Location: Matsue
Top Things to do in Matsue
5 Things to do Good for Kids in Matsue That You Shouldn't Miss
Matsue (松江市, Matsue-shi) is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture located in Chūgoku region of the main island of Honshu. As of March, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 205,402, following its most recent merging with the town of Higashiizumo (from Yatsuka District).
Restaurants in Matsue
1. Matsue Vogel Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By 719karenj - Colorado Springs, United States
You know about those YouTube/Facebook videos of penguins dressed up and walking around? THIS IS THE PLACE! Six years ago, we visited Matsue Vogel Park just as they were closing. We ran through it and thought it was amazing. They greet you with near floor to ceiling flowers! This time, we admired their new building, used our passports to get a discount, and made sure to have lots of time. You start with the most amazing really, really long and steep slidewalk. Our friends helped us to get to almost every "show" and I got to (pay to) have a bird of prey fly to my arm and get lots of photos together, find the koi with the happy face on it's head, take lots of pictures of dressed up penguins, (pay to) hold a penguin (because who knew it was on my bucket list), (pay to) get a bird to pick a fortune for my husband (it was good), and (pay to) feed turacos, toucans, and whatever that other bird was. The free bird shows were great. There were lots of flowers and animals to look at. At the end, we stopped for some soft cream (soft serve in many flavors). What an amazing day!
2. Matsue Horikawa Pleasure Boat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 314 reviews
Matsue retains a canal system and townscape with 400-year-old character, and this 50-minute boat tour is the quintessential way to see them. The boatmen will tell you about the local history and culture while you enjoy the natural scenery that changes with the seasons. The tour is open all year long with boats departing roughly every 15 minutes from three convenient locations surrounding the castle. You will remove your shoes and relax on board, enjoying the cool breeze in summer or the warm kotatsu (heated blanket) in winter. The roof provides shelter from the rain and sun, but watch your head! One of the characteristic features of the Horikawa Sightseeing Boat is that the roof lowers to fit under a few of the 17 bridges around the course.
