Izumotaisha - 出雲大社

Location Name: Izumotaisha - 出雲大社 
Type: Shinto Shrine - 神社 
Location: Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture 
Access: JR Izumo-shi or Ichibata Izumotasha-mae 

The main shrine

Izumotaisha is the second most important shrine to the Shinto faith. Only the Shrine in Izu is revered higher. Being the home to some of Japan’s oldest archeological finds Izumotaisha is also the oldest Shinto shrine. It abuts the hills that make up the Shimane Peninsula and separate the Izumo plain from the Japan sea. The plain is made up of relatively flat farm land that has been cut up with rivers and canals. It bears a slight resemblance to the Imperial Valley of California. To the east and west the plain is set between the Japan sea and the brackish Lake Shinji. The landscape is utilitarian, but not dramatic. That said, it does look like it was an ideal place for early humans to develop agriculture.

Parts of the shrine are still being repaired

In the shinto faith it is believed that the gods all congregate in November at Izumotaisha. In basic Japanese the months named after their order. November becomes [１０月] or “tenth month.” There is a secondary set of names for the months that appears in traditional calendars and dates. November’s traditional name is Kannazuki [神無月] literally “no gods month.”

The god enshrined at Izumotaisha is called Okuninushi who, as a young man, helped heal the White Rabbit of Inaba. He is known as the god of enmusubi [縁結び] or matchmaking. When one prays at the shrine it is custom to clap four times instead of the typical two. The first two claps are for yourself and the second two are for your future (or current) spouse. When I first came to Japan on a cold January night in 2006 I stumbled into Izumotaisha late one night and prayed for my future clapping four times. In a mere two years later I married my amazing spouse Yuko. Now my experience might not match your own, but It’s worth a try if you’re looking. Enmusubi has also taken on the meaning of expanding one’s circle of friends and being more personable. Charms, amulets and chopsticks enchanted with the spirt of enmusubi are sold in the shrine and stores around it.

A 2006 photo of the shrine. This area is currently under construction as of January, 2013

The shrine’s buildings have a design that is unlike any other one that you might have visited. I find the design helps produce a sense of awe and mystery when exploring the site. Everything from the trees in the garden to the moss growing on the roof have an aura of august maturity. As is common with Shinto shrines, the gardens and walkways leading to the buildings all glorify nature it’s elegant power.

Kaguraden and shimenawa

Located to the side of the main temple complex is the Kaguraden. Dating from 1776, the building itself is new looking and not as appealing as the unique design of the main shrines. It does have a the largest shimenawa, a type of devotional rope made of straw, weighing 5 tons hanging from the 13.5 meter long entranceway. A popular sight typically shown on most of the pamphlets advertising the shrine to tourists. I cannot recommend a visit to Izumotaisha and the San’in area more.

Shimenawa

Main entrance

New Year's sake on display

Looking back towards the entrance