Enjoy an unforgettable private tour of Sakaiminato with a friendly personal guide from <strong>ToursByLocals.</strong>. All our guides are fluent English speakers with riveting stories to share, and they'll be pleased to give you a personalized tour that highlights your own travel interests.

Be sure to also ask our guides about what hidden gems they recommend. Each of them will have their favorite spots they'll be inspired to share, with stories that bring the history and culture of Sakaiminato, Japan passionately to life for you.

Book a private tour with your own ToursByLocals guide, and ask them about how your tour can be customized to include exactly what YOU want to see and do in Sakaiminato.

Sakaiminato

Matsue Castle & Sightseeing Boat - Private Shore Excursion from Sakaiminato

I'll show you around Matsue, the beautiful and nostalgic city, where I was born and lived in several times in my life.
In the old landscape you might feel you are traveling to the time 400 years ago.

Out of 200 castle in Japan, Matsue Castle is one of the only 12 original castles. I'll tell you all about its unique architectural techniques and interesting episodes in the long history. A sightseeing boat tour around the castle is greatly recommended. I myself enjoy it from season to season. (Note that if a boat shouln't be secured, we visit a castle related shrine and a temple. )

Besides the historical landscape, I'll share rich inheritances we received from the castle lords. Our distinctive tea culture is one of them. You will be having excellent matcha green tea with original Japanese confectionery at the old tea house designed by a feudal lord of Matsue.

I can customize your tour according to your interests.

Feel and experience legacies of the castle lords: nostalgic landscape and rich tea culture

Matsue Castle &amp; Sightseeing Boat - Private Shore Excursion from Sakaiminato

The Adachi Museum of Art was opened by Zenko Adachi The Museum houses his collections of nearly 2000 masterpieces of great Japanese artists of early twentieth century. The Japanese gardens that he devoted his soul to create are viewed from inside the museum as  living paintings.
Yushien Garden is a traditional Japanese pond garden. The garden is famous for its peony flowers. In the spring, two million peonies bloom one by one. They are of 250 different types of peonies. Although the peonies are not in full bloom during the summer, fall, and winter, they are always in full bloom in the greenhouse called the Peony Pavilion. Yushien garden offers a different and beautiful view in each season. Let's take a leisure stroll through the garden, which was designed as a miniature garden of the Izumo region. 
As well as peonies, Yushien is famous for its ginseng and a variety of products made from it are sold there. You can try ginseng tea if you wish, and a restaurant in the garden serves ginseng-based dishes.


a day excursion of magnificent Japanese garden and Japanese art museum

Adachi Museum and Yushien garden

Izumo Grand Shrine and Hinomisaki Cape - 8hr Private Tour

Izumo is the place where most Japanese myths started. We visit old shrines that enshrines the gods appears in the myths. Having lived in Izumo for more than ten years, I can tell you how the myths are closely related to our life and customs. Japanese shrines have certain manners to enter and worship. You can see my clear demonstrations.

You can join me if you like, of course. While walking, you'll also have my picture-myth telling. I'm sure it helps you understand Japanese myths and culture.

Hinomisaki, another highlight of this tour, has a soaring lighthouse behind the blue ocean. We are on the western tip of Shimane Peninsula and I'll explain the geographical formation of the Japanese Archipelago.

You will find yourself refreshed in the serene and spiritual atmosphere here in Izumo.

I can customize your tour according to your interests.
If your group is more than 3, please let me know. I will try to arrange it to fit the number of guests.

Enjoy a nice excursion to sacred places with scenic views

Shimane tour - Adachi Museum and Yushien Garden - private shore excursion from Sakaiminato

In this tour, we visit two different types of beautiful Japanese gardens. If you like gardens and art or relaxing places, this tour is for you! I can customize your tour according to your interests. If your group is more than 3, please let me know. I will try to arrange it to fit the number of guests.

Adachi Museum is visited by many people from inside and outside of Japan. Every year it has been renewing its top ranking by Japanese garden specialists in the world. I'll help you find the reasons and know more about the Japanese garden.

