Lake Shinji is situated in the
northeast of Shimane, surrounded by the
Shimane-hanto Peninsula on the north, the
Izumo Plain on the west and the Matsue
Plain on the east. Its circumference is 47
kilometers, and it is the 7th largest lake
in Japan.
The scenic beauty of the lake with Yome-
ga-shima Islet on the east coast is
especially magnificent when viewed from
the Shinji-ko-ohashi Bridge in Matsue, and
the novelist Lafcadio Hearn (after
naturalization to Japan, Koizumi Yakumo)
highly praised the sunsets. The views from
Shirakata Park and The Shimane Art Museum
are worth seeing. You can also enjoy the
scenic beauty from the lake on a pleasure
boat that also runs a sunset cruise.
As Lake Shinji-ko is connected to the
Nakaumi Lagoon, it is a brackish lake in
which fresh water blends with seawater.
Thanks to this water quality, a rich
variety of fishes and shellfishes inhabit
the lake. Fishery is thriving with
whitebaits, sea basses and eels being
highly treasured as Shinji-ko Shitchin, or
the seven delicacies of Lake Shinji-ko.
The most famous of them all is shijimi
shellfish (the corbiculas shellfish)
caught with joren, a rake with a basket
that is a tool unique to Lake Shinji-ko.
The Matsue-onsen Hot Spring, Tamatsukuri-
onsen Hot Spring, and other hot spring
resorts are located along the coast.
