🕓 2025/7/16
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About Shimane Prefecture
Shimane Prefecture lies in the San-in region along the Sea of Japan and has been revered since antiquity as a land where mythology and history live on. From venerable shrines and temples such as Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, the area brims with diverse attractions, including picturesque coastlines and bucolic satoyama landscapes.
Visitors can immerse themselves in history and culture in Matsue, where the elegant streetscape still centers on Matsue Castle; admire the world-famous gardens of the Adachi Museum of Art; and feel the spiritual atmosphere at Izumo Taisha, celebrated as Japan’s foremost shrine of matchmaking. Nature lovers will find equal delight in the rugged coastal scenery of the Oki Islands and the stunning sunsets over Lake Shinji.
Touring highlights range from strolling the traditional streets of Iwami Ginzan, cruising the Horikawa River moats of Matsue, and unwinding in the soothing waters of Tamatsukuri Onsen, to island-hopping adventures in the Oki archipelago. This unique mix of history, culture, and pristine nature promises a richly layered travel experience.
Below are three carefully curated luxury hotels that provide an exceptional stay when you visit Shimane.
Carefully Curated Tatami-Room Ryokan in Shimane, Japan
1. “Minami-kan” — An Inn Steeped in History and Tradition
■ The Appeal of “Minami-kan”
Founded in 1888 on the shore of Lake Shinji in the former castle town of Matsue, Minami-kan has welcomed guests for more than 130 years. Esteemed writers, artists, and members of the imperial family have long cherished this historic ryokan, whose dignified presence embodies everything a classic Japanese inn should offer while warmly embracing every traveler.
Its threefold legacy of service, cuisine, and atmosphere promises an experience found nowhere else.
1. A Haven Loved by Literati, Breathing with History
Minami-kan is deeply intertwined with Japan’s literary and artistic heritage. Renowned cultural figures — including Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Yasunari Kawabata, Kyoshi Takahama, Tarō Okamoto, Lafcadio Hearn, and Naoya Shiga — have all stayed here, finding inspiration in its serene spaces.
Particularly famous is poet Tōson Shimazaki, who lengthened his planned three-night stay to five and later praised Matsue’s scenery and Minami-kan’s comfort in his travel essay San-in Miyage. During that visit he brushed an inscription quoting Bashō; the scroll still hangs in the tokonoma, and the room itself is preserved as “Tōson no Ma.”
Throughout the inn, calligraphy and artworks left by these illustrious guests are displayed almost casually in the Inishie Lounge Kotori, the entry gallery, the reception hall, and other nooks, allowing you to wander as though through a private museum steeped in history and art.
2. A Lakeside Karesansui Garden Framed by Lake Shinji
Another highlight is the dry-landscape garden that artfully borrows the expansive vista of Lake Shinji. Fifteen venerable pine trees, including a 200-year-old Izumo pine marked by distinctive tortoiseshell bark and a 300-year-old specimen standing proudly at the garden’s heart, evoke the classical beauty of hakusa seishō—white sand and green pines.
Designed to make the limited grounds feel boundless, the garden reaches its poetic peak at dusk when Lake Shinji glows crimson. Many visiting writers were captivated by this very scene.
3. The Minami Family’s Signature Tai-meshi & San-in Delicacies
No account of Minami-kan is complete without its celebrated cuisine, especially the house specialty tai-meshi created by the first head chef, Jōtarō Nishimura, and faithfully passed down ever since. Legend says this dish pleased Lord Matsudaira Fumai, seventh daimyō of the Matsue domain, and it is still known as “Fumai-kō no Konomi.”
Flaky Japanese sea-bream (tai) is crumbled over rice, topped with silky sieved organic egg, and finished with a secret dashi made from premium katsuobushi. Light yet rich in umami, its refined aroma lingers and invites second helpings.
4. Nineteen Distinctive Guest Rooms & “Bijin-no-Yu”
With just 19 rooms, the ryokan retains an intimate scale while offering exceptional variety:
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Suites with private open-air baths overlooking Lake Shinji
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Retro-modern rooms echoing the ambiance favored by past literati
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Garden-view maisonettes perched above the lakeside garden
On the first floor, the Kyō-sukiya-style detached villa “Bibun” features maisonette rooms with panorama hot-spring tubs, perfect for a truly special stay.
■ Access to “Minami-kan”
- Official Website: https://www.minami-g.co.jp/minamikan/
- From JR Matsue Station: 8-10 minutes by taxi
- Address: 14 Suetsugu-hommachi, Matsue-shi, Shimane 690-0843, Japan
- Google Maps：https://maps.app.goo.gl/TMnMUzAkJ5XgUsDY7
2. “Kasuien Minami” — A Relaxing Retreat Where Tradition Meets Innovation
出典：佳翠苑 皆美 公式HP
■「 The Appeal of Kasuien Minami
Opened in 1952 (Shōwa 27) at Tamatsukuri Onsen—one of Japan’s oldest hot-spring resorts with a 1,300-year history—Kasuien Minami began as the annex of Matsue’s venerable Minami-kan (est. 1888). While upholding the Minami Group’s core hospitality credo, “Serve others as though you were the guest,” the ryokan has grown into one of San-in’s landmark properties, boasting more than 100 varied guest rooms, an expansive Japanese garden that changes with the seasons, and an abundant supply of Tamatsukuri’s famed “Divine Waters.”
1. Tamatsukuri Onsen — “Divine Waters” for Beauty and Health
Mentioned in the ancient Izumo no Kuni Fudoki, Tamatsukuri Onsen has been revered for over 1,300 years. Legend holds that “one bath rejuvenates the skin; two cure every ailment,” earning the springs the epithet “Kami no Yu” (Bath of the Gods).
