Shimane prefecture lies in the western side of Honshu in the Chugoku region, and is where you will find Japan's oldest shrine, Izumo Taisha, numerous Edo-era homes and townscapes, Matsue Castle, the former Iwami Ginzan silver mine, and the Adachi Art Museum, whose Japanese garden is quite popular. Shimane is also home to some impressive cycling routes within the Oki Islands, a recognized UNESCO Global Geopark.