Kamiarisai at Izumo Taisha
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Izumo & Matsue
Every year on the 10th to 17th days of the 10th lunar month (varies by year on the modern calendar, usually around November)
2026: Nov 18 (Wed) Kamimukaesai – Nov 25 (Wed) Karasadesai
A flower and bird themed park spread over hills on the shore of Lake Shinji. Its 320,000㎡ grounds include display greenhouses totaling 12,000㎡, and the main facilities are linked by covered walkways, so you can get around without an umbrella even on rainy days. The Ichibata Electric Railway station connects directly to the park.
Highlights include the large greenhouses with begonias and fuchsias in bloom all year round, the owl flight show, the penguin walk, and the bird show featuring flying hawks and falcons. There's also the Kunibiki Observatory overlooking Lake Shinji and Mt. Daisen, and the location makes it easy to combine with Izumo Taisha and sightseeing in Matsue.
Last entry 16:00. Moving walkway until 16:15
Outdoors. May move to a different location in bad weather
Weekends and holidays only
Hours vary by day and season. Check the official website before you go.
Tax included. Groups of 15+: ¥1,580
Tax included. Groups of 15+: ¥790
Tax included
Prices from April 1, 2026. Special prices for Matsue residents and residents of the Nakaumi area
Prices include tax and may change. Check the official website before buying.
The begonias and fuchsias in the greenhouses can be enjoyed all year round.
Closed on the 2nd and 4th Fridays from December to March.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Izumo & Matsue
Every year on the 10th to 17th days of the 10th lunar month (varies by year on the modern calendar, usually around November)
2026: Nov 18 (Wed) Kamimukaesai – Nov 25 (Wed) Karasadesai
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Hagi, Tsunoshima & Akiyoshidai
A safari-style animal park in the Akiyoshidai area where you can see animals without leaving your car. Besides the Safari Zone that you drive through in your own car, there's a feeding bus that tours by dedicated bus, a Walking Zone where you can interact with animals on foot, and an amusement park with free admission.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
A Shimonoseki City aquarium facing the Kanmon Straits. Under the concept Life in the Sea, the Sea and Life, it's known for a tank recreating the Kanmon Straits currents and its world-leading display of about 100 species of pufferfish. It reopened after renovation in August 2025, adding Hireashi Beach, a new California sea lion exhibit.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Kochi & Shimanto
An aquarium inside Katsurahama Park, right in front of Katsurahama, one of Kochi's most famous scenic spots. It keeps about 4,000 creatures of around 220 species, and most of the facility is an open-air outdoor area with views of Katsurahama Beach and Tosa Bay. You can also bring your pet inside.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Hiroshima & Miyajima
An aquarium themed on the Seto Inland Sea, on Miyajima, home of the World Heritage-listed Itsukushima Shrine. It reopened after renovation in 2011 and displays more than 15,000 creatures of 380 species, centered on Seto Inland Sea life. It will be closed from December 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 for equipment upgrades and repair work, so visit by November 30.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Takamatsu, Naoshima & Shodoshima
A feudal lord's garden in central Takamatsu, designated a national Special Place of Scenic Beauty. With 6 ponds and 13 artificial hills, and Mt. Shiun and its pine forest behind it as borrowed scenery, it offers views that change with every step. It opens early in the morning, making it good for a morning stroll.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Utazu, Kagawa
An aquarium that opened in Utazu, Kagawa Prefecture, in 2020. Themed on Shikoku Waterscapes, it recreates the waters surrounding Shikoku, including the Seto Inland Sea, the Pacific Ocean with the Kuroshio Current, and clear rivers such as the Shimanto and Niyodo, in about 70 waterscape exhibits. It's about a 12-minute walk from JR Utazu Station.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Tobe, Ehime
An Ehime Prefecture-run zoo in Tobe, about 20 minutes by car from central Matsuyama. Under the concept A Zoo Full of Everyone's Smiles, it keeps many animals, including polar bears, African elephants, Malayan tapirs, sea lions, and flamingos. Admission is an affordable ¥600 for adults.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Tottori
The world's first museum dedicated to sand sculptures, right next to the Tottori Sand Dunes. The theme changes every year, and works by sand sculptors from Japan and abroad are displayed indoors. From April 24, 2026 to January 3, 2027, the 17th exhibition, Travel Around the World in Sand: Spain, is on.
Chugoku & Shikoku ・ Naruto, Tokushima
A 450m-long walkway built inside the girders of the Onaruto Bridge. From 45m above the sea, you can look straight down on the whirlpools of the Naruto Strait. It's a Tokushima Prefecture facility inside Naruto Park and can be visited together with the neighboring Onaruto Bridge Memorial Hall Eddy.
Hours, prices and access are based on official and other primary sources. They may change, so check the official website before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-02