Horikawa Pleasure Boat Cruises

A lovely way to see the sights of Matsue

If you're looking for a pleasant way to see the sights of Matsue, the Horikawa Pleasure Boat Cruises are a great way to do that. There are several boarding points through the city, but the easiest one in my opinion is right by Matsue Castle. The boat cruises offer a discount for foreign residents or foreign passport holders, making the almost hour long cruise only 820 yen - a great deal! The cruise itself is guided, so the boat operator explains some of the sights you'll see. If you don't speak Japanese, don't worry - there's audio recording that narrates the spots so you still know what's going on and the history behind what you're seeing. One of the most unique things about the boat cruise is that you pass under a number of very low bridges - and the boats have roofs that lower to accommodate this! You have to be prepared to duck down when you're told to, but it makes the experience all the more fun and memorable. You get some fantastic views of Matsue Castle from the boat which was my favorite part of the trip.