Things To Do in Matsue
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Matsue Attractions
International visitors are entitled to 50% discounts at Matsue Castle, Buke Yashiki, Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum, Adachi Museum of Art, and a few other attractions by showing their passport at attraction entrances. The prices below are the regular fare, without the discount.
Attractions near the Castle -- Most of these attractions are located on Shiomi Nawate, a small, picturesque street beside the castle's north moat. I've listed them in geographic order, walking from east to west.
Boat Trips
The Horikawa Pleasure Boat Tour (Horikawa Meguri; tel. 0852/27-0417) is a tour of the castle moat aboard flat-bottom boats (take off your shoes and sit on tatami) with a rooftop canopy that lowers for tight squeezes under bridges. It's a picturesque, relaxing way to see the city, with trips around the castle lasting about an hour. In winter, you can keep warm huddled under a kotatsu (a kind of heated blanket). Note, however, that commentary is in Japanese only. Boarding spots are at Karakoro Hiroba near the Kyobashi Bridge (Lake Line Bus stop no. 6) and Otemae near Matsue Castle (Lake Line Bus stop no. 8). Boats run every 15 minutes daily from 9am to 5pm (to 6pm in summer) March through October and in November from 9am to 4pm; every 20 minutes daily from 9am to 4pm December through February. An all-day ticket allowing you to disembark and embark as much as you like costs ¥1,200 for adults and half-price for children, but foreigners can ride for ¥800 by showing their passport.
- Historic Site
Buke Yashiki
This ancient samurai house, facing the castle moat, was built in 1730 and belonged to the Shiomi family, one of the chief retainers of the Matsudaira feudal clan residing in the castle. High-ranking samurai, the Shiomi family lived pretty much like kings themselves, having separate… - Religious Site
Gesshoji Temple
This is the family temple and burial ground of the Matsudaira clan, feudal lords of Matsue and the surrounding region. It was established back in 1664 by Matsudaira Naomasa, whose grandfather was the powerful Tokugawa Ieyasu. Nine generations of the Matsudaira clan are buried here,… - Landmark
Matsue Castle
First built in 1611 and partly reconstructed in 1642 and again in the 1950s, Matsue Castle is the only castle along this northern stretch of coast built for warfare as opposed to serving merely as a residence. It's also one of Japan's few remaining original castles -- that is, it's… - Historic Site
Teahouse Meimei-an
This is one of Japan's most renowned and well-preserved thatch-roofed teahouses, built in 1779 upon orders of a 29-year-old lord of the Matsudaira clan. It's located at the top of a flight of stairs, from which you have a good view of Matsue Castle (read: photo op). Note the waiting…
Matsue Shopping
For one-stop shopping for locally crafted goods, visit the Shimane Prefectural Products and Tourist Center (Shimane-ken Bussankanko-kan), 191 Tonomachi (tel. 0852/22-5758; daily 9am-6pm), just southeast of Matsue Castle (Lake Line bus to stop no. 8 to Otemae, and then a 1-min. walk). In a modern building that resembles the black-and-white structures typical of the region, the center sells the many agricultural and fishing products of the region on its ground floor, while the second floor sells everything from ceramics and abacuses (one of the few prefectures in Japan that still produces them) to toys, lacquerware, and jewelry, all products of Shimane Prefecture.
Another interesting place to shop is the Karakoro Art Studio, Kyomise Karakoro Hiroba Square (tel. 0852/20-7000; Wed-Mon 9:30am-6:30pm), a handsome, century-old former bank renovated into studios and shops selling locally made sweets, tea, jewelry, glassware, woodworking, and other crafts. Changing exhibitions are held in the basement vaults. It's located south of the castle on the moat; both the Lake Line bus and Horikawa Pleasure Boat Tour stop here.
