OVERVIEW

Meander through perhaps the oldest shrine in Japan, a rare example of early Taisha-zukuri-style architecture that presents a window into the sacred past. The Grand Shrine of Izumo may be the country’s oldest such building as it is referred to in chronicles dating to the 7th century. Incredibly, the soaring main hall is only half the height of the original building. You will enter by passing under a shimenawa, a 1.5-ton twisted straw rope that denotes a sacred pure place. Inside, you will find numerous artifacts, especially swords. The treasure hall is also noteworthy as it is filled with rare paintings and documents. Still, the shrine’s primary attractions are its architecture and spirituality. You will also browse the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, whose collections trace Japan’s early history. The exhibits showcase hundreds of artifacts excavated locally and a massive pillar from the original Grand Shrine of Izumo that hints at its size.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the ancient Grand Shrine of Izumo, an official National Treasure.
• Recognize the shrine’s rare architecture and pass under a massive symbolic straw rope.
• Behold an extraordinary collection of swords and other artifacts.
• Learn more about Japan’s history by browsing the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Explore a feudal castle that never saw battle and then stroll through a botanical garden renowned for its collection of hundreds of Japanese peony species.

A leisurely drive through the countryside takes you to Matsue Castle, a feudal fortification built in the early 1600s. Known as the “black castle” for its dark austere exterior, Matsue is the sole remaining castle on Japan’s coastline.

The hilltop donjon or castle keep is the only building left from the original complex, as many symbols of feudalism were destroyed during the Meiji Period that ended in 1912, including the buildings that once surrounded the castle. Matsue Castle is now considered so culturally important that it has been deemed a National Treasure and adopted as the symbol for Matsue City.

As you explore the five-tiered donjon, it will be easy to imagine what life must have been like in feudal Japan. Armor and samurai swords are displayed throughout. The uppermost floor serves as a lookout with 360-degree views.

Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, you will then visit Yushien Garden, a botanical wonderland on an island in the middle of Lake Nakaumi. Unlike Matsue Castle, this venue was designed to impart peace and tranquility. Although its star attraction is the collection of Japanese peonies, there are plenty of other species to admire.

OVERVIEW

Meander through perhaps the oldest shrine in Japan, a rare example of early Taisha-zukuri-style architecture that presents a window into the sacred past. The Grand Shrine of Izumo may be the country’s oldest such building as it is referred to in chronicles dating to the 7th century. You will enter the shrine by passing under a bronze torii gate and then a shimenawa, which is a 1.5-ton twisted rice straw rope that denotes a sacred pure place. The main hall – which was built in 1744 – is the tallest shrine structure in Japan, yet incredibly it is only half the height of the original version. Inside, you will find numerous artifacts, especially swords. The treasure house is also noteworthy as it is filled with exquisite paintings, rare documents and the central pillar that once supported the main sanctuary. Despite its historical contents, the grand shrine’s primary attractions are its architecture and spirituality.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the ancient Grand Shrine of Izumo, an official National Treasure.
• Recognize the shrine’s rare architecture and pass under a massive symbolic straw rope.
• Behold an extraordinary collection of swords and other artifacts.
• See a model of what the larger original shrine may have looked like in ancient times.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Behold masterworks from some of Japan’s most influential artists by browsing a museum of contemporary art and another museum dedicated to manga comics and graphic novels. Businessman Zenko Adachi founded the Adachi Museum of Art in 1970 to showcase his private collection and to fulfill his hope that visitors would also be moved by its beauty. The works focus on contemporary Japanese paintings, ceramics and woodcarvings. Be sure to see the extraordinary six-panel folding screens from the famed artist Yokoyama Taikan and his painting “Mountain after a Shower.” Your next stop will be the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to the life and creative works of the legendary manga artist and writer. Shaped by the horrors that Shigeru experienced during World War II – including the loss of one arm – he wrote and published comics that depict horror, fantasy and the supernatural. You will also travel a road lined with dozens of statues of his characters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a museum of highly influential art, including works by painter Yokoyama Taikan.
• View the museum gardens, designed around the belief that “the garden is also a picture.”
• Behold works from legendary manga artist and writer Mizuki Shigeru in another museum.
• See statues of Shigeru’s most famous characters lining a road named for the artist.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Admire the stunning collection of paintings, ceramics and woodcarvings amassed in the Adachi Museum of Art, a treasure-trove of contemporary Japanese masterworks. The works housed in the museum – which is named for founder Zenko Adachi, who was born impoverished and became a wealthy businessman – showcases his private collection. The two star pieces are Yokoyama Taikan’s six-panel folding screens known as “Autumn Leaves” and his painting “Mountain after a Shower.” Other standouts include an elegant wooden carving of a Bodhisattva with a fish basket, which pays homage to a Tang Dynasty legend, and a dazzling gold-painted porcelain vase by Kitaoji Rosanjin. He wasn’t just a ceramic artist; Rosanjin created his own aesthetics in the culinary world by producing tableware, flower vases and paintings for the dining room. Be sure to gaze out over the surrounding gardens, which were designed around Adachi’s belief that “the garden is also a picture.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse a private collection of contemporary Japanese art in the Adachi Museum of Art.
• Learn about the museum’s founder, a poor bullied child that prospered as a businessman.
• Behold highly influential works that include two masterpieces from Yokoyama Taikan.
• View the museum gardens, designed around the belief that “the garden is also a picture.”

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delight your senses with a meandering walk through an enormous flower park and then by sampling confectionery at a store designed to replicate an early 17th-century castle. As you walk the winding paths of Tottori Flower Park, you may enter the futuristic-looking Flower Dome, an enormous transparent hemisphere that maintains temperatures ideal for tropical plants. The other gardens are also arranged by themes such as herbal and water plants, lilies and formal European-style arrangements. Flower Hill is particularly noteworthy as its slope is blanketed in brilliant flowers that draw the eye towards Mt. Daisen. A different view of the mountain will be presented from the observation deck atop Kotobuki Castle, your next stop. The castle was designed as a replica of one that once stood nearby, but with a huge difference – Kotobuki wasn’t built for defense but rather to house a confectionary shop. While browsing, feel free to sample the candies and other delights.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through Tottori Flower Park, where something is always in bloom.
• Easily find your favorite types of plants as they are arranged by themes.
• See Mt. Daisen from the Tottori Flower Park and from atop nearby Kotobuki Castle.
• Be amused that Kotobuki looks like a castle but is really a shop for sweets.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.