1
La chocolaterie NANAIRO

Specializing in homemade chocolates with fans in Japan and abroad

This "bean to bar" store, which handles everything from cacao bean selection to chocolate production, started online sales in 2015 and was selected as one of the "10 Best Chocolates in the World" by a chocolate writer, and is a popular store with many fans in Japan and abroad.

The chocolate boards, which are made by taking the time and effort to peel the cacao shells one by one by hand, are a gem with an amazing richness and aroma. In the adjoining café, you can enjoy chocolate mousse and terrine, chocolate drinks, and cacao tea.

Glass-walled space with a view of the Izumo Plain

This restaurant has an impressive modern building in the rural landscape of the Izumo Plain. The café is a sophisticated space reminiscent of a museum. The view of the town of Hikawa from the window, dotted with magnificent Tsukiji pine trees and red-tiled houses, is unique to this town.

There are always six types of chocolates on sale, with new collections of themed chocolates appearing in spring and fall. All types are produced in limited quantities and sold out, so the old numbers are once-in-a-lifetime tastes that will never be available again. The packaging is also elaborate, making it the perfect souvenir for chocolate lovers.

Local Guide
Supporters

Chocolate boards are available in large sizes from 2,250 yen and small sizes from 800 yen. The cacao beans used are standardized for each collection, and customers can enjoy comparing different cacao blends and toppings.

La chocolaterie NANAIRO

• 1934 Sakata, Hikawa-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• 10 minutes drive from JR Shobara Station
• 10:00-17:00, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays 10:00-19:00
• 0853-25-7676
• Free of charge

2
Fujihiro Coffee

A long-established coffee shop where you can enjoy "rose bread" that has been loved by the locals

A long-established coffee shop in downtown Izumo offers "rose bread," a soul food representative of Shimane Prefecture. The bread, about 1 cm thick and more than 50 cm long, is wrapped with cream and finished to look like a rose, and is known as a standard snack for children.

Five types to choose from: strawberry, marron, green tea, whipped, and egg salad. All of them are original flavors only available at the store. The fine, fluffy texture of the bread is a perfect match with the cream and ingredients. Why not experience the local flavor loved by people of all ages with a cup of coffee roasted in-house, the master's specialty?

Original coffee blends brewed with a siphon

The store is a classic space with retro, stately furniture and the aroma of coffee. In the morning, you can enjoy morning breakfast, and the thick homemade French toast as well as rose bread are popular.

The signature "Fujihiro Blend Coffee" is a cup of coffee made by roasting green coffee beans in an open-flame roasting machine and carefully brewed using a traditional siphon method. It is rich in flavor and has low bitterness and acidity, making it easy to drink even for those who do not like coffee. The shop also sells ground coffee beans, so if you like it, you can take home a freshly ground cup on the spot.

Local Guide
Supporters

The company behind the rose bread is Nampo Pan, a bread manufacturing company located about 8 minutes by car from Fujihiro Coffee. It is readily available at supermarkets and other stores in Izumo City, making it an ideal snack on a road trip.

Fujihiro Coffee

• 1223-1 Watabashi-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 5 minutes from JR Izumo City Station by car.
• From JR Izumo City Station, take a bus to Shimin Kaikan-mae and get off at Shimin Kaikan-mae and walk about 7 minutes.
• 8:00-18:00
• Sunday
• 0853-24-1760
• Available

3
Cafe naka kura

A hideaway cafe where homemade French toast is popular

Located just off the street in front of Izumo Station, this hideaway café is based on the theme of "vegetables as the star of the show. The signature menu item is homemade French toast. It is characterized by its soft and moist texture with a moderate sweetness.

A morning menu is also available from 9:00 to 11:00, offering an abundance of fresh vegetables from contracted farmers. The owner is proud of his homemade Japanese sesame dressing, which has earned him a reputation among the locals. During café hours, French toast with juicy fresh fruits can be enjoyed, and medicinal curries and hamburgers are also popular during lunch hours.

