Izumo Taisha Shrine

Izumo Taisha Shrine, officially named as Izumo Oyashiro, is one of the oldest and most important shrines in Japan. It lies in the west of Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, surrounded by serene forests and neighboring the Sea of Japan. This mysterious shrine is said to be the birthplace of ancient Japanese mythology, making it a must-go place not just in Shimane but the whole country. 

When was Izumo Taisha Shrine Built?

No one knows the exact building time of Izumo Taisha Shrine. The earliest records of it appear in 2 ancient books which were both compiled in the early 8th century, which means the shrine has a history of at least 1,300 years. 

All Gods Gather Here in Every Lunar October

In Shimane, the 10th month of the lunar calendar is called “a Month of the Gods”, while in the rest parts of Japan it is called “a Month without Gods”. That is because Izumo Taisha Shrine is believed to be the meeting place of all eight million gods of Japan during this month of a year according to Japanese mythology. 

What to Pray for in Izumo Taisha Shrine 

Izumo Taisha Shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Kami - the founder of ancient Japan and the deity of romance and marriage. People come here to seek happy marriage, and healthy relationships not just between husband and wife but also friends and colleagues. If lucky, you will see locals hold traditional Japanese weddings here, wishing for long lasting marriage.

Unique Praying Manner 

Usually the praying is done with 2 bows, 2 claps and 1 bow in most shrines of Japan, while in Izumo Taisha Shrine it should be conducted with 2 bows, 4 claps and 1 bow following the ancient way, which is another distinctive feature of the shrine. 

What to See in Izumo Taisha Shrine

1. Largest Shimenawa Rope in Japan

Shimenawa is a kind of straw rope used in Shinto religion to keep the evil away from the holy area in many shrines of Japan. Kagura Hall is the place for ceremonies in Izumo Taisha Shrine, featuring the largest shimenawa rope in Japan with a length of 13.6 meters (44.6 ft.) and a weight of 5.2 tons (11,464 lb.). It will definitely be stunning to see it with your own eyes. The huge shimenawa rope is totally handmade and needs to be renewed every 6-7 years. Next to the hall there is an experiencing activity: visitors can try to make the rope under professionals’ guidance.

2. Magnificent Main Hall

The Main Hall, or the main shrine of Izumo Taisha Shrine is 24 meters tall (78 ft.). However, according to records of old books, it was 48 meters tall (157 ft.) in the Middle Ages, being the highest wooden structure in ancient Japan. Even now, it is still undoubtedly one of the most magnificent buildings of Japan’s shrines. Not all the worshippers can enter the Main Hall, even if members of the Royal family are not allowed to get inside. Worship can only be done at the Yatsuashimon Gate outside the Main Hall.

3. Four Torii Gates Leading to the Shrine 

On the main approach - the 700 meters (765 yd.) long Omotesando to Izumo Taisha Shrine, there are four torii gates made of different materials. From the first one to the fourth one, they are respectively made of stone, wood, steel and copper. Passing through the 4 torii gates in turn will bring you blessings of the god.

4. 66 Statues of Rabbits 

Stone statues of cute rabbits are easy to be found in Izumo Taisha Shrine, which is due to the myth of “White Rabbit of Inaba”. In the story, Okuninushi-no-Kami saved a white rabbit which was injured and dying. The kindness and sympathy of the god are widely spread. In memory of him, people set up rabbit statues in the shrine.

Notable Kami-ari-sai or Kamiari Festival in Izumo Taisha Shrine

The busiest month for Izumo Taisha Shrine is usually November - the 10th month in the lunar calendar. During the 11th to the 17th day of this lunar month, the biggest event in Izumo Taisha Shrine called Kami-ari-sai or Kamiari Festival is held.
 
The 7-day festival starts with Kami-mukae-sai on the 10th day of the lunar month to welcome all the gods’ arrival. The ceremony is conducted on the nearby Inasa-no-hama Beach. With bonfires lit up, priests will escort all the gods to the shrine and temporarily enshrine them in subsidiary shrines.

During Kamiari Festival, the 8 million gods will gather together to hold meetings about matchmaking of all the mortals and enjoy the offerings like sake in the shrine. Local people need to fast and live a simple life during the festival. Wishes for a true love may be realized more easily then.

When the meetings are over, there is another ceremony called Karasade-sai to see off the gods, after which they will return to their respective places.

Grand Traditional Rebuilding Process

The wooden buildings of shrines in Japan should be regularly rebuilt by tradition for maintaining the power of god and cultural continuity, while actually only a few shrines stick to this tradition such as Ise Jingu Shrine and Izumo Taisha Shrine. 

The current buildings of Izumo Taisha Shrine were built in 1744 and went through 4 times’ rebuilding process every 60 years. The last reconstruction called “Heisei Great Sengu” was conducted from 2008 to 2019 together with Ise Jingu Shrine, during which the enshrined god of Izumo Taisha Shrine was moved to a temporary place while the initial shrines were under repair. 

Opening Hours & Ticket Fare

The shrine is free to enter and opens every day.
Mar. to Oct.: 6:00 to 20:00
Nov. to Feb.: 6:30 to 20:00

How to Get to Izumo Taisha Shrine

1. By Bus

From JR Izumoshi Station, take a bus on Taisha Line or Hinomisaki Line to Seimon mae bus stop, and you will see the main gate of the shrine. The cost is 510 JPY.

2. By Train 

Step 1: From JR Izumoshi Station, walk west for about 5 minutes to Dentetsu-Izumoshi Station.
Step 2: Take the Ichibata Densha Railway on Kita Matsue Line to Kawato Station.
Step 3: Transfer to Taisha Line and get off at Izumotaisha Mae Station. Walk north for about 6 minutes and you will see the main gate. The cost is 500 JPY.

Nearby Attractions

Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo: A museum with a large collection of excavated artifacts mainly from Izumo Taisha Shrine. It’s the best place to learn more about the shrine history. It’s next to the shrine and you may walk there.
Inasa-no-hama Beach: The place where the gods arrive before they go to the shrine in every lunar October, featuring white sand and beautiful sunsets. From the shrine, you may walk west for about 13 minutes to get there.