Prefecture guide
Shimane
島根県
A quiet Sea of Japan prefecture of myths and shrines, with Izumo Taisha, Matsue Castle, the Iwami Ginzan silver mine and the Adachi Museum garden.
Advisories (minor): Heavy rain · Alerts for all of Japan
- places to see
- 38
- town guides
- 2
- protected local foods
- 4
- traditional crafts
- 4
- Japan Heritage stories
- 9
Map of Shimane
Tap a pin to see the place, or a town name for its guide. You can switch on places to eat and stay too.
Places to see in Shimane
Tsuwano Kyodokan
津和野町郷土館A museum in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Itohara Memorial Museum
絲原記念館A museum in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Matsue
Ishiya Kofun
石屋古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Izumo
Ageshima Kofun
上島古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Matsue
Yamashiro Hofun
山代方墳A historic site in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Sukumozuka Kofun
スクモ塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Kamo-Iwakura Site
加茂岩倉遺跡A historic site in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Matsue
Lafcadio Hearn's Former Residence
小泉八雲旧居A historic building in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Matsue
Yamashiro Futagozuka Kofun
山代二子塚An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Matsue
Okadayama Kofun
岡田山古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
- Matsue
Former Shimane University Okudani Dormitory
島根大学旧奥谷宿舎A museum in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Mizuwakasu Shrine
水若酢神社A Shinto shrine in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Town guides in Shimane
The towns with the most to see, each with its own guide.
Taste of Shimane
Foods whose names are protected in Japan. If the label carries the name, it really comes from here.
Traditional crafts of Shimane
Officially recognised crafts that are still made by hand. A good place to start when you look for souvenirs.
Weather in Matsue this week
Today
24 Oct
Rain
High 24°CLow 16°C
Sun
25 Oct
Rain
High 23°CLow 19°C
Rain 90%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 21°CLow 16°C
Rain 70%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 22°CLow 14°C
Rain 50%
Warm: T-shirts and breathable clothes, plus a light layer for air-conditioned trains and shops.
Explore by interest
Japan Heritage stories
Local history told as a route you can follow, with the places that go with it.
- Esashi: the herring town that outshone Edo
- Fukiya: the birthplace of Japan Red
- Iwami kagura: gods and demons dance the old myths
- Iwami's volcanoes: Jomon forest and silver mountain in Oda
- Izumo: the sacred land where the sun sets
- Izumo's tatara: a thousand years of making iron
- Kitamaebune: the merchant ships that made Japan's port towns rich
- Masuda: a medieval masterpiece of Japan
Good to know
- Izumo Taisha is linked to matchmaking and good relationships.
- Matsue Castle is one of Japan's few original castle keeps.
- The Adachi Museum of Art garden is famous across Japan and is best seen in the morning light.
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Shimane?
Okayama, on the Sanyo Shinkansen, is the main gateway: limited express trains run from there to Yasugi, Matsue and Izumo. For Tsuwano in the west, take the limited express from Shin-Yamaguchi. Shimane also has three airports with domestic flights, and night buses run from Tokyo.
What is there to see in Shimane?
Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's oldest and holiest Shinto shrines; the Iwami Ginzan silver mine, a UNESCO site that produced up to a third of the world's silver in the 17th century; the castle towns of Matsue and Tsuwano; and the clear waters of the Oki Islands. Look out for kagura, dance performances based on ancient myths.
What should I eat in Shimane?
Izumo soba, served in stacked lacquered bowls, and shijimi clams from Lake Shinji in miso soup. Matsue is a tea town with fine wagashi sweets, and snow crab comes in from the sea in winter.
More of Chugoku
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.