Shimane Prefecture is a place where spots related to Japanese mythology, traditional culture, and beautiful nature come together for a great fusion. It also has some spots that attract much attention because they are believed to bring good luck in romance and good fortune. It may look too far from Tokyo and Osaka, but it actually takes only about 1 hour and 30 minutes by air from Haneda Airport to Izumo Airport. By using train systems efficiently within the prefecture, you will be able to enjoy a fulfilling good-luck tour!
◆Day 1
Izumo Airport
↓ 40 min by Airport Limousine Bus
Izumo Taisha Shrine
出雲大社 神楽殿
Said to have several thousand years of history, ancient Izumo Taisha is famous as a shrine enshrining the deity of marriage. According to the myths, gods from all over Japan annually get together in Izumo in October on the lunar calendar to have a meeting for marriage.
出雲大社 御本殿
The grounds have many buildings, including Honden main hall and Kaguraden hall with huge shimenawa ropes at the front, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Enjoy Izumo’s local delicacies!
There are many cafes and restaurants where you can have a snack or take a break around Shinmon-dori street. One of the standard local dishes in this area is “Izumo soba.” The soba noodles are characterized by the strong aroma of soba buckwheat grains and their dark color.
For dessert, you can try cute “ofuku-yaki,” a pancake-like dessert in the shape of pufferfish! As “fuku,” which means good luck in Japanese, and “fugu,” which means pufferfish in Japanese, sound similar, the “ofuku-yaki” sweet containing both elements is considered to be auspicious, popular among people seeking good luck.
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Izumotaisha-mae Sta.
↓ 60 min by Ichibata Electric Railway (transfer at Kawato Sta.)
Ichibata train
Connecting Matsue City and Izumo City, this local railway is convenient for sightseeing. The railway company has a friendship agreement with Taiwan Railway Corporation. From the train, you can get a beautiful view of Lake Shinji. With a reservation in advance, you can get a hands-on experience of operating the Dehani 50-type train, one of Japan’s oldest trains.
If you are lucky, you can see a special train decorated with “Shimanekko,” a mascot character for sightseeing in Shimane Prefecture. On the train, you can look for Taiwan motifs, such as Taipei 101 and mango shaved ice.
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Matsue Shinjiko-Onsen Sta.
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Matsue Shinjiko Onsen (staying overnight)
Facing Lake Shinji, this onsen resort has Japanese-style hot spring inns and western-style hotels. The lake at sunset is breathtakingly beautiful!
Said to bring harmonious marriage and good luck in romance, this shrine is especially popular among women. At the “Kagami-no-ike” pond behind the shrine, you can try fortune telling, which can tell the outcome of relationships based on how far and how long a coin on a special piece of paper can stay afloat on the pond.
↓ 20 min by bus
JR Matsue Sta.
↓ 70–80 min by limited express train
JR Yunotsu Sta.
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Yunotsu Onsen (staying overnight)
An Iwami Kagura performance (traditional Shinto ritual dance) is offered every Saturday night at Tatsunogozen-jinja Shrine. As the capacity is limited, a reservation is required in advance (2,000 yen per seat).
◆Day 3
JR Yunotsu Sta.
↓ 30 min by train
JR Hashi Sta.
↓ 12 min walk
Shimane Aquarium AQUAS
This is one of the biggest aquariums in the Chugoku Region, and is the only place with cute beluga whales in Western Japan.
It is said that you can have a happy life if you can see the bubbles called the “happiness bubble ring,” created by belugas with air held in their mouth and then exhaled, at a performance held a few times a day. The Penguin House with four types of penguins is also popular as a “healing spot.”
↓ 12 min on foot
JR Hashi Sta.
↓ 80 min by limited express train
JR Tsuwano Sta.
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Tsuwano
After strolling around this historic castle town, you should try one of the local specialties, “Genji-maki.”
This sophisticated rolled cake made with sweet red bean paste wrapped inside a thin castella cake is available at stores in the town.
Nearby is the Taikodani Inari Shrine known for fulfilling wishes, which is also highly recommended!
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JR Tsuwano Sta.
↓ 40 min by train
JR Masuda Sta.
↓ 15 min by bus or taxi
Hagi-Iwami Airport
Don’t forget to check out “Shimane Japan,” the official tourism website of Shimane Prefecture, for information on sightseeing in Shimane! https://www.kankou-shimane.com/en/
I am Ayumi from Chiba Prefecture. I love sweets. I majored in Japanese history in my university. I have visited many historic sites from the ancient days to the modern days on my trips. I have visited about 100 castles of various sizes. I am also obsessed with visiting “anime pilgrimage sites,” the locations featured in popular anime and manga.
There are many cafes and restaurants where you can have a snack or take a break around Shinmon-dori street. One of the standard local dishes in this area is “Izumo soba.” The soba noodles are characterized by the strong aroma of soba buckwheat grains and their dark color.
For dessert, you can try cute “ofuku-yaki,” a pancake-like dessert in the shape of pufferfish! As “fuku,” which means good luck in Japanese, and “fugu,” which means pufferfish in Japanese, sound similar, the “ofuku-yaki” sweet containing both elements is considered to be auspicious, popular among people seeking good luck.
Connecting Matsue City and Izumo City, this local railway is convenient for sightseeing. The railway company has a friendship agreement with Taiwan Railway Corporation. From the train, you can get a beautiful view of Lake Shinji. With a reservation in advance, you can get a hands-on experience of operating the Dehani 50-type train, one of Japan’s oldest trains.
Said to bring harmonious marriage and good luck in romance, this shrine is especially popular among women.
At the “Kagami-no-ike” pond behind the shrine, you can try fortune telling, which can tell the outcome of relationships based on how far and how long a coin on a special piece of paper can stay afloat on the pond.
