Izumo Taisha

Overview

Izumo-taisha, officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is a Shinto shrine in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, and is regarded as one of the most ancient and important shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to the kami Ōkuninushi, revered as the deity of marriage. As the ichinomiya of the former Izumo Province, it held the old rank of Kanpei-taisha.

Highlights

• ●The ichinomiya of Izumo Province, dedicated to the kami Ōkuninushi
• ●The main hall that gives its name to the taisha-zukuri architectural style
• ●The main hall and attached buildings, designated National Treasures of Japan in 1952
• ●A landscape selected among the 100 Landscapes of Heisei

History

No record gives the precise date of establishment, though tradition links the shrine to the year 659, and it is widely regarded as one of Japan's oldest shrines. Under the modern shrine-ranking system that followed the Meiji Restoration, it was the only shrine permitted to bear the title 'taisha.' The main hall and attached buildings were designated National Treasures of Japan in 1952. According to tradition the hall was once much taller than it is today, and the discovery in 2000 of the remains of enormous pillars lent credence to this account.

Map

35.4019, 132.6854 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Pay respects at the main hall built in the taisha-zukuri style
2. 2View the exterior of the main hall and attached buildings designated as National Treasures
3. 3Visit the Izumo Taisha Treasure Hall to see items handed down at the shrine
4. 4Explore the historic sites within the precincts, including the Izumo-taisha Precinct Site

Did you know?

💡 The taisha-zukuri architectural style takes its name from the main hall of this very shrine.

Nearby spots