Izumo Taisha

About this place

Izumo Taisha, officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan, in the city of Izumo in Shimane Prefecture, about 34 km west of Matsue in a straight line. No record gives its date of founding, and it is widely regarded as the oldest Shinto shrine in the country. The shrine is associated with the deity Ōkuninushi, known in Japanese tradition for marriage and good ties. A whole architectural style, taisha-zukuri, takes its name from its main hall, which with its attached buildings was designated a National Treasure in 1952. Tradition says the hall was once much taller, and remains of enormous pillars found in 2000 support this. The hall is rebuilt every 60 to 70 years to keep traditional building techniques alive. Gravel paths lead to the shrine between tall pine trees, lined with wooden halls under dark curving roofs, and the grounds hold a pond covered in water plants and quiet gardens. Visitors walk the grounds and admire the wooden halls from outside. It is a place of worship, so keep quiet and follow shrine etiquette; it gets crowded during festivals.