🕓 2025/6/8
#Hotels
Table of Contents
About Shimane Prefecture
Shimane Prefecture is located in the San’in region facing the Sea of Japan, and has been known since ancient times as a land where mythology and history come alive. It is a region packed with diverse attractions, from sacred shrines and temples such as Izumo Taisha, World Heritage Sites like the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, to beautiful coastlines and rural landscapes.
The castle town atmosphere of Matsue with Matsue Castle, the Adachi Museum of Art renowned for its Japanese garden, and Izumo Taisha as a sacred site for matchmaking all offer rich historical and cultural experiences. Meanwhile, the rugged coastal beauty of the Oki Islands and the sunset views over Lake Shinji provide numerous breathtaking natural landscapes.
For sightseeing, visitors can enjoy strolling through the townscape of Iwami Ginzan, taking a boat tour of the Matsue Horikawa moat, relaxing at Tamatsukuri Onsen, and experiencing island travel in the Oki Islands, all offering unique journeys that blend history, culture, and nature.
Below, we introduce three carefully selected luxury hotels that provide exceptional stays when visiting Shimane Prefecture.
- 3 Carefully Selected Japanese-Style Ryokan in Shimane Prefecture
- “Minamikan” – An Inn of History and Tradition
- “Kasuien Minami” – A Relaxing Inn Where Tradition Meets Innovation
- ■ The Appeal of “Kasuien Minami”
- ■ Access Information for “Kasuien Minami”
- ■ The Appeal of “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF”
- ■ Access Information for “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF”
- 3 Carefully Selected Hotels in Niigata Prefecture (Must-Stay Luxury Hotels)
- 3 Carefully Selected Hotels in Okayama Prefecture (Must-Stay Japanese-Style Ryokan)
- 3 Carefully Selected Hotels in Fukushima Prefecture (Must-Stay Luxury Hotels)
3 Carefully Selected Japanese-Style Ryokan in Shimane Prefecture
“Minamikan” – An Inn of History and Tradition
Source: Minamikan Official Website
■The Appeal of “Minamikan”
“Minamikan” was founded in 1888 (Meiji 21) on the shores of Lake Shinji in the castle town of Matsue, starting as a “vinegar shop” turned “inn,” and for over 130 years has been a historic and venerable ryokan beloved by many literary and artistic figures. Its presence conveys the dignity that a traditional Japanese inn should possess, warmly welcoming all who visit.
The traditions passed down through generations create a trinity of excellence that promises a truly special stay found nowhere else.
1. A Space Loved by Literary Masters, Breathing with History
The history of Minamikan is deeply intertwined with the history of Japanese literature and art. Members of the Imperial family, as well as distinguished cultural figures and artists such as Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Yasunari Kawabata, Kyoshi Takahama, Taro Okamoto, Lafcadio Hearn (Yakumo Koizumi), and Naoya Shiga have all visited this inn, where they are said to have deepened their contemplation and found inspiration for their works in its serene spaces.
Most notably, the poet Toson Shimazaki stayed here with his son and wrote about the beautiful scenery of Matsue and the comfort of Minamikan in his travel essay “San’in Miyage.” His originally planned three-night stay extended to five nights, and the calligraphy of “Basho’s words” that he brushed for the innkeeper during his stay is still displayed in the tokonoma alcove. The room where Toson stayed has been carefully preserved as the “Toson Room,” retaining the atmosphere of that time.
Throughout the inn, calligraphy, paintings, and works left by these literary and artistic figures are tastefully displayed in the “Inishie Lounge Kotori,” the entrance gallery, the front desk, and various other locations, allowing guests to spend time immersed in the fragrance of history and art, as if touring an art museum.
2. A Lakeside Karesansui Garden Borrowing Lake Shinji as Its Backdrop
One of Minamikan’s greatest attractions is its karesansui-style lakeside garden, which skillfully incorporates the magnificent scenery of Lake Shinji. This garden features fifteen pine trees that tell the story of its history, including an Izumo pine over 200 years old with a tortoiseshell-pattern bark, and an incomparably exquisite tree over 300 years old standing at the center of the tea room, embodying the traditional Japanese beauty described by the phrase “white sand, green pines.”
The garden is designed with Lake Shinji as borrowed scenery, creating a sense of infinite depth within a limited space. The beauty of the garden at dusk, when Lake Shinji is dyed in crimson hues, is beyond words, and many literary and artistic figures are said to have been captivated by this view.
