# Travel Destinations | Japan Voyage Travel

- [Yuushien Garden](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/yuushien-garden): Shimane, Garden. A beautiful Japanese garden on Daikonshima island in Lake Nakaumi, famous for its large peony displays. The indoor peony garden allows year-round viewing, and the garden is illuminated at night.
- [Matsue Castle](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/matsue-castle): Shimane, Castle. A National Treasure known as the 'Black Castle', one of only 12 original castles and the sole surviving keep in the San'in region.
- [Tsuwano](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/tsuwano): Shimane, City. A well-preserved castle town in a mountain valley, known as the Little Kyoto of San'in for its Edo-period streets, carp-filled waterways, and traditional atmosphere. The town retains an authentic charm far from the tourist crowds.
- [Izumo Taisha](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/izumo-taisha): Shimane, Shrine. One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines. Dedicated to Okuninushi, god of marriage, so couples come here for relationship blessings.
- [Tamatsukuri Onsen](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/tamatsukuri-onsen): Shimane, Onsen. One of Japan's oldest hot springs, praised for its beautifying waters since the Nara period. The onsen town along the Tamayu River features free foot baths, a shrine for wish-making, and the chance to create your own natural cosmetics.
- [Adachi Museum of Art](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/adachi-museum-of-art): Shimane, Museum. Art museum whose Japanese gardens have been ranked best in Japan by the Journal of Japanese Gardening for 20+ consecutive years.
- [Oki Islands](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/oki-islands): Shimane, Island. A remote archipelago designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark, featuring dramatic sea cliffs, unique ecosystems, and ancient Shinto traditions preserved through centuries of isolation.
- [Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/iwami-ginzan-silver-mine): Shimane, Historic site. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic silver mine once produced a third of the world's silver output. Explore the Ryugenji mine tunnel, stroll the preserved Omori townscape, and discover how mining coexisted with nature.
- [Eshima Ohashi Bridge](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/eshima-ohashi-bridge): Shimane, Landmark. A 1,446-meter road bridge over Lake Nakaumi between Matsue and Sakaiminato that a 2013 Daihatsu commercial made famous as "beta-bumi zaka", the slope you climb with the pedal floored. Through a long telephoto lens it looks like a wall. In reality the Shimane-side approach rises at 6.1 percent, about 3.5 degrees, and any car takes it easily.
- [Michi-no-Eki Kirara Taki](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/michi-no-eki-kirara-taki): Shimane, Michi no eki. A Nordic-looking station on a terrace above the Sea of Japan, on Route 9 west of Izumo. Taki figs are the local crop, sold fresh in season and turned into soft serve, and Kirara Beach below is listed among Japan's top 100 sunset spots.
- [Rakan-ji Gohyaku Rakan](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/rakan-ji-gohyaku-rakan): Shimane, Temple. Two caves cut into a rock face across the stream from Rakan-ji in Omori, each holding 250 small seated stone arhats, with a stone Buddha trinity in a third cave between them. They were finished in 1766 to console the spirits of people who died working the silver mine, and are one of the 14 component parts of the Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Site. A short stop of 20 to 30 minutes, right by the Omori bus stop, 500 yen, and no photos inside.
- [Matsue Vogel Park](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/matsue-vogel-park): Shimane, Theme park. A flower and bird park on the north shore of Lake Shinji, built around a heated greenhouse of about 8,000 m² where begonias and fuchsias bloom all year. Owl shows, a daily penguin walk and a shoebill. A good rainy-day stop near Matsue.
- [Michi-no-Eki Yuhi Park Hamada](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/michi-no-eki-yuhi-park-hamada): Shimane, Michi no eki. A hilltop station on the Route 9 Hamada Bypass that looks over Hamada's fishing port to the Sea of Japan. Stay for the sunset, eat fish landed below, and pick up dried nodoguro or horse mackerel to take home.
- [Yunotsu](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations/yunotsu): Shimane, Onsen. A one-street onsen town running down a narrow valley to a small Sea of Japan harbour, once the port that shipped silver from Iwami Ginzan and one of the 14 component parts of that World Heritage Site. Shimane Prefecture says it is the only onsen town in Japan chosen as a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Come for the two old public baths, Motoyu and Yakushi-yu, and Iwami kagura at the town shrine on Saturday nights. Quiet, with little to do after dark beyond that.

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Source: [Travel Destinations | Japan Voyage Travel](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/travel_destinations?prefecture_id=32)
Last updated: 2026-10-31