Izumo
One of Japan's oldest shrines, on the myth coast.
Why Japanese travelers love itPeople come to pray for good relationships at the home of the god of matchmaking.
Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's oldest and most important shrines, linked to the god of good relationships. Its huge twisted straw rope is famous. Many Japanese believe the gods of the whole country gather here once a year in the tenth month of the old calendar. The area is quiet and rural, with a sunset beach and a white lighthouse nearby.
Best time: Spring and autumn. Sunsets at Inasa Beach are good year-round in clear weather.
Weather
Average temperature, °C. JMA 1991–2020 normals (Matsue (JMA), nearest observatory).
Top 5
- Izumo TaishaThe great shrine and its giant straw rope.
- Shinmon-doriThe approach street with soba and sweets.
- Inasa BeachA small sacred beach with a rock shrine, lovely at sunset.
- Hinomisaki LighthouseA tall white lighthouse on the cliffs.
- Izumo sobaDark noodles in stacked round bowls.
A simple day
- Bus or Ichibata train from Izumoshi Station.
- Izumo Taisha in the morning.
- Izumo soba on Shinmon-dori.
- Hinomisaki Lighthouse in the afternoon.
- Sunset at Inasa Beach.
Where to stay
- Izumo Taisha areaSmall inns near the shrine.
- MatsueA castle city about 30 km east with more choice.
Getting there
Okayama → Izumoshi: about 3h by Limited Express Yakumo. Tokyo (Haneda) → Izumo: about 90 min by air, then about 30 min by bus. Izumoshi → Izumo Taisha: about 25 min.
psst — skip this mistake: Underestimating travel time. It is far from the shinkansen; give it at least one night.