MATSUE and IZUMO-TAISHA SHRINE PAGE 1/ 4

PG-601 MATSUE and IZUMO-TAISHA SHRINE

MATSUE AND VICINITY

Matsue (松江), pop. 150,000, the capital city of Shimane myths and legends of yesteryear Japan. The city is especially well Prefecture, commonly known as the “City of Water,” lies at the known among foreigners and Japanese students studying English point where the Nakaumi Lagoon connects with Lake Shinji. because of its association with Lafcadio Hearn, the author of Matsue is an old castle town forming the heart of Izumo many books on Japan, (1850–1904), who assumed the Japanese Province (present-day Shimane Prefecture), a veritable “treasure name of Yakumo Koizumi after his naturalization. house” of cultural assets and historic sites closely related to the

Access By Air: To From Operated by Time required One-way fare Daily flights Access from / to downtown

Izumo Tokyo JAS 1 hr. 30 min. ¥26,500 4 40 min. by bus from JR Matsue Sta. (¥890)

By Train (to Matsue): Daily From Type of Train Time required runs Fare Remarks

Tokyo Sleeping train “Izumo” 13 hrs. 40 min. 1 ¥20,790~ depart Tokyo at 21:10 Limited Express train “Super Hakuto” 5 hrs. 10 min. 5 ¥9,000 depart Osaka at 7:37, 10:22 Osaka to Kurayoshi, then local train to 12:52, 14:52, 17:39 Matsue.

Okayama Limited Express train “Yakumo” 2 hrs. 50 min. - 3 hrs. 10 min. 15 ¥5,360

Kyoto Limited Express train "Super Hakuto" to 5 hrs. 30 min. 5 ¥10,920 depart Kyoto at 7:06, 9:51 Kurayoshi, then local train to Matsue. 12:24, 14:24, 17:10 * A ¥200 discount during the off-peak season and a ¥200 surcharge during the peak season are applicable. By Bus: Daily To From Time required runs Fare Remarks

Matsue Tokyo 10 hrs. 55 min. ¥11,550 depart Tokyo at 20:00 (Shibuya Mark 1 (for return, depart Izumo-Shi Sta. at 18:40 and depart Matsue Sta. at 19:35) Izumo City Bus 11 hrs. 50 min. ¥12,070 Reservation : Tel. (0852)20-5252 Terminal) (in front of JR Shibuya Sta. Hachiko Exit) Matsue 4 hrs. 50 min. 8 ¥5,100 Hankyu Bus (06)6866-3147 in Osaka. (English not spoken.) Izumo Shin-Osaka 5 hrs. 30 min. ¥5,650 Ichibata Travel Service (0852)21-0208. (English not spoken.)

Major Places of Tourist Interest in Matsue including Lake Shinji and Mt. Daisen. Part of the castle (①–⑨: Location on the City Map on page 3/4) grounds form Jozan Park (城山公園). The castle is open from 8:30 to 18:30 (Apr.–Sep.), 8:30 to 17:00 (Oct.–Mar.). ① Matsue Castle (松江城), a few min. walk from Kencho- Fee: ¥550. mae (県庁前) bus stop, in front of the Prefectural Government Office, being a 10-min. bus ride from Matsue ② Matsue Cultural Museum (松江郷土館), 5-min. walk from Sta., is the symbol of the city. This castle, originally built in the Prefectural Government Office, displays arts, crafts, and 1611, is an example of a practical fortress rather than a castle- folk utensils and implements with a total of some 1,300 items residence. The five-storied donjon, reconstructed in 1642, covering the three eras of Meiji, Taisho and Showa. Open: commands an extensive view of the surrounding scenic spots 8:30–17:00. Fee: free. PAGE 2/ 4 MATSUE and IZUMO-TAISHA SHRINE

