Matsue

Matsue (松江市, Matsue-shi) is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture located in Chūgoku region of the main island of Honshu. As of August, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 207,000, following its most recent merging with the town of Higashiizumo (from Yatsuka District).

Matsue sits between Lake Shinji and Nakaumi, along the banks of the Ohashi river connecting the two. The overall population of the Lake Shinji-Nakaumi area is approx 600,000, marking Matsue as the second major city on the sea of Japan coast after Niigata. Due to the prominence of the lakes, the river and canals in the city-scape and scenery it is sometimes called the "water city" (水の都). Nearby Izumo Taisha is recognized as one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan and is ranked second in importance only to Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture.

History

The present-day castle town of Matsue was originally established by Horio Yoshiharu, lord of the Matsue clan, when he built Matsue castle and planned the surrounding Castle town over a five-year period from 1607 to 1611. Matsue continued to be the seat of power in the Sanin Region for many years.