1
La chocolaterie NANAIRO

A specialty homemade chocolate shop with fans both in Japan and abroad

A "Bean to Bar" shop that handles everything from selecting cacao beans to manufacturing chocolate. Since launching online sales in 2015, it has been selected as one of the "10 Best Chocolates in the World" by a chocolate writer and is a popular shop with many fans both in Japan and abroad.

Their chocolate bars, which take time and effort to make, such as peeling cacao shells by hand one by one, are masterpieces that offer a surprising depth of flavor and aroma. In the attached cafe, you can enjoy chocolate mousse and terrine, as well as chocolate drinks and cacao tea.

A glass-walled space overlooking the Izumo Plain

This shop, with its impressive modern building, is located in the rural landscape of the Izumo Plain. The cafe is a sophisticated space that feels like an art museum. You can look out the window at the scenery of Hikawa Town, a unique landscape dotted with magnificent "tsuijimatsu" (windbreak pine trees) and houses with red-tiled roofs.

There are always 6 types of chocolate bars for sale, and new collections based on themes are released in the spring and autumn. All varieties are produced in limited quantities and sold until they run out, making them one-of-a-kind flavors that you can never get again. The packaging is also elaborate, making them perfect as souvenirs for chocolate lovers.

Local
Supporter

The chocolate bars start from 2,250 yen for the large size and 800 yen for the small size. The cacao beans used are consistent within each collection, allowing you to enjoy comparing the different cacao percentages and toppings.

La chocolaterie NANAIRO

• 1934 Sakata, Hikawa-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Shobara Station
• 10:00–17:00, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00–19:00
• 0853-25-7676
• Free

2
Fujihiro Coffee

A long-established cafe where you can enjoy the locally beloved "Bara-pan"

A long-established coffee shop in Izumo city serves "Bara-pan" (rose bread), a soul food representative of Shimane Prefecture. It is made by rolling cream into a piece of bread about 1 cm thick and over 50 cm long to resemble a rose, and it is also known as a classic snack for children.

Five varieties: strawberry, chestnut, matcha, whipped cream, and egg saladChoose from any of these original flavors exclusive to this shop. The fine, fluffy texture of the bread pairs perfectly with the cream and ingredients. Why not experience a local flavor loved across generations, accompanied by the master's signature house-roasted coffee?

Original blend coffee brewed with a siphon

The interior, furnished with retro and stately furniture, is a classic space filled with the aroma of coffee. You can enjoy breakfast in the morning, and in addition to the rose bread, the thick homemade French toast is also popular.

The signature "Fujihiro Blend Coffee" is a cup carefully brewed using the traditional siphon method, with raw beans roasted in a direct-flame roaster. It is rich in flavor with mild bitterness and acidity, making it easy to drink even for those who are not fond of coffee. They also sell coffee beans by weight, so it is a nice touch that you can take home freshly ground beans on the spot if you like them.

Local
Supporter

The "Bara-pan" (rose bread) is produced by "Nanpou Pan," a bread manufacturing company located about an 8-minute drive from "Fujihiro Coffee." You can easily purchase them at supermarkets within Izumo City, making them perfect for a snack during a drive.

Fujihiro Coffee

• 1223-1 Watarihashi-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 5 minutes by car from JR Izumoshi Station
• Take a bus from JR Izumoshi Station, get off at "Shimin Kaikan-mae," and walk for about 7 minutes
• 8:00–18:00
• Sunday
• 0853-24-1760
• Available

3
Cafe nakagura

A hidden cafe popular for its homemade French toast

A hideaway cafe with the theme of "vegetables as the main character," located one street away from the Izumo City Station front street. The signature menu item is homemade French toast. It is characterized by its low sweetness and soft, moist texture.

We also offer a morning menu from 9:00 to 11:00, where you can enjoy plenty of fresh vegetables from our contracted farmers. Our homemade Japanese-style sesame dressing is a signature flavor the owner is proud of, and it has gained a great reputation among the locals. During cafe hours, you can enjoy French toast served with juicy fresh fruit, while our medicinal curry and hamburg steaks are popular choices during lunchtime.

