Matsue, Shimane

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**Matsue City**
**松江市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku
Prefecture	Shimane Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	221.38 km²
Population (as of 2003)
Total	152,597
Location	°′″N, °′″E
Symbols
Matsue City City Hall
Official website: Matsue City

Coordinates: °′″N, °′″E

Matsue (松江市 Matsue-shi) is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 152,597 and the density of 689.30 persons per km². The total area is 221.38 km².

It is the "water city," sitting on beautiful Lake Shinji, the seventh largest lake in Japan. Nearby Izumo Taisha is considered to be the oldest and most important Shinto shrine in Japan.

1 Culture
- 1.1 Universities in Matsue city
2 History
- 2.1 Municipal Timeline
3 Sister cities
4 External links

[edit] Culture

[edit] Universities in Matsue city

Shimane University [1]
Shimane Prefectural Shimane Women's College (junior college) [2]

[edit] History

The city boasts Matsue Castle, the "black castle", one of the few remaining medieval castles in Japan.

Author Lafcadio Hearn taught in Matsue from 1890-1891. His house is now a museum about his life, and a popular tourist attraction in Matsue.

[edit] Municipal Timeline

April 1, 1889: the former city of Matsue was founded.
March 31, 2005: the former city of Matsue and the towns of Kashima, Mihonoseki, Shimane, Shinji, Tamayu and Yatsuka and the village of Yakumo from Yatsuka District merged to form the new city of Matsue.