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A Retro Cafe Tour in Matsue! 6 Nostalgic Spots for a Moment That Makes You Forget Everyday Life

Photograph:marianne

A Retro Cafe Tour in Matsue! 6 Nostalgic Spots for a Moment That Makes You Forget Everyday Life

Matsue, the City of Water in eastern Shimane Prefecture, is a historic town that flourished as the castle town of the National Treasure Matsue-jo (Matsue Castle). It is known for the beautiful sunsets over Lake Shinji and its rich chanoyu (tea ceremony) culture. This article rounds up popular retro cafes in Matsue City. Here are some spots where you can enjoy carefully crafted cafe menu items in spaces that feel like stepping back in time.

Created: July 21, 2026

This article is based on456Tabelog reviews.

Kamedayama Kissashitsu

Kamedasan Kissashitsu is located inside Kounkaku, a Western-style building from the Meiji era that stands in the Ninomaru area of Matsue Castle. It is about 7 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station.

The interior is a space that still retains its classical design details. The seating is also laid out with plenty of room, so you can relax and enjoy your time there.

The "Kankitsutachi to Pisutachio no Taruto" is said to be a tart where the bright acidity of baked citrus layers with the toasty, rich depth of pistachio.

It also pairs well with slightly bitter iced coffee. Since the citrus used changes with the season, it is something you can enjoy every time you visit.

The photo shows the "French Toast Breakfast".

The French toast is said to have a soft texture and a gentle sweetness. It is also recommended as a meal before a morning stroll around Matsue.

Yuri⭐

I slowly enjoyed Homemade cake and coffee in a retro atmosphere♬ The free Wi-Fi was nice too, so I could look things up after the meal.

Source:Yuri⭐'s review

sms55

I ordered coffee and a nut tart. Both the coffee and the tart were really delicious! I was impressed even though I stopped by without doing any research beforehand. The tart was especially good, and the tart crust itself was delicious. As a cookie lover, it was perfect for me. The shop had a retro feel, and the seating was nicely spaced, making it a lovely space.

Source:sms55's review

norilove

The Napolitan (Japanese ketchup pasta) with plenty of ketchup has a mild, comforting flavor. The bacon, onions, green peppers, and mushrooms work really well together. The thick noodles hold the sauce nicely. It is Homemade and very delicious.

Source:norilove's review

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Kohikan Kohoku Ten

Kohikan Kohokuten, founded in 1981, is located about 8 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station.

With pendant lights and charming tiled floors, it has the kind of atmosphere you only get in a retro cafe, and some say it feels like stepping back in time. The window seats are recommended, where you can enjoy your meal while looking out over Lake Shinji.

The popular "Sicilian Set" for Breakfast is a great value menu that lets you enjoy bread and gratin at the same time.

The toasted bread has a nice roasted aroma, and it pairs perfectly with the rich, smooth gratin. It also comes with salad and coffee jelly, and that balanced combination is another plus.

Another part of the fun is choosing your favorite sweets from the showcase.

The rich coffee brings out the gentle sweetness and depth of the cheesecake. You can enjoy a classic pairing at a traditional kissaten (Japanese coffee shop).

Ma Wa

The Breakfast is tasty, easy on the wallet, and the portion is satisfying. This Western-style retro cafe stands on the north shore of Shinjiko (Lake Shinji). The view of Shinjiko from the seats is spectacular. The interior also has a calm, good old atmosphere that makes you want to stay.

Source:Ma Wa's review

Oishimono Daisuki

I’ve been coming here since my student days, and in recent years the menu has expanded. I used to go for coffee, but lately I’ve been stopping by for lunch. The gratin and bread are both very good. The coffee is of course great too. The view of Shinjiko (Lake Shinji) is also nice, so I get the sense that they see a lot of tourists from outside the prefecture.

Source:Oishimono Daisuki's review

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Kissa MG

Kissa MG, founded in 1969, is a long loved local kissaten (Japanese-style coffee shop) about 6 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station.

The interior is fully equipped with counter and table seating. It is said to be used for all kinds of situations, from meals to a relaxing break at cafe time.

The "katsu Rice bowl" is a popular item, served piping hot and freshly made with a large cutlet covering the bowl.

Reviews also say that the fragrant dashi (Japanese soup stock) soaks into the coating and pairs well with the moist, tender pork Tenderloin.

This restaurant also offers a good variety of service lunch options. The shogayaki (ginger pork) set meal in the photo is said to have a nicely rich seasoning that goes great with rice.

The fragrant grilled pork layered with the flavor of ginger is said to make for a satisfying dish.