A relaxing space renovated from a storehouse

The building is a renovated 100-year-old rice granary. The space, which retains its original ceiling boards and beams, is furnished with items such as a wood-burning stove, creating a calm atmosphere that evokes a deep sense of history. The counter lamps and the various interior decorations on the bookshelves are all carefully selected items chosen by the owner to blend into the Japanese-style space. You can relax and lose track of time at the counter or in the sofa seating.

Since it is within walking distance of Izumoshi Station, we also recommend booking a hotel near the station and visiting us for breakfast.

Local
Supporter

The popular homemade dressing enjoyed with the morning menu is available for purchase in the store. If you like it, you can enjoy it at home as well.

Cafe naka-kura

• 689 Imaichi-cho Nakamachi, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 8 minutes on foot from JR Izumoshi Station
• 9:00–18:00 (L.O. 17:30), Fridays and Saturdays 9:00–21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
• Wednesday
• 0853-31-5880
• Free (1-hour free parking ticket provided when using the Sunroad Nakamachi parking lot)

4
Okinokami Blue Cacao

A chocolate specialty cafe in a renovated traditional house near Izumo Taisha

A chocolate specialty cafe located near Izumo Taisha. We use a style called "Bean to Bar," where we handle the entire process from importing cacao beans to making chocolate bars. Beans arriving from all over the world, including Ghana, Vietnam, and Togo, are roasted in our on-site factory. In the shop, you can taste six types of black chocolate bars, five types of white chocolate bars, and "cacao milk," which is made by mixing cacao tea (brewed from cacao husks) with milk.

Our chocolate bars, made only with cacao beans and sugar, fully utilize the aroma and richness of the cacao, and you can also enjoy comparing the different varieties from different origins.

Take a relaxing break in a Japanese-style space converted from an old folk house

Located on a street just off the temple town of Izumo Taisha, the cafe is housed in a charming renovated old folk house, marked by the blue parasols on its open terrace. The interior is calm and has a certain warmth, providing a space where you can spend a relaxing cafe time at table or sofa seats.

Packaged chocolate bars are lined up near the entrance, featuring impressive and stylish designs that appeal to women. There are 11 types of chocolate bars in total. Drinks are also available for takeout, making them perfect for strolling through the temple town or as souvenirs.

Local
Supporter

We also sell local specialties such as "Izumo Matcha Chocolate," a Japanese-style treat made with carefully selected matcha from Izumo. Because it uses tencha (tea leaves before they are ground in a stone mill), you can enjoy the crispy texture of the tea leaves.

Okinogami Blue Cacao

• 765-1 Kizukiminami, Taisha-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• 3-minute walk from Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Electric Railway
• 10:00–17:30
• Irregular holidays
• 0853-53-5310
• Free

5
Le Cochon d'Or Shussai

A bakery cafe attached to a pottery studio, loved by people of all ages

Located about a 25-minute drive from Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, on the western edge of Hikawa-cho in Izumo City, you will find a bakery cafe attached to the nationally popular pottery studio, Shussai-gama. With the wish that "everyone who eats our bread will be happy," regardless of their generation, only safe and reliable ingredients, including locally sourced produce, are used in their bread-making.

One of the cafe menu items, the "BLT Sandwich," uses the bakery's most popular mountain-shaped loaf, the "Yudane Cochon d'Or Yamashoku," allowing you to enjoy the aroma of the wheat and the fluffy texture unique to the dough. All menu items are served on Shussai-gama pottery.

A bright cafe space filled with plenty of sunlight

The cafe space is located next to the bakery and offers seating on the first and second floors, as well as a loft area. With high ceilings and large windows, it is a bright and open space where you can relax and spend your time.