3. The Minamikan Family Recipe “Tai-meshi” and the Bounty of San’in
When speaking of Minamikan, one cannot omit its culinary appeal, particularly the “Tai-meshi” (sea bream rice) devised by the first head chef, Tsunetaro Nishimura, and carefully passed down through generations. This dish is also associated with an anecdote that the 7th lord of the Matsue Domain, Lord Fumai Matsudaira, was fond of it, and is known as a “Lord Fumai favorite.”
This exquisite dish features lavishly prepared flaked sea bream fillet, finely sieved organic free-range eggs, and a secret dashi broth based on dried bonito flakes, all poured over rice. Light yet brimming with the umami and elegant aroma of sea bream, it is a sublime taste that makes you want to return for more.
4. 19 Distinctly Different Guest Rooms and “Beauty Skin Hot Spring”
With a total of just 19 guest rooms, Minamikan maintains the intimate scale befitting a venerable ryokan while giving each room its own distinct character and charm to meet the diverse needs of its guests.
Choices range from rooms with observation baths overlooking the magnificent scenery of Lake Shinji, retro-modern rooms that many literary figures must have loved, to maisonette-type rooms overlooking the lakeside garden. The separate annex “Bifumi” on the first floor, built in the Kyo-sukiya style, features maisonette rooms with observation hot spring baths, creating a special stay experience.
■Access Information for “Minamikan”
- Official Website: https://www.minami-g.co.jp/minamikan/
- Access: Approximately 8-10 minutes by taxi from JR Matsue Station
- Address: 14 Suetsugu-Honmachi, Matsue, Shimane 690-0843
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TMnMUzAkJ5XgUsDY7
“Kasuien Minami” – A Relaxing Inn Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Source: Kasuien Minami Official Website
■ The Appeal of “Kasuien Minami”
“Kasuien Minami” was established in 1952 (Showa 27) as a branch of Matsue’s “Minamikan” (founded in 1888) at Tamatsukuri Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest hot spring destinations with a history of 1,300 years.
While built upon the spirit of hospitality common to the Minami Group – “Serve as a host with the heart of your guests” – it has grown into one of the San’in region’s premier large-scale ryokan, boasting over 100 diverse guest rooms, expansive Japanese gardens that show beauty in every season, and an abundant flow of Tamatsukuri Onsen’s waters, known as the “Hot Spring of the Gods.”
1. The “Hot Spring of the Gods” – Tamatsukuri Onsen for Beautiful Skin and Health
Tamatsukuri Onsen, where Kasuien Minami is located, has a history of over 1,300 years, with its name recorded in the ancient text “Izumo no Kuni Fudoki.” Since ancient times, it has been said that “one bath will rejuvenate your skin, and two will cure any illness,” and it has been deeply revered as the “Hot Spring of the Gods.”
The spacious main baths “Ukidono” (for men) and “Ukifune” (for women) offer relaxing soaks while gazing at the garden greenery, outdoor baths where you can feel the changing seasons, and the panoramic outdoor bath “Tenyu no Yu” on the top 9th floor, offering truly spectacular views of the Tamatsukuri hot spring town below and the Izumo mountains in the distance.
2. Diverse Guest Rooms to Match Every Style of Stay
While boasting 109 guest rooms – one of the largest counts in the San’in region – Kasuien Minami offers a rich variety of room types tailored to each guest’s preferences and purpose of stay, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Options range from tranquil traditional Japanese rooms to rooms with private free-flowing hot spring baths, and luxuriously appointed special rooms befitting a special occasion.
The “Nishi no Yakata Hiten” wing, with views of Izumo’s beautiful scenery, features the modern Japanese-Western rooms of the “Toki no Yadori Floor Tenyura,” with high ceilings and an open, airy feel, popular with younger guests and those who prefer beds.
3. Traditional Cuisine Featuring the Seasonal Flavors of San’in
The culinary appeal of Kasuien Minami lies in its kaiseki cuisine, which makes generous use of seasonal ingredients from the local San’in region – fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and Lake Shinji, and mountain delicacies nurtured by the abundant nature of the Chugoku Mountains. These dishes faithfully carry on the traditional cooking methods and flavors cultivated over many years at the parent ryokan “Minamikan,” with each course prepared with meticulous care.
For dinner, in addition to the chef’s seasonal kaiseki courses, guests can also enjoy specialty dishes recommended by the head chef, such as “Shimane Wagyu” beef steak – black-haired Japanese cattle raised in Shimane Prefecture that have earned a prestigious title for their exceptional meat quality – and “Suzuki no Hosho-yaki,” a traditional Matsue dish in which sea bass (one of the Seven Delicacies of Lake Shinji) is wrapped in washi paper and steam-roasted to concentrate its umami flavors.