Calm space in renovated warehouse

The building was renovated from a 100-year-old rice warehouse. The ceiling panels and beams have been left in place, and furnishings such as a wood-burning stove have been placed in the space, creating a relaxed atmosphere with a deep sense of history. The lamps on the counter and the bookshelves lined with interior decorations are all carefully selected by the owner to blend in with the Japanese space. You can relax and forget about time at the counter or on the sofas.

Since it is within walking distance from Izumo Station, we recommend making a reservation at a hotel in front of the station and using it for morning breakfast.

Local Guide
Supporters

The reputable homemade dressing that can be enjoyed on the morning menu is available for purchase in the restaurant. If you like it, you can enjoy it at home.

Cafe naka kura

• 689 Nakamachi, Imaichi-cho, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 8 minutes walk from JR Izumo City Station
• 9:00-18:00 (L.O.17:30), Friday and Saturday 9:00-21:00 (L.O.20:30)
• Wednesday
• 0853-31-5880
• Free (1 hour free ticket will be given when using the Sun Road Nakamachi Parking lot)

4
okinojo blue cacao

An old house café specializing in chocolate near Izumo Taisha Shrine

A café specializing in chocolate located near Izumo Taisha Shrine. The entire process from importing cacao beans to turning them into chocolate boards is done in an integrated "bean to bar" style. In addition to six types of black chocolate and five types of white chocolate, the store offers "cacao milk," which is cacao tea made from cacao peels and mixed with milk.

The chocolate boards, made only from cacao beans and sugar, are full of the aroma and richness of cacao, and visitors can enjoy comparing different types of chocolate from different regions.

Take a breather in a Japanese-style space renovated from an old private house

The shop is located in a tastefully renovated old private house on a street just off the main street of Izumo Taisha Shrine, marked by blue parasols on the open terrace. The calm and relaxing interior of the store, with its somewhat warm atmosphere, offers tables and sofa seats where you can relax and enjoy your café time.

Near the entrance, packaged chocolate bars are lined up in a fashionable, feminine design. There are a total of 11 types of chocolate bars. Drinks can also be taken out, making it a perfect place to take a stroll in the town or buy souvenirs.

Local Guide
Supporters

Local delicacies such as Izumo matcha chocolate, a Japanese-style product made with Izumo matcha, are also available for purchase. The tea leaves are ground before grinding on a millstone, so you can enjoy the crunchy texture of the tea leaves.

Okinoue Blue Cacao

• 765-1 Kinezuki-Minami, Taisha-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane MAP
• 3 minute walk from Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Railway.
• 10:00-17:30
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0853-53-5310
• Free of charge

5
Le Cochon d'Or Dezai

A bakery café with a kiln attached, loved by men and women of all ages

Approximately 25 minutes by car from Izumo Taisha Shrine. On the western edge of Hikawa-cho, Izumo City, there is a bakery-cafe attached to the nationally popular pottery "Shusai Kiln. The bakery uses only safe and secure ingredients, including locally produced ingredients, in its baking, with the hope that "everyone who eats it will be happy" regardless of age.

One of the café's menu items, the BLT Sandwich, uses the bakery's most popular mountain-shaped bread, "Yutane no Cochon d'Or Yamashoku," which offers the aroma of wheat and the unique fluffy texture of the dough. All menu items are served in dishes from the Izushi Kiln.

A bright café space filled with sunlight

The café space is located next to the bakery, and in addition to first- and second-floor seating, loft seating is also available. With high ceilings and large windows, customers can relax in a bright, open space.

In addition to BLT sandwiches, the menu also includes curry and seasonal dishes, The menu also includes curry and a variety of seasonal dishes. Dezai Blend Coffee The coffee is made with a subtle aroma of yuzu (Japanese citrus), The menu also includes "Izushi Iced Tea" with a hint of yuzu (Japanese citron), and the original "Izushi Craft Coke. Izushi Craft Cola" and other drinks. and other beverages are also available for takeout. After dinner, be sure to enjoy soft-serve ice cream, parfaits, and other sweets.

