The “Horikawa Sightseeing Boat” is a popular sightseeing attraction in the castle town. This sightseeing boat allows visitors to enjoy beautiful scenery, historical buildings, and the atmosphere of Matsue as it leisurely cruises along the “Horikawa,” the outer moat of Matsue Castle. The course is approximately 3.7 km long and takes about 50 minutes to one hour. The boatman acts as a guide and tells interesting stories about Matsue's history and culture as well as the local area, making the tour a learning experience rather than just a scenic one. The scenery also changes with the seasons, with cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter, offering different views throughout the year. The sightseeing boat features a unique mechanism that adjusts the height of the roof, so when passing under low bridges, the roof is lowered, allowing visitors to experience the thrill of being close to the bridges. In addition, the boat is equipped with a kotatsu, a Japanese low table, for winter-only service, allowing passengers to enjoy the Horikawa cruise in warmth and comfort even during the cold season. There are several places to board the boat, and passengers can disembark at any time during the cruise to enjoy sightseeing. For example, it is easy to make a sightseeing plan that combines spots that touch on history and culture, such as the Matsue Castle area and Shiomi Nawate area. The Horikawa Sightseeing is one of Matsue's most popular sightseeing experiences, allowing you to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the castle town as well as the beautiful scenery of Matsue Castle.