Shimane島根県

Places to seeWhere to go in Shimane

Start with the first of these. Each is worth half a day.

Izumo Taisha出雲大社

A shrine where the gods of the country are said to gather each autumn. Clap four times here, not twice.

Half a dayAutumn only

MAP

Matsue Castle松江城

One of twelve castles with its original keep, with a boat round the moat.

Half a dayYou can ride

MAP

Adachi Museum garden足立美術館の庭園

A garden made to be looked at through windows, framed like the paintings inside.

2 hours

MAP

Matsue horikawa boat堀川めぐり

A small boat around the castle moat — the roof folds down to get under the bridges.

1 hourYou can ride

MAP

What Shimane is

Izumo Taisha is where, in the old stories, all the gods of Japan gather once a year in the tenth month. Its enormous straw ropes are replaced every few years and hang across the front of the halls. People clap four times here rather than the usual two.

When to comeThe same place, four different places

Pick the season first and the days will arrange themselves.

March – May

Cherry blossom around Matsue Castle. Mild, and the coast is at its clearest.

June – August

Wet in June, humid after. The mine and the forest paths stay cool.

September – November

The best months. Autumn colour in the garden, and the shrine at its busiest in the old tenth month.

December – February

Grey and cold off the sea, with some snow. Crab season, and very few visitors.

Find it fastEverything in Shimane