Satisfy even on a rainy day! 5 Sightseeing Spots in Izumo and Matsue
Even a trip you have gone to the trouble of planning tends to go awry when it rains. Since the San'in region has short daylight hours and rain and snow are common, it is useful to have alternatives for your planned course. We have therefore carefully selected sightseeing spots in the Izumo and Matsue areas that you can enjoy to the fullest even on rainy days. Please refer to this guide for your trip so that you will be prepared for anything.
< Izumo Rainy Day Spots in Izumo City
1Shimane Winery
A popular spot for wine lovers with a tasting corner and bar
This is a standard tourist spot located not far from Izumo-taisha Shrine. The main tasting and sales hall features an array of "Shimane wines" made from locally produced, mellow grapes. There are a wide variety of wines, from top-quality wines made from carefully selected ingredients to more casual wines, including red, white, and sparkling wines.
Among all, we are putting a lot of effort into The "Shimane Wine Enyui" series, which maximizes the characteristics of grapes produced in Shimane Prefecture, is the focus of the company's efforts. Shimane Wine Enyu Muscat Bery A 2023," made from Muscat Berry A grapes grown in Izumo City, is a red wine that won the Gold Prize in the "Japan Wine Competition 2025 Domestic Improved Variety Red Category. Also, Free wine and grape juice tasting corner with about 10 varieties of wine and grape juice is also readily available.
Wine Brewing Hall, where you can observe the wine-making process
There is also a "winemaking hall" where visitors can take a free tour of the wine-making process, complete with state-of-the-art machinery. Visitors can take a leisurely tour of the wine-making process, including the tanks used to store grapes and wine, as well as the preparation and bottling lines.
Also on the premises is the "Chateau Yayama" barbecue house, where visitors can enjoy the special "Shimane Wagyu" beef, and the "Shimarin Kitchen," a covered terrace café that sells local soft serve ice cream made from Delaware, which is unique to the museum.
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In the tasting and sales hall, there is also a wine bar where you can enjoy high-class brands of wine, making it a place where you can enjoy wine to the fullest, not only for shopping.
2Izunokurashi no village
A sacred place of "Dezai Kiln" where folk craft-ism is still alive.
This is one of the most popular spots in the San'in region by Izumo's nationally known and representative kiln, "Izumo Kiln. Centered around the workshop, there is a bakery-cafe where visitors can enjoy bread and light meals made from local ingredients, and a select store from Kobe, making it a place where visitors can fully enjoy themselves for nearly half a day, even on a rainy day.
At the "Kurashi-no-To-mujisei-kan" exhibition and sales hall next to the studio, a wide variety of pottery from the Izumigama kiln is on display and for sale, and just looking around the two-story atrium lined with pottery will give you a sense of folk art-ism and a small hint for your daily life.
Let's visit a workshop equipped with a climbing kiln!
In the studio, each potter has a potter's wheel, and each produces his or her own ceramics, from molding to glazing. Visitors can tour the studio anytime except on regular holidays and catch a glimpse of the work process until the pottery is completed.
In the studio, each potter has a single potter's wheel, and each produces his or her own ceramics, from molding to glazing. The studio is open for tours anytime from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, except on regular holidays. Visitors can catch a glimpse of the work process that goes into the completion of a piece of pottery.
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The bakery-cafe "Le Cochon d'Or Dezai" offers a special menu that makes the most of locally produced ingredients, served in Dezai kiln ware that you can try to see how it feels to use.
- Izumo Kurashi no village
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3368 Izumo-city, Izumo, Hikawa-cho, Izumo, Shimane, Japan MAP
Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Izumo City Station
The museum shop is open from 9:30 to 18:00.
Le Cochon d'Or Izunishi】Cafe, bakery 9:30-17:00
Bshop Dezai】10:00〜18:00 ※Visiting the workshop may be suspended.
Tuesdays *Le Cochon d'Or Dezai is open on Tuesdays and the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays.
