Sunrapport Murakumo

Located in the Hashikita area across the Ohashi River from JR Matsue Station. Close to Matsue Castle, it's within walking distance of tourist attractions like the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum. This hotel is run by a public school teachers' mutual aid association, but is open to the public. While the building is old, it's relatively clean and very reasonably priced, offering more comfort than private business hotels. The breakfast buffet includes a delicious selection of Shimane's local specialties, including clam soup from Lake Shinji, Izumo soba noodles, noyaki (roasted oysters), and akaten (simmered sardines). The original nori seaweed was also delicious. Although I didn't use the buffet, the lunch buffet seems popular with local residents. Until more than 30 years ago, the area around the hotel was part of Matsue's northern commercial district, centered around a department store. However, the department store relocated to the station, and large supermarkets and commercial facilities opened in the suburbs, leaving the city's traditional shopping district largely deserted. Now, the department store has closed, which is a sad sight.