Shimane Prefecture offers tourist attractions such as Izumo-taisha Shrine, Matsushima, and Kiyomizu-dera Temple; tourist events such as the Izumo-taisha Shinzai Festival, Guro, and the Chrysanthemum Exhibition; and local delicacies such as Izumo soba noodles, yakuzen cuisine, and shijimi clam soup.
Shimane Prefecture is part of the San'in region, which also includes outlying islands such as Oki Island and Takeshima. Shimane Prefecture was once known as Izumo-no-kuni, Iwami-no-kuni, and Oki-no-kuni, and is divided into the Izumo, Iwami, and Oki regions, each with different landscapes.
Shimane Prefecture is a temperate region, but is sometimes hit by cold waves from the continent, and temperatures can vary widely throughout the year.
Ruins have been excavated in Shimane Prefecture that indicate the presence of people from the Paleolithic period, and stone tools made of agate have been unearthed in the area. A mirror inscribed Himiko was also excavated from the Kambara Shrine burial mound in Kamo-machi, Unnan City, and a forward-backward burial mound was constructed in Matsue City.
Oki was a place of exile in the Middle Ages, and is famous for the exile of such noblemen as Emperor Go-Toba and Emperor Godaigo. In the Edo period (1603-1867), Yoshiharu Horio built Matsue Castle, which is designated as a national important cultural property, and there are many sightseeing spots where visitors can feel the history.
Izumo-taisha Shrine, whose deity is Okuninushi, the son of Susano-no-mikoto in Japanese mythology, is included in Shimane Prefecture and attracts many tourists.
The Izumo-taisha main shrine is rebuilt about every 60 years, and in 2013, the renovation of the main shrine was completed and the main shrine relocation ceremony was held. Various events and other activities were held in conjunction with this event, making the shrine even more lively.
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, which played a part in Japan's silver production from the Warring States Period to the Edo Period, is located in Ota City, Shimane Prefecture, and the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine Site and its cultural landscape are registered as a World Heritage site.
In the mining town, historical sites such as the ruins of the trolley to the refinery and the ruins of Iwami Castle remain, and the Omori Silver Mine is a Preservation District for Groups of Important Traditional Buildings. Onsenzu Onsen, which is included in the World Heritage List, is a quiet hot spring resort with no entertainment district, where visitors can enjoy hot spring baths as in the past.
In addition to history, Shimane Prefecture also offers a variety of culinary delights. Izumo soba, a local dish, is one of the three most famous soba dishes, along with wanko soba and Togakushi soba, and is famous for its black color and strong aroma.
Yamakawa, a Japanese confectionery, was invented by Matsudaira Jirigo, a famous tea master, and is one of the three most famous confections in Japan, along with Wakakusa, a famous confectionery made by Saiundo in Matsue City.
Izumo Taisha is one of Japan’s most important and historic Shinto shrines, located in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. It is dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Okami, a major deity in Japanese mythology who is widely worshipped as a god of good relationships, happiness, and prosperity. With a history closel...»
Matsue Castle is one of Japan’s most important surviving feudal castles. Located in the heart of Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, it is also known as Chidorijo, or “Plover Castle.” Built in the early 17th century, Matsue Castle is one of only 12 original castle towers remaining in Japan. The castle...»
Matsue Vogel Park is an all-weather theme park dedicated to flowers and birds in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. Located along the northern shore of beautiful Lake Shinji, the park covers approximately 32 hectares and combines enormous flower greenhouses, bird aviaries, outdoor event areas, and observat...»
Tamatsukuri Onsen, located in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts, with a history stretching back more than 1,300 years. Closely connected with the mythology and culture of ancient Izumo, the hot spring has long been known as a sacred healing bath and a “beauty ho...»
Yunotsu Onsen Yakushiyu is a historic public bath in Oda, Shimane Prefecture, located in the heart of Yunotsu Onsen. The town is part of the cultural landscape of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is known for its exceptionally well-preserved historic atmosphere. Yunot...»
