Hours open of the boat is from 9:00AM until 6:00PM in summer, 5:00PM in spring and autumn, 4:00PM in winter. The bellow picture shows the "Fureai-Hiroba" Boarding Point from the boat.

A Horikawa Pleasure Boat is rather small with eight meters long and has a roof.

During the Edo Age, many trees were planted to obtain food for emergency when a war or a battel breaks out. The scenery from the boat looks as if you are in a dense forest.

After passing through Matsue Castle, you will see buildings of Shimane Prefectural Government. These buildings are located on the site of the third bailey of Matsue Castle. You will see stone walls of Matsue Castle.

A pleasure boat goes into an outer moat to the south, in the site of the third bailey. A pleasure boat goes under a couple of bridges across the moat. The Ubeya Bridge does not have enough height clearance, so that the roof of a boat is folded. You will lie down not to hit your head against the bridge.

At the south end of the moat, the ship goes into the moat, named "Kyobashi" Moat, located at the southernmost and goes to the east. This area is the Matsue downtown and the width of the moat is wide.

You will see the modern western building on your left. The building is "Karakoro Art Studio", the former Matsue Branch of Bank of Japan. The building was built in 1938.

Then, you will arrive at the "Karakoro-Hiroba" Boarding Point.

From the "Karakoro-Hiroba" Boarding Point, a pleasure boat goes further to the east, then it goes into the "Yonago" Moat to the north. The "Yonago" Moat is located in the residential area. You will see also trees from a pleasure boat. A grey heron was standing in the moat.

At the north end of the "Yonago" Moat, a pleasure boat goes into another outer moat located to the east-west direction and goes to the west.

You will see Matsue Castle on your left. The outer moat merges into the inner moat. A pleasure boat goes into the inner moat and goes under the Kita-Somon Bridge.

The atmosphere in this area is calm and nice. You will also see a pleasure boat from the second bailey of Matsue Castle.

A pleasure boat goes to the south along Matsue Castle and will arrive at the "Otemae-Hiroba" Boarding Point.

After leaving the "Otemae-Hiroba" Boarding Point, a pleasure boat returns to the Kita-Somon Bridge and goes into the "Kita" Moat, the north moat.

The ruins of Matsue Castle are located on your left. There are many trees in the ruins of Matsue Castle. On your right, traditional houses are located, This area is "Shiomi-Nawate" Historical District. A couple of "Samurai Residences" remain in this area.

After passing through "Shiomi-Nawate" Historical District, you will soon arrive at the "Fureai-Hiroba" Boarding Point.

It will take fifty minutes to go around the entire route. The fare is 1,500 Yen. You can ride a boat as many times as you want in a day. The ticket works as a one-day ticket. A boat goes at every twenty minutes. It is a good experience to take Horikawa Pleasure Boat. Please try it.

How to get there
From Tokyo or Osaka, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. Get off a Nozomi at Okayama. Take a Limited Express "Yakumo" bound for Izumoshi and get off at Matsue. Take a bus on the route #12-1 bound for Kawazu. A bus stops at "Kokuho-MatsueJyo Kencho-Mae".

Official English Website:
https://www.matsue-horikawameguri.jp/language/en/index.html

Other Historical Sites near by:
Matsue Castle
Castle Town, Matsue
Lake Shinji
Izumo-Taisha Shrine
Historical Sites in Iwami Silver Mine