Izumo City (出雲市) is a city located in Shimane, Western Japan.  Izumo is known for Izumo soba noodles and the Izumo-taisha Shinto Shrine (出雲大社).  The grand shrine is the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan.  In 2008, the holy area was open to the public from 1 August until August 17, after which extensive renovation work began.  The renovation will be finished in May 2013.
  The modern city was founded on November 3, 1941.  As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 87,940 and density of 510.30 persons per sq km.  The total area was 172.33 sq km.  On March 22, 2005, the city merged with the city of Hirata (平田市), and the towns of Koryo (湖陵町), Sada (佐田町), Taisha (大社町) and Taki (多伎町), all from Hikawa County (簸川郡), to form the new city of Izumo.  After the creation of the new city, as of March 1, 2011, the estimated total population is 143,778 and the combined area of the new city of Izumo is 543.48 sq km.
  A planned merger of municipalities will be implemented on October 1, 2011: the city will be merged with the town of Hikawa (斐川町), also from Hikawa County (簸川郡).  Hikawa County will be dissolved as a result of this merger.  (Main Reference: the Site of "Wikipedia")
  

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JR Izumo-shi Station

JR Izumo-shi Station (JR出雲市駅) is a station on San-in-Honsen Line (山陰本線) of Western Japan. It is located at 11 Ekikita-machi, Izumo (出雲市駅北町11). It is the nearest JR station to go to Izumo-taisha Shrine: You can go there by bus or by train via Ichibata Electric Railway (一畑電車) from the adjecent Dentesu-Izumo-shi Station (電鉄出雲市駅). The station building is modeled after the main hall of Izumo-taisha shrine; it is called "Taisha-style" (大社造り).

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(Sunday 20 March) JR Izumo-shi Station, 11 Ekikita-machi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) Ad for Lake Jinzai (神西湖) and Izumo-taisha Shrine, JR Izumo-shi Station, 11 Ekikita-machi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) At the North Gate of the land-pulling myth (国引き神話), a local myth which is not written in The Record of Ancient Matters (『古事記』) nor The Chronicles of Japan (『日本書紀』). It narrates how one of the local deities looks across the Japan Sea and decides to pull land from four of the places that he can see, including from the Korean Peninsula. This land he cuts off, pulls across the sea, and attaches to Izumo, hence making the province larger. One of the most useful English references to this myth is Anders Carloqvist's "The Land-Pulling Myth and Some Aspects of Historic Reality" (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, vol. 37, no. 2 [2010]).

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(Sunday 20 March) At the North Gate of JR Izumo-shi Station: The picture by a local artist depicting the myth of Susanoo-no-mikoto killing a giant snake, the Yamata-no-Orochi (須佐之男命の大蛇[八岐大蛇/八俣遠呂智]]退治): See The Record of Ancient Matters (『古事記』; Kojiki) and The Chronicles of Japan (『日本書紀』; Nihon-shoki).

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(Sunday 20 March) At the North Gate of JR Izumo-shi Station: The picture by a local artist depicting the myth of the White Hare of Inaba (稻羽之素菟/因幡の白兎): See The Record of Ancient Matters (『古事記』).

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(Sunday 20 March) At the east side of JR Izumo-shi Station: A monument called "The Spring of the Myth" (『神話の泉』) featuring the myth of Susanoo-no-mikoto killing a giant snake, the Yamata-no-Orochi (須佐之男命の大蛇[八岐大蛇/八俣遠呂智]]退治)

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(Sunday 20 March) At the east side of JR Izumo-shi Station: Cafe Atrio (カフェ アトリオ)

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(Sunday 20 March) At the east side of JR Izumo-shi Station: Cafe Atrio (カフェ アトリオ)

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(Sunday 20 March) The tower clock with revolving puppets (からくり時計) in front of the north gate of JR Izumo-shi Station: Mechanical dolls consist of "Momiji" (もみじ), the Gods' Band of Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) The tower clock with revolving puppets (からくり時計) in front of the north gate of JR Izumo-shi Station: Mechanical dolls consist of "Momiji" (もみじ), the Gods' Band of Izumo