③ Koizumi Yakumo (“Lafcadio Hearn”) Memorial ⑧ Gesshoji Temple (月照寺), 15-min. walk from Koyubashi Museum (小泉八雲記念館), 2-min. walk from Hearn (交融橋) bus stop, which is 15-min. by bus from Matsue Sta., is Kyukyo (Hearn’s Former House)-mae (ハーン旧居前) the mausoleum enshrining generations of the Matsudaira fami- bus stop, faces the northern moat of the castle. This Museum ly, with surrounding rows of stone lanterns and a fine speci- dedicated to the celebrated interpreter of Japan. Hearn lived men of mausoleum gate architecture. The Treasure House in the city for 15 months as an English teacher of Matsue Hall in the compound contains Lord swords and personal Middle School. His impressions of the city are given in his effects. Open: 8:30–17:30 (Apr.–Nov.), 8:30–17:00 essay “In a Japanese Garden,” included in the volume (Dec.–Mar.). Fee: ¥400. “Glimpse of Unfamiliar Japan.” The hall contains a good collection of his manuscripts and other valuable articles, all sug- ⑨ Shimaneken Bussan Kanko-kan (Shimane Prefectural gestive of his life in Japan. Open: 8:30 – 18:30 (Apr.–Sep.), Product & Craft Center, 島根県物産観光館), 5-min. walk 8:30–17:00 (Oct.–Mar.). Fee: ¥300. from Kenmin Kaikan-mae (県民会館前) bus stop, displays and sells folk craft, pottery and food, which are produced in ④ Former House of “Lafcadio Hearn” (小泉八雲旧居) is Shimane Pref. Open: 9:30–18:00. next door to the Memorial Museum, where he stayed for 7 months. This house has remained unchanged since he left Major Places of Interest in the Vicinity: Matsue. Open: 9:00–17:00 (Mar.–Nov.) 9:00–16:30 Tamatsukuri Spa (玉造温泉), 30-min. by Ichibata Bus from (Dec.–Feb.). Fee: ¥250. Closed on Wed. and Dec. 16–Jan. 1. Matsue Sta. (Fare: ¥510), contains calcium sulphate, efficacious against rheumatism and skin disease, etc. Public bath: Open: ⑤ Tanabe Art Museum (田部美術館), next door to Hearn’s 15:00–22:00. Closed on Mon. Bluish agate is prized as one of the Former House, displaying many objects relating to tea cere- specialties of the town. mony, “Fujinayaki” ware and other ceramics, calligraphy works, paintings and antiques. Woodblock prints by local Adachi Museum of Art (足立美術館), 20-min. by bus or taxi artists are sometimes exhibited. Open: 9:00–17:00. Closed: from JR Yasugi Sta. The museum is famous for its vast Japanese Mon. and Dec. 29–Jan. 1. Fee: ¥500 (varying according to the style garden and the collection of modern Japanese paintings type of exhibition). including those of Taikan Yokoyama, famous master of this cen- tury. In the ceramic exhibition hall, works of prominent ceramic ⑥ Buke-Yashiki (武家屋敷), or Preserved House of Samurai artists are exhibited. Open 9:00–17:30 (Apr.–Sep.), 9:00–17:00 (Feudal Warrior), next door to the Tanabe Art Museum, dis- (Oct.–Mar.). Fee: ¥2,200 (with passport: ¥1,100). playing various articles illustrative of the daily life of a samurai family in the Edo period. Open: 8:30–18:30 (Apr.–Sep.), Mihonoseki (美保関), 80-min. by Ichibata Bus (一畑バス) from 8:30–17:00 (Oct.–Mar.). Fee: ¥300. Matsue Sta. (Fare: ¥1,210), situated at the eastern extremity of Shimane Peninsula, was formerly an inspection point. ⑦ Meimei-an Tea House (明々庵), 5-min. walk from Buke- Yashiki, is a well-preserved typical tea house of the “Irimoya- Gohon-Matsu (Five-Pines) Park (五本松公園), 5-min. walk zukuri” architectural style. It was originally built in 1779 by from Mihonoseki bus stop, then 3 min. by chair lift, is famous for Lord Fumai Matsudaira of the Matsue clan, a noted patron of its panoramic view of Mt. Daisen and the Oki Island. the tea ceremony, in his retainer’s residential garden and moved to its present location on the occasion of the 150th Horikawa Pleasure Boat (堀川遊覧船) anniversary of the lord’s death. In the adjoining Hyakuso-tei Major tourist sites dispersed in the town around Matsue Castle Arbor (百草亭) tea is served on request. From the nearby are visited on a Japanese-style boat along the rivers flowing in the look-out one enjoys a distant view of the castle donjon. environs. Fare: ¥1,200. Total sailing time : About 50 minutes. Open: 9:00–17:00. Fee: ¥300.

