Lakes · Shimane
Lake Shinji
宍道湖しんじこShinji-koA brackish lake of clams, waterfowl and sunsets
Lake Shinji (Shinji-ko) is a shallow brackish lake in eastern Shimane Prefecture, stretching from Matsue in the east towards Izumo in the west. It is famous for its shijimi clams and its sunsets, and together with neighbouring Nakaumi it is a Ramsar wetland.
Overview
Lake Shinji is the seventh-largest lake in Japan, some 17 kilometres long from east to west, lying between the Shimane Peninsula and the Chūgoku Mountains. At its eastern end the city of Matsue straddles the Ōhashi River, which links the lake to the lagoon of Nakaumi and on to the Sea of Japan. The Hii River flows in from the west.
Because seawater reaches it through Nakaumi, the lake is brackish, with a salinity of roughly a tenth of seawater. This mix supports a productive fishery, above all for the Yamato shijimi clam, and the lake's 'seven delicacies' (Shinji-ko shichichin) define Matsue's cuisine.
The writer Lafcadio Hearn, who lived in Matsue in 1890–91, described the lake's changing light, and its sunset over the small island of Yomegashima is one of the classic views of western Japan.
Landscape and formation
The lake occupies a lowland between the Shimane Peninsula and the mainland that was once an arm of the sea. Sediment from the Hii River gradually closed off the western connection, and in the 17th century floods turned the Hii's course eastwards into the lake. The lake is uniformly shallow, averaging about 4.5 metres, with a sandy and muddy bed.
Highlights
Yomegashima
嫁ヶ島YomegashimaSmall wooded island off Matsue with a shrine, the focal point of the famous sunset view.
- 松江城Matsue-jō
Castle of 1611 near the lake, with an original keep designated a National Treasure.
Shimane Art Museum
島根県立美術館Shimane Kenritsu BijutsukanMuseum on the eastern shore designed for watching the sunset over the lake.
Ōhashi River
大橋川Ōhashi-gawaShort river through central Matsue connecting the lake with Nakaumi.
Ecology
The brackish water and shallow bed support large populations of shijimi clams and fish that move between fresh and salt water. In winter the lake and Nakaumi host tens of thousands of waterfowl; for tundra swans and greater white-fronted geese this is the southern limit of their main wintering range in Japan.
Flora
Reed beds
Reeds along the western shore and river mouths provide shelter for birds and young fish.
Fauna
Yamato shijimi
ヤマトシジミYamato shijimiSmall brackish-water clam, the lake's most important catch and a staple of miso soup.
Tundra swan
コハクチョウkohakuchōWinters on the lake and surrounding rice fields from late autumn.
Greater white-fronted goose
マガンmaganLarge flocks winter around the western shore.
Culture
The seven delicacies of Lake Shinji – sea bass, shrimp, eel, pond smelt, icefish, carp and shijimi – are the basis of Matsue's traditional cooking, most famously sea bass baked in paper (suzuki no hōshoyaki). Matsue's culture of tea, sweets and lakeside views took shape under the tea-master daimyō Matsudaira Fumai in the late 18th century.
Shinji-ko shichichin
宍道湖七珍Shinji-ko shichichinThe lake's seven delicacies, often remembered by the mnemonic 'su-mo-u-a-shi-ko-shi'.
The writer (Koizumi Yakumo) lived in Matsue and wrote about the lake; his former residence and museum stand near the castle.
History
733
The Izumo Fudoki describes the region, including the lake then called Iri-umi.
1611
Matsue Castle is completed near the lake shore.
1635–1639
Floods divert the Hii River eastward into the lake.
1890
Lafcadio Hearn arrives in Matsue.
2005
Lake Shinji and Nakaumi are listed as Ramsar wetlands.
Through the seasons
Spring
Cherry blossom around Matsue Castle and along the moats.
Summer
Shijimi fishing boats on the lake in the morning; long evenings for sunset viewing.
Autumn
Clear evenings and the arrival of swans and geese.
Winter
Waterfowl in large numbers; shijimi are considered especially good in winter and mid-summer.
Routes and trails
Lakeside sunset walk
Promenade along the eastern shore from Shimane Art Museum to the Sodeshi area, the best place for the sunset.
Ichibata Railway along the north shore
Local line from Matsue Shinjiko-onsen to Izumo Taisha-mae, following the lake for much of the way.
Practical notes
- Matsue is reached by JR limited express from Okayama via the Hakubi Line or by air via Izumo and Yonago airports.
- Sunset times vary widely through the year; the lakeside viewpoints are best in clear weather.
- Combining Matsue and Izumo Taisha along the lake makes a natural day or two-day route.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Shinji fresh water or salt water?
Brackish – a mixture of river water and seawater that reaches it via Nakaumi, with about a tenth of the salinity of the sea.
What are shijimi?
Small freshwater-to-brackish clams, Lake Shinji's most famous product, used mainly in miso soup.
Where is the best sunset view on Lake Shinji?
From the eastern shore in Matsue, near Shimane Art Museum, looking west past Yomegashima island.
How far is Lake Shinji from Izumo Taisha?
The shrine lies about 10 km west of the lake's western end; the Ichibata Railway runs along the north shore from Matsue towards it.
Related
Sources
- 1.統計FAQ 日本の湖沼の面積 (opens in a new tab) — 総務省統計局
- 2.Ramsar Sites Information Service (opens in a new tab) — Ramsar Convention Secretariat
- 3.島根県 (opens in a new tab) — 島根県