Contents
- The Path of Gods and Buddhas
- The Stillness of Lake Nakaumi
- Driving Along the Northern Shore of Lake Nakaumi
- Toward Sakaiminato and Mihonoseki
- A Stop Before the “Betatumi-zaka” Bridge
- Stories Around Lake Nakaumi and Daikonshima
The Path of Gods and Buddhas
There are several roads leading from Matsue to Mihonoseki.
Most people choose routes that pass through the city or follow the main roads.
But if you want to experience the landscape more quietly, there is another way—
a road that follows the northern shore of Lake Nakaumi.
It is known as Shinbutsu no Kayoiji,
the Path of Gods and Buddhas.
The Stillness of Lake Nakaumi
For a while, the road winds through the mountains.
Then, suddenly, the view opens.
The sky grows wider,
and light begins to spread across the water.
This road has long been spoken of as a path once traveled by the gods.
Looking out over this landscape,
it somehow feels natural to imagine them watching quietly from above.
Driving Along the Northern Shore of Lake Nakaumi
For local people, the main roads around Matsue are part of everyday life—
used for commuting, school, and daily journeys.
The road along the northern shore of Lake Nakaumi feels very different.
There are surprisingly few cars.
At times, it can feel as though the entire view of the lake belongs only to you.
The road continues beside the water,
leading quietly toward Mihonoseki.
Toward Sakaiminato and Mihonoseki
You can continue directly toward Mihonoseki, home to Miho Shrine, the head shrine dedicated to Ebisu.
But if you are looking for a slightly unusual experience, there is another route.
Cross the bridge popularly known as Betatumi-zaka, or the “pedal-to-the-floor slope,” and continue toward Sakaiminato.
There, you can walk along Mizuki Shigeru Road, known for its world of yokai and the characters of GeGeGe no Kitaro.
→ Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
I write more about the road toward Mihonoseki here:
→ Mihonoseki — A Cape Town of Myth and the Sea of Japan
A Stop Before the “Betatumi-zaka” Bridge
Just before the bridge, beside a FamilyMart convenience store, you will find Daikonshima Brewery.
The brewery is known for playful local creations inspired by regional specialties, including Dojo Sukui Manju Ale and fig ale.
I also introduced one of its drinks in:
→ Honey Blueberry Sour from Daikonshima Brewery — Paired with Gyoza
This area is part of Daikonshima, a small island in Lake Nakaumi known for its peonies.
One of the island’s best-known places is Yuushien, a Japanese garden where the scenery changes with the seasons.
→ Yuushien — Walking Through a Garden of Peonies and Water on Daikonshima
Nearby is also Yamamise, a long-established eel restaurant founded in 1914 and loved by local people.
At Yamamise, fresh eel is kept in groundwater from the Lake Nakaumi area before being prepared as kabayaki—grilled and glazed with a rich, savory-sweet sauce.
Eel is also counted among the Shinjiko Shicchin, the Seven Delicacies of Lake Shinji.
Together with shijimi clams and other local ingredients, these foods have long shaped the culinary culture of Matsue and the San’in region.
I introduce stays where you can experience Matsue’s local cuisine here:
→ 6 Places to Stay with Views of the Lake Shinji Sunset — Quiet Time in Matsue, the City of Water
And then, the bridge rises ahead.
Eshima Ohashi Bridge.
Its steep appearance makes the road seem almost as though it continues into the sky.
The 1,446-meter bridge became widely known after appearing in a Japanese television commercial.
Seen from the right angle, its slope looks almost unreal.
Cross the bridge, and before long you’ll arrive in Sakaiminato, where Mizuki Shigeru Road offers a completely different atmosphere after sunset.
→Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
Exploring This Landscape by Car
San’in is filled with small port towns, lakeside scenery, and quiet places that make you want to stop along the way.
If you enjoy traveling at your own pace, renting a car is one of the best ways to explore the region.
With a car, you can follow the water, take unexpected detours, and spend time wherever the landscape draws you.
Stories Around Lake Nakaumi and Daikonshima
- Yushien Garden｜Walking Through the Seasons on Daikonshima Island
- Mihonoseki, Shimane — A Cape Town Overlooking the Sea of Japan and the Legend of Ebisu
- Miho Shrine and Aoishidatami Street — Walking Through an Old Port Town
- Mizuki Shigeru Road — From Daylight to Night
Following the Myths of Izumo
- Izumo Mythology — Okuninushi, Yagami-hime, and the Birth of Ebisu
- Susanoo and Kushinada-hime — A Journey Through Izumo Mythology
- Izumo Mythology and Beer — Daikoku Ale and Hamachi from the Sea of Japan
Stay at the End of the Road
Continue East Toward the Sea of Tottori
- Kaike Onsen — Seaside Hot Spring Stays Along the Sea of Japan
- Beautiful Like a Dream, and a Little Frightening — Memories of the Sea of Japan and Hakuto Shrine