A sacred shrine surrounded by pine forests and the Sea of Japan Hinomisaki Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Hinomisaki, Taisha-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Standing near the westernmost point of the Shimane Peninsula, the shrine is surrounded by peaceful pine forests and faces ...»
A peaceful port town where history and healing waters come together Yunotsu Onsen is a historic hot spring town on the Sea of Japan in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the town developed around a quiet natural harbor and has long been known as a “port with hot s...»
A brilliant white lighthouse rising above the rugged coast of western Shimane Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse stands on the Hinomisaki Cape in Taisha-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Built on a dramatic cliff near the western tip of the Shimane Peninsula, the lighthouse has guided ships sailing acr...»
Taikodani Inari Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture. Known affectionately as the “Inari Shrine of Tsuwano,” it stands on a hillside overlooking the historic castle town, with brilliant vermilion torii gates climbing the mountain behind the town. Tsuwano is often ...»
Standing along Tonomachi Street in Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture, Tsuwano Catholic Church is one of the town’s most distinctive historic buildings. Its white walls and pointed Gothic-style tower create a striking contrast with the traditional Japanese streetscape of the former castle town. The church...»
Izumo soba is a traditional noodle dish from the Izumo region of Shimane Prefecture. Along with Wanko soba from Iwate and Togakushi soba from Nagano, it is often counted among Japan’s three major soba traditions. Known for its rich aroma, firm texture, and distinctive way of serving, Izumo soba is a...»
Botebote tea is a traditional local food from the Izumo region of Shimane Prefecture. It is a type of Japanese “furicha,” or whipped tea, a rustic style of tea traditionally enjoyed by ordinary people. It has also been known locally by names such as “ukedcha” and “potepote-cha.” Unlike ordinary tea...»
Yakimeshi Chazuke is a traditional local dish enjoyed in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. In the Oki region, grilled rice balls, which are commonly known as “yaki-onigiri” in Japan, are traditionally called “yakimeshi.” This is where the name of the dish comes from. The dish consists of a fra...»
Wani Sashimi is a traditional local dish enjoyed in the mountainous areas of southern Shimane Prefecture and northern Hiroshima Prefecture. Despite its name, “wani” does not refer to a crocodile or alligator. In this region, the word “wani” is a traditional name for shark. The custom of eating shar...»
Oki Soba is a traditional noodle dish that has been enjoyed for generations in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Unlike many types of Japanese soba, Oki Soba is made with 100% buckwheat flour, without wheat flour or other binding ingredients. Another distinctive feature is its rich broth made f...»
Uzume Meshi is a traditional local dish from the Iwami region of Shimane Prefecture, especially associated with the historic town of Tsuwano. At first glance, it may look like a simple bowl of white rice or Japanese rice porridge. However, various ingredients are hidden underneath the rice, includin...»
Mackerel Sushi is a traditional local dish enjoyed in Shimane Prefecture. It has long been prepared for autumn festivals and other special occasions celebrating a successful harvest. The dish combines mackerel caught in the waters of the San'in region with rice grown in Shimane's fertile countryside...»
Shinjiko Shicchin Cuisine is a collection of traditional local dishes made with seven types of fish and shellfish caught in Lake Shinji in Shimane Prefecture. Located in northeastern Shimane, Lake Shinji is a brackish lake, where freshwater mixes with seawater. The lake has a shoreline of approxima...»
Ago Noyaki is a traditional local specialty from the Izumo region of Shimane Prefecture. In the local dialect, “ago” means flying fish. Fresh flying fish is made into a smooth fish paste, shaped around a long skewer, and grilled over charcoal until the outside becomes beautifully browned and fragran...»
Shijimi Clam Soup is one of Shimane Prefecture’s most beloved local dishes, made with shijimi clams harvested from Lake Shinji. The clams found in the lake are mainly Yamato shijimi, or freshwater Asiatic clams, which are known for their dark shells, relatively large size, tender meat, and rich umam...»
