A tour ofShimane Town
A seaside town decor ated by mythical legends

Evening view from the west beach
There are several beautiful sunset spots inShimane Town. When the weather is nice,you can enjoy the wonderful view of the sun
setting slowly on the horizon.

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T

he Shimane Peninsula, rich in nature and surrounded by the sea and mountains, canbe found in the northeastern part of Shimane Prefecture. And in the center of thepeninsula, you can find Shimane Town.
From the Edo period to the Meiji period, it prospered as a resting port for Kitamaebune cargoships, and at its peak, the streets were lined with boathouses and restaurants.
The huge underwater cave "Kaka no Kukedo", which is also recorded in the Izumo Fudoki,
was designated as a "National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument" in 1927, and it
is recorded that many famous writers visited it.
One of them, Lafcadio Hearn, a literary master of the Meiji era, recorded his deep impression
in his book "Glimpses of an Unfamiliar Japan" after he visited with his wife Setsu, travellingby rickshaw and boat.
Shimane Town is a town where you can live with the sea, such as enjoying the magnificent
view of the setting sun over the Sea of Japan, and the rows of cherry blossom trees that bloomon Cherry Road along the Rias coast.
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Kaka-no-Kukedo
Sightseeing Boat

There are two main caves, New Kukedo is the cave of (Shinto) Gods, and Old Kukedo cave is thecave of the Buddha, making it a rare case where both Gods and Buddha are enshrined. You canenjoy the 50-minute boat trip on the "Kaka-no-Kukedo Sightseeing Boat" that visits these twocaves. (Available March-November)

Shimane Town has been inhabited for a long time and later prospered as a gateway to the sea.
The town was crowded with many boathouses, and the cargo of visiting Kitamaebune cargoships was brought to the Matsue domain by waterway, and visitors shared stories of lifestyles
and beliefs different from those of castle towns and rural areas.

Seafood

Seafood - Matsue
Iwagaki Oysters
The oysters grown in the Sea of Japan in Shimane Town are the latest Matsue
specialty: “Matsue Iwagaki”.
Raised mainly in the bays of the Sezaki and Noi districts, the rich, nutritious andplentiful flesh is perfect for consumption. The harvesting season is from April toJuly, and you can enjoy them at various events in the town and throughout the city.

04Superb views

History
Kaka's New Kukedo is said to be the birthplace of Sada-noOkami, one of the four central Izumo gods. Looking for a place
to give birth to Sada-no-Okami, Mother Goddess Kisakahimeno-mikoto saw the hidden door and said, "Is it a dark cavern?"and shot into the cave with a golden bow and arrow. It was. Atthat moment, the inside of the cave was shining with the bright
light that came in, so Kisakahime declared “it is radiant” or,in the old Japanese of the gods of Izumo, “kakayakeri.” That issaid to be the origin of the place name Kaka.

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Ema
At Kaka Shrine, there are six large wooden plaques(ema) dedicated to blessing for the safe passageof ships. The largest one is 340cm wide, and they
include the "warrior ema" depicting a battle from theWarring States period and a "boat ema" depicting theKitamaebune cargo boats, which conveys glimpses ofa time of maritime prosperity.

Recommended spots

New Kukedo (Shinto God’s cave)

Old Kukedo (Buddha’s Kukedo)

New Kukedo is a large and open sea cave, and ondays when the waves are calm, you can explore it on asightseeing boat. According to the Izumo Fudoki, it was
the birthplace of Sada-no-Okami, and where, according
to legends, his mother used a golden bow and arrow
to bring light to the cave. The cave is also known as apower spot where you can feel the strength of the legends.
Author Lafcadio Hearn recorded the praise "I have neverseen a more beautiful cave". A sightseeing boat operates
from Marine Plaza Shimane (March-November).

"Kaka's Old Kukedo" is a cave with a myriad of smallstone towers, called "Sai no Kawara". It is said to be agathering place for the souls of deceased young children.
Stories say that they gather stones from the riverbank andpile them up into towers while crying "I miss my father
and my mother," but oni demons come and kick down
the piled towers. However, a Jizo Buddha appears todrive away the demons and help the spirits of the youngchildren.

Cherry Road
In commemoration of the openingof the prefectural road that connects
the Nonami area and the Kaka area,
about 700 cherry trees were planted
over a 5 km line, making a beautiful
contrast between the pink of thecherry blossoms and the blue ofthe Sea of Japan. There are several
observatories and the "Sakura Park”.

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Susumi Coast

At this coast, you can see the beautiful “laundry rocks” that have been formed over the years.
The rushing waves breaking on the scraggy rock surface creates a spectacular view.

Seven Caves of Tako
Seven caves of varying sizes formed on the cliff of 50m tall
Cape Takobana. Nine entrances can be seen from the sea.
A sightseeing boat is in service from Marine Plaza Shimane.
(March-November)Marine Plaza Shimane
2 F: Shimane Peninsula and Shinjiko Nakaumi Estuary Geopark - Matsue Visitor
CenterAs the boarding point of the Kaka-no-Kukedo Sightseeing
Boat and by offering information on sightseeing and culture
in Shimane Town, this facility serves as a base for visiting thearea. The restaurant "Nagisa" is popular for its sazae (turbanshell) and rice set meal. They also
sell local specialties such as fig jam.
270-1 Kaka, Shimane Town
TEL 0852-85-9111
Restaurant "Nagisa"
Open 11: 00-15: 00 (closed Tuesdays)

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Konami beachThis area features a clear sea and white sand beach, with a shallow swimming area, so parents andchildren can enjoy it safely.
The campsite also has a parking lot, rest area, shower and toilet.