Izumo-taisha Shrine

Izumo-taisha (出雲大社; Izumo Grand Shrine, also Izumo Oyashiro) is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god Okuninushi (大国主; Okuninushi-no-mikoto), famous as the Shinto deity of marriage. A style of architecture, taisha-zukuri, takes its name from the main hall of Izumo-taisha. That hall, and the attached buildings, were designated National Treasures of Japan in 1952. According to tradition, the hall was previously much taller than presently. The discovery in the year 2000 of the remains of enormous pillars has lent credence to this. Several other buildings in the shrine compound are on the list of Important Cultural Properties of Japan. (Main Reference: the Site of "Wikipedia")

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(Sunday 20 March) A view of Hori-kawa River (堀川) from Uka-no-hashi Bridge (宇迦橋) near O-Torii (大鳥居) Gate

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(Sunday 20 March) First O-Torii Gate of Uka-no-hashi (一の鳥居; 宇迦橋の大鳥居), viewed from Uka-no-hashi Bridge (宇迦橋)

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(Sunday 20 March) First O-Torii Gate of Uka-no-hashi (一の鳥居; 宇迦橋の大鳥居) to Izumo-taish Shrine via Shin-mon-dori Street (神門通り)

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(Sunday 20 March) Shin-mon-dori Street (神門通り) leading to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Information board of the Heisei-era renovations (平成の大遷宮) between April 20, 2008 - May 2013. Since the present shrine buildings were constructed in 1744 (延享元年), the major renovations were done in 1809 (文化6年), 1881 (明治14年) and in 1953 (昭和28年).

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(Sunday 20 March) Second O-Torii Gate of Seidamari (二の鳥居; 勢溜の大鳥居) at "Seidamari" (勢溜), Izumo-taisha Shrine. "Seidamari" means a waiting point of troops. This square was made in 1667 (寛文7年) in the occasion of reconstruction.

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(Sunday 20 March) Second O-Torii Gate of Seidamari (二の鳥居; 勢溜の大鳥居) at "Seidamari" (勢溜), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The approach down to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The approach down to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Harae-no-yashiro" (祓社) on the approach down to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Harae-no-hashi" (祓橋) across the Soga-gawa River (素鵞川) on the approach to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Harae-no-hashi" (祓橋) across the Soga-gawa River (素鵞川) on the approach to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Third Torii Gate of Matsu-no-Sando (三の鳥居; 松の参道の鳥居), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The 400-year-pine approach (松の参道, built in c.1630) to Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The bronze sculptures titled "Go-jiai no Go-shinzo" (「御慈愛の御神像」; The Statue of the Pagod of Affection) featuring the myth of the White Hare of Inaba (稻羽之素菟/因幡の白兎) and Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主神), Izumo-taisha Shrine. There are some version of the story. In the The Record of Ancient Matters (『古事記』; Kojiki), a white hare tricks some sharks into being used as a land bridge, in order to travel from the Island of Oki (淤岐嶋) to Cape Keta (気多岬). He challenges the sharks to see whose clan is large --the sharks or the hares-- by having the sharks lie in a row across the sea. The hare then hopped across them, counting them as he went. Nearing the end, the hare exclaims that he has deceived the sharks in order to use them as a bridge. The last shark attacks the hare, ripping his fur from him. A traveling deity (Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto; 大国主神) then happens upon the hare and helps him regain his fur.

