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Shimane

Home of Izumo-Taisha, Matsue Castle and the Oki Islands

About Shimane
Photo: maso11 / Shutterstock.com

Top Attractions in Shimane

Around Shimane

Matsue

Matsue

Matsue is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, with a population of around 200,000, and there are many reasons for the vis...

Shimane
Oki Islands

Oki Islands

Have you ever heard of Shimane Prefecture? Probably not…That’s what most people say, not just travelers from overseas, but pe...

Shimane
Tsuwano

Tsuwano

Tsuwano (津和野) is a castle town nestled in a valley in western Shimane prefecture, bordering Yamaguchi. Tsuwano's town cent...

Shimane

Top Articles

Upcoming Shimane Events

Matsue Water Light Road

Matsue Water Light Road

Kim

Now in its 20th year, the Matsue Water Light Road event brings a variety of beautiful illuminations to Shimane's capital. Var...

Shimane
Theo Jansen Exhibition

Theo Jansen Exhibition

Kim

A special exhibition taking place at the Shimane Art Museum immerses attendees in the world of Theo Jansen's strandbeests thr...

Shimane

Where to eat in Shimane

Ramen Dining Naseba Naru Kakeru

Ramen Dining Naseba Naru Kakeru

Kim

Ramen Dining Naseba Naru Kakeru is located inside Matsue Station, and provides an easy to navigate menu and experience - part...

Shimane
Conseil Lunch & Bar 6

Conseil Lunch & Bar

Sherilyn Siy

Conseil's specialty is sazai-don (turban shells over rice) but if you're not a fan of sazai, there are plenty of other things...

Shimane
Kissa Kiharu Cafe

Kissa Kiharu Cafe

Kim

If you're headed to the Matsue History Museum, you have to pay a visit to the on-site cafe known as Kissa Kiharu. The cafe se...

Shimane

Places to stay in Shimane

Marine Port Hotel Ama 7

Marine Port Hotel Ama

Sherilyn Siy

Ideally located near Hishiura port, Marine Port Hotel Ama is a great starting point to explore Ama Town. The BBQ dinner packa...

Shimane
Kuniga-so 7

Kuniga-so

Sherilyn Siy

Of the many places we visited in the Oki Islands, Nishinoshima is home to one of the most memorable travel experiences I've h...

Shimane
Fukuma-kan

Fukuma-kan

Lester Goh

Located in the Mihonoseki Harbour on the Northern tip of Shimane Peninsula, Fukuma-kan is a ryokan offering magnificent views...

Shimane

Latest Shimane Reports

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About Shimane

Shimane
Okinawa Nagasaki Fukuoka Saga Kumamoto Kagoshima Miyazaki Oita Ehime Kochi Tokushima Kagawa Yamaguchi Hiroshima Okayama Tottori Shimane Hyogo Kyoto Osaka Wakayama Nara Shiga Mie Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Gifu Aichi Nagano Shizuoka Niigata Yamanashi Kanagawa Tokyo Saitama Gunma Tochigi Chiba Ibaraki Fukushima Miyagi Yamagata Iwate Akita Aomori Hokkaido
Region Chugoku
Island Honshu
Capital Matsue
Population 717,397
Area 6708.23 sq. km

Located in western Honshu, Shimane Prefecture (島根県, Shimane-ken) is an unfairly underrated tourist destination; there’s more to see and do here than what some people might tell you.

Shimane is most noted for the Izumo-Taisha, which is one of Japan’s can’t-miss sites and is a surprisingly popular date spot; it houses the Shinto deity of marriage, attracting couples from all over the country. Matsue Castle and Kamosu Jinja are two of Matsue City’s most prominent features, along with its many hot springs.

The Oki Islands have some of Japan’s most pristine coasts, while the Adachi Museum of Art is renowned for its breathtaking Japanese garden. The Iwami Ginzan, the largest silver mine in Japanese history, is a World Heritage Site.

Around Shimane

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