In addition to the BLT sandwich, the food menu includesa wide variety of curries and seasonal dishes."Shussai Blend Coffee"and"Shussai Iced Tea" with a subtle hint of yuzu, and the original "Shussai Craft Cola," the drink menu is also extensive and available for takeout.Be sure to enjoy sweets like soft-serve ice cream or parfaits after your meal.

Local
Supporter

Within the grounds of "Shussai Kurashi no Village," where the cafe is located, there is a pottery workshop and showroom that you can visit, as well as a select shop for clothing and miscellaneous goods. Be sure to stop by when you visit.

Le Cochon d'Or Shussai

• 3368 Shussei, Hikawa-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Izumoshi Station
• Cafe 9:30–17:00 (Food L.O. 16:30, Drink L.O. 16:00) *Morning 9:00–10:30, Bakery 9:30–17:00
• Tuesdays, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
• 0853-27-9123
• Use the Shussai Kurashi no Village parking lot (free)

6
Patisserie Cuir

Famous for its "seasonal fruit tart." One of Matsue's most popular patisseries

This Western-style confectionery shop is located in a corner of the Kyomise Shopping District, a tourist spot with cobblestone streets lined with long-established restaurants and inns. It is one of the most popular shops in Matsue City, and its "seasonal fruit tarts," with 7 to 8 varieties always on display in the showcase, are a signature product that often sells out.

Using ingredients like Shine Muscat in summer and chestnuts in autumn, the melt-in-your-mouth cream and tart crust perfectly enhance the natural flavors of the fruit. There is a cafe space with a great view on the second floor, making it the perfect spot to take a break while strolling through the shopping district.

Assorted baked goods are perfect for souvenirs

In addition to fruit tarts, their chocolate-based items are also popular, such as the "Opera Pistache" made with bitter chocolate and the "Tanariva" made with milk chocolate mousse. Another reason for their popularity is that they source various chocolates from places like France and Italy, using different types depending on the cake.

Another attraction is the ability to freely choose and pack your own assortment from over 20 types of baked goods. Many tourists visit the shop looking for gifts. A juice bar is set up near the entrance, where you can easily grab 100% fruit juice drinks to go.

Local
Supporter

The shop is lined with bread products, including croissants. It is recommended to stop by when you are feeling a little hungry and enjoy them at your leisure in the cafe space on the second floor.

Patisserie Cuir

• 107 Katahara-machi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 19-minute walk from JR Matsue Station
• Take a bus from JR Matsue Station, get off at "Kyobashi," and walk for approx. 2 minutes
• 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
• Tuesdays
• 0852-28-6446
• Available

7
Kamedayama Tea Room

A Western-style cafe in Matsue Jozan Park, renowned for its chocolate parfait

A cafe located on the first floor of Kounkaku, a Meiji-era Western-style building within Matsue Jozan Park. It is popular as a place of relaxation for visitors to the National Treasure Matsue Castle, and in the early morning, you can see people stopping by for breakfast after a stroll through the park.

The popular "Chocolate Parfait," which can be enjoyed with two types of sauces—chocolate and berry—is available all day. It is a dessert that offers an exquisite balance of tartness and sweetness, featuring vanilla ice cream, a moist fondant au chocolat, and raspberries topped on whipped cream.

Enjoy cafe time in an elegant, retro interior

Kounkaku is a two-story building constructed in 1903 (Meiji 36) as a lodging for Emperor Meiji during his visit. This Western-style building, which served as a guest house, is also popular as a photo spot, and we recommend taking a leisurely tour of the interior while visiting the cafe.

The drink menu includes the original "Kamedayama Blend Coffee" and"Kuromoji Tea," a blend of branches and leaves of the spicebush from the Oki Islands,among others.The "Today's Sweets" menu posted near the register features a variety of cakes, including tarts made with seasonal fruits, allowing you to enjoy a wonderful cafe time in the elegant, retro interior.

Local
Supporter

For breakfast, available from 9:00 to 10:30, you can enjoy French toast, which is carefully baked after you order, and toast topped with homemade jam.

