🗺️ Izumo Taisha出雲大社

Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture is renowned alongside Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture, being one of Japan's most important ancient shrines, and it has been recorded in Japan's earliest historical text, the "Kojiki." The deity enshrined at Izumo Taisha, "Okuninushi no Okami," is famous as the god of good relationships, making it the top destination for those seeking romantic ties in Japan. Izumo Taisha covers an area of 27,000 square meters and has many must-see highlights within its grounds. The shimenawa (sacred rice straw rope) hanging in front of the Kaguraden is particularly famous; this massive straw rope measures 13 meters in length and weighs 5.2 tons, making it the largest shimenawa in Japan. There are four torii gates on the shrine grounds, and the current main hall was rebuilt in 1744. Its architectural style is known as "Taisha-zukuri," which is one of the oldest shrine styles in Japan, and it is on par with the "Shinmei-zukuri" of Ise Jingu and the "Sumiyoshi-zukuri" of Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka, having been designated as a national treasure. The grounds also feature a pathway lined with pine trees over 400 years old and the largest national flag in Japan, among many other attractions. In Japan, the lunar month of October is referred to as "Kannazuki," which means "the month without gods." This is because, according to legend, the deities from all over Japan leave their respective domains to gather at Izumo Taisha for a meeting during this month, hence it is also called "Kamiarizuki," or "the month with gods." Because it is the time when all the gods can be worshipped at once, many believers visit the shrine during this month, making it the busiest time for Izumo Taisha. About 1 kilometer west of Izumo Taisha, there is a coastal energy spot called "Inasa no Hama," where the welcoming ceremony for the gods is held during "Kamiarizuki." The view of Inasa no Hama at sunset is particularly breathtaking. Additionally, Izumo Taisha has deep connections with the Japanese myth of "Inaba no Shirousagi" (the White Rabbit of Inaba), so cute rabbit statues can be found throughout the shrine grounds.

Although the official name of the shrine is "IZUMO-OOYASHIRO," many people read it as "IZUMO-TAISHA." It enshrines the deity Ōkuninushi, who is famous for blessing good relationships and is said to also protect the bonds with family and friends. According to legend, all the gods from across Japan gather at Izumo Taisha for a meeting every year in the lunar month of October, making this month particularly busy for worshippers. In front of the Kaguraden, the largest shimenawa (sacred rope) in Japan is hung, and there are many stone statues of rabbits within the shrine grounds. Unlike typical shrines, the worship method at Izumo Taisha involves "two bows, four claps, and one bow." On the way to the main hall for worship, visitors pass through four large torii gates made of stone, steel, iron, and copper. The omikuji (fortune slips) at Izumo Taisha do not indicate "good" or "bad."