*it’s good to note that there are two islands called Okinoshima in Japan. The island in Fukuoka is uninhabited and cannot be visited because of its holiness.

Geology of Oki Islands

Okinoshima was once a part of the Eurasian Continent. About 5 million years ago, volcanic activities made part of the island a caldera. During the ice age of 20,000 years ago, the water level was 130 meters lower than now. Because of this, the islands were connected to Shimane Peninsula. The distance between Shimane and Okinoshima is about 50 km, but the depth of the ocean is only 70 meters.

Okinoshima consists of two parts, Dozen (front island) and Dogo (back island).  Dogo is the biggest island among the 180 islands of Okinoshima and the population is about 15,000.  But Dozen, especially Nishinoshima Island which has only about 3,400 inhabitants, attracts more tourists because of its natural beauty and interesting history.

Attractions of Nishinoshima Island

Let’s see what beautiful natural formations and historical sights there are to visit in Nishinoshima.

Matengai Cliff

This dynamic 257-meter high cliff is a must-see place. Walk along the clifftop amongst the grazing cows and horses while  admiring the views of the inner sea and the coastline. If you are adventurous, you can follow the hiking trail down to the bottom of the coast. It takes 60 to 90 minutes one way.

Tsutenkyo Arch at Kuniga Coast

This impressive rock arch has been carved by the power of the wind and waves over time. This is a great place to explore the rocky coast, have a picnic or an afternoon nap. You can hike up to Matengai Cliff from here. It takes 60 to 90 minutes one way.

Akao Lookout

Enjoy amazing views of the stunning Kuniga Coast from this lookout. Cows and horses graze in the fields nearby. This is a great place for taking photos, having a picnic, or watching the sunset.

Kuroki Gosho Imperial Residence Site

Historical documents state that Emperor Godaigo was exiled to the Oki Islands in 1332. Some say it was to here, Kuroki. Walk around the area and discover where the Emperor lived. Visit the museum and learn more about the exiles and history in Nishinoshima.

Yurahime Shrine

This was once one of the highest-ranked shrines in Shimane and even in Japan. It is dedicated to the deity of fishing and is a popular spot for both locals and tourists. Because of this deity, it used to be a catching site for squids. Tons of squids gather on the beach in front of the shrine every year and people can catch them easily. If you look for small openings in the precinct, you may find some hidden squids.

Information

Access: 50-minute bus ride from Yonago Station (JR Line) to a stop called Daisenji (大山寺)

Area Map

Foundation of the Museum

Adachi Museum of Art was established by Zenko Adachi (1899-1990). He was born in Yasugi where the museum stands. He was from a poor family but very clever and a man of effort. One day he found a wonderful painting of Yokoyama Taikan, one of the top painters in Japan. He had a dream to own Taikan’s paintings and so he did!

Then he finally made a museum to share his collection of Yokoyama Taikan and other painters of the same period such as Takeuchi Seiho, Hashimoto Kansetsu and Uemura Shoen. Also he wanted to promote young contemporary painters, so he founded the Adachi Museum of Art Award and added an annex to exhibit their paintings.

Garden of the Museum

The collection of the museum is really something, but that’s not all. It was the beautiful Japanese gardens that have made the museum world famous. The gardens of the museum have been ranked as number one in the “Japanese Garden Ranking” by US magazine “The Journal of Japanese Gardening” for 17 consecutive years out of more than 1,000 gardens all over Japan.

According to Zenko Adachi, “A Japanese garden is thought of as a living canvas”. His belief and passion for gardening can be seen all over the 165,000 square meters of garden. From the dry landscape garden to the white gravel and pine garden, moss garden and the pond garden, a calming view expands before you at each step. The combination of such a relaxing atmosphere and Japanese paintings in the building refreshes visitors. Azaleas in spring, fresh greenery in summer, red leaves in autumn, and snow-covered gardens in winter. Throughout the four seasons, the changing scenes of the gardens are enjoyable.

Even the window itself is a “Living Canvas”. The garden through the window is like a canvas that shows the different characteristics with the shifting sunlight and with each season. It feels like a Rinpa School folding screen.

Cafes and Tea Rooms

There are several cafes and tea rooms in the museum building. From the cafes, you can relax and enjoy the view of the garden to your heart’s content. You can also enjoy traditional Japanese matcha tea in a Japanese style tea room.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we create perfect Japan package tours including destinations like the Adachi Museum of Art. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Adachi Museum of Art Information

Access: Free shuttle bus from Yasugi station (JR Line) about every half an hour. It takes  20 minutes.