Local Guide
Supporters

On the premises of "Izushi Kurashi no Village," where the café is located, there is a kiln workshop where visitors can tour the kiln, an exhibition and sales area, and a select store selling clothing and sundries. If you visit, be sure to stop by.

Le Cochon d'Or Izonishi

• 3368 Izumo-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane MAP
• Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Izumo City 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
• Parking is available at the Dezai Kurashi no village parking lot (free of charge).

6
Patisserie Cuir

Seasonal fruit tarts are a specialty. One of Matsue's most popular patisseries

This confectionery store is located in a corner of Kyoten shopping street, a stone-paved tourist spot lined with long-established restaurants and inns. The store is one of the most popular in Matsue City, and one of its signature items is the "Seasonal Fruit Tart," with seven to eight varieties on the showcase at any given time, which is often sold out.

The second floor café space with a great view is a perfect spot to take a break during a stroll in the shopping arcade.

Assorted baked goods make great souvenirs.

In addition to fruit tarts, chocolate-based products such as "Opera Pistache" using bitter chocolate and "Tanariva" made with milk chocolate mousse are also popular. Another reason for their popularity is that they procure multiple types of chocolate, including French and Italian, and use them in different ways depending on the cake.

Another attraction is that customers can freely choose from more than 20 kinds of baked sweets for their assortment. The store is also visited by many tourists in search of gifts. A juice bar is located near the entrance, where you can easily take out a fruit drink made from 100% fruit juice.

Local Guide
Supporters

The store also sells a wide variety of bread products, including croissants. It is also recommended to stop by when you are hungry and enjoy a relaxing time at the cafe space on the second floor.

Patisserie Cuir

• 107 Kataharacho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• 19 minutes walk from JR Matsue Station
• Take a bus from JR Matsue Station, get off at Kyobashi and walk about 2 minutes.
• 10:00-19:00 (L.O.D. 21:00)
• Tuesdays
• 0852-28-6446
• Available

7
Kameda-yama coffee shop

Chocolate parfait is popular. Western-style cafe in Matsue Shiroyama Park

The cafe is located on the first floor of Kounkaku, a Western-style building of Meiji architecture in Matsue Castle Park. It is a popular place for visitors to Matsue Castle, a national treasure, to rest and relax, and early in the morning you can see people stopping by for breakfast after taking a walk in the park.

The popular "chocolate parfait" with two kinds of sauces, chocolate and berry, can be ordered all day long. Vanilla ice cream, moist baked fondant chocolat, and raspberry topping on top of whipped cream create a sweet treat with a perfect balance of sour and sweet flavors.

Spend your café time in a graceful retro store.

The two-story "Kounkaku" was built in 1903 as an inn for the Emperor Meiji when he visited Japan. The Western-style building, which was once a guesthouse, is a popular photo spot, and a leisurely tour of the building is recommended while visiting the coffee shop.

Drinks include the original "Kamedayama Blend Coffee", KUROMOJI-CHA" blended with branches and leaves of Kuromoji tree in Oki Island. and "Kuromoji Tea" blended with branches and leaves of Kuromoji in Oki Island. The lineup includes the original "Kamedayama Blend Coffee" and "Kuromoji Tea," which is a blend of branches and leaves from the Oki Islands. The "Today's Snacks" section posted near the cash register offers a variety of cakes, including tarts made from seasonal fruit, making for a wonderful café experience in this elegant retro store.

Local Guide
Supporters

Morning breakfasts, which can be ordered between 9:00 and 10:30 a.m., include French toast, which is slowly baked to order, and toast topped with homemade jam.