Kamedayama Tea Room

• Kounkaku, 1-59 Tono-machi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 14-minute walk from Ichibata Electric Railway Matsue Shinjiko-Onsen Station
• Take a bus from JR Matsue Station, get off at "Kokuho Matsue-jo Kencho-mae," and walk for approx. 2 minutes
• 9:00–16:00; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 9:00–17:00 (L.O. 16:30)
  *Morning 9:00–10:30, light meals 11:00–
• Open every day
• 0852-61-5001
• None

8
Japanese Tea Cafe Scarab 136

A Japanese-style cafe run by a long-established tea shop where you can enjoy luxurious matcha sweets

A Japanese-style cafe produced by Senchasou, a long-established tea shop based in Matsue. Opened to spread the "tea ceremony culture" rooted in Matsue to the younger generation, the shop offers a variety of sweets and drinks that make use of the tea shop's authentic tea leaves.

Especially popular is the luxurious "Matcha Parfait," which the tea shop has meticulously crafted. Topped with fragrant matcha ice cream and matcha jelly, this dish allows you to enjoy rich matcha in a variety of sweet forms. You can luxuriously savor the deliciousness of matcha.

A wide variety of Japanese sweets packed with ingenuity and ideas

Among the sweets, the "Matcha Shiratama Sandwich" and "Hojicha Shiratama Sandwich," which use high-quality tea leaves, are also popular. They are filled with cream made from plenty of freshly ground tea leaves and shiratama (rice flour dumplings), allowing you to easily enjoy the original richness and umami of the tea leaves.

The drinks also actively use tea leaves, such as the "Hojicha Smoothie" with its refreshing aftertaste and the "Green Tea Soda" made with freshly stone-ground matcha,which pair perfectlywith parfaits and crepes. During the morning hours starting at 9:00 AM, you can order breakfast-exclusive menus such as a tea porridge set.

Local
Supporter

As summer approaches each year, Japanese-style shaved ice also makes an appearance. This dish, featuring fluffy milk shaved ice generously topped with high-quality matcha, is appealing for its natural deliciousness, as if you were drinking the matcha itself.

Japanese Tea Cafe Scarab 136

• 1-3-6 Gakuen-minami, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 13-minute walk from JR Matsue Station
• 9:00-19:00
• Wednesday
• 0852-22-2003
• Available

9
Kissa Kiharu

Seasonal fresh Japanese confections to be savored while gazing at a Japanese garden

Near Matsue CastleMuseumA teahouse located inside the Matsue History Museum. In a Japanese-style room overlooking a Japanese garden, you can enjoy a variety of Japanese sweets, including seasonal fresh sweets and matcha, as well as zenzai, parfaits, and matcha cream soda.

Kiharu's special warabi mochi is a delicacy featuring carefully cooked bean paste wrapped in melt-in-your-mouth warabi mochi. It is dusted with matcha, and as you put it in your mouth, the moderate sweetness of the Ogura bean paste and the aroma of the matcha spread gently. We also recommend the "Kiharu Special Kanoko (Ogura)," which features our special asashio bean paste wrapped in large Dainagon adzuki beans.

A space where you can enjoy a luxurious dry landscape garden that uses a national treasure as borrowed scenery

From the floor-to-ceiling glass-walled "Living Hall," you can view a "karesansui" (dry landscape) garden, which uses stones and sand to represent a mountain and water landscape without using actual water. It incorporates unique features of the Unshu (Izumo Province) region, such as stone lanterns made from Kimachi stone, a specialty of Matsue City.

Furthermore, the keep of Matsue Castle peeks out from the back of the garden, making this a teahouse with a luxurious view that is one of a kind in Matsue City.In addition to table seating, there is a large hall of about 30 tatami mats,a space where you can relax and lose track of time. Stop by for a break after touring the castle.

Local
Supporter

"Matsue History Museum" is a cultural facility where you can learn deeply about the origins of Matsue Castle and the history of the Matsue Domain. The "Den Rikyu Tea House," a reconstruction of a 400-year-old tea room, is also a must-see.

