Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine
shrine
出雲大社
Japan's oldest Shinto shrine dedicated to marriage deity, featuring the country's largest shimenawa sacred rope.
Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, dedicated to Okuninushi no Okami, the deity of relationships and nation-building. The main hall stands 24 meters tall, built in the taisha-zukuri style, which is among the earliest forms of shrine architecture in Japan. Historical records suggest it once stood 48 meters. The Kagura-den's sacred straw rope weighs 5.2 tons and measures 13.6 meters. In the 10th lunar month, all Shinto deities from across Japan are said to gather here. Visitors clap four times during prayers: twice for themselves, twice for their partners.
Arrive before 8am for the approach avenue before tour groups arrive from Matsue and Yonago. The haiden's shimenawa rope weighs 5 tons and measures 13.5 meters. October is called Kannazuki (month without gods) across Japan because all 8 million Shinto deities are believed to gather here, making it the one place where October is instead called Kamiari-zuki (month with gods). The West Treasure House on the grounds holds objects dating to the 10th century and is rarely visited.
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