Nonami Beach Resort
It took 15 years to develop an ocean front that
protects local residents from the strong winterwinds and waves peculiar to the Shimane
Peninsula, while also matching the local sceneryand be a comforting place to spend time. Thisfacility facing the Nonami Beach was completed
in 2010 and is fully equipped with an artificial
turf sports plaza, a restroom facility with toilets
and shower rooms, green space, and a parking
lot. It is popular not only as a place of relaxation
for local residents, but also as a tourist facility
where you can enjoy swimming in the sea.

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Katsurashima beach
Katsurashima is a small island with a circumferenceof about 2 km connected to Kaka Port by Kanzaki
Bridge, and there is a rest house where you can enjoy
swimming, camping, and surf fishing.
Katsurashima Mini Visitor Center TEL 0852-85-2902

09Accommodation

Oki Islands

The fun of staying at a seaside inn is thefresh seafood.
After feasting to your heart's content,
you can rest your tired mind and body.
All the local inns boast warm
hospitality as if you were family.

Marine Park Takobana
Known as the "Cape in the Sky", the hill of Takobana is thenorthernmost tip of the Shimane Peninsula. From the 15 cabinswith their panoramic view of the magnificent azure Sea ofJapan, you can see both the rising sun and the setting sun fromthe horizon, and at night you can see fishing fires, a starry sky.
There is also a well-equipped open grass campsite, for evengreater contact with nature.
270-1 Tako, Shimane-cho, Matsue
TEL 0852-85-9111

Minshuku

Minshuku

Minshuku

Fukushima

YamaneNakayoshi

326 Noi, Shimane-cho, Matsue
TEL 0852-85-2364

13- 3 Noi, Shimane-cho, Matsue
TEL 0852-85-2396

2281 Nonami, Shimane-cho,Matsue TEL 0852-85-3150

10Shimane Town Festivals

Shimane Town

Festivals
Shimane Town Sakura Festival
Early April, Oashi (Marine Gate Shimane)

We hold hearty and fun events
where you can taste local foodsand enjoy the seasons, all madepossible by the work of local
residents.

In addition to cherry blossoms, you can also find seasonalseafood such as Matsue Iwagaki oysters and other special
products, foods and drinks of Shimane Town.

Shimane Town Fureai Festival

Sea Town Summer Festival

Early November

July, Konami Beach

There are a lot of things to enjoy at this community
festival, which also celebrates the autumn harvest, suchas eating local specialties and even a chance at handcatching some of them, free crab soup, lotteries, games,etc.

Full of beach events such as beach volleyball
tournaments, beach flag races, and clam digging
experiences.

Gacchi Festival
October 23, Nonami

Every year, on October 23, the day before theannual festival of the Hinomisaki Shrine in
Nonami, a procession, including a portableshrine, parades through the town. The name"Gacchi" refers to the role responsible forpurifying festival goers. The Gacchi drink
ritual sake (omiki) and run around purifying
people by hitting them with “shibo” made ofstraw.

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Okidomari
Tako

Marine Park
Takobana

Tako-uraSea of Japan

Okidomari-ura
Seven Caves of Tako

●Kotanigahara

Marin&Diving Aqua ●182

Konami-ura

Sezaki-no-Mamori●

Konami

Tsuki Island

Konami Beach

Cherry Road

Old Kukedo(Buddha Kukedo) cave

SanamiKukedo Sightseeing Boat

Katsura Island Embankment

Kaka

Marine Gate Shimane
Marine Shop Shimane

Ichihara Sports Grounds●●Mt.takashibi

river Shimizu

Chikujigawa River▲

Satojigawa River● Inari Shrine

Kaka Bessho
Mitarai Waterfall●

Shimizu River

Shimane Town

Morita River
21Mihonoseki

Matsue Shimane Road

Mt. Makuragi(Shimane Multi-use Park)

Kashima Town

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Matsue Kashima
Mihonoseki Road

Shimane Elementary School

88 Sacred Groundsof Okaiji Temple

KakaCastle
Ruins

riverside cherry blossoms
and fireflies

NonamiMatsue Kashima Mihonoseki Road

Matsue City Hall;
Shimane Town Branch Office fireflies on theSusumi coast
BentenOashihama Island ●175●

Noi-ura37○●●

Oashi-ura●GSNoi
Gorinshizuka ●Nonami Beach Park

Sakura Park
Mt. Tsumezaka▲Tsumezaka Tunnel
Shimane Gymnasium
Shimane Community Center and Library
Shimane Junior High School●●●

Nishi-no-hama beachSusumi Coast

Kaka-ura,Marine Plaza
Shimane Sightseeing
boat boarding point●

Katsura Island BeachOashi●Sezaki Tsunakake
Hanging Pine Tree

Nonami-ura

New Kukedo(Shinto Kukedo) cave

Sezaki-ura

Mt. Takisora▲

Shinmichi Tunnel

Mt. Misaka▲

Mt. Ohira▲< Contact Us >Matsue Tourism Association Shimane Town Branch(Matsue City Hall Shimane Town Branch Office Regional Promotion Division)1414 Kaka, Shimane-cho, Matsue-shi, Shimane 690-0401
TEL 0852-55-5722 FAX 0852-55-5739
E-mail: shimane-chiiki@city.matsue.lg.jp
Shimane Town Sightseeing Navi http://shimanechou.kankou-matsue.jp/▲