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Shimane

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

About Shimane

Things to do in Shimane

Upcoming Shimane Events

Heron Dance
Culture

Heron Dance

Denes Perlaky

The Heron dance is a longstanding tradition in Tsuwano, protecting people from illnesses since about 400 years ago. The white feathers..

Jul 20th - Jul 27th Free
Tsuwano's Obon Dance
Culture

Tsuwano's Obon Dance

Denes Perlaky

Tsuwano dance is a unique obon dance, in the small castle town of Tsuwano, Shimane, that has been performed for over 400 years...

Tsuwano Thursday - Aug 15th Free
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Shimane Top 10

  1. Tamatsukuri Onsen, Shimane
    1

    Tamatsukuri Onsen, Shimane

    Matsue
  2. Yunotsu Hot Spring
    2

    Yunotsu Hot Spring

    Beauty & Spa
  3. Sasago Beach, a Shimane Secret
    3

    Sasago Beach, a Shimane Secret

    Matsue
  4. Yuushien Garden on Daikon-shima
    4

    Yuushien Garden on Daikon-shima

    Matsue
  5. Yabusame Horse Archery Tsuwano
    5

    Yabusame Horse Archery Tsuwano

    Culture
  6. Hinomisaki Lighthouse in Izumo
    6

    Hinomisaki Lighthouse in Izumo

    Culture
  7. Adachi Museum of Art
    7

    Adachi Museum of Art

    Culture
  8. Step into the Homelife of Samurai
    8

    Step into the Homelife of Samurai

    Matsue
  9. Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
    9

    Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

    Culture
  10. Sunset at Hinomisaki Lighthouse
    10

    Sunset at Hinomisaki Lighthouse

    Photostory
  1. Streets of Matsue
    1

    Streets of Matsue

    Activity
  2. Meimei-an and the Tea Ceremony Culture of Matsue
    2

    Meimei-an and the Tea Ceremony Culture of Matsue

    Culture
  3. Tamatsukuri Onsen
    3

    Tamatsukuri Onsen

    Beauty & Spa
  4. Adachi Museum of Art and Yuushien Gardens
    4

    Adachi Museum of Art and Yuushien Gardens

    Culture
  5. En-musubi in the Izumo Region
    5

    En-musubi in the Izumo Region

    Culture
  6. Tamawakasu-Mikoto Shrine
    6

    Tamawakasu-Mikoto Shrine

    Oki Islands
  7. Oki Nature Museum
    7

    Oki Nature Museum

    Oki Islands
  8. Takuhi-gama Workshop
    8

    Takuhi-gama Workshop

    Oki Islands
  9. Ichibata Electric Railway
    9

    Ichibata Electric Railway

    Transportation
  10. Bicycle Ride to Inasanohama Beach
    10

    Bicycle Ride to Inasanohama Beach

    Activity

Tours and experiences

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Around Shimane

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Where to eat in Shimane

Ajinokura 6
Food

Ajinokura

Sherilyn Siy

The Oki Islands is a sushi and sashimi afficionado's paradise. One of the best local restaurants to enjoy the freshest catch..

1
Oki Sannana 7
Food

Oki Sannana

Sherilyn Siy

What is comfort food like in the Oki Islands? The freshest seafood you can get, which includes the prized turban shell, known ..

1
Okigyu 8
Food

Okigyu

Sherilyn Siy

Beautifully marbled beef richer than its commercial counterparts in monosaturated fats, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids and lower..

2
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Places to stay in Shimane

Marine Port Hotel Ama 7
Accommodation

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 package..

2
Kuniga-so 7
Ryokan

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..

1
Fukuma-kan
Japanese

Fukuma-kan

Lester Goh

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

3
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Latest

En-musubi in the Izumo Region
Culture

En-musubi in the Izumo Region

Featured

Izumo Taisha, or Izumo Grand Shrine, is one of the most famous and most significant Shinto shrines in Japan. Though the date of..

2
Oki Nature Museum 7
Culture

Oki Nature Museum

Sherilyn Siy

If you want to learn more about the natural history of the Oki Islands, the Oki Nature Museum is a must-visit. Catering to all visitors..

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About 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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