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About Shimane

Shimane is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chugoku region of Honshu. Bordering Yamaguchi Prefecture to the southwest, Hiroshima Prefecture to the south, and Tottori Prefecture to the east. It governs the Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan.

Izumo Taisha Shrine is famous in Shimane is one of the oldest Shinto shrines dedicated to Okuninushi-no-mikoto, which is popularly known as the deity of nation building and good marriage. From this reason, many young Japanese visit this Shrine all year round.
6% of the total area are designated as Natural Parks, Quasi-National Parks and Prefectural Natural Parks.

Local Areas

Shimane Area Map

Areas in Shimane

Shimane Ota

Enjoy the change of ocean season

City of Ota of Shimane prefecture, The Iwami Ginzan silver mine was designated as  a World Heritage Site based on its influence on exchanges between East and West, as historic remains of silver production, and as a cultural landscape in harmony with nature. The diving area is situated next to this  World Heritage Site.

What you can see

All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of Macro marine life

Winter to Spring seasons:
-Cyclopteridae
-Variety of nudibranch

Summer season:
-Longtooth grouper (Epinephelus bruneus)

Autumn season:
-Large school of tropical fish arriving from the South

Oki Okinoshima Island

Located among the Oki Islands  40-80km off the coast of Shimane prefecture, Okinoshima is a popular from the diversity of natural life in this region. As a geopark, many visit to enjoy the Eco tours and marine activities here. Underwater, you can enjoy wreck diving, cave diving and fish watching. There is a large jaw fish colony and also a cave with resting Japanese Banded houndsharks(Triakis scyllium).