If the metropolis Tokyo is the home to skyscrapers, high-rise buildings and crowded shopping malls and streets, then Shimane is the home to 17th-century Matsue Castle, with hilltop views and many natural attractions. It is known to be a mountainous, sparsely populated coastal prefecture located in the western part of Japan's Honshu Island. The capital, Matsue, is set on Lake Shinji. Along the Matsue castle’s moat, Shiomi Nawate is lined with Edo-era homes. Izumo Taisha, in nearby Izumo, is among Japan’s earliest Shinto complexes where the rare Taisha architectural style is well displayed. Let’s check out the top 24 destinations and things to do on your trip to this wonderful historically preserved city.