Matsue Castle is one of Japan's 12 original surviving castle keeps and a designated National Treasure. This guide covers the keep, Horikawa moat boat tour, Lafcadio Hearn residence, and best time to visit Shimane.
Shimane Prefecture sits on Japan’s San’in Coast — the northern flank of western Honshu that faces the Sea of Japan — and it is, by almost any measure, the most historically significant and least-visited prefecture in the entire country. Home to Izumo Taisha, Japan’s oldest and most important Shinto shrine, the only remaining original castle tower in western Japan, a garden repeatedly ranked the finest in the country, and a dramatic 75-kilometre coastline of sea caves, basalt columns and pristine fishing villages, Shimane offers a depth of cultural and natural experience that rivals anything on Japan’s famous Golden Route — […]
Izumo Grand Shrine — known in Japanese as Izumo Taisha or more formally as Izumo Oyashiro — is not merely one of Japan’s oldest and most important Shinto shrines. It is, according to Japanese mythology, the very place where the gods of Japan convene each year to determine the fates of human relationships. For pilgrims, history enthusiasts, and curious travellers alike, a visit to Izumo Taisha is one of the most profound cultural experiences available anywhere in Japan — and for most international visitors, it remains entirely undiscovered. This complete Izumo Grand Shrine visitor guide covers everything you need for […]