Suzuki no Hosho-yaki is one of the traditional local dishes of Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. A whole sea bass caught in Lake Shinji is wrapped in traditional Japanese hosho paper and slowly grilled, creating a distinctive dish in which the fish is gently steamed and roasted inside the paper. Sea...»
Dojo cuisine is one of the traditional local foods associated with Yasugi City in Shimane Prefecture. Yasugi is famous not only for dishes made with dojo, or loaches, but also for Yasugi-bushi, a traditional folk song and dance performance featuring the well-known “dojo-sukui,” or loach-catching dan...»
Hashimaki is a popular Japanese street food made by wrapping a thinly grilled okonomiyaki-style batter around a pair of wooden chopsticks. Also known as “hashi-maki,” it is especially popular at festival food stalls and outdoor markets across parts of Japan. Unlike regular okonomiyaki, which is nor...»
Matsue Ramen is a local style of ramen that has long been enjoyed in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. It is characterized by medium-thick, slightly curly noodles and a light, salty broth. With very little oil floating on the surface, the soup is often almost transparent, offering a clean and refresh...»
Kanshimame-zuke is a traditional local specialty of Ama Town in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. It is made with fresh Japanese flying squid, or surume-ika, caught in the Sea of Japan and seasoned with a distinctive liver-infused soy sauce marinade made using the squid’s own liver. In Ama Tow...»
Sasa-maki is a traditional food from Shimane Prefecture made by wrapping rice-flour dumplings in the leaves of Kumazasa bamboo grass and boiling them. It is traditionally prepared from early May to around mid-June, when the fresh bamboo leaves have grown large, and is an important seasonal food for ...»
Melon Kasuzuke is a distinctive traditional pickled food from Shimane Prefecture made with the locally grown Amus melon. Instead of being enjoyed as a sweet and juicy fruit, the melon is preserved in sake lees, giving it a rich aroma and a deeper, more complex flavor. Pickling melon may sound unusu...»
Tofu Meshi is a traditional home-style dish from Shimane Prefecture, traditionally prepared during the cold season, especially around the time of the winter solstice. It is a simple yet nourishing rice dish made by cooking rice together with lightly fried tofu, wild mountain vegetables, and seasonal...»
Imoni is a traditional Japanese dish enjoyed in various parts of the country. The Imoni of Tsuwano Town in Shimane Prefecture is known as one of the “Three Great Imoni” of Japan, alongside the Imoni of Nakayama Town in Yamagata Prefecture and the Imotaki of Ozu City in Ehime Prefecture. While many ...»
Yakuzen cuisine is a style of cooking that combines a variety of foods and traditional herbal ingredients while making the most of the individual characteristics of each ingredient. In Shimane Prefecture, restaurants serving yakuzen-style dishes can be found in various areas, often incorporating sea...»
Tonbara-zuke is a simple traditional pickle that has been made for generations in the former Tonbara area of Shimane Prefecture. Made with an abundant variety of mountain vegetables and seasonal produce, it has traditionally been preserved with salt or soy sauce. Tonbara-zuke developed as a type of...»
Salt-pickled cherry blossoms are a traditional spring delicacy made by carefully preserving cherry blossoms grown in Kisuki, Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, with salt and plum vinegar. Just one flower added to a dish or dessert can bring a beautiful touch of color and the rich, distinctive fragrance...»
Maitake Mushroom Rice is a flavorful traditional dish from Iinan Town in Shimane Prefecture, made with locally grown maitake mushrooms. The mushrooms are cooked together with rice and vegetables such as carrots, allowing their distinctive aroma and rich umami flavor to spread throughout the entire d...»
Kiyomizu Shojin Cuisine is a traditional style of Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine served at a restaurant and inn located within the grounds of Yasugi Kiyomizudera Temple in Yasugi City, Shimane Prefecture. The temple is a historic site of the Tendai school of Buddhism. Enjoying this cuisine wh...»
Unnan Grilled Mackerel is a traditional local dish representing the Unnan region of Shimane Prefecture. Although Unnan is located in a mountainous area near the Chugoku Mountains and far from the sea, mackerel has long been an important part of the local food culture. This tradition is believed to ...»
