Hamada

A small but interesting aquarium with 10,000 fish and mammals across 400 species. The main tank has a tunnel you can walk through as sharks swim above.

It was built in 1620 and destroyed in the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate. The foundations are surrounded by a pleasant park, on a hill overlooking the harbor. A prefectural cultural asset.

Believed to have been built in the late 8th century, although today only the great foundation stones of its tower remain. A prefectural cultural asset.

Thought to date from somewhere between the mid-10th and late 11th centuries, the temple houses 59 wooden Buddha statues (木造天部像群) in its main hall. A prefectural cultural asset.

A rock configuration created by an earthquake in 1872, which rose the seabed 1.5 meters, leaving circular rocks protruding above the seashore. A national natural monument.

An amazing surf spot in Shimane. Locals are friendly. The surf is variable, better in winter, but extremely cold. In summer the water is warm, but the sea may be flat. A good place to be during typhoon season in late summer/autumn.

Nice beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. There are cabins and campsites for rent. Beware of strong currents on rough days, though. You can also watch kite surfers at the weekend.