Izakaya in the Matsue area! 14 popular spots where you can enjoy carefully selected ingredients

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What makes this place special is that even while in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, you can enjoy flavors from many different production regions.

The menu is packed with must-try items, including assorted varieties available of delicacies gathered from around Japan and oden (Japanese hot pot items) that has kept the same flavor since the restaurant first opened.

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They actively use local ingredients as well, such as shijimi (basket clams) and Shimane Wagyu. One of the restaurant's top recommendations is dishes made with nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), a fish known as a luxury catch.

They also offer a wide selection of local branded sake and Japanese sake from around the country, so you will want to enjoy them paired with the food.

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This izakaya inside Hotel Alpha-1, a 4-minute walk from Matsue Station, is popular for its seafood dishes.

The interior has the lively feel of a casual izakaya, with seating for both small and large groups, including counter seats and Japanese-style Private rooms.

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One of the highlights here is that you can casually enjoy seafood from Shimane (Shimane Prefecture) and tasty dishes from Sanin (the Sanin region), prepared in a variety of ways.

One of the most popular choices is the mackerel dishes. The saba-shabu (mackerel shabu-shabu), which you dip in a secret broth before eating, is also a must-try dish. The rich flavor of the plump, springy mackerel is said to fill your mouth.

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They also recommend dishes made with anago (conger eel) called “Hakuryu,” carefully prepared using the restaurant’s own blood removal technique.

Starting with sashimi that lets you directly taste the freshness of the anago, they also offer grilled and shabu-shabu anago dishes. They also seem to pair well with the 12 to 15 kinds of local sake from Shimane.

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This izakaya serves saba-shabu (mackerel hotpot) made with fresh mackerel caught in Sakaiminato, along with local sake from the Sanin region. It is a 1-minute walk from Matsue Station.

The interior, filled with jazz, has a calm atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy your meal. In addition to counter and table seating, it also has Private rooms for 2 to 30 people.

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The "saba-shabu (mackerel shabu-shabu)" available from 2 servings catches the eye with its beautiful presentation on the plate.

You quickly swish it through their carefully made broth from saba-bushi (dried mackerel flakes), then enjoy it with their refreshing house-made ponzu sauce.

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If you are not sure what to order, the course meals are recommended, carefully Homemade with local ingredients.

The most popular option is the course that includes saba-shabu (mackerel hotpot), but there are also many other courses with a wide range of choices. There are also courses with All you can drink.

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This izakaya serves tempura as its main specialty, along with dishes that pair perfectly with jizake (local sake) and ji-biiru (local craft beer). It is located inside the shopping complex "Shamine Matsue," directly connected to Matsue Station.

The interior is a refined Japanese modern space. There are also Private room options for a wide range of group sizes, including rooms for 4 and 10 people, which adds to the appeal of being able to relax and take your time.

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One of the best things about this place is that you can casually enjoy tempura fried in healthy rice oil.

It is known for a light, crispy texture that makes it easy to eat. The menu has a wide range of options, from classics like squid and Japanese whiting to creative tempura such as soft-boiled egg and mochi (rice cake) & cheese.

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The restaurant also offers a wide range of standout dishes made with plenty of ingredients from Matsue and the Sanin region.

You will also want to order from the seafood menu. The selection is full of dishes that pair well with Japanese sake, including an assortment of fresh fish sashimi and grilled seafood.

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This is an izakaya offering a wide variety of dishes made with seasonal ingredients from Sanin (the Sanin region). It is about a 5-minute walk from Matsue Station.

The casual atmosphere, just what you would expect from an izakaya, makes it easy to relax, and they also have Sunken kotatsu seating where you can stretch out your legs and get comfortable.

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The menu is packed with local Sanin dishes, mainly from Shimane, along with a wide lineup of snack style dishes that pair well with drinks.

Their most popular item is said to be Hamada no Akaten (Hamada-style red fish cake), a must-try Shimane specialty. This fried fish paste cake with red chili pepper is also said to be perfect with beer.

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They also offer several shellfish dishes, including “Hotate Butter Yaki (grilled scallops with butter)” and “Kai no Ofuro (shellfish bath).”

“Shinjiko shijimi (Shinjiko basket clams) no Sakamushi (steamed with sake),” one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, is said to be packed with the rich flavor of basket clams specially selected by the chef.

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Located about a 12-minute walk from Matsue Shinjiko Onsen Station, Umayado is an izakaya where you can enjoy local sake along with seafood and mountain produce from the San'in region, and reviews say it feels like everything San'in has to offer is packed into one place.