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(Sunday 20 March) The bronze sculptures titled "Go-jiai no Go-shinzo" (「御慈愛の御神像」; The Statue of the Pagod of Affection) featuring the myth of the White Hare of Inaba (稻羽之素菟/因幡の白兎) and Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主神), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Temizu-ya" (手水舎; a Shinto water ablution pavilion for a ceremonial purification rite), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The bronze sculptures titled "Musubi no Go-shinzo" (「ムスビの御神像」; The Statue of the Pagod of Marriage) featuring the myth of Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主神) and "Saki-mitama-Kushi-mitama" (幸魂奇魂; the soul of blessing and soul of transforming), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Part of the bronze sculptures titled "Musubi no Go-shinzo" (「ムスビの御神像」; The Statue of the Pagod of Marriage) featuring the myth of Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主神) and "Saki-mitama-Kushi-mitama" (幸魂奇魂; the soul of blessing and soul of transforming), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Part of the bronze sculptures titled "Musubi no Go-shinzo" (「ムスビの御神像」; The Statue of the Pagod of Marriage) featuring the myth of Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主神) and "Saki-mitama-Kushi-mitama" (幸魂奇魂; the soul of blessing and soul of transforming), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Part of the bronze sculptures titled "Musubi no Go-shinzo" (「ムスビの御神像」; The Statue of the Pagod of Marriage) featuring the myth of Okuni-no-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主神) and "Saki-mitama-Kushi-mitama" (幸魂奇魂; the soul of blessing and soul of transforming), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Fourth Torii Gate of Do [Copper] (四の鳥居; 銅の鳥居), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The Sacred Stable (神馬・神牛), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The Sacred Stable (神馬・神牛), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The Sacred Stable (神馬・神牛), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "O-Kari-den" (御仮殿; the temporary worshippers' hall in renovation time), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "O-Kari-den" (御仮殿; the temporary worshippers' hall in renovation time), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "O-Kari-den" (御仮殿; the temporary worshippers' hall in renovation time), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "O-Kari-den" (御仮殿; the temporary worshippers' hall in renovation time), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Yatsuashi-mon" Gate (八足門, built in 1667), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Yatsuashi-mon" Gate (八足門, built in 1667), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Yatsuashi-mon" Gate (八足門, built in 1667), Izumo-taisha Shrine: The wooden sculture was made by Jingoro Hidari (左 甚五郎)

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(Sunday 20 March) "Soga-no-yashiro" (素鵞社; under reconstruction) and "Shoyo-jo" (逍遥所; a shrine shop), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Go-Hon-den" (御本殿; the main hall under reconstruction), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Go-Hon-den" (御本殿; the main hall under reconstruction), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "O-Kari-den" (御仮殿; the temporary worshippers' hall in renovation time) and "Go-Hon-den" (御本殿; the main hall under reconstruction), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Hanging sacred lots and offering up votive tablets, Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Hanging sacred lots and offering up votive tablets, Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Hanging sacred lots and offering up votive tablets, Izumo-taisha Shrine in front of Jyu-ku-sha Hall (十九社; Guesthouse for Eight Million Gods in the tenth month of the lunar calendar [神在月]), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) Jyu-ku-sha Hall (十九社; Guesthouse for Eight Million Gods in the tenth month of the lunar calendar [神在月]), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kama-no-yashiro" Hall (釜社), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kama-no-yashiro" Hall (釜社), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Homotsu-den" (宝物殿; Treasure House), Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The ancient pillars used for the Sacred Hall in

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(Sunday 20 March) Bridge to "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine: "O-Shimenawa" (大注連縄), "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine: "O-Shimenawa" (大注連縄), "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) "Kagura-den" (the Sacred Dance Hall," Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The biggest Japanese national flag, Izumo-taisha Shrine

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(Sunday 20 March) The biggest Japanese national flag, Izumo-taisha Shrine

Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan

Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan (出雲教北島国造館) is located east of Izumo-taisha Shrine: The address is 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo (出雲市大社町杵築東194). It is a sect of Shinto popular in Western Japan. They enshrines Okuni-nushi-no-mikoto (大国主命) as the main god, together with Amenohohi (天穂日命), the Three Gods of Nature (Amenominaka-nushi-no-kami [天之御中主神], Takamimusuhi-no-kami [高御産巣日神] and Kamimusuhi-no-kami [神産巣日神]), Ameterasu-O-mikami (天照大神) and Ubushina-no-kami (産土神). The head priest has been succeeded by members of the Kitajima family (北島家) for generations since ancient times.

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(Sunday 20 March) Entrance to Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) The main hall of Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) The west gate to Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) The small shrine of "Tenjin-sha" (天神社; the hall of the heavenly gods), Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

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(Sunday 20 March) The small shrine of "Tenjin-sha" (天神社; the hall of the heavenly gods), Izumo-kyo Kitajima-kokuso-kan, 194 Taisha-cho Kizuki-higashi, Izumo

        

Copyright (c) 2011 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.