The other garden, Yushien Garden, is the type of garden where you can walk around, which is different from Adachi Museum of Art. The garden is in a tiny volcanic island, where gorgeous tree peonies are local specialties being shipped overseas. I very much look forward to showing you around the serene and refreshing garden with background stories related to it.

Enjoy two beautiful Japanese gardens in a 6.5hr tour in Shimane

Matsue Castle was completed in 1611, which is one of five castles designated as national treasures. The inside of the keep is dimly lit and the stairs are narrow and steep. There are no elevators or escalators, as the castle has been preserved exactly as it was when it was built. Climbing up and down the stairs may be a little scary, but it's worth climbing up to the the top floor to enjoy a panoramic view of Matsue city.

Then let's take a tour of the moat river with a boatman who will guide you on a small covered boat.

We also take a walk along Shiomi nawate street, where you can find former Samurai residence,Memorial Hall of  Lafcadio Hearn, Taname Art Museum etc.

On Kyomise Street,  you will find small but charming shop store with local folk art traditions.



Let's explore this beautiful city and enjoy its historic atmosphere.

Highlights of Matsue city Private tour

Favorite Walking Path of Lafcadio Hearn known as Koizumi Yakumo

First we will visit the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum and his former residence adjacent to it, where we will learn about his life in Matsue, his works, what he wanted to convey, and his entire life.
We will then visit some of his favorite places described in his essays. These include the path around the castle where he often took walks, and the Inari Shrine along the path. We will also visit the Kamosu Shrine and the Yaegaki Shrine, which attracted Hearn because of his love of Izumo mythology.

Let's follow the walk described in an essay by Lafcadio Hearn, a great writer of the Meiji period who loved Matsue.

Highlights of Tamatsukuri onsen - hot spring district &amp; Yumachigama kiln in Matsue city

There are many hot springs throughout Japan that are called "spa for beautiful skin, " but they say Tamatsukuri Onsen is rated the best in Japan for its ability to moisturize the skin!
Tamatsukuri-onsen, also one of the oldest hot spas in Japan. It is described in the Kojiki, the Book of Ancient Matters compiled in early 8th century.
Let's walk along the street along the river of hot-spring water. There are many small but interesting stores along the street such as a store specializing in power stones, a shop of auspicious motifs of comma-shaped jewels called "magatama".
You can experience a hot spring bathing in the area if you like. Alternatively, a natural hot spring footbath is available. in the river running in the center.

We also visit Yumachigama kiln to experience pottery making with the help of the craftsman at the studio in the back of the pottery shop. The Yumachigama Kiln continues the tradition of Fushina-yaki, a type of traditional pottery that began in Matsue City in the Edo period.

a relaxing walking in the historical hot spring area and some experience of making your own one-of-a-kind pottery!

Indigo Dyeing experience, Japanese Paper Making tour

We visit indigo-colored dyeing shop, Amano Kouya.
From the Edo period (1603-1868) to the Meiji period (1868-1912), indigo was used for all kinds of dyeing in Japan. The dye is mainly made from the plant called tade. A pigment called "indigotin" is extracted from this plant and is used to make dyes.
At Amano Konya, you will actually observe the skilled yarn dyeing process and experience indigo dyeing of tenugui hand towels, shawls, T-shirts, etc. by yourself under the guidance of the craftsmen.

Another place we visit is the Abe Eishiro Memorial Museum. Abe Eishiro created Izumo mingei paper that has a unique character never seen before in the history of washi.
At the Eishiro Memorial Museum, visitors will learn how to make washi paper in the washi-making workshop, and experience making uchiwa (Japanese fans) from the paper.

Matsue tours

Explore with 8 tours and 2 guides.

Ritsuko Y.

$ 525 (USD)

Hiroko O.

$ 230 (USD)

Ritsuko Y.

$ 497 (USD)

Ritsuko Y.

$ 501 (USD)

Hiroko O.

$ 267 (USD)

Hiroko O.

$ 267 (USD)

Hiroko O.

$ 230 (USD)

Hiroko O.

$ 230 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Matsue

Customize your tour