＜Matsue Horikawa Tour (Matsue Horikawa Pleasure Boat)＞Cruise the Horikawa Encircling Matsue Castle｜Matsue,OkiFor recommended sightseeing and leisure spots inTabiiro

Cruise the Horikawa Encircling Matsue Castle

Horikawa Sightseeing Boat "Gurutto Matsue Horikawa Meguri" offers a leisurely cruise along the moat that surrounds Matsue Castle and its historic castle town. The approximately 50-minute journey circles scenic streetscapes that include the Sanin region’s only original castle tower, former samurai residences, and the old pine trees of "Shiomi Nawate." The small boat travels through waterways as narrow as about 2 meters—nearly the same width as the vessel—and passes beneath 17 bridges; when approaching four of them, the boat’s roof lowers, and passengers duck as the vessel slips underneath. Along the way, the boat operator shares stories about Matsue’s history and local attractions and performs folk songs, while seasonal waterside plants and waterfowl add to the scenery.

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Landscapes of Every Season Offering New Views

The sightseeing boat will take you through the "Historical County," which retains the appearance of old Japan, including Matsue Castle, stone walls and samurai residences, the "City County," which is lined with retro-modern buildings, and the "Nature," which travels through the gently swaying water surface that reflects only the sky and forest. It operates in the area of "Ku". You can enjoy the scenery that changes with the seasons no matter when you visit.

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Boat Guide Sharing Stories of Matsue’s Highlights

The boatmen of the "Gurutto Matsue Horikawa Meguri" are professional guides who have visited all of the city and are familiar with the local area, and you can also enjoy in-depth information that cannot be found in tourist guidebooks. They often ride the train four to five times a day, and they provide detailed information about sightseeing spots along the routes they operate, as well as points of interest in the surrounding area.

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Sightseeing Boat as a Seasonal Local Tradition

Seasonal sightseeing boats operate throughout the year, including the winter "kotatsu boat," a seasonal feature with a raised kotatsu warmed by bean charcoal for viewing quiet winter landscapes, and the summer "furin boat," where the sound of wind chimes drifts through scenes of the castle town. In winter, large numbers of migratory birds gather along the waterways, creating opportunities to observe waterfowl from the boat.

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Moat Cruise Revealing Matsue Castle and Seasonal Landscapes

Boarding locations include "Otemae Square," "Fureai Square," and "Kyomise Karakoro Square." A one-day boarding pass allows unlimited rides, with disembarking and reboarding permitted along the route, allowing flexible exploration of the surrounding area.

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Enjoyable Encounters with Unique Boat Guides

There will be a lineup of unique boatmen who will operate and escort the boat, and they will tell you about Matsue's history, tourist spots, highlights, and even beautiful folk songs. The content changes depending on the boatman, so you can experience a different charm of Matsue each time you ride.
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Atmospheric Townscape Evoking a Step Back in Time

Boat operators with distinctive personalities serve as professional guides who know the town thoroughly after navigating every corner of the area. Detailed commentary introduces sights along the route and highlights of Matsue City, along with local insights rarely found in guidebooks.
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"Tsubakidani" with Lush Greenery in Every Season

Tsubakidani is a spot full of lush greenery in the west moat of Matsue Castle. The highlight is the beautiful nature that changes with the seasons, with fresh greenery in early summer and camellias in winter. As the boat moves slowly, you will be soothed by the swaying of the water and the rustle of the wind.
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Seventeen Bridges across the Moat in Varied Forms

There are 17 bridges built along the tour boat course, and they come in a variety of colors and shapes, including tasteful wooden bridges, tunnel-shaped bridges, and low bridges that require lowering the roof to pass. Being able to pass under so many different bridges is one of the joys of a small boat.
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Photo Spot on the Boat with Views of Matsue Castle

Fumonin Bridge, located in front of "Fumonin," which appears in the ghost story of "Yakumo Koizumi," is an excellent photo spot where you can take photos of Matsue Castle, Horikawa, the quaint wooden bridge, and Uga Bridge. . Let's leave memories of your trip with picturesque scenery.
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Matsue Horikawa Tour (Matsue Horikawa Pleasure Boat)

Address

507-1 Kuroda Town, Matsue City, Shimane

Access

[Car] 14 minutes from the Sanin Expressway Matsue Nishi IC [Bus] 5-minute walk from "Kuroda-cho Ide-no-Uchi" bus stop (Matsue City Bus / Ichibata Bus)

Official Website

https://www.matsue-horikawameguri.jp/

TEL

+81-852-27-0417Please inform the staff that you found us through "Tabiiro".

FAX

+81-852-27-0341

SNS

Business hours

March 1 to September 30: First departure 9:00 A.M., last departure 5:00 P.M.
October 1 to the end of February: First departure 9:00 A.M., last departure 4:00 P.M.

Fee

[1-Day Boarding Pass] Adults: 1,600 yen, junior high and high school students: 1,300 yen, elementary school students: 800 yen *Group rates and other options available (check the website for details)

Parking