The 1st floor has counter and table seating, and the 2nd floor is equipped with Private rooms, creating a relaxed atmosphere where you can unwind.

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You can enjoy local specialty dishes unique to the area, including seasonal seafood from the Sea of Japan and shijimi (basket clams) from Lake Shinji.

They also serve dishes made with Daisen-dori (Daisen chicken) raised in Shimane Prefecture, with a wide lineup that includes Kara-age and stamina-yaki (grilled meat with a garlic soy sauce flavor).

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If you like Japanese sake, you will definitely want to enjoy local labels from Shimane such as Toyo no Aki, Rihaku, and Oki Homare as well.

They also offer standard izakaya drinks like beer and shochu highballs, so it is fun to choose what goes best with your food. They also have a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks and soft drinks.

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Dandan, Matsue Ten is an izakaya in Kataharacho, Matsue City, known for its popular shabu-shabu made with Chamiton (Kagoshima pork) from Kagoshima Prefecture.

The interior has an old folk house style and is said to have a nostalgic feel. There are also Private rooms for a wide range of group sizes, including rooms with a view of Matsuejo (Matsue Castle).

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The "Buta Shabu Set" is well reviewed for the way it lets you enjoy a homemade gyokai-kei (seafood-based) Japanese dashi broth.

It is said to be a healthy shabu-shabu with a light taste that still lets you fully enjoy the flavor of the pork. You can enjoy it together with organic vegetables from producers you can know and trust.

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They also offer a wide variety of a la carte dishes that you can casually enjoy with drinks. The "Meibutsu!! Tomodachi no Potesara" is said to be a must try snack.

On the drink menu, the top recommendation is the "Rimoncherro Sour!" made with pesticide-free lemons.

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Taishu Sakaba Kushi Katchan, about a 5-minute walk from Matsue Station, is an izakaya with a wide selection of kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) enjoyed with house-made sauce.

On the 1st floor, there are counter and table seats in a layout that makes conversation easy, while the 2nd floor has tatami-mat Semi-private rooms, creating a relaxing space.

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The main menu features kushikatsu (deep fried skewers) that you can enjoy casually. Along with meat, seafood, and vegetables, you can also try unusual items like banana and marshmallow.

The restaurant uses the latest fryers that cook quickly and keep the skewers juicy, giving them a light texture that feels like you could keep eating one after another.

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In addition to kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), they offer a wide range of dishes that go perfectly with drinks, including doteyaki (beef tendon stewed in miso), oden (Japanese one-pot dish), and sashimi.

Reviews say the Tipsy Set is popular, and it comes with 2 alcoholic drinks, 5 kushikatsu skewers, 3 doteyaki skewers, and the dish of the day.

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Robata Kaba Matsue Ekimae Ten, about a 3-minute walk from Matsue Station, is a seafood izakaya where you can enjoy fresh Sanin (the Sanin region) seafood, robata charcoal grilling, and local sake.

From counter seats that are easy to use when dining alone to Private room options for large groups, it seems like a place that works well no matter who you visit with.

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The menu centers on seafood dishes, including thick cut sashimi assortments and several kinds of nigiri sushi. Reviews also say the wide variety makes choosing part of the fun.

The photo shows the very popular "Kaba-mori," a luxurious dish that boldly arranges the catch of the day in a large tub.

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They also have a wide selection of meat dishes, so even people who prefer meat over seafood are likely to leave Manzoku.

The signature grilled chicken thigh uses Kōmi-dori (local chicken) from Shimane Prefecture and is said to be a dish where you can fully enjoy the aroma of charcoal and the rich flavor of the chicken. You can choose from two flavors: regular or addictive sauce.

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Sushi Mondo is a restaurant where you can enjoy carefully made Edomae-zushi (Tokyo-style sushi) prepared with seasonal ingredients at their peak, along with izakaya dishes centered on seafood.

It is recommended not only as a sushi restaurant, but also as a seafood izakaya where you can fully enjoy the food with local sake from Shimane. It is about a 5-minute walk from Matsue Station.

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As you would expect from a restaurant run directly by a fishmonger, they carefully select and stock fresh seafood every day.

For the sushi rice, they use Nita-mai (a branded rice from Shimane Prefecture) blended with red vinegar. Everything is additive-free and Homemade, and some reviews even praised it as being as delicious as the sushi served at high-end sushi restaurants.