0853-72-0239（Desai Kiln)
Free of charge
<Rainy Day Spots in Matsue City
3Adachi Museum of Art
An art museum where you can enjoy the harmony of Japanese gardens and Japanese paintings that fascinate viewers.
This is a must-see spot when visiting Shimane Prefecture. The museum has a total collection of 2,000 pieces of Japanese paintings and ceramics, Taikan Yokoyama is an undisputed leader in modern Japanese painting, The works of Yokoyama Taikan, the undisputed leader of modern Japanese-style painting, are the most extensive in terms of both quality and quantity.
The Japanese garden, with its seasonal beauty, is also a must-see. For foreign tourists visiting Japan Travel Guidebook The Michelin Green Guide Japon (revised 6th edition) gives it the highest rating of three stars. In addition, the Japanese garden was ranked by a Japanese garden magazine in the U.S, Japanese garden ranking by a U.S. The museum is also home to the world's largest
Tearooms and tearooms where you can enjoy the taste of each garden
The museum has two main sections The museum has three main sections: "Honkan," which exhibits modern Japanese paintings, "Shinkan," where visitors can enjoy contemporary Japanese paintings, and "Shinkan," where about 120 works by Rosanjin Kitaoji, a well-known ceramic artist, are always on display. The "Rosanjin-kan" exhibits about 120 works of art by Rosanjin Kitaoji, a well-known ceramic artist. The "Rosanjin-kan" is a museum that always displays about 120 works of Rosanjin Kitaoji, a well-known ceramic artist, Each of these exhibition halls offers a fascinating array of works. The museum also holds seasonal special exhibitions. Special exhibitions are also held seasonally, Each time you visit, you can see various masterpieces and masterpieces of art. and masterpieces every time you visit.
In the main building, there are two coffee rooms with different views, where you can relax and enjoy our special coffee and sweets while looking out of the large windows at the seasonal karesansui garden and pond garden.
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The museum store sells original goods and sweets of Japanese paintings and gardens. The stores in the main building and the new building have different product lines, so stop by after viewing each.
- Adachi Museum of Art
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- 320 Furukawa-cho, Yasugi-shi, Shimane MAP
- Approx. 14 min. from JR Yasugi Station by car
Free shuttle bus service from JR Yasugi Station- April-September 9:00-17:30, October-March 9:00-17:00
- Open all year round (only the new wing is closed for exhibition changes)
Adults 2,500 yen, college students 2,000 yen, high school students 1,000 yen, elementary and junior high school students 500 yen- 0854-28-7111
- Free of charge
4Matsue History Museum
Cultural Properties along the Horikawa River that weave through Matsue's history
The museum has an impressive exterior in the style of a samurai residence that blends in with the castle town. It is a cultural Property where visitors can experience Matsue's history and culture. Since it is within walking distance from Matsue Castle, it is a perfect spot to stop by before or after your visit to the castle.
The permanent exhibition room covers in detail the origins of Matsue Castle, the history of the Matsue domain, and the lives of the people. A precise diorama of the former castle town, armor, and a model of the castle are also on display. Don't miss the "Den Rikyu Tea Room," a reconstruction of a 400-year-old tea room said to have been used by Sen no Rikyu.
Taste fine Japanese sweets while admiring the Japanese garden
Kiharu Cafe is a Japanese-style cafe in the museum where you can enjoy a cup of coffee while looking out over the Japanese garden. In addition to the fresh sweets and green powdered tea, the "Matcha Experience Set" (1,500 yen), in which you can make your own green powdered tea, is also very popular. The garden outside the window is a "karesansui" (dry landscape) garden, which expresses a landscape without using water. Lanterns made of Raitai stone, a specialty of Matsue City, and other features are arranged in a way that incorporates local characteristics.
The museum store sells products related to the permanent and special exhibitions, including Japanese goods made by local artists and famous teas, and Japanese goods made by local artists, as well as famous teas. You can also buy Japanese goods made by local artists and famous teas.
