🗺️ Inasa no Hama稲佐の浜

Inasa no Hama is a 2-kilometer-long beach located on the west side of Izumo Taisha, just a 15-minute walk from the shrine. It has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Beaches in Japan" due to its beautiful scenery of white sand and green pines. Inasa no Hama is also the stage for the "Kuni Yuzuri Myth" recorded in the Kojiki. According to legend, deities from all over Japan gather at Izumo Taisha once a year for a meeting, and Inasa no Hama is the place where the eight million gods come ashore. On the night of the 10th day of the 10th month of the lunar calendar, a grand welcoming ceremony for the gods is held on the beach. Nearby is the branch shrine of Izumo Taisha, known as Kamigami, where it is said that the gods hold a grand assembly called "Shingi" to discuss important matters, including marriages. On the beach, there is a large rock called Benten Island, dedicated to the sea god Toyotama no Mikoto. The silhouette of Benten Island illuminated by the sunset is incredibly beautiful and has been certified as a symbol of "Sunset Holy Land Izumo," recognized as a Japanese heritage site. It is said that taking some sand from the beach in a bag to worship at Izumo Taisha and then exchanging it for sand provided by the shrine at Suga Shrine can bring good fortune and ward off evil.

Selected as one of the "Japan's Top 100 Beaches" for its beautiful scenery of white sands and green pines. It is also the stage for the "Kuniyuzumi Myth," where eight million deities are welcomed ashore. The sunset view with Benten Island in the background is very famous.