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If you visit Shimane, you will probably want to try nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) dishes as well. Be sure to enjoy them with Shimane’s rich local sake, selected by a kikizakeshi (sake sommelier).

The restaurant sources nodoguro in the best condition available that day, and whether you choose sashimi, lightly seared, or simmered, every dish is said to be excellent.

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Tsukumo Matsue Ten, a 4-minute walk from the south exit of Matsue Station, is a creative Japanese dining izakaya where you can enjoy a wide range of menu items, including Shimane local specialties and Chinese dishes.

The interior has a hideaway-like atmosphere based on Japanese style. Since all seats are in fully private rooms, you can relax and enjoy your time with your group.

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One of the big draws of Shimane Prefecture, which faces the Sea of Japan, is the chance to enjoy fresh seafood. Among the menu items, saba-shabu (mackerel hotpot) is one dish you will definitely want to order.

It is served in a style where fresh mackerel, known for its sweet fat, is briefly swished through dashi broth to cook it, then enjoyed with ponzu sauce and yakumi (condiments) for a light taste. Orders are available from 2 servings.

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In addition to seafood, they also offer a wide range of meat dishes made with beef, pork, and chicken. The "Homemade Kara-age Fried Young Chicken" is said to be slowly marinated in a special sauce before being fried.

The food lineup is great not only for A la carte orders, but also for course menus. The courses come with All you can drink, making them perfect for lively Banquet gatherings with a group.

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Hana no Mai Shamine Matsue Ten is a seafood izakaya in a great location just a 1-minute walk from Matsue Station, with many restaurants across Japan from Hokkaido to the Kyushu region. You can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine made with seasonal ingredients and Special drinks.

There are also Private rooms available for groups of 2 or more, which is nice because you can relax without worrying about the people around you.

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First, you will want to order the seafood dishes. In season, you can also enjoy matsubagani (snow crab) with its refined sweetness.

The "Hana no Mai Sashimi 5-Variety Assortment" is also one of the restaurant's recommended dishes. It features a selection of fresh fish that changes daily, making it a luxurious menu item you can enjoy with rock salt, wasabi, and soy sauce.

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You will definitely want to try local specialties too, such as nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) and iwagaki (rock oysters), both famous in the Sanin region.

If you want to enjoy drinks to your heart's content along with a wide range of dishes, a course with All you can drink is a perfect choice. The All you can drink selection is appealing for its full lineup of beer, cocktails, shochu, and more.

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About a 2-minute walk from the south exit of Matsue Station, Toriya Ebisu Shamines Matsue Ten is an izakaya centered on chicken dishes, using fresh young chicken shipped directly from Miyazaki.

Inside, there is a grill area where they cook chicken in a bold, lively way. From the nearby counter and table seats, you can enjoy the live atmosphere as the chefs grill the chicken.

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A key feature of the yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) at this restaurant is that they do not skewer the chicken, so they can serve exceptionally fresh chicken in the most delicious way possible. Another plus is how easy it is to share with everyone while enjoying a drink.

If you have trouble choosing from the wide variety of chicken dishes, the "Mix Yaki" is a good pick, with six different cuts served as an assortment on one plate.

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They also offer a wide range of menu items that let you order a single cut on one plate, including organ meats like Heart and liver, as well as rare cuts like seseri (neck meat).

The cute, round-looking tsukune-yaki (grilled chicken meatballs) is made with house-made cartilage mixed in, giving it a texture and great taste that set it apart from typical tsukune.

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"Hamayaki Sakaba Minato," a 5-minute walk from Matsue Station, is a popular izakaya where you can enjoy hamayaki (seaside-style grilled seafood) along with Sanin Japanese sake and more.

The interior has a warm and calm atmosphere, and all seats are in a relaxed Sunken kotatsu seating style. It also has a fully private room for 6 to 8 people.

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One of the highlights of the hamayaki (seaside-style grilled seafood) here is that you use the tabletop grill and enjoy cooking it yourself. It seems they place a sheet on the table with instructions on how to grill it.

They also stock Japanese sake from Shimane, so it is the kind of place where you will want to take your time drinking while grilling seafood. They also offer courses where you can fully enjoy hamayaki.

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You can also enjoy oysters grilled hamayaki-style (grilled over an open flame), but the "Kaki no Yakan-yaki (oysters steamed and roasted with sake in a kettle)" is also recommended.

The kettle is said to hold about 8 to 10 oysters. The menu also features seafood-focused items such as "uni-shabu (sea urchin hotpot)" and "shijimi ramen (clam ramen)."