Itinerary · Japan
Castles and Shrines from Yonago: Matsue and Daisen
From Yonago: Matsue Castle in the morning, Yonago Castle ruins and the Kamogawa in the afternoon, then Daisen-ji and Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya another day.
Published
The theme: two castles and a shrine from Yonago
The Yonago guide has three places that fit a castles-and-shrines theme. Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture, whose keep is a National Treasure, is listed as a day trip; the Yonago Castle ruins keep only their stone walls; and Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya on the slopes of Mt. Daisen is the largest shrine in Japan built in the gongen-zukuri style.
This route assumes you stay around Yonago Station: one day for the two castles and half of another day for the shrine. The airport bus, JR trains and local buses to Daisen all leave from Yonago Station, so it makes an easy base. For the standard 3-day plan with Sakaiminato and Kaike Onsen, see the links in the last section.
- Castle day: Matsue Castle in the morning → JR back to Yonago → Yonago Castle ruins in the afternoon → Kamogawa old town
- Shrine half day: Yonago Station → bus, about 50 min → Daisen-ji → about 700 m approach path → Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya
Morning: Matsue Castle (Shimane, day trip)
Matsue is about 30 min from Yonago Station by JR; check JR West timetables for train times. The keep of Matsue Castle is a National Treasure. Keep hours are 8:30–18:00 from April to September (last entry 17:30) and 8:30–17:00 from October to March (last entry 16:30), open every day.
Because last entry is 16:30 from October to March, it is more relaxed to see Matsue Castle first in the morning and return to Yonago in the afternoon. Check the official information before you go for how to get from Matsue Station to the castle.
- Keep admission: from 1 July 2026, JPY 1,200 for adults, free for elementary and junior high students
- Major repairs to the keep are planned from June 2027 to December 2030, so check official information for that period
Afternoon: Yonago Castle ruins and the Kamogawa old town
Back in Yonago, climb to the Yonago Castle ruins, about 20 min on foot from JR Yonago Station. You can also take the History Course of the Dandan Bus, Yonago's city loop bus (JPY 150 for adults), and get off at the Yonagojo-mae stop. On buses only JPY 1,000 notes can be changed, so carry coins.
Kikkawa Hiroie began building the castle around 1591, and Nakamura Kazutada completed it after 1601. It was dismantled in the early Meiji era, and only its stone walls remain. From the keep site at about 90 m, a 360° view takes in Mt. Daisen to the east, Nakaumi to the west and the city and the Sea of Japan to the north; on clear days you can see the Oki Islands. Comparing Matsue's surviving keep with these bare stone walls on the same day is the point of this route.
Coming down, walk along the Kamogawa, once the castle's outer moat, where white-walled storehouses and old merchant houses remain, and Teramachi street has nine temples in a row.
- Guided town walk with a local guide: JPY 2,000 per person per hour
- Kamogawa and Nakaumi boat course: boat JPY 1,500 + guide JPY 1,000 = JPY 2,500
- For both, book in principle at least two days ahead
Another half day: Daisen-ji and Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya
From Yonago Station it is about 50 min by bus; get off at the Daisenji stop. Daisen-ji is a Tendai temple founded in 718. Its main hall was rebuilt in 1951 after a fire, and the oldest building, the Amida Hall, is a national Important Cultural Property.
From Daisen-ji, an approach path of about 700 m paved with natural stone climbs to Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya, the largest gongen-zukuri shrine in Japan. If you have the energy, you can continue up to Misen (1,709 m). The round trip takes about 3–5 hours, so it turns the half day into a full one, and the highest peak, Kengamine, is off limits. Check official information for the latest trail conditions.
- Daisen-ji admission: JPY 300 for adults, JPY 200 for children (including the Reihokaku treasure hall)
- Reihokaku: 1 April–30 November 9:00–16:00, closed December–March
- Check the official information before you go for bus times and fares
Transport and costs at a glance
On this route you ride JR (Yonago–Matsue) and buses (the Dandan Bus and the local bus to Daisen). The Tottori-han Norihodai Tegata (鳥取藩乗放題手形) costs JPY 1,800 for 3 days of unlimited rides on local buses in Tottori Prefecture, the Yonago Station–airport bus and the Dandan Bus, among others, but JR trains are not included. It is sold at the Yonago Station bus terminal, the Yonago Airport information desk and the Yonago City International Tourist Information Center, among other places.
Admission is JPY 1,200 for Matsue Castle's keep and JPY 300 for Daisen-ji. Check the official information before you go for JR fares and the bus fare to Daisen. If you leave straight from Matsue, the airport bus from Matsue Station takes about 45 min (JPY 1,200). If a flight is suspended or cancelled, the bus may not run.
- Luggage storage at the International Tourist Information Center on the 1st floor of JR Yonago Station (9:00–17:30, closed 31 Dec and 1 Jan)
- Rental bikes at the same center: JPY 1,000 a day for a standard bike, JPY 2,000 for an e-bike, 9:30–17:00, photo ID required
When to go
The guide picks April–May and October–November as the best months for walking. Japan Meteorological Agency normals for Yonago station (1991–2020) give average highs and lows of about 18°C and 8°C in April, 23°C and 13°C in May, 22°C and 13°C in October, and 17°C and 8°C in November.
Some things change with the season: Matsue Castle is open until 18:00 from April to September and until 17:00 from October to March, and the Reihokaku treasure hall at Daisen-ji is closed December–March. The posts below cover the full Yonago itinerary, airport transfers and a comparison with Okayama.
Plan your Yonago trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
FAQ
Can I see Matsue Castle and the Yonago Castle ruins in one day?
Matsue is about 30 min from Yonago Station by JR, and the Yonago Castle ruins are about 20 min on foot from JR Yonago Station. From October to March last entry at Matsue Castle is 16:30, so see it first in the morning.
How much is Matsue Castle's keep?
From 1 July 2026 it is JPY 1,200 for adults and free for elementary and junior high students. Major repairs are planned from June 2027 to December 2030, so check official information for that period.
How do I get to Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya?
Take the bus from Yonago Station (about 50 min) to the Daisenji stop. From Daisen-ji, walk up the approach path of about 700 m paved with natural stone.
Does the Tottori-han Norihodai Tegata cover the trip to Matsue?
The pass (JPY 1,800 for 3 days) covers local buses in Tottori Prefecture and the Dandan Bus, among others, but not JR trains. Check the official information before you go for the JR fare to Matsue.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Mt. Daisen in autumn · Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kaike Onsen beach · Zai零細系統保護協会 / Public domain