Matsue city is the capital of Shimane prefecture. This western part of the island of Honshu is a little less industrialized than the areas around Tokyo. Here you’ll find tall apartment blocks and bullet trains, but you’ll also find rice paddies and Shinto shrines centuries old. The past has been kept alive in Shimane. Traditional Japanese values and culture has remained untouched by outside influence, but that doesn’t mean they don’t welcome foreigners. The locals are polite and reserved, everywhere is very safe and everyone likes to unwind with classic pastimes like going for relaxing walks or bathing in an onsen. The local hot-spring baths are highly prized among locals and are something everyone should try out at least once. To help you try it out we’ve made a list of the 10 most tourist friendly onsen ryokan in Matue, Shimane prefecture.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 07, 2024.
1. Kasuien Minami (from USD 472)
Reasonable pricing for well-maintained facilities and delicious meals.
Magnificent outdoor onsen, Japanese garden, and accommodating restaurant.
Relatively big hotel with a fantastic view and proper maintenance.
Delicious and diverse breakfast buffet, good Kaiseki dinner, and fantastic food options.
Our list kicks off with a classy and gorgeous onsen ryokan. Kasuien Minami has a traditional Japanese charm that you just can’t find anywhere else. The Ryokan has classic Japanese-style rooms, meaning that the floors are lined with woven-reed tatami mats and the windows are covered by paper screens. Guests have a choice between western beds or futons depending on the type of room they stay in. There are also traditional onsen baths both inside and outside. The inside baths may be protected from the cool air but many people find it refreshing to breathe in the cool air as their lower body is heated by the volcanic hot-spring waters.
Kasuien Minami
Address: Tamayu-cho Tamatsukuri 1218-8
7.43 km (4.7 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
2. Minamikan (from USD 243)
Minamikan onsen ryokan has more than 110 years of business experience. The property is located alongside the Shinjiko River. From the outdoor onsen, guests can look out at the scenic river view and water the water calmly flow past. There are also traditional Japanese gardens for guests to take strolls through as and when they like. The rooms are more of a Japanese style but European-style beds are available.
Minamikan
Address: 14 Suetsugu-Honmachi, Matsue-shi, Shimane Prefecture
1.19 km (0.8 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
Access: From Matsue Station (JR Sanin Line): Take a bus bound for Matsue Shinjiko Onsen to the Matsue Ohashi Kitazume bus stop (about 18 min). It is about 2 min on foot from there.
3. Onsen Guest House Aobato no Su (from USD 29)
Onsen Guest House Aobato no Su is quite a mouthful but it is a really nice place to stay. All the staff are really helpful and they are always ready to help you plan your stay by calling ahead to places for you or give you recommendations of things to see and do. The ryokan has a classic Japanese Buddhist rock garden that is arranged beautifully every morning then wiped clean every night. The rooms are mostly Japanese style but there are western beds as well. They have an onsen that guests can use at the ryokan but there are also several larger public onsen nearby.
Onsen Guest House Aobato no Su
Address: Tamayu-cho Tamatsukuri 45-2
7.32 km (4.6 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
4. Notsu Ryokan (from USD 31)
Recently refurbished the Notsu Ryokan offers classical Japanese customer service with modern convenience. Rooms are all set out in a traditional Japanese-style. There is an outdoor onsen that overlooks the bay, perfect for couples to indulge in. These are perfect for those who want to relax in the warmth whilst enjoying the natural beauty of Miho Bay.
Notsu Ryokan
Address: 555 Isemiya-cho, Matsue-shi, Shimane Prefecture
1.68 km (1.1 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
Access: From Matsue Station (JR San-in Line) North Exit: About 5 minutes on foot, or 1 minute by taxi. By car: Exit the San-in Expressway at Matsue-chuo IC and continue along Route 9 for about 10 minutes (3 km).
5. Yukei Kohan Suitenkaku (from USD 31)
Yukei Kohan Suitenkaku has several outdoor onsens. Some overlook the well-maintained gardens, others the calm waters of Miho bay. The restaurant serves Kaiseki multicourse meals of fresh and seasonal specialities of Shimane. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable. Many have futon beds but there are also western bedrooms that can be booked.
