We were only on land for a few hours today; our first stop was Matsue Castle, built in 1611 by Horio Yoshiharu as a stronghold for feudal lords, not as a gracious residence.
Today, it is a National Treasure and a popular tourist spot, complete with gardens, trees, and a Shinto shrine.
Of course, they also have the necessities for tourists.
Our second stop was the Adachi Museum of Art, which has a great collection of modern Japanese art and a truly awe-inspiring set of gardens. The building is designed to let you enjoy the gardens along with the art. The art was nice, but the gardens were spectacular, so I’m glad they allow photography of the gardens!
We returned to the ship, cleared passport control, and are sailing to Busan, South Korea for tomorrow’s visit.