A Sample Itinerary through all the Myth and Magic of Izumo: draw into the full allure and grandeur of Izumo, the land of legends.
Legend has it that old lunar calendar's October (November 13 to December 12 in 2023), is the sacred season where the gods from all over Japan flock to Izumo Taisha in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture. This period is commonly known as "Kannazuki" or the month without gods elsewhere in Japan, but in this sole destination, the same dates are aptly renamed to "Kamiarizuki," the month with gods, bringing without it a full line up of Shinto events and rites to see with your own eyes in Izumo.
This mystical region is dotted with ties to legend and ancient myths, bringing footsteps to the front step of old-world history and tales, culture, and the untouched, original backdrops of Japan. As an added perk, there’s even plenty of local delights you can only find here in Shimane, just waiting for you to try. Set a course for an unforgettable, 1-night, 2-day expedition, a model course through all the best of Izumo.
How to get to Izumo
From major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, there are a number of ideal ways to access Shimane Prefecture, both by air and land.
Izumo Enmusubi Airport, connected with direct flights from various regional airports, is located at the western end of Lake Shinji, close to Izumo Taisha, the first destination in our model course. Landing here offers smooth, easy access and convenience via limousine bus, available from the airport to Izumo Taisha.
From Osaka Station, you can transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka Station and head to Okayama Station. Similarly, from Hiroshima Station, take the Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama Station and then take the express Yakumo train to Shimane Prefecture to arrive.
Day1
12:40pm "Shinmon Dori," lined with a variety of souvenir shops and eateries.
For this journey, you'll arrive in Izumo in a leisurely hour just past noon. From Izumo City Station, take the Ichibata Electric Railway to Izumo Taisha Mae Station. Here you’ll find the omotesando, the main “Shinmon Dori” promenade that leads up to Izumo Taisha. With approximately 60 shops, including a full repertoire of souvenir shops and varied eateries, this is the spot to find all the best of local street eats and soak in the tranquil atmosphere before heading up to the shrine.
Catch up on the latest tourist tips at Shinmon Dori Omotenashi Station.
Shinmon Dori Omotenashi Station is a spot on the main Shinmon Dori avenue that operates year-round as a tourist information center. Here you’ll find essential materials for touring Shimane, including navigation maps for the surrounding area of Izumo Taisha and pamphlets, all for free. Grab some for the latest, in-depth updates that goes well beyond what you can find via smartphone search. As an added perk, they also offer twice-daily scheduled guided tours of Izumo Taisha led by volunteer guides (at 10 am and 1 pm, lasting about 90 minutes, costing 800 yen per person on weekends and holidays). No prior reservation is needed, so you can easily join as an add-on to your visit.
1:00pm Enjoy the ancient flavors of Izumo at the historic "Kan'unro," a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Lunch is your chance to savor the unique, local delights of Izumo at Kan'unro, an esteemed traditional Japanese restaurant with a long history in the region. Founded in 1882, Kan'unro continues to serve as a cherished venue by locals for various occasions, including wedding receptions and post-ceremony meals. This venerable establishment, once a purveyor to Izumo Taisha and even the Imperial family, is known for its "Uzuni”, a dish that comes highly recommended for its historical significance and taste.
The key to its deliciousness is the luxe, Japanese-style sauce made from blowfish.
The name “Uzu-ni" is derived from the bowl’s presentation, where a bed of rice is topped with a swirl of ingredients and Japanese authentic sauce made with a secret broth base derived from blowfish cause in Shimane Prefecture. This welcoming dish is still served at the Fukujin Festival held in the Kaguraden of Izumo Taisha, with a history recorded as far back as the Nara period. The taste carries a long history of Izumo and an aesthetic sensibility to sooth your soul.
2:00pm Swing through the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo before paying a visit to the shrine.
Once you're full, head towards Izumo Taisha. A stop just ahead of the shrine will bring you to the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo to learn about the history and mythology of Izumo, including Izumo Taisha.
Remarkable replicas of bronze artifacts and over 200 bronze swords
The exhibition rooms are divided into three themes: "Izumo Taisha and the Festival of the Land of the Gods”, "The World of Izumo no Kuni Fudoki” and "Bronze Artifacts and Golden Great Swords”. They offer explanations based on precious materials about the mystique shrouding the grand temple hall and the culture of the time. The bronze artifacts excavated from the Izumo site and the restored models of over 200 bronze swords are particularly worth the visit.
3:30pm Izumo Taisha, a power spot known to bolster the best of strong relationships
After finishing at the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo it's finally time to visit Izumo Taisha. This shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi-no-Okami, the deity of good relationships, as mentioned in Japan's oldest historical record, the "Kojiki." Praying here is believed to beckon good fortune and partnerships. The shrine's precinct is replete with notable features including four torii gates, a pine-lined approach, and what is claimed to be Japan's largest national flag among others. Adjacent to the shrine is the Kagura Hall, famous for its massive "Shimenawa" sacred rope, measuring 13 meters in length and weighing 5.2 tons, one of the largest in Japan.
4:30pm Delight in the relaxing ease at Goen Yokocho, located right in front of the main gate of Izumo Taisha.
After boosting your luck with some extra blessings at Izumo Taisha, head over to Goen Yokocho, an absolutely must and commercial stop located just steps from the front of the shrine's main gate. Inside, you'll find popular Izumo soba restaurants, handmade pickle shops, and breweries handling craft beer made in Izumo. There's also a fortune-telling corner to check in on all your fortunes, from the romantic to marriage and compatibility, as well as a lottery booth in case you’re feeling lucky. There are even exclusive souvenirs to check that are only available here!