Goodwill Guide Groups like the following offer tourists from overseas free local tours guided in English or other languages. They are registered with JNTO and TOURIST INFORMATION display a badge. There is no charge for their service as they are vol- information (“i” Tourist Information Offices) unteers. You are only expected to pay for their travel expenses, admissions to tourist facilities if you are visiting them, and to pay for Matsue City Tourist Information: their meals if you eat with them. JR Matsue Station, 472-2, Asahi-machi, Matsue City, Matsue Goodwill Guide Shimane Pref. Tel.(0852)21-4034 We can take you around at your request. 9:00~18:00 Apply by telephone / fax to Matsue Sightseeing Information Office (0852-21-4034, 9 am-6 pm). PAGE 3/ 4 MATSUE and IZUMO-TAISHA SHRINE

Accommodations: Room rate Room rate Name of facilities Tel. (¥) Name of facilities Tel. (¥)

Matsue: Tamatsukuri: 1 Hotel Ichibata(H) (0852)22-0188 15,600 Chorakuen(R) (0852)62-0111 18,000~ 2 Naniwa Issui(R) (0852)21-4132 13,000~ Yutei Konya(R) (0852)62-0311 12,000~ 3 Suimeiso(R) (0852)26-3311 13,000~ Kasuien Minami(R) (0852)62-0331 18,000~ 4 Horaiso(R) (0852)21-4337 15,000~ Grand Hotel Choseikaku(R) (0852)62-0711 17,000~ 5 Business Ishida(R*) (0852)21-5931 4,000~ Iwaburo Yuraku(R) (0852)62-0211 15,000 6 Matsue Tokyu Inn(H) (0852)27-0109 15,600~ Izumo: 7 Matsue Washington Hotel(H) (0852)22-4111 7,770~ Takeshi Sanso(H) (0853)21-1111 7,000 8 Matsue Plaza Hotel(BH) (0852)26-6650 4,095 Inaba(M) (0853)22-6178 6,000 9 Pension Tobita(P) (0852)36-6933 7,000 10 Matsue Youth Hostel(Y) (0852)36-8620 4,400~ *Accommodation rates are due to change by season or days. Please check the correct rates before you visit. Remarks: Standard rates are quoted. *Numbers 1 - 10 correspond to those on the map page of this page. H = Hotel Rate for a twin room. R = Ryokan Rate per person including 2 meals, tax and service charge. R* = Ryokan Rate per person without meals. BH = Business Hotel Rate for a single room. "Lake Line" Loop Bus Y = Youth Hostel Rate per person with 2 meals. Stops at 31 different tourist spots. M = Minshuku (family-run inn) Rate per person with 2 meals. Leaves from Matsue Sta. P = Pension Rate per person with 2 meals. ¥500 for 1-day pass. Tel: (0852)21-7654.

0 250 500m

N Hearn Kyukyo-mae 3 Bus Stop 4 To Mihonoseki ハーン旧居前 5 7 6 至美保関 Shiomi-Nawate St.

Kitada River Fumon-in Temple 北田川普門院 1

Library 2 431 図書館 485

Prefectural Product & Craft Center Prefectural Hall 島根県物産観光館 Church 県庁 9 Museum 4 8 Koyubashi 県立博物館 Bus Stop Red Cross Hospital Miyanocho 交融橋 Karakoro Kobo museumMuseum Bus Stop Police カラコロ工房カラオケ工房 School 宮ノ丁バス停松江署 Kyobashi River

Kyomise Shopping Arcade 京店 7 3

Matsue Bridge City Hall 松江大橋市役所 9 10 Bank Ichibata Elec. Railway Matsue Post Office 一畑電鉄松江郵便局 To Izumo-Taisha-mae Sta. 1 6 至出雲大社前 Bank Tourist Information Shimane Art Museum Bus Terminal 2 5 ？県立美術館バスターミナル Lake Shinji Matsue Station 8 宍道湖松江駅 To Tottori, Kyoto, Osaka JR San-in Line 至鳥取、京都、大阪 To Tamatsukuri Spa 山陰本線To Izumoshi 至玉造温泉至出雲市

Japan Railways Ichibata Electric Railway 1 - 9 Major places of tourist interest; numbers correspond to those on p. 1 and 2. Matsue 1 - 10 Correspond to those in the “Accommodations” list on this page. PAGE 4/ 4 MATSUE and IZUMO-TAISHA SHRINE

