For International Visitors 10 Things to Know About Matsue, and Residents of Matsue City an International City of Culture and Tourism SAVE CRUISE Matsue City offers significant No trip to the City ofWater discounts to foreign residents and would be complete without a MATSUE CITY GUIDE visitors at several sightseeing pleasure boat trip around the castle facilities. See the list below. and within the city, or on Lake Shinji. NEWSLETTER Issue No.1 - 2013 January/February/March ENJOY TASTE RELAX Lake Shinji is one of the top Matsue is renowned for the Blessed with many hot springs spots in Japan for spectacular Seven Delicacies of Lake Shinji, (onsen), Matsue give the visitors sunsets. In the early morning, you such as Shijimi clams. The city also the chance to soak in mineral-rich can enjoy the scene of the Shijimi is also proud of its thriving traditional waters, or relax for free at friendly boats and fishers. It’s free! tea and confectionary culture. outdoor footbaths (ashiyu). Thanks for taking a copy of CREATE CONNECT FEEL Matsue is famous for its The shrines in Matsue and the Acastle town founded 400 the first Matsue City Guide traditional confectioneries and for surrounding area have close years ago, Matsue still offers an newsletter! Whether you are Magatama, magical comma-shaped connections with the mythological atmosphere reminiscent of Edo era just passing through or jewels. There are workshops around origins of Japan. The region is well- Japan. Don’t be surprised ifyou run reside in Matsue, we hope the city where you can try your known for En-musubi, a divine into samurai, ninja, rickshaws, and this will be a valuable hand at making them. matchmaking force. people in kimono. reference guide to help you LEARN GET AROUND enjoy your stay and indulge There are a lot of interpreters You can get around the city by in the legends. Enmusubi who can help you learn more using the convenient Lake Line Perfect Ticket about Matsue and its history. Bus, which runs every 20-30 Use trains and buses as much Matsue Castle The History Museum also provides minutes. Asingle ride is ¥200, a day Symbol of the city, as you want for three days! free English audio-guides. pass is ¥500. Bikes can also be "Plover Castle" Matsue Castle is nicknamed the Adult ¥3000, Children ¥1 500 because of its spanning roofs. rented around the station. For sale at local airports and newsletter logo also uses this cute bird in its design! Matsue Goodwill Guide Association (MGG) Our You can make an appointment with English-speaking Ichibata Travel volunteers to guide you around Matsue Castle. Please apply through the MGG Facebook Page. a Sightseeing rikaw Bo Discounts for international visitors Ho at Glimpses of Matsue e Ca rai Resid i-an Tea H tsu stl u en me o a e m c i us a e e e M S M HORIKAWA SIGHTSEEING BOAT TICKETS CAN BE USED ALL DAY LONG AND AS MANY TIMES 50 0 AS YOU WANT.THERE ARE THREE BOARDING 50%OFF ¥1 50%OFF ¥20 's Form POINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. earn er R earn Memoria H es H l M io id io u d e ad s a n c e c f u f c a FUREAI HIROBA m ÔTEMAE HIROBA e a L L in northwest by Matsue Castle Photo : KOIZUMI Matsue 5 0 Lafcadio Hearn, an Irish man whose 0% ¥28 5 50 OFF e Voge 0%OFF ¥150 50%OFF ¥1 hoji Temp tsu l Pa n Japanese inji Pleasu name as a naturalized Japanese citi- ess le Ma rk ie G Sh re G sh ar e C u d k ru zen was Koizumi Yakumo, was an e a i KARAKORO HIROBA u s Y n L e by Kyomise English language teacher in Matsue, in 1890-1891. 33%OFF ¥800 50 250 30% F ¥10 5 300 30% 80 50%OFF ¥ OF glish Gard 0%OFF ¥ ne Art Mus OFF ¥9 History Mu ya Mem Over the course of his excursions En en ima eu ue se -en or h m ts u an ial S a m r H around the city, he collected material M o H a l The CIR team at work l for his book "Glimpes of Unfamiliar Japan," through which he introduced the local culture to the Western world. 0 0 s ) 5 25 Fre e! ( S 50 ¥50o n 0%OFF ¥ 5 00 p e c%i aOl EFxFh i biti 0%OFF ¥1 His former residence and the Shimane Art Museum is closed every Tuesday. Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum Matsue History Museum and the Horan-enya Memorial Hall are just north of Matsue Castle, on Matsue International Tourist Information Office are closed the 3rd Thursday ofevery month or the day after if Shiomi Nawate street. Tel: 0852-21-4034/4035 9:00-18:00 it is a national holiday. Open hours: 8:30~17:00 (Oct.