Sightseeing in Matsue (click here for the accompanying persons program)
Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture is known as the home of Ancient Japan. Two Japanese deities, Izanagi and Izanami, married and created the various islands of Japan and gave birth to many other deities including Amaterasu-omikami (god of the rising sun) who governs the celestial realm and Susanoo (god of the ocean) who governs the terrestrial world. The landing of Susanoo at Matsue (Izumo) marked the beginning of Ancient Japan.
Izumo Taisha, which is included in the planned excursion, is home to Susanoo's descendent, who established Ancient Japan. The shrine is considered to be among one of the more important shrines in Japan. Every October, all of the eight million deities in Japan leave their shrines to gather at Izumo Taisha.
Matsue Castle is one of the remaining few castles in Japan that is still in its original wooden form and not a concrete reconstruction. Castle construction started in 1607 and was completed 4 years later in 1611 under the local daimyo (lord) Horio Yoshiharu. However, the castle and the surrounding fiefdom was brought under the control of the Matsudaira clan.
The planned excursion will bring participants to the world renowned Japanese Garden at Adachi Museum.
Experience the serenity and zen of the beautiful landscape as you make your way through the museum.
Conincidently, the annual two-day Matsue Fireworks display will be held the weekend right after the conference. This is a huge event in Matsue with a total of 9000 skyrockets fired. Participants who are continuing their stay after the conference are encouraged to enjoy the annual Matsue Fireworks Festival (Suigo-sai) display by Lake Shinji.
Suigo-sai
*expected to be held on the weekend after SPINTECH6*
This is the summer festival which best represents the "water city", Matsue. It began in 1929 as the festival of Chikubu-jima Shrine on Yomegashima Island in the middle of Lake Shinji. Of particular note is the fireworks display, which lights up the night sky and which are reflected on the surface of the lake.
Accompanying persons program
Accompanying persons program
(Conference participants are also welcome to attend)
Monday, August 1 starting around 5pm
Sunset boat ride on Lake Shinji
Tuesday, August 2 starting around 9am
Guided tour of Matsue
(see below for more detail)
Tuesday, August 2 starting around 2pm
Guided tour of Shimane art museum
Wednesday, August 3 starting around 9am
Guided tour of Matsue
(see below for more detail)
Wednesday, August 3 starting around 1pm
Hands-on traditional Japanese paper milling experience
http://abe-eishirou.jp/
Strongly recommended!
1,000 yen participation fee is needed to participate in each tour.Each tour will be accompanied by an English speaking tour guide. The tours are open to everyone, i. e., to conference participants, accompanying persons and their family members.Sign up for each tour at the tour desk situation by the registration desk of the conference.The registration to each tour remains open till the beginning of each program.Advanced reservation is not necessary but registration at the earliest convenience will help us greatly to arrange transportations in advance especially the Lake Shinji Sunset Boat Ride (please sign up in the morning if you can).All the tours will start from the conference site.
The tours of Matsue on Tuesday and Wednesday are the same. It will include visit to Kamosu Shrine and Yaegaki Shrine which are not easily accessible on foot. http://www.city.matsue.shimane.jp/kankou/jp/e/e.htm The tour will end at Buke Yashiki and Lafcadio Hearn's Old Residence where there is a very nice Soba restaurant (traditional Japanese noodle). Those who are interested can have soba at your own expense. The tour DOES NOT INCLUDE visit to the Matsue Castle nor famous moat tour by boats (http://www.matsue-horikawameguri.jp/en/index.html )for they can be done by yourself easily. A ticket to enter Matsue Castle will be given out for free to each conference participant and accompanying person at the time of registration.