Discover Matsue

Matsue brings together a city that grew up around its castle, historic waterways, museums and the shores of Lake Shinji. Even the view from the top floor of Matsue Castle reveals this connection: it stretches across the city to the lake. Families can focus on a variety of discoveries in Matsue—from the history of the castle and city to art, tea and wagashi.

Castle and historic streets

Matsue Castle was completed in 1611 and is one of only twelve original castles still standing in Japan. The top floor offers a 360-degree view across the city that grew up around the castle to Lake Shinji. The castle is therefore a striking starting point for considering Matsue's history and its location by the lake together.

The Horikawa Sightseeing Boat offers another perspective on the castle moats, travelling through the historic inner and outer moats. A full trip takes about 40 minutes. If you prefer to explore on foot, you can discover Shiomi Nawate, a 500-metre-long street beside the moat. It is designated as a traditional aesthetic zone. Halfway along is a well-preserved samurai residence that is open to the public for visits.

The Matsue History Museum features exhibits and replicas about life in Matsue over its 400-year history. This complements the view of the castle with insights into life in the city. At the museum's Kiharu Kissa, visitors can watch a wagashi master make the sweets. For families who enjoy connecting history with tangible objects and a demonstration, this offers a different way to explore than a boat ride through the castle moats.

Art and time by Lake Shinji

Art lovers will also find a variety of collections in Matsue: the Shimane Art Museum houses Western and Japanese paintings, prints, sculpture, modern art, photography and crafts. This variety is an invitation to consider the different interests within your family when planning your trip, rather than focusing your stay solely on the castle.

A walking path runs along the shore of Lake Shinji from Shinjiko Ohashi Bridge, past the Shimane Art Museum, to a sunset viewing spot. If you would like to plan some time outdoors, this is a clearly described route with the lake as its focal point. The viewpoint is specifically associated with sunset, so the walk can provide a focus of its own alongside museum visits.

Tea, sweets and Matsue's traditions

Tea and wagashi are served in the adjoining tearoom, Hyakuso-tei, at Meimei-an. Together with the demonstration at Kiharu Kissa, this gives travellers the opportunity to plan two different encounters with wagashi: watching a master make the sweets, and enjoying them with tea in the tearoom. Horan-enya is also one of Matsue's cultural traditions. This Shinto ritual takes place once every ten years.

Getting around and choosing the right base

Lake-Line buses run on a circular route and stop at Matsue's main attractions. This gives you several themes to choose from as you plan: the castle and its moats, city history, art, or the walking path by Lake Shinji. When looking for a holiday rental in Matsue, consider which of these experiences you want to make the focus of your trip.

If you would like to explore destinations beyond Matsue, see Oki District, Izumo, Hamada, Gōtsu, Ōda and Yasugi.

For the regional travel overview: Shimane Prefecture.