Entrance: 2,300 yen for adults / 1,800 yen for university students / 1,000 yen for senior high school students / 500 yen for junior high school and elementary school students

Hours: From April to September 9:00 – 17:30 / From October to March 9:00 – 17:00

Area Map

Tonomachi Street

Tonomachi-dori is the main street of Tsuwano and the center of tourist attractions. They still retain the atmosphere of the old days when there was a castle in this town. There are some historical sites such as the ruin of the school owned by the local feudal government, the entrance gate of a former feudal minister’s house, and a Catholic church.

The stream along the street adds to the atmosphere. This waterway was constructed for irrigation and fire prevention, as emergency provisions in case of famine in the period from the 17th century to the 19th century. The water reflects the white mortar walls and green trees. In the water, there live 300 to 500 colorful carps. This stream and the carps with the old walls and houses together make the scenery of Tsuwano.

Tsuwano Castle Ruin

Tsuwano Castle was constructed by Lord Yoshimi during the Kamakura period (from the 12th to the 14th century) on top of a 367-meter-high mountain. Only stone walls and stone pavement have remained, but you will be surprised by the huge scale.

You can go up to the ruin by chair lift. The view of the town of Tsuwano from the mountain is magnificent!

Anno Mitsumasa Museum

Anno Mitsumasa is a world-famous painter who mainly draws pictures for children’s books. He was born in Tsuwano. He received the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1984. This award is regarded as a Nobel Prize for picture book illustrators. And he was chosen as a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government in 2012.

The museum opened in 2001. They keep a great number of his paintings and change the exhibition every season.  They show his picture books and landscape paintings.

But that’s not all. There are many interesting facilities in the museum. They reproduced an old elementary school classroom which makes you feel as if you went back to the time of your childhood. They have a reproduction of his workplace which is a Japanese-style room with tatami mats. They also have a library that keeps Anno’s books, picture books from all over the world, and other books of art. And surprisingly they have a planetarium, too. They show a story from a book of Anno.

Entrance: 800 yen for adults / 400 yen for senior and junior high school students / 250 yen for elementary school students

Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Thursdays)

Taikodani Inari Shrine

This Shinto shrine founded about 250 years ago is one of the five main Inari shrines in Japan. Inari stands for rice crops, so people have worshiped at Inari shrines for a good harvest since the beginning of time.

Standing at the foot of Shiroyama Mountain, there are about 1,000 red torii gates lining up to the shrine building like a tunnel. There are statues of foxes that are regarded as messengers of gods in Inari shrines. They love fried tofu, so when you worship at this shrine, it is good manners to offer it.

Tsuwano Catholic Church

This Catholic church was constructed by a German priest in 1931 in Gothic style. It is made of wood and mortar. A very unique aspect is that there is tatami (straw mats) inside. The combination of the stained glass windows and tatami mats is really interesting.

Entrance: Free

Hours: 7.30 am to 5 pm

Local Festival & Local Sake

There are many festivals to enjoy in Japan. On the second Sunday of April, Tsuwano holds its own Yabusame Festival. It is a horseback archery event dedicated to a Shinto god. You can enjoy the festival under the cherry blossoms.

Because Tsuwano has good water, good rice and, a good climate, they produce good sake. There are three sake breweries in Tsuwano. Furuhashi Brewery started its business in the late 19th century. After you visit the brewery, you can taste sake and buy them as a souvenir. Please try the special Uijin ice cream; it has a sake flavor but is non-alcoholic.

Steam Locomotive

On weekends and national holidays, they operate a steam locomotive train from Shin-Yamaguchi to Tsuwano Station. There are two SLs and both are made in the 1930s. They leave Shin-Yamaguchi at 10:50 and arrive in Tsuwano at 12:59. It takes a little more than 2 hours for 62.9 km. It takes one hour more compared to taking the express train, but it will be a unique experience to ride it.

Tsuwano Information

Access: From Shin-Osaka to Shin-Yamaguchi, take the shinkansen (bullet train), then take the Super Oki Express to Tsuwano. It takes about 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a steam locomotive from Shin-Yamaguchi to Tsuwano as explained above.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we create perfect Japan package tours including destinations like Tsuwano. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Tsuwano Area Map

Matsue Castle

Matsue Castle was constructed by feudal lord Horio in 1611. The only remaining castle tower in the San-in Region (on the Sea of Japan) is here, and it is designated as a national treasure. It was constructed on a hill of 29 meters high called Mount Kameda and is surrounded by the river and a moat for defense. You will be impressed when you see the huge stone wall which can be seen from the entrance square.

