Shimane and Oki Islands

A FULL IMMERSION THROUGH ART, HISTORY, RELIGION, NATURE: THE ADACHI ART MUSEUM, THE CITY OF MATSUE, IZUMO TAISHA SHRINE AND THE OKI ISLANDS

6 day extension

Shimane Prefecture is ideal for travelers in search of a unique and remote Japan, a concentration of timeless history and culture.

Surrounded to the north by the Sea of Japan and to the south by the Chugoku mountain range, the region offers lush nature, beautiful coastal scenery, history, and sacred places waiting to be explored. Enjoy the beautiful gardens at the Adachi Art Museum, the rare scenic beauty along the coast on the Sea of Japan, the ancient castle of Matsue, and pray to the “Shinto god of good relations” at the shrine of Izumo Taisha.

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6 Days/5 Nights

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Travel program

1 GIORNO ADACHI MUSEUM JNTO 1

DAY 1: ADACHI ART MUSEUM

  • Visit the Adachi Art Museum, a “living Japanese painting”, awarded as the best Japanese garden for 17 consecutive years. An open-air museum conceived on the thought of its founder Adachi Zenko: “The garden is also a painting”. Discover harmony while walking through the six gardens: the Dry Landscape Garden, the Moss Garden, the Tea Garden, the Pond Garden, and the White Gravel and Pine Garden.
2 GIORNO Matsue JNTO 2

DAY 2: MATSUE

  • In Matsue visit the “black castle”, a sumptuous piece of samurai history. The castle is one of the few remaining medieval castles still in existence in their original wooden form, listed as National Treasure.

    From the keep, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. Matsue – known as the “city of water” – can also be explored by boat, a pleasant route through moats and canals that lap the samurai quarter. And if you are fond of manga, we recommend a visit to Sakaiminato which is home to ghosts and monsters of the anime artist Shigeru Mizuki.

3 GIORNO IZM52 ê äyìa2 5mb UFTU

DAY 3: IZUMO TAISHA

  • The visit continues to the Great Shrine Izumo Taisha, home to Okuninushi-no-Okami, Shinto god of marriage and good relationships, happiness, and good luck.  Izumo Taisha has the largest “shimenawa” in Japan, the Shinto straw rope hanging in front of Kaguraden, the place dedicated to sacred dances. And according to ancient Japanese mythology, the gods of all Japan gather in this sanctuary once a year, the tenth month of the ancient lunar calendar.

    Before leaving Izumo, try the renowned soba, a dish created by necessity during a famine, now part of the local culture.

4 GIORNO Traditional Boat Houses UFTU

DAY 4: OKI ISLANDS

  • Transfer to the Oki Islands, part of the UNESCO global geopark network: Dogo the largest of the four, Nishinoshima, Nakanoshima, and Chiburijima the smallest; they are the ideal destination for nature and green lovers, with incredible rock formations and pretty fishing villages.

    Words are not adequate to describe the beauty of the place and we invite you to watch the video, courtesy of the Oki Islands Tourist Office. We hope you enjoy the view!

5 GIORNO Akiya Coast 2

DAY 5: OKI ISLANDS

  • Day at leisure, dedicated to the exploration of this spectacular UNESCO Global Geopark.

    The length of your stay on the islands depends on the time you have at your disposal.

    We recommend that you spend at least 2 nights on the main island and use the ferry to reach the other islands of the archipelago.

6 GIORNO Kasuga Shrine UFTU

DAY 6: DEPARTURE

  • The visit of the spectacular Shimane Prefecture is coming to an end; by ferry, return to Matsue and continue by train or flight to your next Japanese destination!

Photo Credit: © JNTO • © Shimane Prefecture • © IZUMOOYASHIRO • © Oki Islands Geopark • © Okinoshima Tourism Association