Japan 8 - Matsue

Monday, 18 May 2026

Continuing down the coast to the southwest, today we docked at Sakaiminato and then bused to Matsue.

Along the road to Matsue.

Guardians at the Matsue Shinto shrine next to the castle. In the traditional manner, one dog has an open mouth and the other a closed mouth.

View of the castle looming above the walls.

Full view of the castle. We climbed up to the top floor - shoes come off just inside the door.

Closer view of the stone work composing the base of the castle.

View from the top.

Pulling weeds along the castle wall requires rappelling skills!

Quite a few of the retaining walls we saw in Japan were laid out in this diamond pattern.

Before leaving Matsue, we visited a samurai house, Buke Yashiki, in the historic samurai district.

Shinto shrine in samurai residence.

Buddhist altar in the samurai residence.

Tearoom in the samurai residence.

We had to return to Sakaiminato to start the overnight cruise to Ulsan in South Korea.

Large bridge in Sakaiminato.

Oyster farms as we were leaving Sakaiminato.

The mountainous coast along the Sea of Japan.