The castle has a black color and it is nicknamed Chidori-jo or Plover Castle because of its shape. It is actually very rare that there is a well inside the castle. There is a view spot in the castle tower that commands a great view of Lake Shinji and Mt. Daisen (1,729m).

A wooden Western-style building on the premises, Geihinkan Guest House, was built in the early 20th century is now a provincial museum, and nearby you will find Shiroyama Park which offers a relaxing and recreational area for the people of Matsue.

Horikawa River Cruise

The water network was created for military reasons when the Matsue Castle was constructed in 1611. Today, you can enjoy a pleasant boat cruise through the waterway surrounding the castle. You will be on a small wooden boat that fits only about 10 passengers. The boat has to go under low bridges and when it passes the roof of the boat goes lower so you have to lay down in order to pass. It is great fun!

Yushien Garden

Yushien is a Japanese garden on an island called Daikon-jima in Nakaumi Lake. Though it is an island, you can go there by car. It is famous for growing peonies and ginseng. In the garden, you can see the peony flowers throughout the year. But if you visit between late April and the beginning of May, you may see some gorgeous sceneries of floating peony flowers on the pond!

Lake Shinji

Lake Shinji is a brackish water lake. It is connected to the Nakaumi Lake which is connected to the Sea of Japan. They grow freshwater clams in the lake. The clams are mainly used as an ingredient of miso soup. You can enjoy a boat cruise on the lake.

Ejima Ohashi Bridge

Ejima Ohashi is a bridge between Sakaiminato City and Ejima Island. It is one of the steepest bridges in Japan and it goes up to 45 meters high. If you use a zoom lens and take a picture of the bridge from some distance away, it looks almost vertical even though it only has a 6.1% angle. It was used for a TV commercial once and has since become very popular. It is nicknamed Betabumi-zaka which means you have to drive the car at full throttle.

Information of Matsue Castle

Access: 10 minutes ride on the bus from Matsue Station (JR Line) to Otemae (大手前) stop

Entrance: 680 for adults/290 yen for junior high school students and under

Hours: From April to September 8.30 am – 6.30 pm, From October to March 8.30 am – 5 pm

Area Map

History of the Shrine

East of Shimane Prefecture, the great shrine of Izumo or Izumo Taisha is dedicated to the Shinto God Okuninushi-no-Mikoto. This god is the creator and protector of medicine, sericulture, and agriculture. He would have received it as compensation for another territory given to another god. This would be the oldest shrine in Japan, in fact, its existence dates back to at least the seventh century. However, most of the current buildings date from 1668, and the main building is from 1744 (the 25th reconstruction).

The main shrine, with a height of 24 meters, is a reference for the Taisha Zukuri architectural style. However, it is said that there was a time when its size was 48 meters. This hypothesis is reinforced by the discovery in 2000 of three wooden pillars 1 meter in diameter joined together to form a single pillar for a building that could have supported such a height.

If you are interested in the history and treasures of the shrine, we recommend you to visit Homotsuden Museum. In the museum, you can see a small model of the original shrine building that’s 48 meters high.

Big Shimenawa

The most famous part of the shrine is the enormous shimenawa rope. Shimenawa is a rice straw or hemp rope that covers a sacred area in a Shinto shrine. The one in front of the Kaguraden is the biggest one in Japan. Kaguraden is used for rituals and wedding ceremonies. The shimenawa here is 13 meters long and the weight is 5.2 kg. They replace the rope with a new one every year.

You will also find the biggest Japanese flag on the shrine’s grounds. Its size is larger than 75 tatami (straw mat), and they hoist it every day.

Meeting of the Gods

In Japan, October is called Kannaduki or ‘the month without gods’. It means that gods will be absent from almost all the cities in Japan, except in Izumo. So in Izumo, they call October Kamiariduki or ‘the month with gods’. All the gods from all over Japan get together in Izumo to have a meeting once a year.

The most important topic of the meeting is marriage. They will talk about who should get married to who. So Izumo Taisha is regarded as the shrine of marriage. Many young people who wish to marry pay a visit to this shrine to pray for finding their future partner.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we create perfect Japan package tours including destinations like Shimane. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Izumo Taisha Access Information

Access: Local bus from Izumo-shi (出雲市) station (JR Line) to Izumo Taisha (出雲大社). It takes  about 25 minutes
Hours: From March to October 6 am – 8.30 pm / From November to February 6.30 am – 8 pm
Entrance fee shrine: Entrance to the shrine is freeEntrance fee museum: 300 yen for adults / 200 yen for university and senior high school students / 100 yen for junior high and elementary school students. Opening hours 8.30 am – 4.30 pm

Izumo Taisha Area Map