4. Attentive Hospitality Cultivated Over 130 Years of History
The teaching of Lord Fumai Matsudaira, shared as the company motto of the Minami Group – “Serve as a host with the heart of your guests” – is deeply ingrained in every corner of Kasuien Minami. This spirit is reflected in the conduct and speech of each staff member, with many guests praising the service as “perfectly thorough,” “attentive in every detail,” and “a wonderful ryokan where the spirit of hospitality is evident throughout.”
■ Access Information for “Kasuien Minami”
- Official Website: https://www.kasuien-minami.jp/
- Access: About 5 minutes by shuttle from JR San’in Main Line Tamatsukuri Onsen Station
- Address: 1218-8 Tamayucho Tamatsukuri, Matsue, Shimane 699-0201
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HiKqXZhbNVaVANSHA
“IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF” – A Scenic Resort in Harmony with Nature
Source: Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland Official Website
■ The Appeal of “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF”
Perched on the dramatic cliffs of the “Koryo West Coast” overlooking the Sea of Japan, “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF” is a hideaway-like hotel with the exclusive rarity of just 8 rooms, designed to evoke a private cave. Its concept is “Beautiful time in resonance with nature.”
All rooms offer ocean views with unobstructed panoramas of the Sea of Japan, and each room’s terrace is equipped with a private jacuzzi.
1. All Rooms with Ocean Views – Scenery Like a Painting
The greatest attraction of IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF is, without a doubt, its breathtaking views. All 8 rooms are built on a cliff approximately 10 meters above the beach, each designed to face a carefully calculated different direction to provide guests with the finest possible scenery.
Upon entering a guest room, the first thing that catches your eye is the magnificent panorama of the Sea of Japan spreading across the entire wall. The uniquely rounded window frames, in particular, frame the view before you like a single painting, accentuating its beauty.
The calm sea sparkling in the morning sun, the dramatically crimson sky at sunset, and the rough winter waves of the Sea of Japan – the scenery changes constantly with each season and time of day, projecting once-in-a-lifetime landscapes that are never the same twice. The sunset seen from this location, hailed as the “Sacred Land Where the Sun Sets – Izumo,” is particularly spectacular, with guests praising it as “The moment the sun sinks below the horizon is simply breathtaking” and “The most beautiful sight of my life.”
2. The Luxury of Spending Time in a Private Space
Each guest room at IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF is meticulously designed down to the finest detail, ensuring guests can truly relax and deepen their sense of unity with nature. All rooms feature spacious terraces equipped with private jacuzzis, where guests can enjoy the ultimate bath time while gazing at the magnificent Sea of Japan, undisturbed by anyone.
True to its name, the room interiors evoke a CAVE (cavern)-like atmosphere, with a sense of calm and embrace. Natural, primitive materials are used for the walls, floors, and furniture, creating a feeling of warmth and tranquility.
3. Savoring Shimane’s Cuisine at “GARB CLIFF TERRACE IZUMO”
The dining experience that enriches a stay at IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF is provided at the main dining “GARB CLIFF TERRACE IZUMO,” located on the upper floor of the hotel. The restaurant’s concept is “Made in Shimane.” Guests can enjoy dishes that generously use seasonal ingredients from Shimane Prefecture, known as a treasure trove of food, prepared to bring out the maximum flavor of each ingredient, all while taking in the spectacular ocean views.
Dinner is a special 7-course meal offered exclusively to hotel guests. From soup to cold appetizers, warm appetizers, fresh fish from local ports, Shimane Prefecture-sourced meat dishes, seasonal pasta, and dessert, the entire composition showcases the chef’s sensibility and skill, as if savoring all the bounty of Shimane in one sitting.
4. Special Experiences to Free Body and Mind
Special experiences are available to help guests release themselves from everyday stress and refresh both body and mind. One of these is the private-reservation ocean-view sauna. Here, guests can enjoy an authentic Finnish loyly (steam bath) while having the spectacular views of the Sea of Japan all to themselves.
In the evening, you can gaze at the sky and sea dyed in orange hues, and at night, under a canopy of stars, you can experience the blissful sensation of “totonou” (total relaxation) to your heart’s content. Furthermore, for guests seeking an even more private and free-spirited stay, a separate villa called “Villa Wanderlust” is available, limited to one group per day.
■ Access Information for “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF”
- Official Website: https://hotel-the-cliff.jp/
- Access: 5 minutes by taxi from JR San’in Main Line Oda Station
- Address: 1870 B1F Hisamura, Taki-cho, Izumo, Shimane 699-0901
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/F8kYySAy4YtaSz2T7