Is it the garden that makes this museum or is it the museum that makes the garden? A step within the entryway and you enter the world of profound harmony created by the superb Dry Landscape Garden and mountains behind. Based on the belief… “The garden is a picture scroll, a living painting” the founder Adachi Zenko set out to create the ideal garden to ensure visitors could more fully appreciate the museum’s collection. His devotion to every tree and blade of grass resulted in 
this Japanese garden collection consisting of; a Tea Garden, Moss Garden, Dry Landscape Garden, Pond Garden and White Gravel and Pine Garden. As your heart is filled with the beauty of the gardens the journey of soothing silence into the much anticipated world of artworks begins. This fascinating collection includes not only masterpieces by great artists that have an important place in the history of modern Japanese painting, but also ceramics, woodcarvings, douga (illustrations for children) and maki-e (gold-lacquered works). 
If you allow yourself to drift you can hear the whispers of the artists talking to you through their works. The combination of the artworks, the beautiful structure they are housed and the gardens gives you a very peaceful fulfilling experience. Our visit would not be complete without enjoying a bowl of matcha tea in the teahouse and of course taking in a glimpse of the private tea garden. Now for me that the dream of Adachi Zenko to “move the heart” has been achieved!
Matsue Castle is our next stop. There are only 12 castles remaining in Japan and Matsue is the only one in the Sanin region. This castle is the second largest, the third tallest and the sixth oldest amongst the castles. It is wonderful to see, however as I walk the grounds my mind continues to drift back to the amazing gardens we have just left. For me this stop in Matsue will be most remembered as the Adachi garden and museum destination.
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