Yukei Kohan Suitenkaku
Address: 3-9 Chidori-cho, Matsue-shi, Shimane Prefecture
1.48 km (1.0 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
Access: From Izumo Airport: Take a bus to the Matsue bus stop. Then take a bus to the Matsue Shinji-ko Onsen bus stop, and it is about 3 min on foot from there.
6. Hotel Gyokusen (from USD 245)
Reasonable pricing for traditional Japanese accommodation and dining experiences.
Onsen, shuttle bus, private dining, free evening entertainment, and Japanese-style rooms.
Located in a serene area, 15-minute walk from the station with shuttle bus available.
Exceptional traditional Japanese dinner with varied courses, attentive staff, and beautiful garden view.
Hotel Gyokusen is very proud of their traditional Japanese-style gardens. There are rock gardens, as well as gardens with perfectly preened plants. As guests walk to the front desk they should feel the zen atmosphere of the gardens leading up to the building. Hotel Gyokusen has western beds in all rooms and both indoor and outdoor onsen. The ryokan also often hosts traditional folk music shows and other cultural events.
Hotel Gyokusen
Address: Tamayucho Tamatsukuri 53-2
7.16 km (4.5 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
7. Fukumakan (from USD 50)
Overlooking Miho bay, Fukumakan has amazing views of the Sea of Japan. This little coastal getaway spot is perfect for those who love the sea air and history. The ryokan has been in business for over 200 years and is still going strong. The closeness to the water means that all of the seafood prepared in the in-house restaurant is of a supremely high quality. You can try all sorts of local specialties, many of them only available at certain times of year. The rooms at this ryokan are all traditionally Japanese with tatami-mat floors and shoji-paper screen over the window. There are private baths attached to each room.
Fukumakan
Address: Mihonoseki-cho Mihonoseki 586
25.21 km (15.7 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
8. Tamatsukuri Onsen Yujin Chiyonoyu (from USD 128)
A great place for those who want to experience traditional Japan. Tamatsukuri Onsen Yujin Chiyonoyu has a selection of traditional Japanese meals that go far beyond sushi. Guests are treated to completely new flavours and approaches to food that are not used by western cooking but none the less produce some of the most delicious foods in the world. All meals are cooked with fresh local ingredients, often caught or picked that day. The rooms are very classy, traditional Japanese rooms with western beds. There is a choice between indoor or outdoor onsen baths so that you can comfortably soak in the water no matter the weather outside.
Tamatsukuri Onsen Yujin Chiyonoyu
Address: Tamayucho Tamatsukuri 1215-2
7.47 km (4.7 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
9. Chorakuen (from USD 94)
This ryokan has an open-air onsen bath. This is the type that most Japanese people recommend because it is the perfect balance of cool air around your head and warm water around your body. There’s also an indoor onsen for anybody worried about bathing outdoors. Rooms are traditionally Japanese but many come with western-style beds. Those who prefer can sleep on a Japanese futon. They are a lot more comfortable than the average futon sold in the West and said to be good for your back. The rooms all come with modern conveniences like televisions and air-conditioning units to keep your stay pleasant even if you stay inside all day.
Chorakuen
Address: Tamayu-cho Tamatsukuri 323
7.52 km (4.7 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
10. Ten Ten Temari (from USD 61)
A great ryokan for those who want to travel around and see the sights of Matsue. Ten Ten Temari is only a 13-minute walk from Gessho-ji Temple and a five-minute drive from Jozan Inari Shrine or Matsue Castle. And once you’re finished travelling around the city you can return to Ten Ten Temari and rest up in a traditional Japanese-style room. There’s also onsen both indoors and outside. Onsens are considered very therapeutic, especially for muscles, so if you need to rest your aching feet after a day of travelling around and visiting places take a dip in the onsen.
Ten Ten Temari
Address: Chidori-cho 73
1.48 km (1.0 mi) from Matsue-jō Castle
A quiet place
The prefecture is frozen in time, a snapshot of rural Japan that you can explore and learn about. Enjoy the culturally important experience of soaking in a natural onsen.
History
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