Overview
Lake Shinji is a brackish coastal lagoon straddling Matsue and Izumo in Shimane Prefecture and forms part of the Hii River system. Connected to the Sea of Japan mainly through the Ōhashi River and Nakaumi, it is a brackish lake whose average salinity is about one-tenth that of seawater. It is a registered Ramsar site and one of the 100 Landscapes of Heisei.
Highlights
- ●A brackish-water environment where fresh and sea water mix
- ●A lake known as a major producer of Yamato clams
- ●A wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention
- ●A long, east–west lagoon forming part of the Hii River system
History
Lake Shinji formed over a long geological history reaching back some ten thousand years and lies on the lower course of the Hii River. As a brackish lake linked to the Sea of Japan through the Ōhashi River, Nakaumi, and the Sakai Channel, it is a designated lake under Japan's Lake Water Quality Conservation Act. From the lower Hii River to the Sakai Channel there is almost no difference in water level, and the lake is affected by the tides.
Access
The lake spreads across Matsue and Izumo in eastern Shimane Prefecture and can be reached from the urban areas of both cities.
Best season
As a broad expanse of water, the lake and the surrounding plains offer scenery that can be enjoyed throughout the year.
Map
35.4500, 132.9667 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1View the long east–west expanse of the brackish lagoon from the shore
- 2Observe the waterside of a lake famed for its Yamato clams
- 3Experience the wetland environment of a Ramsar-registered site
- 4Trace how the lake and river connect as part of the Hii River system
Did you know?
💡 The average salinity of Lake Shinji is about one-tenth that of seawater, so it is classified as a brackish lake rather than a freshwater one.
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