Tamatsukuri Onsen ー A lively music festival, Tama Stage, began on July 20th in Tamatsukuri Onsen, Matsue City, and will continue for 43 consecutive nights until the end of August. The tranquil spa town buzzed with excitement, attracting numerous sightseers. The festival’s stage features two parts: pop music performances and local traditional shows.
The Matsue Wind Ensemble, Matsue City’s orchestra, was the first to perform, opening with the Tokyo Olympic March followed by beloved old tunes from the Showa era, kicking off 43 days of musical adventure.
‘We will continue to host Tama Stage for 43 days, rain or shine. We look forward to welcoming you,’ said Riona Yamasaki of the Tamatsukuri Onsen Tourism Association.
Tama Stage has been held to revitalise the spa town since 2009, except for 2020 and 2021, due to the coronavirus.
Tamatsukuri Onsen, Japan’s oldest recorded hot spring, is renowned for its skin-rejuvenating properties, as mentioned in the Izumo Fudoki. It has a storied history of attracting notable visitors, including the god Susano, who was once exclusive to the feudal elite. Since the early 20th century, numerous hotels and ryokans have been established along the Tamayu River, famous for its spring cherry blossoms.
Tamatsukuri Onsen is located two hours by air from Tokyo (Haneda), eight hours by bullet train and local railway, and 12 hours by the night sleeper train (Sun Rise Izumo).
(Words by Takashi Saito)
How to Get to Tamatsukuri Onsen from Tokyo and Kyoto
From Tokyo:
By Air:
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- Flight: Take a flight from Haneda Airport (Tokyo) to Izumo Airport (Shimane), which is about 1.5 hours.
- Airport Shuttle: Take the airport shuttle bus to Tamatsukuri Onsen from Izumo Airport, about 40 minutes.
By Train:
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- Shinkansen: Take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Okayama Station, about 4 hours.
- Limited Express Train: Transfer to the JR Yakumo Limited Express train from Okayama Station to Matsue Station takes about 2.5 hours.
- Local Train or Bus: Take the JR Sanin Line to Tamatsukuri Onsen Station from Matsue Station, which takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively, take a taxi or local bus directly from Matsue Station to Tamatsukuri Onsen.
From Kyoto:
By Train:
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- Shinkansen: Take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Okayama Station, about 1 hour.
- Limited Express Train: Transfer to the JR Yakumo Limited Express train from Okayama Station to Matsue Station takes about 2.5 hours.
- Local Train or Bus: Take the JR Sanin Line to Tamatsukuri Onsen Station from Matsue Station, which takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively, take a taxi or local bus directly from Matsue Station to Tamatsukuri Onsen.
Tips for Travellers:
- JR Pass: The Japan Rail Pass covers the Shinkansen and JR Yakumo Limited Express train, making it a cost-effective option for train travel.
- Luggage: For a hassle-free journey, consider using a luggage forwarding service, which is convenient and widely available in Japan.
- Local Transportation: Tamatsukuri Onsen is a small town, so once you arrive, local taxis and buses are good options for getting around.