Izumo Taisha

Izumo Taisha, commonly called Izumo Grand Shrine, is a major Shinto shrine in Izumo city, Shimane Prefecture on Japan’s Honshu island and is considered one of the country’s oldest and most important shrines.

The complex includes several large wooden shrine buildings and open courtyards used for worship and ceremonies. Visitors commonly see ritual spaces and traditional architectural elements unique to historic Shinto practice; a very large sacred straw rope is a notable feature at the site.

The shrine is ancient and appears in early Japanese chronicles such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki from the 8th century; it is traditionally dedicated to the deity Ōkuninushi. Buildings have been rebuilt and repaired repeatedly over centuries following the customary Shinto practice of periodic reconstruction.

Sited in Izumo city in western Shimane Prefecture, the shrine sits inland from the Sea of Japan on Honshu and serves as a regional religious center for the Izumo area.

• Kamiari-zuki festival: Tied to ancient Shinto texts and rituals, the shrine hosts a major gathering of kami in October known locally as Kamiari-zuki.
• Large shimenawa: A very large sacred straw rope hangs at the shrine and is one of the most photographed features of the complex.

What to See #

• Honden (main hall): Located at the heart of the shrine complex, the honden is the main sanctuary where the primary deity is enshrined; access is restricted to clergy and special ceremonies.
• Haiden (worship hall): The haiden is the public worship hall in front of the honden where visitors may offer prayers; it is the focal point for most ceremonies and offerings.