[Izumo Taisha Travel Guide] Highlights, Blessings, How to Pray, and Nearby Spots

According to Japan’s oldest historical record, the Kojiki, and the official chronicle, the Nihon Shoki, Okuninushi-no-Okami developed the land and shared wisdom with people in areas such as agriculture, medicine, and fishing.
Later, under envoys acting on the command of the imperial ancestral deity Amaterasu-Omikami, the “transfer of the land” (kuniyuzuri) took place.
In exchange for yielding the land, Okuninushi-no-Okami requested that a grand palace be built, and the shrine buildings that were constructed are said to be the origin of Izumo Taisha. *There are various theories.
There is also a tradition that the former Main Hall once stood at around double today’s height, Approx. 157 ft (or 315 ft).
Since ancient times, Izumo Taisha was valued as an important political and religious center of the region, and it received strong patronage from the Amago clan and the Tokugawa shogunate.
In modern times, after fires, repairs, and Sengū (major repair and relocation rites of the Main Hall), it has been preserved in its present form.

Izumo Taisha’s main blessing is “enmusubi,” or matchmaking. “En” doesn’t only mean romance and marriage—it refers to all positive connections between people, including building a happy family and forming good relationships of all kinds.
Also, as a deity of nation-building, it is believed to bring blessings such as good fortune, business prosperity, and bountiful harvests. As a deity associated with medicine, it is also said to help with recovery from illness and overall physical and mental well-being.

Visiting Izumo Taisha itself is free, but admission to the Treasure Hall costs 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for university and high school students, and 100 yen for elementary and middle school students. Hours are as follows.

Kagura Hall was originally used as the grand hall of the Senge Kunizō family (the family responsible for rituals at Izumo Taisha).
In the Meiji era (1868–1912), it also took on the role of a sanctuary for Izumo Taishakyō, and in 1981 it was expanded into its current form.
One of the central sacred precincts of Izumo faith, it is now used separately from the Haiden for prayers, Shinto weddings, and various festivals.
Its biggest draw is the giant shimenawa sacred rope hanging at the front.
At Approx. 44.6 ft long and weighing Approx. 5.7 tons, its overwhelming scale is hard to capture in photos and instantly draws the eye.
Another highlight is the tradition of replacing it with a new rope every few years.
The design is also striking for incorporating stained glass into the gable decoration—rare in shrine architecture.

The Haiden is a “place of prayer for worshippers” built in front of the Main Hall.
In addition to regular worship and prayer services, important festivals such as the Koden Niiname-sai and various dedication events are held here, making it central to both ritual and practical functions.
Izumo Taisha’s Haiden was built in 1519, but most of it was destroyed in a fire in 1953, and the new Haiden was completed in 1959 (1963).
Its dignified appearance, Approx. 42.3 ft tall, is said to be the largest wooden Shinto shrine architecture built in Japan after World War II.
It features a unique architectural style that blends Taisha-zukuri and kirizuma-zukuri (gabled-roof construction), and its splendid exterior and sacred space create a calming atmosphere.
Another point to notice is the large shimenawa rope, which is attached in the opposite left-right orientation compared to most shrines.

Quietly enshrined behind the Main Hall, Soga no Yashiro is one of Izumo Taisha’s sessha and massha (auxiliary shrines).
These are small shrines placed around the grounds in association with the main shrine: sessha enshrine deities closely connected to the main deity, while massha are of the next rank—together referred to as sessha and massha.
Soga no Yashiro enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto, famous for myths such as slaying Yamata no Orochi and the Kusanagi Sword, and it is said to bring blessings such as warding off evil, good fortune, and household safety.
A highlight is the sacred sand under the eaves called “Osuna.”
There is a custom of taking it home by exchanging it with sand from Inasa-no-Hama, and it is believed to hold spiritual power (for purifying homes, ground-breaking ceremonies, and more).

Harae no Yashiro, one of Izumo Taisha’s auxiliary shrines, is a sacred place to cleanse worshippers of all sins and impurities (kegare) and purify mind and body.
The air here feels taut and still, and while the shrine itself is small, it gives a strong sense of the entrance to the sacred precinct.
Enshrined here are four deities known as the Haraedo Yohashira no Kami, believed to cleanse misfortune that seeps into daily life.
To follow proper etiquette and face the deities with sincerity, Harae no Yashiro should be visited before praying at the Main Hall and Haiden.
It’s on the right side of the downhill approach just after passing through the main gate, Seidamari no Torii, so some people may pass by without noticing—but be sure not to miss it.

