Moving Around

The Matsue JR Station and its bus terminal are the transportation hub of the city, and where you will most likely arrive here if travelling by bus, train, or limousine bus from one of the two nearby airports [See Access].

Upon reaching Matsue, you’ll find that the city centre, where many of Matsue’s main attractions are located, is easy to navigate on foot. Of course there are also city buses and taxis, along with car and bicycle rental facilities to meet a variety of needs. And with a nickname like as the City of Water, the boats circling the canals in the castle area also offer an interesting way of getting around and taking in the sights!

If you have any questions, please contact the Matsue International Tourist Information Office located just outside the north exit of the station. You can find all the information you need. Open daily, from 9:00 to 18:00. Phone: 0852-21-4034. E-Mail: .

Bus

All bus lines can be boarded at JR Matsue Station’s bus terminal.

Lake Line Bus

 
Lake Line buses are perfect for visiting tourists, as they run a circular route (50 minutes in total) stopping at all the major attractions throughout the day at intervals of about 30 minutes. A single fare is ¥210 for adults and ¥110 for children and an all-day ticket, allowing you to hop on and off as many times as you like in one day, costs ¥520 for adults and ¥260 for children. This bus is easy to spot, thanks to its bright red retro style!

Matsue City Bus and Ichibata Bus

For destinations not served by the Lake Line bus, you can use the regular city buses. There are two companies operating routes throughout Matsue and its outskirts.

How to use the bus?
When boarding the bus, enter through the rear door, take a white numbered ticket and take a seat. When the bus reaches your stop, press the button to alert the driver that you wish to get off, and place your money and ticket into the box by the driver’s seat as you exit the bus. The fare due will be shown on a board at the front of the bus, with the fare changing according to the length of your ride. The fare to be paid will be shown below your ticket number on the board.

Train

There are two train stations in Matsue. Matsue Station (operated by JR) and Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station (operated by Ichibata Railways). The two stations are connected by bus, including the Lake Line bus (longer route). The stations are also located within walking distance (2 km).

Trains are a quick and convenient way to get to outer Matsue areas, such as Tamatsukuri Onsen. They are also ideal for travelling to places nearby such as Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, Yasugi City, Yonago City or Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine [See Nearby Matsue].

Matsue Station (Japan Railways)

Matsue Station, located in southern Matsue and serviced by West Japan Railways (JR), services areas like Tamatsukuri Onsen Station and connects to the Shinkansen (bullet train) at Okayama.

Stations close to Matsue served by JR Railways Sanin Main Line: (from west to east)
Izumo < Shobara < Shinji < Kimachi < Tamatsukuri Onsen < Nogi < Matsue Station > Higashi Matsue > Iya > Yasugi > Yonago

Stations close to Matsue served by JR Railways Kisuki Line:
Shinji < Minami-Shinji < Unnan

Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station (Ichibata Railways)

Ichibata Railways operates from Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station, located in the northern half of Matsue, and services stops such as Matsue English Garden, Matsue Vogel Park, Unshu-Hirata, and Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine via transfer at Kawato Station.

Stations served by Ichibata Railways North Matsue Line: Matsue Shinji-ko Onsen Station > Matsue English Garden-mae > Asahi Gaoka > Nagae > Aika-machi > Matsue Vogel Park > Takanomiya > Tsunomori > Inonada > Ichibata-guchi > Sono > Koyukan Shin-eki > Nunozaki > Unshu-Hirata > Tabishi > Midami > Otera > Kawato > 
non-transfer route: Takeshi > Otsumachi > Izumo Kagakukan ParkTown-mae > Dentetsu Izumo-shi
transfer route from Kawato: Takahama > Yokan > Hamayama Koen Kita-guchi > Izumo Taisha-mae

“Bike and rail!”
For cycling enthusiasts and those looking for something active during your time in Matsue, you’ll be glad to know that you can take your bike on the Ichibata railway routes for an additional ¥310. Ichibata railways runs between Matsue and Izumo Taisha. Rent-a-cycle facilities are located along this route at Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station, Izumo Taisha-mae Station, and Dentetsu-Izumo Station. Have a look at this map (Japanese) to discover all the places you can visit along the Ichibata Railways.
Bicycles can be taken on JR trains free of charge only if they are inserted fully in a bicycle bag. More info on the JR website (Japanese).

