Matsue

Matsue, the Venice of Japan, capital city of Shimane prefecture.
The city has much to offer, including one of Japan’s very few remaining medieval castles, cruises through the canals, samurai residences, exotic cuisine and some of the most spectacular sunsets you’ll ever see.
Shimane is considered to be the cradle of Japanese civilization, with many myths from the Kojiki (the oldest book about the history of Japan) taking place here.
The area is also home to some of the oldest shinto shrines, the largest and most famous being Izumo Taisha, just a short trip by train from Matsue Onsen station.
This is a great place to visit if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and want to feel Japan’s historical roots.