Horikawa Moat Boat Ride — Roofed Boat Through Castle Town

Horikawa Sightseeing Boat (堀川めぐり) navigates the 3.7km moat surrounding Matsue Castle, passing under 16 bridges (some extremely low-clearance) through the historic samurai district. The 50-minute ride on traditional roofed boats features boat pilots who narrate local history, point out historic sites, and manually lower the boat roof for ultra-low bridges (passengers duck flat).

The moat preserves Matsue's Edo-period castle town layout, with willow trees, stone walls, samurai residences, and traditional gardens visible from water level. Different seasons offer distinct experiences: cherry blossoms in spring, fireflies in summer, autumn leaves in November, and kotatsu-heated boats in winter.