Kamedayama (Kameda-yama) Coffee Shop

• 1-59 Tonomachi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture Kounkaku MAP
• 14 minutes on foot from Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station on the Ichibata Line
• Take a bus from JR Matsue Station, get off at "National Treasure Matsue Castle Kencho-mae" and walk about 2 minutes.
• 9:00-16:00, Saturday, Sunday and national holidays 9:00-17:00 (L.O.16:30)
  Morning service 9:00-10:30, light meal 11:00~.
• No holidays
• 0852-61-5001
• None

8
Japanese tea cafe Scarab 136

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

This Japanese-style cafe is produced by the long-established tea shop "Senchaso" based in Matsue City. The store was opened to promote Matsue's tea culture to the younger generation, and offers a wide variety of sweets and drinks that make use of the tea leaves produced by the tea shop.

The most popular item is the luxurious "Matcha Parfait," made with the utmost care by a tea shop. Topped with fragrant green tea ice cream and green tea jelly, you can enjoy rich green tea in a variety of sweet tastes. You can enjoy the delicious taste of matcha green tea in a luxurious way.

A variety of Japanese sweets filled with ingenuity and ideas

The "Matcha Shiratama Sandwich" and "Hojicha Shiratama Sandwich," both made with high-quality tea leaves, are also popular sweets. The sandwiches are filled with cream and shiratama (white rice balls) made from freshly ground tea leaves, making it easy to enjoy the richness and flavor of the tea leaves themselves.

The drinks also actively use tea leaves, such as the "Hojicha Smoothie" with a refreshing aftertaste and the "Green Tea Soda" made with freshly ground matcha from a stone mill, It goes well with parfaits and crepes. They also go well with parfaits and crepes. During the morning hours starting at 9:00 a.m., you can order a morning-only menu including a tea porridge set.

Local Guide
Supporters

Japanese shaved ice is also available every summer season. The fluffy milk shaved ice topped with a generous amount of high-quality matcha green tea is so naturally delicious that it is almost like drinking matcha green tea.

Japanese tea cafe Scarab 136

• 1-3-6 Gakuen Minami, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• 13 min. walk from JR Matsue Sta.
• Open 9:00-19:00
• Wednesday
• 0852-22-2003
• Available

9
Coffee shop Kiharu

Seasonal fresh sweets with a view of the Japanese garden.

Near Matsue Castle Museum near Matsue Castle The teahouse is located in the Matsue History Museum near Matsue Castle. In a Japanese-style room with an expansive view of the Japanese garden, you can enjoy a variety of Japanese sweets such as seasonal fresh sweets, powdered green tea, zenzai, parfait, and green tea cream soda.

The "Kiharu Special Strawberry Rice Cake" is a dish of carefully cooked red bean paste wrapped in a melt-in-your-mouth strawbale rice cake. The outside is sprinkled with matcha green tea, and when you put it in your mouth, the moderate sweetness of the red bean paste and the aroma of matcha green tea will spread softly. Kiharu Special Kanoko (Ogura)" made with large pieces of Dainagon and wrapped in special Asashio An (bean paste) is also recommended.

A space where you can enjoy a luxurious dry landscape garden with a borrowed view of a national treasure.

The "Great Hall of Living," with its glass walls on all sides, overlooks a "karesansui" (dry landscape garden), in which a landscape is created with stones and sand without using water. Lanterns made of Raitai stone, a specialty of Matsue City, and other features unique to Izumo are incorporated into the garden.

The tea ceremony room also offers a unique view of Matsue Castle's castle tower at the back of the garden, which is one of the most luxurious views in Matsue City. In addition to table seating, there is a large hall of about 30 tatami mats, It is a space where you can relax and forget about the time. After visiting the castle, stop by for a rest.

Local Guide
Supporters

The Matsue History Museum is a cultural Property where visitors can learn about the origins of Matsue Castle and the history of the Matsue Clan, and the "Den Rikyu Tea House," a reconstruction of a 400-year-old tea house, is a must-see.