Guests at Kasuien Minami can soak in:
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The spacious indoor baths “Uki-dono” (men) and “Ukifune” (women), both overlooking the garden
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Open-air baths where you can feel each season on your skin
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The rooftop panorama bath “Tenyū-no-Yu” on the 9th floor, commanding views of the Tamatsukuri spa town and the distant Izumo mountains—truly a bath with a view.
2. A Spectrum of Guest Rooms to Match Your Stay
Despite its impressive scale of 109 rooms, Kasuien Minami offers accommodations tailored to every taste and purpose:
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Serene tatami rooms in pure Japanese style
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Rooms with private, free-flowing hot-spring baths for intimate relaxation
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Lavish suites ideal for special occasions
Within the western wing “Hiten,” the Tokino-Yadori floor “Ten-yura” features high-ceilinged modern Japanese–Western rooms, popular with younger travelers and those who prefer beds.
3. Seasonal San-in Cuisine Rooted in Tradition
Dining here celebrates the bounty of San-in: fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and Lake Shinji, plus mountain delicacies from the Chūgoku Range. Each kaiseki course honors the time-tested recipes perfected at Minami-kan.
At dinner you can savor:
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Seasonal kaiseki crafted by the head chef
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“Shimane Wagyu” steak—the finest grade of locally raised black-haired cattle
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Matsue specialty “Suzuki-no Hōsho-yaki,” sea bass from Lake Shinji wrapped in hōsho paper and steamed to concentrate its flavor
4. Meticulous Hospitality Cultivated over 130 Years
The Minami Group’s maxim—“Serve others as though you were the guest,” inspired by Lord Matsudaira Fumai—permeates every corner of Kasuien Minami. Guests frequently praise the staff:
“Service so perfect you can see the thoroughness,”
“Thoughtful touches everywhere,”
“A superb ryokan where hospitality shines through.”
■ Access to Kasuien Minami
- Official Website: https://www.kasuien-minami.jp/
- From JR Tamatsukuri-Onsen Station (San-in Line): Approx. 5 min by complimentary shuttle
- Address: 1218-8 Tamatsukuri, Tamayu-chō, Matsue-shi, Shimane 699-0201, Japan
- Google Maps : https://maps.app.goo.gl/HiKqXZhbNVaVANSHA
3. “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF” — A Spectacular Resort Merging with Nature
■ The Appeal of “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF”
Rising from the dramatic cliffs of the Koryō west coast along the Sea of Japan, “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF” is a secluded hideaway designed to evoke a private cave, boasting the rare exclusivity of only eight guest rooms. Its guiding concept is “beautiful moments in dialogue with nature.” Every room faces the ocean, and each terrace features a private Jacuzzi, ensuring uninterrupted vistas of the Sea of Japan.
1. All Rooms with Ocean Views, Like Living Paintings
The hotel’s greatest allure is undoubtedly its breathtaking scenery. Situated about ten meters above the sandy shore, the eight rooms are angled differently to give each guest the finest view possible. Upon entering, one is greeted by a panoramic expanse of sea that fills an entire wall. Rounded, uniquely shaped window frames capture the landscape like a single work of art, highlighting its beauty.
The tranquil sea sparkling at sunrise, the sky ablaze at sunset, and the stormy winter waves all paint ever-changing, never-to-be-repeated scenes. In this place famed as the “sacred land of sunsets in Izumo,” the moment the sun drops below the horizon is often hailed by guests as “deeply moving” and “the most beautiful sight of my life.”
2. Indulgent Privacy in a Space of Your Own
Every guest room is meticulously crafted so visitors can relax completely and feel at one with nature. On each spacious terrace, a private Jacuzzi invites blissful bathing time while you gaze out over the vast Sea of Japan with no interruptions. Indoors, the rooms evoke a tranquil, enveloping cave: walls, floors, and furnishings use primal natural materials that impart warmth and serenity.
3. Savoring Shimane’s Cuisine at “GARB CLIFF TERRACE IZUMO”
The culinary highlight of any stay is found in the main dining room, “GARB CLIFF TERRACE IZUMO,” located on the hotel’s upper level. Its theme, “Made in Shimane,” celebrates the prefecture’s bounty by showcasing seasonal ingredients at their peak.
Dinner is an exclusive seven-course affair for overnight guests, beginning with soup and progressing through chilled and warm appetizers, freshly landed fish from local ports, Shimane-raised meat dishes, seasonal pasta, and dessert—each plate a testament to the chef’s artistry and to the blessings of Shimane.
4. Special Experiences for Complete Renewal
To free body and mind from everyday stress, the hotel offers memorable experiences such as a private, reservation-only sauna with sweeping ocean views. Here, guests enjoy authentic Finnish-style löyly while claiming the Sea of Japan as their own.
At dusk the sky and water glow orange; by night, a blanket of stars provides the perfect setting for utter relaxation. For those seeking even greater seclusion, a separate villa for one party per day, “Villa Wanderlust,” is also available.
■ Access to “IZUMO HOTEL THE CLIFF”
- Official Website: https://hotel-the-cliff.jp/
- Access: Approximately 5 minutes by taxi from JR San-in Main Line Oda Station
- Address: B1F, 1870 Hisamura, Taki-chō, Izumo-shi, Shimane 699-0901, Japan
- Google Maps : https://maps.app.goo.gl/F8kYySAy4YtaSz2T7