Shimane
Travel plans
The Mihonoseki Cape & the Shimane Peninsula Coast: A Fishing-Port Shrine, Sea Caves of Myth & the Eshima 'Beta-Bridge' — 2 Days
Yasugi's hillside Kiyomizu-dera, the steep Eshima bridge, the harbour shrine of Miho and its lighthouse on day one, then the mythic sea caves of Kaka by boat and a lakeside bird park on day two — two coastal days based at the Mihonoseki cape
Tsuwano, the Little Kyoto of San'in: Carp Canals, a Thousand Red Torii & the Zen Gardens of Sesshu — 2 Days
The Tonomachi carp canals, an uzume-meshi lunch, the tatami-floored church, Mori Ogai's town and the thousand-torii shrine on day one, then the castle ruins by chairlift and the Sesshu temple gardens of Masuda on day two — two romantic days based in Tsuwano
Iwami Ginzan & the Yunotsu Coast: A UNESCO Silver Mine, a Port Onsen, Iwami Kagura by Night & the Washi Papermakers of the West — 2 Days
The Iwami Ginzan mine shaft and the Omori merchant town, then the Yunotsu port onsen and a night of Iwami Kagura on day one, and a morning soak, the Sekishu washi papermakers and an Iwami coast aquarium on day two — two days in the World Heritage west, based at Yunotsu Onsen
Matsue Castle Town & the Adachi Garden: A National-Treasure Keep, Lafcadio Hearn's Lakeside City & the World's Finest Japanese Garden — 2 Days
Matsue Castle, Lafcadio Hearn's residence, a samurai-district soba lunch and the moat cruise on day one, then the Adachi Museum's garden, the peony island of Yuushien and the Lake Shinji sunset on day two — two cultured days based in lakeside Matsue
First-Time Shimane: Izumo Taisha, the Sunset Cape of Hinomisaki & the Magatama Springs of Tamatsukuri — 2 Days
Izumo Taisha, Inasa beach, warigo soba and the Hinomisaki cape on day one, then the magatama spring of Tamatsukuri, the Susanoo shrine at Susa and an Izumo winery on day two — a first-timer's two days in sacred western Shimane
Shimane travel guides
Iwami Ginzan Guide 2026: UNESCO Silver Mine & Yunotsu
Izumo Taisha Guide 2026: Shimane's Shrine of the Gods
Matsue & Adachi Museum Guide 2026: Castle & Gardens
Mihonoseki & Shimane Peninsula Guide 2026: Capes & Caves
