* About Shimane Where is Shimane Shimane Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan coast of western Japan. About 80% of its land area is mountainous forest, and its rich natural located? environment comprises the long east-west coastline, the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan, and the two Ramsar sites of Lake Shinji and Nakaumi. Shimane also has many historic sites that make it a popular tourist destination. These include the World Heritage site Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine; Izumo Taisha, known as the shrine of marriage and matchmaking; and the castle and town of Matsue, which together date back more than 400 years. Basic Information Shimane’s Agricultural and Marine Products Estimated population: 702,476 (as of September 1, 2013) Although small in production scale, Shimane’s agricultural and marine Area: 6,707 km2 products are characterized by their uniqueness and superior quality. Prefectural capital: Matsue City Nita rice, a brand of Koshihikari rice produced in the Okuizumo area of the Chugoku Mountains is renowned nationwide for its excellent Access taste. Lake Shinji boasts the largest haul of nutritious and umami-rich Shimane Prefecture has three airports: Izumo, Iwami and Oki. Yonago Airport Yamato shijimi clams in the nation. Izumo City is the country’s in neighboring Tottori Prefecture is also handy in getting to/from Shimane. largest producer of greenhouse-grown Delaware grapes. The city is Scheduled flights are available from major Japanese cities. also known for its wineries. In recent years, Shimane is actively engaging in the “factory production” of vegetables, employing liquid cultivation techniques and LED lights. This mode of agriculture is Useful Websites increasingly attracting interest as a clean and safe method of food Shimane Prefecture production that is free from the effects of climate change. http://www1.pref.shimane.lg.jp/contents/kokusai/kokusai-e/index.html Shimane’s beef cattle breeding has a long-established reputation for excellence. Today the exquisite-quality beef is offered under brand Shimane Prefectural Tourism Federation names such as Shimane Wagyu and Oki-gyu. http://www.kankou-shimane.com/en/ Shimane’s marine products industry is making significant contributions to the distribution of marine products through technical innovations that enable seafood to be stored without compromising freshness and goodness. These include the CAS freezing technology “Shimane a place of culture and employed in Ama Town, Oki, and the controlled freezing-point storage technology developed by a company in Oda City. history.” * Wagashi Izumo soba (Japanese sweets) Tea Koshihikari Rice Sake (buckwheat noodles) Along with Kyoto and Kanazawa, Shimane has a well-developed and still Shimane Prefecture has long Izumo is traditionally believed to Shimane boasts many Matsue in Shimane Prefecture is thriving culture of enjoying tea, experience in Koshihikari rice be the birthplace of Japanese Izumo soba restaurants. famous for its wagashi. In especially sencha. Tea produced in cultivation, and is renowned for its sake, and still has many Izumo soba is dark, firm, Matsue City, which is still Izumo has a deep sweetness with a high-quality and stable production. breweries. The skills of Izumo’s fragrant and high in replete with the historic hint of bitterness and smooth body. Shimane’s rice fields are located master brewers turn the clean, nutritional value. ambience of a castle town, Even second and third brews are on relatively high (300 to 600 m pure water from the Chugoku there are many well-known extremely tasty. elevation) grounds. This Mountains and locally produced wagashi shops. challenging yet rich environment sake rice into excellent sake. fully brings out the intrinsic flavor and sweetness of the rice. Shimane also has wide variety of exquisite local agricultural products and processed products in addition to the above 5 products . Soy sauce/ Sauce for Yuzu products Dried seaweed/Clam Japanese noodles Dressing Fish cake Shimane wagyu beef Persimmon .