The National Treasure Main Hall enshrines Okuninushi-no-Okami, a versatile deity believed to bring all kinds of blessings, including enmusubi, bountiful harvests, business prosperity, and recovery from illness.
After repeated relocations and repairs over the ages, the current building carries on the line of the structure built in 1744.
It stands 24 m tall and preserves Japan’s oldest shrine architectural style, known as Taisha-zukuri.
Its solid presence as a wooden structure, the ancient interior elements such as the shin-no-mihashira central pillar, and its story-like ties to mythology captivate visitors.
Its solemn, history-packed presence is overwhelming, fitting the praise “tenka musō no taisha” (a magnificent shrine hall without equal).
It is also said that the ancient Main Hall once stood at Approx. 157 ft (or 315 ft) tall.

The Bronze Torii, standing closest to the Haiden, is an important structure marking the entrance to the sacred precinct at the Aragaki main gate.
It is a bronze torii gate donated in 1666 by Mōri Tsunahiro, also known as the “Fourth Torii.”
Izumo Taisha also has three other torii gates made of different materials: the First Torii made of reinforced concrete, the Second Torii made of weathering steel, and the Third Torii made of iron—so it’s also recommended to compare them.
With its weighty feel and distinctive texture, the Bronze Torii further enhances the sacred atmosphere and leaves a strong impression on visitors.

Okuninushi-no-Okami is the deity who created Japan and laid its foundation.
Along with Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto, he is said to have used great wisdom and power to develop the land and advance the nation in areas such as agriculture, medicine, hot springs, and construction.
He also appears in many legends as a compassionate presence who, while a ruler who unified the world of the gods, stayed close to the lives of people as well as animals and plants.

The “transfer of the land” story is one of the most important episodes in Japanese mythology, as it mythologically supports the descent of the heavenly grandson and the legitimacy of the imperial line.
The simple outline of the story is as follows.

Okuninushi-no-Okami ruled the earthly land, Ashihara no Mizuhonokuni, in prosperity.
Amaterasu-Omikami, who ruled Takamagahara (the heavenly realm), planned to have the earthly right to rule passed to her descendant, and sent envoys to seek negotiations, but it did not go well.
When the warrior deity Takemikazuchi-no-Kami was dispatched, Okuninushi-no-Okami consulted with his children and ultimately decided to yield the land.
However, rather than a simple submission, he secured conditions such as “being given a splendid palace,” and he established his place in the land of Izumo. This later became Izumo Taisha.

The White Hare of Inaba is one of the myths recorded in the Kojiki.
A white hare living on the Oki Islands tried to cross to the land of Inaba by tricking sharks into lining up, then hopping across their backs.
But at the end, it let slip that it had lied, and an enraged shark skinned it.
In pain, the hare was told by Okuninushi-no-Okami’s older brothers that it would heal if it soaked in seawater and let the wind blow on it. It did so, but the wound only worsened.
Then Okuninushi-no-Okami told it the correct method (wash with fresh water and wrap the body in cattail fluff), and the hare recovered completely.
In gratitude, the hare foretold that Okuninushi-no-Okami would gain a good spouse—this is the well-known story.
At Izumo Taisha, there is a bronze statue of Okuninushi-no-Okami and the white hare called Goji-ai no Goshinzo, inspired by this tale, and there are also 66 stone rabbit statues scattered throughout the grounds.

An Approx. 0.4-mile (700 m) approach stretching from the great torii at Ukabashi—registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan—to the great torii at Seidamari. Known as Shinmon-dori, it bustles with people visiting before and after worship at Izumo Taisha.
One highlight is the beautiful view unique to this spot, looking from Izumo Taisha’s main gate toward the great torii at Ukabashi.
With old and new side by side, Shinmon-dori is lined with 60 shops, and it’s fun even just to stroll at a relaxed pace.
If you come here, be sure to try the local specialty Izumo soba. With so many well-known shops, it’s also fun to compare different bowls.

