I have been fortunate enough to spend many holidays in Japan, and while every region of the country has its own charm and unique appeal, Shimane is the area I have traveled to the most and will continue to do so for many years to come.
How to get to Shimane
Shimane is located in the southwest of Honshu, Japan. Shimane’s two largest cities, Izumo and Matsue, are about three hours away by train from Okayama. Okayama is three hours and 17 minutes away from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
There is also the famous Sunrise Izumo, a direct night train from Tokyo to Izumo that takes 12 hours and 8 minutes, but it can be hard to get on due to its popularity and strict reservation limits. There is also a direct night bus from Tokyo to Izumo that takes about 12 hours.
Instead of taking the 800km train and bus journey, you can take a comfortable 1.5 hour flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Izumo Airport in Shimane Prefecture.
And then, of course, there’s the car. Japan is a fun and safe country to drive in once you leave the big cities, and along the way you have the fun option of stopping at restaurants, shrines, and tourist sites you stumble upon.
Once you’ve arrived in Shimane, your experience will be enhanced if you have a car, which is best explored by driving yourself to the many attractions in Shimane. Shimane prefecture doesn’t have the extensive public transport system that larger Japanese cities have, and although there are taxis, buses and trains, your own car is the best way to get around the approximately 6,708 square kilometres area.
Everyone has their own preferences, but for me the best way to get to Shimane from New Zealand is to fly to Tokyo, spend a night or two there, then take the Shinkansen to Okayama, rent a car and enjoy the peaceful 3 hour drive to Shimane.
