Day 1

Departure from Osaka Umeda: 07:40 (Ichibata Highway Bus No. 102)
Arrival at JR Matsue Station: 12:17

Matsue, the capital of Shimane Prefecture, is a calm castle town with just under 200,000 residents. Although the population has been slightly declining, the entire town has a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. After arriving at JR Matsue Station by highway bus, I walked about five minutes to the Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu, located just across the road from the station. After leaving my luggage there, I headed to Matsue’s main tourist attraction—Matsue Castle. Matsue Castle (also known as Chidori-jō) is a renowned castle built in the early 17th century by Horio Yoshiharu. It was later governed by the Matsudaira clan, who ruled the Izumo domain for ten generations and 233 years, laying the foundations of the castle town. It is one of only twelve castles in Japan that still retain their original keep. Its elegant tenshu, completed in 1611, was designated a National Treasure in 2015, on par with Hikone Castle and Himeji Castle. Entering through the main gate, I found the Matsue Chrysanthemum Exhibition taking place, with vibrant chrysanthemums welcoming visitors. Admission to the keep is 800 yen. Following the left-hand traffic rule inside, I climbed the stairs and enjoyed the views from within the tower. For the latter half of the trip, I visited the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and the samurai residences along Shiomi Nawate, partly inspired by the NHK morning drama Bakebake, which features Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) and his wife, Setsu. The quiet street lined with old samurai homes has a special charm and is one of the places that best conveys the essence of Matsue. My final stop was the San-in Godo Bank Head Office Building, the tallest structure in Shimane Prefecture at 75 meters. Its top floor—the 14th floor—serves as an observatory, offering sweeping views of Matsue’s cityscape and Lake Shinji.

【Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu 】











Day 2

Departed JR Matsue Station at 8:57 (for Izumoshi)
Arrived at JR Izumoshi Station at 9:50
Departed JR Izumoshi Station at 10:20 (Ichibata Bus – local route)
Arrived at Seimon-mae at 10:52
Arrived at Izumo Taisha Bus Terminal at 10:56

Today, I visited Izumo Taisha, long revered as the shrine of the deity of matchmaking and good fortune. In the old lunar calendar, October is known as Kannazuki (“the month without gods”) throughout Japan, but in Izumo it is called Kamiarizuki (“the month when gods are present”), as deities from all over the country are believed to gather here for meetings. Although the route bus also stops at Seimon-mae, I stayed on until Izumo Taisha Bus Terminal so that I could walk to Inasa Beach. The ritual of osuna-tori, in which visitors bring sand collected from Inasa Beach to the Soga Shrine within Izumo Taisha and receive purified sand in return, is said to bring blessings such as protection from misfortune, family safety, and purification of land.　Passing through the Seidame (the Second Torii Gate) at the main entrance, the approach is lined with rows of pine trees. Although walking down the center of the pine avenue is now prohibited, I felt the air turn cool and crisp the moment I stepped onto the path. After walking for a while, the “Musubi-no-Omikami Statue,” depicting Ōkuninushi-no-Ōkami with arms outstretched, appears on the right. After purifying my hands and mouth at the temizuya, I made my way to the haiden (worship hall), said to be the largest wooden shrine structure built in the postwar era, standing 12.9 meters tall. Following the unique architectural style that combines Taisha-zukuri and Kirizuma-zukuri, I paid my respects using the ritual of two bows, four claps, and one bow. Continuing behind the haiden to the Soga Shrine, I offered the sand I had brought and received a small bottle of purified sand. Somehow, it looked quite similar to the sand from Inasa Beach. I then visited the Kagura Hall, which is often featured on television and is known for its massive shimenawa rope—one of the largest in Japan, measuring 13.6 meters in length and weighing 5.2 tons.

Departed JR Izumoshi Station at 14:59
Arrived at JR Matsue Station at 15:37

For the latter half of the day, I headed to Matsue. Walking west for about 20 minutes from Matsue Station along the prefectural road brings you to Shirakata Park on the shore of Lake Shinji. A promenade along the lakeside leads toward the Shimane Art Museum. Since today's sunset was just after 5 p.m. and the weather was clear, I strolled along the path to photograph the sunset. Just before the sun dipped below the horizon, the reflection of the evening sky on Lake Shinji was breathtaking—an unforgettable finale to my trip.

[Matsue Excel Hotel Tokyu]















Day 3

Since I was scheduled to return to Osaka by highway bus in the afternoon, I spent my free time in the morning visiting the Shimane Art Museum, which is located along the lakeside promenade where I watched the beautiful sunset over Lake Shinji the day before. The museum has five exhibition rooms and an observation terrace, and the admission fee is 300 yen. In Exhibition Room 1, Western paintings were on display along with a special feature on the works of Kiyoshi Koizumi, the third son of Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) and Setsu. Exhibition Room 2 showcased 40 works by Katsushika Hokusai, allowing visitors to appreciate the power of his brushwork up close. Exhibition Room 3 presented a variety of pottery, while Exhibition Room 4 focused on 19th-century French photography. In Exhibition Room 5, an art exhibition by sculptor Kiichi Sumikawa was being held.

JR Matsue Station Departure: 14:05 (Ichibata Highway Bus No. 6)
Osaka Umeda Arrival: 18:42