リクニ2

For lunch in Matsue, I dropped into this place after it came up at the top of my search results and had the half lunch with croquettes and chicken cutlet. The cutlet was tender and juicy, and the croquettes were nice and fluffy, so I really enjoyed it.

Source:リクニ2's review

S.W

This is an old school kissaten (Japanese coffee shop) with a wide range of lunch options. I had the chicken cutlet curry, and my son had the katsudon Rice bowl. The katsudon Rice bowl here is a popular menu item. The chicken cutlet curry was made with a house prepared curry full of spice, and it was very tasty too.

Source:S.W's review

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Arabika Coffee

Arabika Kohi is a retro cafe within walking distance of Nogi Station.

Inside, the warm lighting fills the space, with round tables and counter seats lined up to create a somewhat nostalgic feel. Run by a family of coffee loving owners, the cafe has also earned praise for how comfortable it is.

The photo shows the A la carte menu items "Hamburger Steak Stew" and "rice." The Hamburger Steak, made with house-made breadcrumbs, is said to be juicy and have a Special feel.

The rich flavor of a broth made from beef bones and aromatic vegetables layers together to create a deep, full taste.

The "B Lunch" is a Manzoku set that comes with Indian curry, a lunch salad, and bitter blend coffee.

The curry, paired with Shimane-ken (Shimane Prefecture) rice, is said to open up with more spice heat the more you eat.

scolarlove

I ordered the Bitter Blend. It was a very tasty coffee that was easy to drink. I bought German Roast beans. Since they are dark roasted, I was advised to use a little less than usual, or enjoy them as iced coffee or a latte for the best flavor.

Source:scolarlove's review

えろちん

I ordered the beef stew rice and a Hamburger Steak set meal. After a few minutes, the food arrived. The beef stew had tender meat, and the balance with the stew was just right and very tasty. The slight tang added a nice accent.

Source:えろちん's review

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Coffee Reiro Yamashiro Ten

Coffee Reiro Yamashiro Ten, about an 11-minute drive from JR Matsue Station, is a retro cafe where you can enjoy a calm and relaxing time.

Inside, there are counter and table seats, making it an easy space to use whether you are alone or with a group. In its homey atmosphere, you can take your time and enjoy their house-roasted coffee.

Many people are surprised by the bigger than expected volume of the "Atsugiri Toast (thick cut toast)".

It seems to be crisp and fragrant on the outside, with a soft and fluffy texture inside. Spread with butter or jam, it offers a simple yet highly satisfying flavor.

The photo shows "Ogura Toast." The well toasted bread is topped with plenty of Homemade tsubu-an (chunky red bean paste).

The gentle sweetness of the anko (red bean paste) goes perfectly with the salty taste of the margarine. It also pairs well with their carefully home roasted coffee.

shin96000

・Ogura toast
Just looking at the thick topping of anko (sweet red bean paste) on the toast makes it look delicious. The anko is chunky red bean paste, mildly sweet, and very tasty.

Source:shin96000's review

えろちん

I tried ordering the "an coffee." It was served after a few minutes. The server's smile and service were wonderful. As for the an coffee----some customers drop the anko (sweet red bean paste) right into the coffee, while others alternate between the two----it seems everyone has their own way. I first tried alternating, then also gave the dunking method a shot. It was kind of like zenzai (sweet red bean soup) lol. Since this anko is made by the Honten, it goes perfectly with the coffee.

Source:えろちん's review

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Kissa Raimu

Kissa Lime is a retro cafe located about 8 minutes by car from JR Nogi Station, right near Matsue Minami High School.

Inside, the cafe has a good old-fashioned feel, with counter and table seating. Its friendly, casual atmosphere also makes it easy to stop by.

The photo shows the popular menu item "katsudon (pork cutlet Rice bowl)." The well simmered tonkatsu (pork cutlet) is said to be so tender you can cut it with chopsticks.

The sweet and savory dashi broth soaks well into even the coating, making it a flavor that goes perfectly with rice.

They also offer a full lineup of light meals, including sandwiches and spaghetti.

The "ham katsu sandwich" is a popular item that stands out for its thick cut ham katsu (ham cutlet), and it pairs well with the fragrant toast, making it highly Manzoku.

It is also recommended to enjoy it with coffee carefully brewed in a siphon.

ichig504

The Breakfast toast was nicely browned and tasted great. Butter was spread over the crisp surface, and its toasty aroma made it even better. The hot coffee after the meal was carefully brewed, and that was also very good.

Source:ichig504's review

S.W

The atmosphere was very nice, so it felt really comfortable. Today I ordered Naporitan (Japanese-style ketchup spaghetti) and ham katsu sando (ham cutlet sandwich). It was unusual that the Naporitan had eggplant in it... But both were very good.

Source:S.W's review

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