Tsuda Turnip Pickles are a traditional winter pickle made from Tsuda turnips, a distinctive local vegetable grown around Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture. The turnips are known for their vivid reddish-purple skin and unique aroma, and they have long been enjoyed as part of the local food culture....»
Shijimi Clam Tsukudani is a traditional local specialty of Shimane Prefecture made with freshwater clams known as Yamato shijimi, harvested from Lake Shinji. Located in eastern Shimane, Lake Shinji has a circumference of approximately 45 kilometers and is a brackish lake where seawater and freshwate...»
Oki Matsuba Snow Crab is one of the most celebrated winter seafood specialties of the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture. The waters surrounding the islands are rich in plankton and support a wide variety of marine life, making this area one of Japan's productive fishing grounds. Male Matsuba snow c...»
Uppurui Nori, also known as Jurokujimanori, is a rare type of wild rock seaweed harvested in the Uppurui area of Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. The name “Uppurui” is written with the Japanese characters for “Jurokujima,” making it one of the region's unusual place names. Growing naturally on rocky...»
Shimane Rock Oysters are a prized seafood specialty grown in the rich waters surrounding the Oki Islands in Shimane Prefecture. Unlike the common Pacific oyster, which is generally associated with the winter season, rock oysters are known for being at their best from spring through summer. Some Oki...»
Flying fish from Shimane Prefecture are a popular summer seafood specialty caught along the prefecture's coastline. In Shimane, flying fish are affectionately known as “ago” and have long been a familiar part of the local diet. They are also regarded as a seasonal fish that signals the arrival of su...»
Donchicchi Horse Mackerel is a premium brand of Japanese horse mackerel caught in the waters off western Shimane Prefecture and landed at Hamada Port. Only fish that meet specific quality standards can be sold under this brand name. Horse mackerel from western Shimane has long been known for its ric...»
Nodoguro is one of Shimane Prefecture’s most prized luxury fish. Its official Japanese name is akamutsu, or blackthroat seaperch. It is characterized by its beautiful reddish body, large eyes, and wide mouth. The inside of its throat appears black, which is believed to be the reason it came to be co...»
Koitsu Amadai is a local seafood specialty enjoyed in the Koitsu area of Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. Amadai, also known as tilefish, is relatively low in fat and is prized for its light, refined flavor. As its Japanese name suggests, its delicate flesh has a subtle natural sweetness that makes i...»
Shinjiko Yamato clams are one of Shimane Prefecture’s most famous seafood specialties. The clams harvested from Lake Shinji are large, dark-shelled Yamato shijimi, or freshwater marsh clams, known for their distinctive mild sweetness and rich umami. They have long been enjoyed as one of the signatu...»
Ita Wakame, a traditional processed wakame seaweed from Shimane Prefecture, is a gift from the sea that comes into season from winter through spring. Wakame offers different textures and flavors depending on the part used, from the leafy fronds to the stem and mekabu. Each part can be prepared in it...»
Hamada flounder is one of the signature seafood specialties of Hamada City in Shimane Prefecture. A wide variety of flounder species are caught along the Shimane coast, and in Hamada, flounder has long been a familiar and much-loved part of the local diet. Flounder has such a strong connection with...»
Oki Beef is a premium brand of Japanese Black beef produced in the Oki Islands of Shimane Prefecture. Only cattle born and raised in the Oki Islands that meet strict quality standards can be sold under the Oki Beef name. Raised amid the islands’ rich natural environment, the beef is known for its be...»
Oochi Yamakujira is a regional meat brand made from wild boar captured in Misato Town, Shimane Prefecture. The Gonokawa River, one of the major rivers of the Chugoku region, flows through Misato, while extensive areas of natural forest provide an ideal habitat for wild boar. In the past, wild boar ...»
Iwami Wagyu beef is a premium Japanese beef from the Iwami region of western Shimane Prefecture. It is known as a branded beef that shares the name “Iwami” with the historic Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beef is prized for its fine-grained texture and rich fat that melt...»