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Near the Property is the Matsue Horan Enya Folklore Museum, where visitors can learn about the origins and history of Horan Enya, a boat ritual held once every 10 years in Matsue City.
- Matsue History Museum
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- 279 Tonomachi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
- Take the Gurutto Matsue Lake Line Bus from JR Matsue Station, get off at Otemae Horikawa Pleasure Boat Stop or History Museum Stop, and walk about 3 minutes.
- 9:00 - 17:00 (admission by 16:30)
- Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday), Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 - January 1)
- Admission free *Basic exhibition room: Adults 700 yen, Elementary/Junior high school students 350 yen (Free for elementary/junior high school students after July 1, 2026)
- 0852-32-1607
- Free of charge
5Tsukishoji Temple
Ancient temple related to a great tea master to visit on a rainy day
Along with Kyoto and Kanazawa, Matsue is one of the "Three Great Sweets Towns of Japan. It was Matsudaira Fumai, or Matsudaira Jirigo, the seventh lord of the Matsudaira family, who established the culture of the tea ceremony. Gesshoji Temple, known as a place associated with lord Fumai, is a good place to visit on rainy days. It is also a perfect spot for sightseeing during the rainy season.
It is also known as the "San'in Hydrangea Temple." From mid-June to early July, the temple gate and approach are decorated with about 30,000 hydrangeas, which blend beautifully with the architecture and vegetation. The temple is within walking distance from Matsue Castle, so why not visit in conjunction with a visit to the National Treasure?
Enjoy Matsue's tea culture in the Shoin
Visitors can enjoy a tea ceremony experience in the wood-scented shoin "Koshinden" while admiring the Japanese garden. After walking through the quiet precincts of the temple, taking a break while soaking up the atmosphere is truly an exceptional experience.
The tea cakes served are "Roshiba," a famous confectionary from the long-established Japanese confectionary "Furyudo. It is a comfortable Japanese confectionery made of a layer of gyuhi and white bean paste. The water used for matcha is "Chanoyu no mizu," a spring water designated as one of the "100 Famous Waters of Shimane," and is said to have been used by Lord Fumai. Chanoyu-no-Mizu is located next to the entrance of the temple and can be drunk freely.
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In the precincts of the shrine, there is a stone statue of a large tortoise that appears in an essay by the great writer Koizumi Yakumo, and it is said that if you pat its head, you will live a long life. There is also a "Treasure Hall" where items related to the feudal lords are on display, so take as much time as you need to stroll around the shrine.
- Gessho-ji Temple
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- 179 Sotonakabaracho, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture MAP
- 15 minutes walk from Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station on the Ichibata Line.
- Take a bus from JR Matsue Stn. and get off at "Tsukishoji-mae" bus stop.
- 10:00-16:00 (last admission at 15:30), 8:30-17:30 (last admission at 17:00) in June only.
- No holidays
- Admission 700 yen for adults, 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students
- 0852-21-6056
- Free of charge
MAP
- < Izumo Rainy Day Spots in Izumo City
- <Rainy Day Spots in Matsue City
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Masatomo Nagaoka Daikokubashira in Tamatsukuri
Hoshino Resorts KAI Tamatsukuri
Tamatsukuri hot spring, Shimane Prefecture
An inn with Outdoor hot spring baths in all Guest rooms where you can enjoy the hot spring water for beautiful skin. You can also enjoy Kagura (Shinto music and dance) and Japanese sake, which is said to have originated in Shimane.
Access by bus 5 minutes by cab from JR Tamatsukuri hot spring station
- Example of Accommodation Rates
- 1 person per night From 31,000 yen
Hoshino Resorts KAI Izumo
Izumo Hinomisaki hot spring, Shimane
A hot spring inn located in Hinomisaki, where Izumo mythology is rooted. It is also conveniently located for paying a visit to Izumo Taisha Shrine.
Access by bus From JR Izumo City Station, take the Ichibata Bus. 1 minute walk from the Hinomizaki Lighthouse stop.
- Example of Accommodation Rates
- 1 person per night From ¥19,000