5 Photogenic Buildings and Townscapes in Shimane

Shimane Prefecture is dotted with beautiful buildings and townscapes that make you want to press the shutter. Let's begin a trip touring spectacular spots woven by history and atmosphere.

01 | Matsue Castle | The Dignified Beauty of a "Surviving Keep" Where Black Stands Out

One of only 12 surviving keeps remaining nationwide, Matsue Castle. The black-painted exterior walls look great against the blue sky and greenery, and it's a castle with outstanding presence, picturesque from any angle.

Photogenic Point: The inverted castle reflected in the Horikawa moat is fantastical. Especially when the morning light hits, the water surface sparkles, making for a mirror-like shot.

Best Time: Early morning (sunrise to 8 a.m.) or the autumn foliage season. On days when morning mist hangs, it takes on a special atmosphere.

Photography Angle: A vertical composition including the water surface from the promenade along the Horikawa is recommended. Take in the sky and the Horikawa large with a wide-angle lens.

Access: About 10 minutes by bus from JR Matsue Station, get off right at "National Treasure Matsue Castle (Otemae)"

02 | Izumo Taisha | A Power Spot Where the Mystical Great Shimenawa Rope Is Spectacular

Izumo Taisha, famous as the god of matchmaking. The giant shimenawa rope hung at the worship hall makes for a powerful shot when captured in a photo.

Photogenic Point: The contrast of the pine-lined approach and the vermilion torii is beautiful, and a composition with depth is born naturally.

Best Time: The time of day when morning light streams into the precinct. November's "Kamiarizuki (Month of the Gods)" carries a special mood.

Photography Angle: A vertical composition taken from the side of the approach, capturing the torii in succession, is the standard (avoid the center of the approach, called seichu, which is considered the path of the deities). Express the power of the shimenawa with an angle looking up from directly below!

Access: About 10 minutes on foot from "Izumo-Taisha-mae Station" on the Ichibata Electric Railway

03 | The Townscape of Tsuwano | "The Little Kyoto of San'in" Where White Walls and Carp Swim

The townscape of Tsuwano, where red-brown roofs of Sekishu tiles and white-plaster storehouses continue. In the moats, nishikigoi carp swim serenely, and wherever you cut a frame, a postcard-like world spreads out.

Photogenic Point: Blue sky, red roofs, white walls, and colorful carp — all the colors harmonize in good balance.

Best Time: The fresh-greenery season of April to May, or a morning when the summer light is strong.

Photography Angle: Crouching at the edge of the moat and capturing the carp swimming on the water surface together with the townscape from a low angle is great.

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Tsuwano Station

04 | The Townscape of Mihonoseki | A Nostalgic Stone-Paved Street Remaining at the Port

Located at the eastern end of the Shimane Peninsula, Mihonoseki is a fishing town that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period just as it is. The stone-paved "Aoishi-datami Street" is known for the stones glowing blue-green when wet with rain.

Photogenic Point: When the stone pavement shines after rain, the fantastical scenery where retro inns and stone buildings are reflected is one-of-a-kind.

Best Time: The evening to night after rain has cleared is the height. The night when lantern light illuminates the stone pavement is also exceptional.

Photography Angle: Aiming for depth from a low angle on the stone pavement makes the shine of the wet stones stand out.

Access: About 40 minutes by car from within Matsue City, or use a bus from the Sakaiminato direction

05 | The Former Taisha Station | A Meiji Retro Station Building As If Time Had Stopped

The Former Taisha Station, built in 1912 (Meiji 45), is a nationally Important Cultural Property where pure-Japanese-style wooden architecture has been miraculously preserved. Together with the steam locomotive remaining on the platform, you can take photos as if you've time-slipped.

Photogenic Point: The classic beauty woven by amber-colored wood, white walls, and the green garden. Its nostalgic worldview gets especially big reactions on social media!

Best Time: The time of day when the soft afternoon light streams in. The combination with autumn yellow leaves is also exquisite.

Photography Angle: Shooting the inside of the station building through the lattice of the ticket gate creates a sense of frame, making for a stylish composition with depth.

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from "Izumo-Taisha-mae Station" on the Ichibata Electric Railway

The charm of Shimane's beautiful buildings and townscapes is that you can encounter photogenic moments just by walking casually. Do head out to search for your very own "photogenic photo" with a camera in hand.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: The moats of Matsue Castle and the canals of Tsuwano are best in the early morning when there are few people about. Note, however, that the keep of Matsue Castle can only be climbed from 8:30 and the former Taisha Station opens at 9:00, so if you want to see the interiors too, time your visit to the opening hours.
• Opening hours / periods: The keep of Matsue Castle = 8:30 to 18:00 from April to September / 8:30 to 17:00 from October to March. The former Taisha Station = 9:00 to 16:30, closed on Wednesdays (the following day when Wednesday is a public holiday). The precincts of Izumo Taisha and the townscapes of Tsuwano and Mihonoseki are outdoors and can be explored freely.
• Fees: Admission to the keep of Matsue Castle is 1,200 yen for adults and free for elementary and junior high school students (revised on 1 July 2026). The viewing fee for the former Taisha Station is 300 yen for general visitors (junior high school age and above), 150 yen for elementary school children and free for pre-school children. Worship at Izumo Taisha and strolling the townscape of Tsuwano and the Aoishidatami stone-paved street of Mihonoseki are free of charge.
• Access: Matsue Castle = about 10 minutes by bus from JR Matsue Station, getting off at "Kokuho Matsue-jo (Otemae)". Izumo Taisha = about 10 minutes on foot from Izumo-Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Electric Railway. The former Taisha Station = about 15 minutes on foot from the same station. The townscape of Tsuwano = about 15 minutes on foot from JR Tsuwano Station. Mihonoseki = about 40 minutes by car from central Matsue.
• Parking: The former Taisha Station has a car park with 70 spaces. The Aoishidatami street in Mihonoseki is narrow, so park in the designated car park and continue on foot.
• Photography rules: At Izumo Taisha the centre of the approach path is considered the path of the deities, so walk along the sides, and refrain from photographing inside the halls or during prayer ceremonies. Throwing coins up into the great sacred rope is prohibited. Tonomachi-dori street in Tsuwano and the Aoishidatami street in Mihonoseki are places where people live, so do not photograph houses or residents without permission. Use a tripod only where it will not obstruct passers-by, and note that drones require permission at each location.
• Safety notes: The blue stone paving in Mihonoseki becomes extremely slippery when wet, so watch your footing in rain and just after it has rained. The canals in Tsuwano have no railings and there is a risk of falling in. Inside the keep of Matsue Castle there are places where the stairs are steep and narrow.

*Fees and opening hours may be revised. Please check the official website of each facility for the latest information before your visit.

(Sources: Matsue City, "Fees and Opening Hours of Cultural and Tourism Facilities around Matsue Castle"; official website of Matsue Castle; Izumo Taisha official website, "Kaguraden"; official website of the former Taisha Station, an Important Cultural Property)