How to travel between Matsue and Tokyo
By JR daytime trains:
Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Okayama (200 minutes by nozomi, 240 minutes by hikari, multiple trains per hour) and transfer to a JR Yakumo limited express train to Matsue (2.5 hours, one train per hour) or Izumo (3 hours, one train per hour). The one way fare is slightly under 20,000 Yen.
The Japan Rail Pass fully covers the journey if hikari trains are used between Tokyo and Okayama, but the pass is not valid on nozomi trains.
By JR night trains:
The "Sunrise Izumo" night train operates daily between Tokyo, Matsue and Izumo. One way fares including berth fee, start around 21,000 yen.
Japan Rail Pass holders have to pay around 9500 yen additionally for using a berth, except when using so called "nobi nobi" compartments, which can be used for free with the pass. Nobi nobi compartments are small spaces of carpeted floor to lie down. They are popular and often book out in advance.
By airplane:
JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Izumo Airport (flight time 90 minutes). The regular one way fare is about 29,000 Yen, but by using a discount offer, you can usually fly for around 15,000 to 25,000 Yen. Izumo Airport is a 25 minute bus ride from Matsue Station (1000 Yen) and Izumoshi Station (700 Yen).
ANA operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Yonago Airport (flight time 80 minutes). The fares are virtually the same as for JAL flights between Tokyo and Izumo (see above). Yonago Airport is a 45 minute bus ride from Matsue Station (960 Yen).
Note that by using a Japan Air Pass, you pay only around 13,000 Yen per domestic flight.
By highway bus:
Matsue and Izumo are connected with Tokyo by a night bus, operated daily by Ichibata Bus and JR Chugoku Bus. The one way ride takes 12 hours and costs 11,550 Yen to Matsue and 12,070 Yen to Izumo.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
Matsue is served by two railway companies: Japan Railways (Matsue Station, two kilometers south of Matsue Castle) and Ichibata Railways (Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station, one kilometer west of Matsue Castle).
Transportation within the city is provided by Matsue City Bus and Ichibata Bus. Convenient for tourists is the "Lake Line" loop bus, which connects the two railway stations with all of the city's major tourist sights. Buses operate every 20-30 minutes. A single ride costs 200 yen, while a one-day pass is available for 500 yen.
Good walkers can explore the city's main sights entirely on foot. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from JR Matsue Station to the castle, or about 15 minutes from Ichibata's Shinjiko Onsen Station.
Visit the Izumo Taisha page for details on how to get from Matsue to Izumo Taisha and the Adachi Museum of Art page on how to get from Matsue to the Adachi Museum of Art.
