Masuda - city in Shimane Prefecture, Japan

Masuda () is a small city of a little more than 50,000 people in Shimane Prefecture. It is the birthplace of Kakinomoto Hitomaro.

Get in

By plane

• Hagi Iwami Airport (石見空港, IATA: IWJ), 34.676389°, 131.790278°, +81 856-24-0010, airport@iwami.or.jp. Has flights to Tokyo Haneda Airport and Osaka Itami Airport.

By train

Masuda is on the San'in Main Line, which runs along western Honshu's Japan Sea coast, starting in Kyoto and going to Shimonoseki. No shinkansen trains come to Masuda. The Yamaguchi Line connects Masuda with the Shinkansen at Shin-Yamaguchi Station (formally Ogori Station).

By bus

The main bus station is a short walk in front of Masuda Station. There is a line that goes from Masuda to Hiroshima and back at least 3 times a day, passing through Nichihara, Kakinoki, and Muikaichi. Another bus takes a different route between Masuda and Hiroshima that goes through Hikimi.

Get around

The easiest way is to drive. If you don't have a car there are many taxis in front of Masuda Station and buses that go around town.

See

• Grand Toit (グラントワ), 34.672848°, 131.847295°. Art Museum and concert hall. To visit the art museum one time costs about ¥1000. If you think you will go to the museum three or more times in one year, you may want to consider getting the "passport" option that allows you unlimited entry for ¥3000.

• Ikoji (医光寺), 4-29 Someba-cho (Bus to Ikoji-mae), 34.680092°, 131.865624°, +81 856-22-1668. 08:30-17:00. Built in 1363, this temple is known for having hosted the famous Zen Buddhist monk and artist Sesshu (1420-1506) as its fifth chief priest from 1460 to 1485. Sesshu designed a garden here, now designated an important cultural property. The main gate was relocated from Nanao Castle. ¥500

• Manpukuji (万福寺), 25-33 Higashi-Masuda (Bus to Orido), 34.678623°, 131.860049°, +81 856-22-0302. 08:30-17:00. Built by the Masuda family, this temple's garden was also designed by Sesshu, and its Kamakura-style main hall was designated a nationally important cultural property. ¥500

• Sesshu Memorial Museum (雪舟の郷記念館横), 34.684993°, 131.84746°, +81 856 24 0500. Th-M 09:00-17:00. The museum has a small collection of Sesshu's art and information about him. ¥300 adults, ¥100 children 2019-10-16

• Taikian (大喜庵), 34.68438°, 131.847428°. Built where Toko Temple (where Sesshu spent his last years) once stood. It is said that Sesshu visited Masuda again in the Meiou period (1492–1506), entered Toko Temple (Taikian) and stayed there until he died at the age of 87 in 1506. His grave was built on the hillside behind Taikian. 2019-10-16

• Hikimi Gorge (裏匹見峡), 34.54757°, 132.050525°. It's in Hikimi, a village that merged with Masuda a few years ago. It is considered one of the most beautiful areas in Shimane. 2019-10-16

Do

• Beach - Masuda has a decent beach. Go down route 191 towards Yamaguchi-ken and you can’t miss it.

Buy

Eat

• Cafe & Curry Jan. A decent curry shop and cafe; located across the street from the Masuda fire station, next to the Docomo shop. The owner speaks English.

• Minori Shokai (寿し処みのり), 11-7 Ekimae-cho (Minori Masuda building), +81 856-22-1356. Tu-Su 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00. Good sushi made from local catch, close to the station. Lunch ¥800, dinner ¥1500-4000

Drink

The main drinking area is the area in front of Masuda Station, across route 35.

Sleep

There is a hotel next to Masuda Station. There are no official youth hostels in Masuda.

Go next

• Hamada
• Gotsu
• Oda
• Tsuwano
• Yoshika
• Hagi
• Yamaguchi
• Akiotsu
• Kitahiroshima