-Mar.) Note that there is free admission to the Horan-enya Memorial if English brochures available in front of Matsue Station you have a ticket for the History Museum. It is thanks to Lafcadio Hearn's influence that Matsue continues to Matsue City Guide on Facebook: www.facebook.com/visitmatsue | Contact: [email protected] maintain close ties with the city of Edited by Matsue City Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs): Luc Pomarède, Bernice Dempsey, Brittany Partin Dublin, Ireland. Since 1890 CIR blogs: http://visitmatsue.wordpress.com http://madeinmatsue.com http://saninstory.wordpress.com Published by Matsue City International Division MATSUE CITY GUIDE NEWSLETTER Eventtcallendarr JJan..19 ~ Marr..31 World's Top Gardeners Feb..1 ~ 28 Matsue Dandan Food Festival Feb..2 ((Satt)) The World's Top Gardeners Matsue Ghost Tour This winter, YuushienJan. 1 9 (Sat) Japanese ~ Mar. Garden 31 (Sun) welcomes Feb..16 ((Satt)) two famous garden designers, Nico Wissing Iwami Kagura Feb..9 ((Satt)) (Netherlands) and Kazuyuki Ishihara, who have both Matsue Ghost Tour been awarded Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Marr..10 ((Sun)) Show and are renowned masters of Garden Design. Irish Festival Mar.17 (Sun) In Winter, Yuushien is Irish Festival Mar.17 (Sun) March 1 0 (Sun), 1 3:00 Ladies Half-Marathon known for its beautiful As the first Japanese home of Irish Marr..23 ~ Aprriill 15 peonies that are writer Lafcadio Hearn (whose first na- Castle Festival protected from snow by me was Patrick), Matsue is well known Marr..23 ~ 24 Camellia Exhibition a small, delicate for its Irish parade. Come celebrate St. thatched roof. Patrick’s Day with two days of live mu- sic and Guinness on tap at the local Open every day Irish pub in the Karakoro Art Studio 8:30 ~ 1 7:30 Vault, “The Shamrock,” and watch the ¥1 000 annual parade starting on the Horikawa Sightseeing Boats. The pa- Matsue Ladies Half-Marathon rade will include traditional Irish music and group Ceili dancing. RegistrationMarch ends: 1 7 (Sun) Feb. 1 5 Iwami Kagura The marathon will take place around Shamrock pub hours Matsue Castle and other parts of in Matsue (in Karakoro Art Studio Vault) northern Matsue all Sunday morning. Feb. 1 6 (Sat) March 9 (Sat), 1 7:00 ~ 22:00 Besides the women’s 21 km main March 1 0 (Sun), 1 5:00 ~ 21 :00 event, there will be marathon sections Meet one of the most well- Matsue Castle for 1 0km runners, 3.0km joggers, and Matsue Dandan Food Festival known Japanese monsters, Fe for children. See the details on stiv Feb. 1 (Fri) ~ Feb. 28 (Thu) the eight-headed serpent al www.matsue-ladies-half.com Special events are going on at restaurants called Yamata-no-Orochi, which was defeated by the around town throughout the month of Camellia E god of the seas, Susano-o. xhib February, but the biggest events are the three itio Sunday markets in various locations. Chefs The Sano Kagura Troupe n will prepare lavish dishes and show off their from Hamada City will cooking ability. Get a ¥1 000 sheet of tickets Feb. 1 6: Shimane Civic Center present this Iwami Kagura worth ¥11 00, which you can use at to try out a 1 3:00 and 1 7:30 performance, which is well variety of vendors’ hot cuisine. ¥2000 (¥1 800 presale) known for its elaborate Matsue Castle isM onea of the best places to costumes and masks. ar.23 view cherry blossoms, and while~ A theypr..1 are5 in Matsue StationFeb. (Don't 3 (Sun), miss 1 0:30~1 the giant 5:00 hot pot!) bloom there is a festival held on the castle How about spending a Saturday night experiencing grounds. Besides flower viewing, there will Matsue Ghost Tour Together with the peony, the camellia is one Kyomise, KarakoboFeb. 1 0 (Sun), Art Studio, 11 :00~1 Minamitonomachi 5:00 some of the local ghostly tales that Lafcadio Hearn be other activities such as music and dance Ma of the flower symbols of Matsue.rch They2 will performances on stage, tea and sakura rice 23~24 Feb. 1 7 (Sun), 11 :00~1 5:00 helped make famous? Enjoy Matsue’s nighttime ghostly soon be in full bloom, and at that time there charm at places like the haunted well at Matsue Castle cakes for sale. From 1 8:00 to 21 :00 every will be an informational exhibition on the Tenjinmachi and Gesshoji Temple, which is known for its menacing night, the cherry blossoms will be Matsue Castle grounds. Experts will , Tatemachi stone tortoise.