Shimane Prefecture is situated in the western region of Japan's island of Honshu, it occupies an area of 6,629 square kilometers.
Shimane is bordered by the Sea of Japan, and by Tottori, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi prefectures.
On March 312005, the towns of Kashima, Mihonoseki, Shimane, Shinji, Tamayu and Yatsuka and the village of Yakumo (all from Yatsuka District) merged with the city of Matsue to form the new city of Matsue.