Kissa Kiharu

• 279 Tonomachi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture (inside Matsue History Museum) MAP
• Approx. 5-minute drive from JR Matsue Station
• From JR Matsue Station, take the "Gurutto Matsue Lake Line Bus" and get off at "Otemae Horikawa Sightseeing Boat Pier/History Museum" and walk for about 3 minutes.
• 10:00–17:00 (L.O. 16:30), Sat/Sun/Holidays 9:30–17:00 (L.O. 16:30)
• Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a holiday), Year-end/New Year holidays (12/29–1/1)
• 0852-32-1607 (Matsue History Museum)
• Use the Matsue History Museum parking lot

10
IMAGINE.COFFEE

A specialty coffee shop born from a ceaseless spirit of exploration

A specialty coffee shop located in Isemiyamacho, an entertainment district near Matsue Station.After opening in Higashi-Izumo-cho in 2009, it moved to Isemiyamacho in 2012. It now also has a store in Izumo City.

To allow you to enjoy the original flavor of the beans,the lineup focuses on single-origin coffees. You can also enjoy limited-time blends featuring beans selected to match the season.A fresh cup that brings out the true flavor of the beans has many fans locally, and their carefully crafted homemade sweets are also popular. Keep an eye out for the unique pottery selected from kilns within Shimane Prefecture, such as "Sodekazari-gama."

Also offering breakfast where you can enjoy fresh vegetables with homemade dressing

The first floor features counter and table seating, while the second floor offers tatami seating where you can take off your shoes and relax. The unpretentious space is comfortable, allowing you to spend your time without any worries.
From 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM every morningyou can enjoy breakfast, which includes a special salad featuring fresh vegetables from Shimane Prefecture with homemade dressingalong with toast menu options.If you are staying around Matsue Station, it might be a good idea to take a morning walk and head over to Isemiya-cho.

Local
Supporter

There are five types of specialty coffee in total, including Ethiopian beans with a jasmine-like aroma and Indian beans with a faint fruity scent. Since you can get refills for 300 yen off, we also recommend trying a few different kinds.

IMAGINE.COFFEE

• 503-1 Isemiya-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 6-minute walk from JR Matsue Station
• 9:00–23:30 (L.O. 23:00) *Morning menu is served from 9:00 to 12:00
• Open every day
• 0852-25-9277
• None

11
Hattori Coffee Workshop Kuroda Branch

A local oasis where you can taste a special blend made with charcoal-purified water

A locally popular oasis with multiple locations in the San'in region, centered in Matsue City. You can choose from several types of blended coffee, such as those emphasizing aroma or acidity, all of which are made using charcoal-purified water. You can enjoy a high-quality taste and aroma.

In addition to morning and lunch menus, they also focus on light meals and sweets, and the extensive menu is another delightful point. The "Honey Toast," which can only be enjoyed at the Kuroda branch, changes its contents depending on the season, but all versions pair perfectly with coffee.

A unique space that makes the most of natural materials

"Hattori Coffee" allows you to enjoy different spaces and menus at each location. The Kuroda branch features a black-based color scheme, with bamboo walls and beams creating a unique atrium space. The time spent surrounded by dim lighting and natural materials is incredibly comfortable, and the hideaway-like second-floor counter seats are a hidden gem perfect for spending time alone. On sunny days, we also recommend using the terrace seats next to the entrance.

Hot coffee is served in a stainless steel pot containing 1.5 cups, which feels like great value.

Local
Supporter

For breakfast, you can enjoy sandwiches and toast served with vegetables, and for lunch, you can taste dishes like "Seishun no Napolitan," which recreates a nostalgic flavor.

Hattori Coffee Workshop Kuroda Branch

• 433 Kuroda-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 14-minute walk from Ichibata Electric Railway Matsue Shinjiko-Onsen Station
• 9:00–18:00; Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before holidays 9:00–23:00
• Open every day
• 0852-26-4444
• Free