Hamada
Hamada (浜田市) is a city in Shimane on the JR San'in Main Line.
Get in
By plane
The nearest airport is Iwami Airport in Masuda, though this is only served by flights from Tokyo Haneda and seasonal services from Osaka Itami.
There are two share taxis (乗り合いタクシー) a day to and from Hamada station which take just over an hour and cost ¥2000 per person. These must be booked before 9pm the day before. Alternatively, take the bus to Masuda Station (15 minutes, ¥330) and change there to the JR San'in Line.
The nearest international airports are Hiroshima and Yonago.
By train
Hamada lies on the JR San'in Line, and is served by all trains which pass through.
There are seven Limited Express trains per day in each direction: four Super Matsukaze and three Super Oki. Heading east, these take 1hr 15mins and ¥3190 to Izumoshi, 1hr 40mins and ¥4620 to Matsue and about 2 hours and ¥5270 to Yonago. Five of these trains continue as far as Tottori, taking 3hrs 15mins and ¥7330 (though you can also change at Yonago). Going the other way, they take 35 minutes and ¥2030 to reach Masuda; Super Oki trains continue along the Yamaguchi Line to Tsuwano, Yamaguchi, and Shin-Yamaguchi, reaching the last of these in 2hrs 10mins and ¥4940.
There are five Rapid Aqua Liner trains to Yonago a day, taking about 3 hours and costing ¥2590 (1hr 40mins and ¥1490 from Izumoshi). Local trains take 2hrs 20mins from Izumoshi, and may be overtaken by a Limited Express en route. Local and Rapid trains from Masuda take about 50 minutes and cost ¥760.
Going by train all the way from Osaka takes no less than 5 hours (if going via Shin-Yamaguchi) and costs ¥15,840.
Using the Shinkansen to Shin-Yamaguchi, Hakata is 3hrs 15mins and ¥9460 away (3hrs 40mins and ¥9250 if avoiding Nozomi trains). Allow at least 4hrs 30mins if you want to take the local trains on the Yamaguchi Line instead.
As a cheaper alternative to the Japan Rail Pass, JR West sells two regional rail passes covering Hamada, which are available to Temporary Visitors with foreign passports:
- The San'in-Okayama Pass covers a large stretch of the San'in Main Line (from Hamasaka to Hagi), and a few rural lines in the mountains, including services to Okayama via Yonago or Tottori. It can be used on local and rapid trains and the non-reserved seats of Limited Express trains. It lasts 4 days and costs ¥4500 (¥5000 if bought in Japan).
- The San'yō-San'in Pass covers a vast area, stretching from Kansai's Urban Network to Takamatsu, Miyajima (via the JR ferry), and Hakata, and taking in the entire San'yō Shinkansen. It is valid on local and rapid trains and both reserved and non-reserved seats of Limited Express and Shinkansen trains (including Nozomi and Mizuho trains). It lasts 7 days and costs ¥19,000 (¥20,000 if bought in Japan).
By bus
Iwami Kōtsū, Hiroden Bus and Chūgoku JR Bus operate the Isaribi-gō 16 times a day from Hiroshima, taking 2 hours 30mins (or, in the case of the non-stop buses, just over 2 hours) and costing ¥3030 (¥5340 return). This is an extremely useful shortcut to the San'yō Shinkansen at Hiroshima, so much so that long-distance travellers from points east should consider using it, even if they have a Rail Pass.
There are also two separate services from Osaka:
- Chūgoku JR Bus runs two day buses from Osaka Station JR Bus Terminal, taking just under 6 hours and costing between ¥5500 and ¥6500 depending on the season.
- Iwami Kōtsū and Hanshin Bus run an overnight bus from Umeda (Hankyū Sanbangai and Herbis Osaka) and Kōbe Sannomiya, taking 7 hours and costing ¥8200 (¥13,900 return).
Get around
See
- Aquas Aquarium (島根県立しまね海洋館アクアス), 1117-2 Kushiro-chō (15 minutes and ¥350 from Hamada Station to Aquas-mae by bus, on the Gōtsu Line, or 10 minutes walk from Hashi Station on the JR San'in Line (15 minutes and ¥200 by Local or Rapid train from Hamada)), ☎ +81 855-28-3900. 9am-5pm (until 6pm during August), closed Tuesdays. A small but interesting aquarium with 10,000 fish and mammals across 400 species. The main tank has a tunnel you can walk through as sharks swim above. ¥1540 adults, ¥510 children.
- The park next to the aquarium has a great adventure playground for kids. Kagura shows are held in the park on weekends (winter excepted). Kagura is traditional outdoor theater performed by actors with fixed-expression masks and spectacular costumes. They're accompanied by musicians on traditional instruments, notably drums and bamboo flute. Shows lasts for about an hour and tell stories of heroes vanquishing dragons. Entrance to the park and the kagura show is free.
- Hamada Castle (浜田城) (25 minutes walk west from Hamada Station). It was built in 1620 and destroyed in the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate. The foundations are surrounded by a pleasant park, on a hill overlooking the harbor. A prefectural cultural asset.
- Iwami Kokubunji Temple (石見国分寺). Believed to have been built in the late 8th century, although today only the great foundation stones of its tower remain. A prefectural cultural asset.
- Wooden Tenbuzougun - Thought to date from somewhere between the mid 10th and late 11th centuries, these 59 Buddha statues are located in the main hall of the ancient Tadaji temple. A prefectural cultural asset.
- Wooden Amida Nyorai-Ritsuzo - Made around 1255, this is an Annami style statue carved from a single block of wood. It is the principal image of Buddha in the Shinkakuin temple of the Jodo sect. An important national cultural asset.
- Ancient Sufu Tomb - A keyhole shape tomb, 66 metres in length, estimated to date from about the 5th century. A national cultural asset.
- Iwami Tatami ga Ura - A rock configuration created by an earthquake in 1872, which rose the seabed 1.5 meters, leaving circular rocks protruding above the seashore. A national natural monument.
Do
- Kokufu beach (10 minutes and ¥260 by bus from Hamada station to Senjōen-guchi, then 10 minutes walk, or 5 minutes and ¥190 by local train to Shimokō station, then 17 minutes walk): this is possibly the best surf spot in Shimane. Locals are friendly. The surf is variable, better in winter, but extremely cold. In summer the water is warm, but the sea may be flat. A good place to be during typhoon season in late summer/autumn.
- Iwami Seaside Park (+81 855-28-2231) is close to Aquas and has nice beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. There are cabins and campsites for rent. Beware of strong currents on rough days, though. You can also watch kite surfers at the weekend.
- Festivals. February - Izumo Taisha Iwami-bunshi setsubun Festival; March - Tadaji Hatsuuma Festival; April - Hamakko Spring Festival and the Daimyo Parade; July - Kokubu Kinsai Festival; August - Hamakko Summer Festival, Fireworks, and Nagahama Hassakuhana Festival; October - Nagahama Tenjinreitai Festival; November - Hamada BB Onabe Festival and Iwami Kagura Festival.
Buy
- Kare - dried flounder
- Fugu mirin-boshi - blowfish seasoned with sweet sake
- Kamaboko - boiled fish paste
- Ika-maki - squid rolls
- Rikyu manju - sweet bean cakes
- Iwami kagura mask - nagahama doll
Eat
- Uni Don - sea urchin on a bed of rice
- Ankou Nabe - angler pot stew
Drink
Sleep
- Iwami seaside park has bungalows for rent, or you can pitch your tent there. Its a beautiful and peaceful spot.
Go next
| Routes through Hamada |
| Shimonoseki ← Masuda ← | W  |
→ Gotsu → Matsue |