Walk the streets of Matsue – 松江を歩く

Nothing is better than wandering around to explore a city, especially a city that retains the simplicity of times gone by. Although it is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, Matsue is a laid back, comfortably-sized city with many charms, such as historic buildings reminiscent of the Showa period, riverside promenades, even music playing in certain areas. You will find numerous shops selling local products such as wagashi (Japanese confectionary), Yakumo-nuri (laquerware), local sake (spirits), kamaboko (fish sausage) and much more![See Culture and Specialties]

One of the characteristics of the streets of Matsue lies in the physical layout of the town, which has not changed much over 400 years. Like the north side, there south side has many defensive features such as staggered junctions to hinder attacking armies. Many districts have kept their overall appearances, like the “temple town” of Teramachi – see below – or the “foot-soldier town” of Saikamachi, made up of narrow streets running from north to south like a Japanese chess board [See The founding of Matsue]. As you walk through the city, take time to appreciate the little signs illustrationing the town’s history!