) →
Exhibition · MatsueOfficial event name (Japanese)
五感で感じるこびとづかん 2026
Fri, 18 Sept 2026 – Mon, 12 Oct 2026
Daily 09:30〜17:00 JST
由志園
Adults ¥1,000 / Schoolchildren ¥500（Preschool childrenfree）
Event details (Japanese) →Food, stays & travel information
Official visitor information
Accommodation & restaurant directories (Japanese)
Stays in Matsue, Yasugi, Tamatsukuri & Okuizumo ↗Stays near Matsue Station ↗Restaurants around Matsue & Yasugi ↗Restaurants in Matsue ↗
Event names are retained in their original language. The short summaries, dates and locations below help you choose; full details and some external sites are in Japanese.