Goen Yokocho is a shopping and dining complex located right in front of Izumo Taisha’s main gate.
Inside wooden buildings reminiscent of Edo-period row houses, you’ll find shops offering local specialties made with ingredients from Shimane Prefecture, plus a wide variety of souvenirs.
From Izumo soba—often called one of Japan’s three great soba styles, milled with the outer husk for a deeper aroma—to sushi and seafood bowls featuring premium nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), and fried chicken and chicken burgers made with Shimane’s local chicken variety Ginzan Akadori, the facility brings together a lineup of tempting local eats.

A sandy beach coastline stretching Approx. 1.2 miles (2 km), located around a 15-minute walk west of Izumo Taisha.
Known for its beautiful scenery of white sand and pine trees, it has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 best beaches.
It is the stage for the “transfer of the land” myth recorded in the Kojiki, and is also said to be the place where the myriad gods from across Japan are welcomed once a year. On the night of the 10th day of the 10th lunar month, a ritual to welcome the gods is held.
Near the beach is an auxiliary shrine of Izumo Taisha called Kaminomiya, where it is said that a meeting to connect many kinds of bonds, called Kamihakari, is held—including connections between men and women.

A museum showcasing many valuable materials related to Izumo Taisha and ancient Izumo, where numerous myths remain.
In the central lobby, you can see the enormous pillar Uzu-bashira, discovered within the Izumo Taisha grounds in 2000. The themed exhibition rooms are divided into three sections, and “Izumo Taisha and Festivals of the Land of the Gods” features a 1/10 scale model of Izumo Taisha as it is believed to have been in the Heian period—as a massive high-rise shrine.
In “Bronze Ware and the Golden Great Sword,” you can see an awe-inspiring display of 358 National Treasure bronze swords and 39 bronze bells lined up together.

A shrine located at Hinomisaki on the westernmost tip of the Shimane Peninsula, recorded in the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki as “Misaki no Yashiro.”
It consists of two main sanctuaries: the lower shrine, Hishizumi-no-Miya, at the front, and the upper shrine, Kami-no-Miya, on a small rise to the right. It is said to protect Japan at night, paired with Ise Jingu, which is said to protect Japan by day.
Beyond a granite torii gate stands a vermilion two-story gate and a gongen-zukuri shrine building. The current buildings were constructed as a shogunate direct project by order of Tokugawa Iemitsu.
The vermilion-lacquered buildings, detailed carvings, and superb murals by painters of the Kanō and Tosa schools remain.

A luxurious Japanese-style hot spring inn located Approx. 2 minutes by car from Izumo Taisha. It’s elegantly appointed, yet has a relaxed, calming atmosphere where you can enjoy time immersed in Japan’s traditions and history.
Throughout the property are designs inspired by Izumo legends.
At the entrance, Izumo kagura masks welcome you, and motifs following the myth of the Yamata no Orochi legend add color to the traditional setting.

A hotel that opened in September 2023 along Shinmon-dori, the street leading to Izumo Taisha.
The name “Kararako (Karasade-raku)” expresses the desire to welcome guests as if hosting the gods who gather in Izumo once a year from across Japan.
The artworks displayed inside are highly original, blending Iwami washi paper and Iwami tile with painting and metal engraving.
Along with the striking timber-framed exterior and the staircase at the entrance, natural materials and crafts are used throughout, letting you feel Japanese and Izumo culture.

Approx. 5 minutes on foot from Izumo Taisha-mae Station, NIPPONIA Izumo Taisha Monzenmachi sits slightly off the approach to Izumo Taisha.
This renovated kominka-style stay is based in the former Oku Clinic (Kyu Oku Iin), a medical clinic built in the Taisho era (1912–1926), as well as a residence.
Modern architecture and traditional Japanese beauty are beautifully harmonized, and the six uniquely styled guest rooms are designed to let you enjoy the warmth of wood and a historic texture.
Electronic devices are kept to a minimum, creating an environment where you can spend a quiet Japanese night and sleep deeply.
At the on-site restaurant OKU, you can savor a chef’s French course of seven dishes made with local ingredients, paired with local sake.
There are also experience programs that make for wonderful memories, such as making a palm-sized “enmusubi makomo shimenawa” rope.