To Oki Islands N 至隠岐 Matsue & Izumo 0510km

Daisen-Oki National Park 大山・隠岐国立公園 Shichirui-ko Port 七類港

JAPAN SEA Gohon-Matsu Park 日本海 Mihonoseki Lighthouse Mihonoseki 美保関 Shimane Peninsula Sakaiminato 島根半島境港 431 Miho Bay Matsue Onsen Ichibata Yakushi 美保湾松江温泉 Yonago 一畑薬師 Ichibata Elec.一畑電鉄 Railway Matsue-Onsen Sta. Airport Yumigahama Beach 松江温泉駅米子空港 Ichibata-guchiIchibata-guchi St. 弓ヶ浜一畑口駅一畑口 Nakaumi Lagoon 中海 Lake Shinji Tamatsukuri- 宍道湖 Onsen Sta. MATSUE Sta. 玉造温泉駅松江駅 9 For Tottori, Kyoto, Osaka Cape Hinomisaki 至鳥取至鳥取･京都･大阪･京都･大阪日御碕 Kamosu 9 Izumo Yaegaki Shrine Shrine Yasugi Sta. IZUMO-TAISHA Kawato Airport Yonago St. 八重垣神社安来駅 SHRINE 川跡出雲空港 Yakumo-Bessho 米子米子駅 Tamatsukuri Spa 出雲大社八雲別所 9 玉造温泉本線 Izumo-Taisha-mae Sta. 山陰 Abe Eishiro Saginoyu-Onsen Spa Dentetsu Izumoshi 鷺の湯温泉出雲大社前電鉄出雲市 Memorial JR San-in Line Museum 54 Adachi Museum of Art JR Kisuki Line 足立美術館 180 Izumoshi 木次線出雲市 9 For Hagi 至萩

Japan Railways Ichibata Electric Railway 54 314 432 9 National Road Route No. 9 Bus Routes Matsue & Izumo For Hiroshima, Fukuyama 至広島･福山至広島･福山

IZUMO-TAISHA SHRINE

Access to Izumo-Taisha Shrine: From Matsue-Onsen Sta. (松江温泉駅): 55 min. by Ichibata Electric Railway (一畑電鉄) (Fare: ¥750), change trains at Kawato (川跡) Sta. to Izumo- Taisha-mae (出雲大社前) Sta., then 15 or 20 min. walk to the shrine. From JR Izumoshi Sta. (出雲市駅): 25 min. by Ichibata Bus from JR Izumoshi (JR出雲市) Sta. Bus terminal to Seimon-mae (正門前) Bus stop.

Places of Interest: the shrine in October (lunar calendar). October is thus called Izumo-Taisha Shrine (出雲大社) is the oldest shrine in Japan, ”Kannazuki“ (Month without Gods) in all other parts of Japan and is well known for its god of marriage. It is dedicated to and “Kamiarizuki” (Month with Gods) in Izumo Province. Okuninushi-no-Mikoto, a Shinto deity who has been traditionally credited with introduction of the art of medicine, sericulture and Izumo Kambe no Sato (出雲かんべの里) farming. The present shrine buildings, mostly built in 1668, lies at A facility where you can enjoy the myths and folklore and tradi- the foot of Yakumo Hill and are approached through an avenue tional crafts of Izumo province. You can talk with the artisans protected by magnificent pine trees. The precincts contain a and learn about their craftsmanship. You can even actually try large number of buildings, including the main shrine dating from creating things by yourselves if you make reservations. 1744 (“National Treasure”), which is surrounded by a double 15 min. by Ichihata Bus from JR Matsue Sta. via Oba. Get off at fence. The shrine follows the earliest style of architecture known Fudoki-no-Oka Stop, walk 2 min. Fee: ¥400. Tel.(0852)28- in Japan, and is dignified and rather imposing in appearance. 0040. A pair of large rectangular shrine buildings standing on the east and west sides of the precincts are traditionally believed to house the Shinto gods, who are supposed to meet annually at

All information contained in this leaflet is based on data as of January 2001. Transportation schedules, fares and accommodation charges are subject to change. Check with organizations concerned for updated information. © 2001 Japan National Tourist Organization. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Printed in Japan