Taxi

You can find taxis outside both train stations, and also at certain points throughout Matsue. If the taxi is not occupied, it is also possible to hail down a passing taxi.

Should you need to, or prefer to order a taxi, here is a list of the various taxi companies operating in Matsue.

Japan Travel (Nihon Kotsu) TEL.0852-21-5127
Mitsuwa Taxi TEL.0852-25-3030
Futaba Taxi TEL.0852-28-0028
Crown Taxi TEL.0852-21-5151
No. I Travel (Daiichi Kotsu) TEL.0852-21-5000
Shimane Nihon Kotsu Transport TEL.0852-23-3151
Ikuma Taxi TEL.0852-36-8555
Nogi Taxi TEL.0852-21-4345
Matsue Ichibata Taxi TEL.0852-21-4334
Kawatsu Taxi TEL.0852-26-2040
Makata Taxi TEL.0852-37-0951

For a guided tour by taxi, you can also use the following sightseeing taxi service.

Sightseeing Taxi (guidance in Japanese)

Model CourseSmall-sized
(4 people)
Mid-sized
(5 people)
Matsue Sightseeing (30mins) ¥3,090 ¥3,320
Matsue Sightseeing (1hr) ¥6,180 ¥6,640
Matsue Sightseeing (1hr, 30mins) ¥9,270 ¥9,960
Matsue Sightseeing (2hrs) ¥12,360 ¥13,280
* Time of preference to be made when booking

Bicycle Rentals

Renting a bike and cycling around Matsue is a fun way to get to know the town, and get active at the same time! You can rent a bicycle at several locations. Within the city centre, there are three locations (*) where you can pick up and return bicycles to any of the three rental outlets.

Matsue Station area

  • Eki-Rent-a-car Kansai (inside the station parking lot). ¥500 a day. From 8:00 to 19:00. TEL: 0852-23-8880.
  • Nippon Rent-a-car. ¥1100 a day, from 8:00 to 20:00. TEL: 0852-21-7518.

Matsue Shinjiko Onsen area

  • Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station*. ¥300 for a day. From 9:00 to 18:00. TEL: 0852-21-2429
  • Matsue New Urban Hotel Annex. TEL: 0852-23-0003.
  • Naniwa-issui (Ryokan). TEL: 0852-21-4132.
  • Takuwa cycle. sports bicycles (reservation required). TEL: 0852-36-7775.

Matsue Castle area

  • Matsue Horikawa Fureai Hiroba / Local Beer Center* (Horikawa Sightseeing Boat Boarding Point). ¥300 a day. From 9:00 to 17:30. TEL: 0852-55-8877.

Southern Matsue

Bike rentals available at three locations: Izumo Kanbe-no-Sato (between Yakumo-Tatsu Fudoki-no-Oka and Kamosu Shrine), Kissa Yae (restaurant by Yaegaki Shrine) and Kumano-kan (onsen by Kumano Taisha Shrine). Bicycles from either location can be returned to either location. ¥500 a day. From 9:00 to 16:30.

Contact and info : Izumo Kanbe-no-Sato (0852-28-0040). Closed every Tuesday or the day after if it is a national holiday. Kissa Yae (0852-31-8450). Kumano-kan (0852-54-0140).

Note that information above is subject to change. More info in Japanese here.

Car Rentals

Matsue Station

Nippon Rent-a-car (near Matsue Station south exit) TEL: 0852-21-7518
Eki-Rent-a-car Kansai (inside Shamine parking lot) TEL: 0852-23-8880

On foot

Matsue Station is located approximately one kilometre to the east of Lake Shinji, and two kilometres from Matsue Castle. If arriving at JR Matsue Station, check out the walking maps in the tourist information office outside the north exit, and enjoy walking around town.

For those who choose to walk as a means of getting around, should you get caught out in the rain without an umbrella, you can use the free umbrella loan system. These free to use umbrellas are in wooden umbrella stands in various locations throughout Matsue.

By boat

 
The tour boat circling the castle moat is an alternative means of transport for those hoping to see as much of Matsue as possible. There are three boarding piers, where you can get on and off throughout the day on a single ticket as many times as you want![See Horikawa Sightseeing Boat]
And, of course, you can also cruise Lake Shinji thanks to the Lake Shinji Pleasure Cruise!