Getting Around Matsue
Matsue is the capital of Shimane Prefecture, set between Lake Shinji and Nakaumi on the banks of the Ohashi River, and its compact center makes it an unusually easy city to explore on foot. Most of the main sights cluster within walking distance of one another, and a handful of other options fill in the gaps when your legs need a rest or the weather turns.
On Foot
The city center is not that big, and most attractions are within walking distance of each other. This makes walking the default way to get around the historic core, including the castle and its surrounding moat.
Matsue has a humid subtropical climate with abundant rainfall throughout the year, so it is worth planning for wet weather. The Matsue International Tourist Information Office in front of the station runs a free umbrella loan system, putting abandoned umbrellas to good use — pick one up in case the weather changes.
By Bicycle
Bicycles are a quick and convenient way to get around Matsue, and rentals are available at several locations. Around Matsue Station you can rent from Eki Rentaka Kansai, inside the Matsue Station Shamine parking structure; Nippon Rent-A-Car, across the street from the station; and Matsue Urban Hotel, also across the street, which offers 24-hour rentals and discounts for guests. Near Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station, rentals are available at the station itself and at Matsue New Urban Hotel Annex, which likewise offers 24-hour rentals with discounts for guests.
Rail and Tram Network
Matsue is a major stop on the JR San'in Main Line, which parallels the Sea of Japan coastline for most of its length. For most destinations, JR trains can take you there, and you catch them at Matsue Station. The San'in Main Line also links Matsue with nearby towns such as Shinji, Tamatsukuri-Onsen and Iya, while the JR Kisuki Line branches off from Shinji.
The Ichibata Electric Railway, known locally as Bataden, runs its Kita-Matsue Line north of Lake Shinji toward Izumo, with stops including Matsue Shinjiko Onsen. If you are heading off to visit Izumo's shrines and temples, this is the line to take, and a one-day unlimited ride ticket is available.
Matsue itself has no metro; the rail network consists of these JR and Ichibata lines, complemented by the local bus network and the tourist-oriented Lake Line buses.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Matsue Bus is the local bus company, and its buses can take you all over the city. For visitors, the most useful service is the Lake Line: bright-red, retro-styled tourist buses that loop around all the major attractions, with one bus every 30 minutes. You can buy a single ride, a day pass, or a two-day pass, with reduced fares for children.
For longer journeys into the region, highway buses connect Matsue with Tokyo (night bus only), Osaka, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Okayama, Kobe and Nagoya (night bus only). The ticket office is outside Matsue Station, behind Lawson. Foreign tourists can take advantage of a discounted one-way fare on the highway buses between Matsue and Hiroshima; tickets must be purchased on the same day or the day before departure at a designated ticket office.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis can be found waiting on both sides of Matsue Station. When you are away from the station, the easiest way to get one is to ask a hotel or shop operator to call a taxi for you. Ichibata Taxi is the largest taxi company in the city; note that English is not spoken.
By Car
A car is not needed in the city center, but it can be handy if you are headed out to the countryside. Nippon Rent-A-Car has an office across the street from Matsue Station. If you are driving in from elsewhere, the expressway network reaches the city via the Matsue Nishi interchange, and several national routes also serve the area.
Getting to Matsue from the Airport
Matsue does not have its own airport. The nearest airports are Izumo Airport and Yonago Kitaro Airport, and both connect to Matsue Station by shuttle bus.
- Izumo Airport: Served by JAL flights from Tokyo Haneda, Osaka Itami, Fukuoka and the Oki Islands. Shuttle buses to Matsue Station are scheduled to connect with every arriving flight, taking about 30 minutes.
- Yonago Kitaro Airport: Served by ANA flights from Tokyo Haneda, plus Asiana flights to Incheon International Airport in Korea three times a week. Shuttle buses to Matsue Station are scheduled to connect with every arriving national flight, taking about 45 minutes. Alternatively, JR trains depart from Yonago Airport Station roughly hourly; to reach Matsue, transfer at Yonago Station, where regular trains and express services both continue on to Matsue.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself near Matsue Station if you plan to use buses, trains and taxis, since all of these converge there.
- Pick up a Lake Line day or two-day pass if you intend to visit several major attractions in a single day.
- Consider the Ichibata one-day unlimited ride ticket if your plans include Izumo's shrines and temples.
- Keep the free umbrella loan service in mind — Matsue sees rain throughout the year.
- For the discounted Hiroshima highway bus fare, buy your ticket at a designated ticket office on the day of departure or the day before.