Afternoon Plan for Matsue

Stroll through the townscape where middle-ranked samurai of the Edo Era lived. There are soba restaurants nearby so you can have the opportunity to taste Izumo soba, a specialty of Shimane Prefecture. ＊Currently, the samurai district is undergoing renovations so only the exteriors can be seen.

Head for Matsue Castle, a National Treasure with over 400 years of history. You can view the surviving castle tower which is a rare sight even in Japan. Cherry blossom season in the early half of April is exceptional to the extent that the area has been selected as one of the top 100 places in the country to view the blossoms.

Try sightseeing while relaxing on a boat cruising on the moat surrounding Matsue Castle. There are three boarding places within the city. If you board or disembark at Fureai Hiroba, you will have easy access to Matsue Horikawa Local Beer Hall.

Enjoy the well-regarded local beer in Matsue that has earned a prize at an international beer competition. There are plenty of varieties including stouts, pilseners and ales. *The beer counter closes at 5:30pm (it closes at 5:00pm between December and February)