Matsue Castle, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Photo: FIND/47 contributor via FIND/47 · CC BY 4.0
島根CHŪGOKU
CHŪGOKU · 島根県 · Japan

Shimane

Home to Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's oldest and grandest shrines.

Shimane, on Japan's San'in coast facing the Sea of Japan, is the mythic "Land of the Gods," home to Izumo Taisha, one of the country's oldest and most revered Shinto shrines. It also holds the National Treasure Matsue Castle, the UNESCO World Heritage Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, and the volcanic Oki Islands.

Shimane (島根) is the land of myth: Izumo Taisha (出雲大社) is one of Japan's oldest shrines, dedicated to the deity of marriage and good relationships. Iwami Ginzan (石見銀山) once supplied a third of the world's silver.

Izumo 出雲市Matsue 松江市Oki Shoto 隠岐諸島
Where it isShimane, CHŪGOKU
Matsue Castle, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Matsue Castle
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Adachi Museum of Art garden
Taikodani Inari Jinja, Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Taikodani Inari Jinja, Tsuwano

Photos: Matsue Castle — FIND/47 contributor via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine — No Boring Stories via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adachi Museum of Art garden — T-KIMURA via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Taikodani Inari Jinja, Tsuwano — decade_null via Flickr, CC BY 2.0

01

Getting there

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Izumo/Matsue are reached by air from Tokyo or by limited express from Okayama.

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02

What to see

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Top pick

Izumo Taisha (出雲大社)

One of Japan's oldest and most revered Shinto shrines, dedicated to Okuninushi, deity of en (bonds/matchmaking). In the lunar 10th month the gods of Japan are…

MapOfficialTickets
Matsue Castle keep, Shimane Prefecture, JapanTop pick

Matsue Castle (松江城)

Built in 1611, one of only a handful of surviving original wooden castles and a National Treasure; its top floor gives a 360-degree view over Matsue and Lake…

MapOfficialTickets
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Shimane Prefecture, JapanTop pick

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (石見銀山)

A former world-class silver mine registered in 2007 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (first industrial heritage in Asia); visitors can tour the Ryugenji-mabu…

MapOfficialTickets
03

What to eat

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Izumo soba, Shimane Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Izumo soba (出雲そば)

One of Japan's three great soba traditions; buckwheat is milled with the husk on, giving dark, aromatic, firm noodles. Often served warigo-style in stacked…

Shijimi clams, Shimane Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Shijimi clams (宍道湖のしじみ)

Freshwater clams harvested from Lake Shinji (Shinjiko); Shimane leads Japan in shijimi production. Typically eaten as shijimi miso soup, prized for…

Nodoguro, Shimane Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Nodoguro / blackthroat seaperch (のどぐろ)

Luxury white-fleshed fish landed on the Sea of Japan coast around Matsue and Izumo; served grilled, as sashimi, or over rice as a premium local lunch.

04

Shimane at a glance

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05

Say it in Shimane

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Ask a local
Kirei desu ne.
It's beautiful, isn't it?
Test yourself
Local word
enmusubi
matchmaking / forging bonds — Izumo Taisha's specialty
Test yourself
One more
Koko wa shizuka de ii desu ne.
This place is peaceful and nice, isn't it?
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Matsue Castle, Shimane Prefecture, Japan

Sleep in Shimane

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07

Next door

TottoriJapan's famous sand dunes on the Sea of Japan.YamaguchiA spectacular five-arched bridge and a vivid vermilion shrine.Play the 47-prefecture mapUnlock Shimane in the RPG-style explorer.

Links marked PR are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Photos: Matsue Castle — FIND/47 contributor via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine — No Boring Stories via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adachi Museum of Art garden — T-KIMURA via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Taikodani Inari Jinja, Tsuwano — decade_null via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 · Matsue Castle keep — Clay Gilliland via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine — No Boring Stories via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Izumo soba — puffyjet via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 · Shijimi clams — coniferconifer via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 · Nodoguro — City Foodsters via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. Map: Geolonia (MIT).