Matsue
Decide whether to visit or live in Matsue, then explore current conditions, local people, the map, and concise sourced context.
Check visit & living safetyUpdated Sunday, October 25, 2026 · sourced live layer and versioned editorial content
AI-assisted, evidence-constrained research · how this page is made
Would you visit or live in Matsue?
Choose your plan and circumstances. The result changes immediately using today's advisory, weather, air-quality, and sourced local signals.
Generally suitable with routine precautions
Official travel advisory notes additions of information regarding flooding and heavy rain in Japan.
high source confidence · current planning signal, not a personal-safety guaranteeSee the evidence and calculation
- No high-severity wording detected in the supplied advisory
- Latest air-quality reading is not elevated
- Flooding and heavy rain considerations as noted in national travel guidance.
The score combines dated official-advisory wording, weather, air quality, sourced local context, and your selections. It does not predict crime or individual outcomes. Check local authorities and professional advice before a safety-critical decision.
Climate normals · 2016–2025
When to go: Matsue month by month
Judged purely on 2016–2025 weather records, the friendliest months in Matsue are typically May, June and October, with average daytime highs around 21–25°C. August is usually the warmest month (average high 30°C), February the coldest (average low 3°C), and July the wettest (about 240 mm). These are long-run averages, not a forecast.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.7 | 2.9 | 117 | 6.0 |
| February | 8.2 | 2.5 | 111 | 7.0 |
| March | 12.5 | 5.4 | 127 | 7.9 |
| April | 17.2 | 9.5 | 133 | 8.5 |
| May | 21.8 | 14.1 | 136 | 9.3 |
| June | 25.1 | 18.8 | 190 | 9.2 |
| July | 29.1 | 23.6 | 240 | 9.6 |
| August | 30.4 | 24.7 | 214 | 10.2 |
| September | 26.2 | 21.3 | 225 | 7.9 |
| October | 20.6 | 15.1 | 132 | 7.4 |
| November | 15.7 | 9.6 | 96 | 7.3 |
| December | 10.1 | 5.1 | 123 | 5.9 |
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People and places shaping Matsue
AI-assisted local research, regenerated with the dated live layer. Every requested module remains visible; facts appear only after a source check, and unavailable categories explain what is still being researched.
Research updated Saturday, October 24, 2026Past and future events in Matsue
Upcoming
No future event in Matsue currently has a sufficiently reliable date and source. This is checked again on every refresh.
Previously
- Documented history · 1607
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 town over a five-year period from 1607 to 1611.
- Documented history · 1634
In 1634, he received the province of Izumo, succeeding the childless Horio Tadaharu.
- Documented history · 1637
In 1637, Tadataka also died childless and the domain passed to the Matsudaira clan.
- Documented history · 1638
He was daimyō of Ono in Echizen and later Matsumoto in Shinano Province before becoming the ruler of Izumo 1638.
- Establishment of Matsue Castle and Castle Town
Originally established by Horio Yoshiharu over a five-year period from 1607 to 1611.
Sources checked (25)
- Matsue
- Online Meeting with Mr UESADA Akihito, Mayor of Matsue City
- Matsue - ホーム／松江市ホームページ
- Visit by the Mayor of Matsue City, Mr UESADA Akihito to ...
- Matsue, Shimane Prefecture Japan — Quick Facts and Map
- 6 Famous People from Matsue, Japan | Pantheon
- Famous People from Matsue, Japan | 6 Notable People | Pantheon
- List of Famous people born in Matsue, Japan - FMSPPL.com
- Who Was Born in Matsue, Japan? Famous Names and Their Stories
- Celebrities Born in Matsue - Celebrity Birthdays
- List of People from Matsue, Shimane - FamousFix List
- VISIT MATSUE - Know More|History
- VISIT MATSUE - Know More|History|The end of feudalism and the ...
- Matsue - A Historical City by the Water - Kanpai Japan
- Shimane Prefecture
- Matsue History Museum
- Matsue: A City in the “Shade,” Full of Stories | Metropolis Japan
- Get to Know Japan Series: Matsue — Japan Society
- A Castle Town on the Water: Exploring Matsue’s Samurai Past
- A Journey Through Traditional Japan and Timeless Beauty: 9 Popular Tourist Spots in Matsue | GOOD LUCK TRIP
- 7 Must-Visit Spots in and around Matsue
- Top 15 Things to Do in Matsue, Japan - Matsue Attractions
- 10 Best Things to Do in Matsue, Japan (2026) | Japan Activity
- Things to Do in Matsue: 5 Top Attractions (2026 Guide)
- Wikidata structured records for Matsue
Interactive geography
See Matsue in context
Keep the deeper context
Stable history, culture, districts, and practical reference remain in the main reading flow while the live layers above continue changing.
01 · OverviewMatsue, in brief
overview
Matsue is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture, located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu, Japan. Positioned between Lake Shinji and Nakaumi along the banks of the Ohashi River, the municipality spans a total area of 572.99 square kilometres and extends to the Sea of Japan coast.
waterside fortress foundations
Ancient Izumo Province origins.
Yayoi, Kofun, and Nara period archaeological sites.
Amago clan stronghold during the Sengoku period.
Castle town planning by Horio Yoshiharu from 1607 to 1611.
Construction of the Tokugawa-era Matsue Castle, standing today as one of the last surviving feudal castles in Japan.
dynastic shifts and governance
Inheritance struggles under Horio Tadauji and his son Tadaharu passing childless.
Rule by Kyōgoku Tadataka, who managed river engineering projects for the Hiikawa river before dying childless in 1637.
Arrival of Matsudaira Naomasa, grandson of the first Tokugawa Shōgun, establishing a ten-generation rule of daimyō.
Financial administrative reforms under the seventh daimyō, Matsudaira Harusato, widely known as Fumai, who championed tea ceremonies, mulberry investments, shijimi clams, and traditional sweets like wakakusa.
modern administrative transition
Founding of the modern city on April 1, 1889.
Conducting regular censuses since 1920, registering a population of 203,616 residents by 2020.
Territorial expansion on March 31, 2005, through the absorption of surrounding towns from Yatsuka District including Kashima, Mihonoseki, Shimane, Shinji, Tamayu, Yatsuka, and the village of Yakumo.
Frequently Asked Questions about Matsue
Essential geographic, demographic, currency, and travel context verified from primary records.
01 · Q&AWhere is Matsue located and what are its coordinates?
Matsue is situated in Japan at geographic coordinates 35.4833, 133.0500, with an elevation monitored in regional geographic surveys.
02 · Q&AWhat is the population and time zone of Matsue?
Matsue has a recorded population of approximately 203,616 and observes the Asia/Tokyo time zone.
03 · Q&AWhat languages and currency are used in Matsue?
Official and commonly spoken languages in Matsue include Japanese, with JPY used for local transactions.
04 · Q&AHow can I check live conditions and daily updates for Matsue?
Today's Atlas provides continuous tracking for Matsue, featuring real-time weather conditions, daylight cycles, local geographic signals, and verified daily briefs.