Cafe Kiharu

• 279 Tonomachi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture (in Matsue History Museum) MAP
• 5 minutes drive from JR Matsue Station
• From JR Matsue Station, take the "Gurutto Matsue Lake Line Bus" and get off at "Otemae Horikawa Pleasure Boat Stop, in front of the History Museum" (approx. 3 min. walk).
• 10:00-17:00 (L.O.16:30), Weekends and holidays 9:30-17:00 (L.O.16:30)
• Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday falls on a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays (12/29 - 1/1)
• 0852-32-1607（Matsue History Museum)
• Use the parking lot of Matsue History Museum

10
IMAGINE.COFFEE

Specialty coffee shop with an unending spirit of pursuit

This specialty coffee shop is located in Isemiya-cho, an entertainment district near Matsue Station. It opened in 2009 in Higashi Izumo-machi and moved to Isemiya-machi in 2012. Currently, they also have a store in Izumo City.

The lineup is centered on single-origin coffees so that customers can enjoy the true flavor of the beans. The lineup is centered on single-origin beans so that customers can enjoy the true flavor of the beans. In addition, they also offer a limited-time-only blend of beans selected to suit the season. The fresh cup of coffee that brings out the true flavor of the beans has many local fans, and the homemade sweets are also popular. The homemade sweets are also very popular. The unique ceramics selected from kilns in Shimane Prefecture, such as Sodeshikama Kiln, are also noteworthy.

Morning breakfast with fresh vegetables and homemade dressing is also available.

The first floor has counter and table seating, and the second floor has tatami room seating where you can take off your shoes and relax. The unassuming space is cozy and inviting, allowing you to spend your time without hesitation.
Every morning from 9:00 to 12:00 A special salad with fresh vegetables from Shimane Prefecture and homemade dressing is served with the toast menu. There is also a toast menu that includes a special salad with fresh vegetables from Shimane Prefecture with homemade dressing. The next day after staying overnight in the Matsue Station area, you may want to take a morning walk to Isemiya-cho.

Local Guide
Supporters

There are five types of specialty coffees, including Ethiopian beans with a jasmine-like aroma and Indian beans with a hint of fruity flavor. Coffee refills are available at a discount of 300 yen, so it is recommended to compare multiple coffees.

IMAGINE.COFFEE

• 503-1 Isemiya-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• 6 min. walk from JR Matsue Station
• 9:00-23:30 (L.O.23:00) *Morning menu served from 9:00-12:00
• No holidays
• 0852-25-9277
• None

11
Hattori Coffee Kobo Kuroda

A local oasis where you can taste a special blend using charcoal purified water

This popular local oasis spot has multiple locations in Matsue City and both San-in and San'in prefectures. You can choose from several coffee blends, including one that emphasizes aroma and one that emphasizes acidity, all of which use charcoal-purified water. You can enjoy the high-quality taste and aroma of the coffee.

In addition to the morning and lunch menus, the restaurant also focuses on light meals and sweets, making it a great place to visit for its extensive menu. The "honey toast," available only at the Kuroda store, changes depending on the season, but all are a perfect match with coffee.

A unique space that makes the most of natural materials

Each Hattori Coffee store offers a different atmosphere and menu. The Kuroda store uses black as its base color, with bamboo walls and beams creating a creative atrium space. The dark lighting and natural materials create a cozy atmosphere, and the counter seating on the second floor, which is like a hideout, is a perfect spot to spend time alone. On sunny days, we also recommend using the terrace seating next to the entrance.

Hot coffee comes in a stainless steel pot for 1.5 cups.

Local Guide
Supporters

For breakfast, you can enjoy sandwiches and toast with vegetables, and for lunch, you can enjoy "Seishun no Neapolitan," a dish that recreates the taste of the old days.

Hattori Coffee Workshop Kuroda

• 433 Kuroda-cho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
• 14 min. walk from Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station on the Ichibata Line
• 9:00-18:00, Friday, Saturday, and days before holidays 9:00-23:00
• No holidays
• 0852-26-4444
• Free of charge