5:00pm Catch the picture-perfect sunset at Inasa no Hama, the backdrop behind Japan’s esteemed legend and myth.
A leisurely 15-minute walk from Goen Yokocho brings you to a vast sandy beach stretching before you. This is Inasa no Hama, the setting for the well-known "Kuniyuzuri (Transfer of the Land)" myth from Japanese mythology. Overlooking the Sea of Japan, this scenic beach with white sands and green pines has been selected as one of the top 100 beaches in Japan, attracting many visitors from Japan and around the world. The surrounding area becomes especially ethereal as it begins to whiten, and the sight of the sea surface dyed red by the setting sun is considered one of the best scenic views in Shimane Prefecture.
6:00pm Stay at Inishie no Yado Keiun, a lodging that exudes a sense of solidity and high style.
After this feast for the eyes its time to head towards your stay for the night, Inishie no Yado Keiun. The entrance is decorated with Izumo Kagura masks before opening to an entire space boasting intricate designs with motifs from the myth of Yamata no Orochi. This luxury lodging is characterized by the utmost in grand, luxe style, down to the last nook and corner.
The guest rooms feature a Japanese aesthetic that capitalizes on the beauty of nature, not to mention that each room comes with an en suite private bath (some even have an open-air bath with natural hot springs). For dining, delight in a feast of kaiseki cuisine, includings dishes like local Shimane Wagyu and sake from Izumo brewers. The lodge is just an 8-minute walk from Izumo Taisha, making it easy to visit the shrine early in the morning to experience its mystical atmosphere.
Day2
9:00am Set out from your stay and head to Izumo Cultural Heritage Museum.
After breakfast, start your second day by heading to the Izumo Culture Heritage Museum. To get there, take the Ichibata Electric Railway from Izumo Taisha-mae Station to Hamayama Park North Gate Station. From Hamayama Park North Gate, it's about a 20-minute walk. The sprawling grounds are surrounded by the unique Tsuijimatsu variety of pine trees native to the Izumo region and offer a home tothe relocated main house of the wealthy Esumi family and an Izumo-style garden. The garden grounds are open to stroll free of charge.
Appreciate the enchanting karesansui (dry landscape) garden in the Izumo style.
The main house of the Esumi family is an elegant mansion built in 1896 during the Meiji era. Step inside and find yourself greeted by a spacious earthen floor, giant zelkova pillars, and black pine beams. The layout is a traditional three-room construction, exemplary of Japanese architecture, and from the study, you can admire the karesansui Izumo-style garden. The garden features black pines, mokkoku, hinoki cypress, and Japanese apricot trees, with large stepping stones and tanzaku stones laid out in typical Izumo fashion. The sheer beauty of the different garden trees are sure to impress upon your heart.
A rare tea room associated with Sen no Rikyu, prominent throughout the country.
After the garden, it’s time to head towards the historic Dokurakuan. A tea room associated with Sen no Rikyu, the founder of the tea ceremony, that has been completely restored here. It is a famous seat conveyed by the seventh lord of the Matsue Domain, Matsudaira Haruyoshi, known as a daimyo tea master. The building is also home to a unique roji garden known as "Sankan Sanro”, a rare layout in Japan that’s sure to catch your eye.
10:00am Shimane Winery, known as one of the finest in Japan.
Just a short, 5-minute taxi ride will bring you to Shimane Winery. Its history began in 1959 with wine brewing using 100% Delaware grapes. With the motto of aiming for the finest wine from the climate of Shimane, it's a winery known for its quality, handling every step from grape cultivation to brewing, making it one of the best in Japan.
Eight different types of wine as well as different grape juices to taste!
At the winery you’ll find the chance to join a factory tour to understand how wine is made here. There’s even a tasting room available where you can sample 8 types of wine and grape juice, comparing a full palate of rich flavors and aromas unique to Shimane wine. Apart from wines, there's also a corner selling Shimane's local products, and the restaurant serving Shimane Wagyu BBQ that comes in high regard.
12:00pm Explore Cotton Road, a spot that once thrived as a hub for cotton trading.
After purchasing your favorite wine, consider taking a 25-minute taxi ride to Cotton Road. Once a bustling hub for cotton trading, this area retains streetscapes that reflect its former glory.
The area's old-world look and feel almost seems as if you’ve stepped back in time.
Step into the days of old and deep history on the historic streets lined with plaster-wall houses built in the “kirizuma-zukuri” style from the late Edo to the Meiji periods. Soy sauce breweries, sake breweries, and traditional ginger candy shops are still in running today, offering plenty of worthwhile stops to drop by. At the entrance of the street, the restored old Nagasaki physician's house, now the "Cotton Road Exchange Hall”, provides tourist information for the surrounding area along with handy maps and exploration notebooks. As a bonus, this same spot even keeps 14 types of experiential tours, including "sake brewery tours and tasting."
1:30pm Mankusen Shrine, where the gods make their final visit.
The last stop on this Izumo itinerary is Mankusen Shrine. This ancient shrine is believed to be where all the gods of Japan gather during the month of Kamiarizuki (when gods are believed to be present in Izumo). It's a spiritually potent spot known for bestowing blessings such as peace across the land, bountiful harvests, prosperity in various industries, healing from illnesses, safety in travel, and the fulfillment of all kinds of wishes.
On the grounds you’ll find the stately shrine and main hall of Tachimushi Shrine, dedicated to three deities.
The shrine enshrines four deities, including Sukunahikona no Mikoto, who is said to have contributed significantly to the founding of the nation. While there is no main hall, a shrine stands guarding the sacred tree Himorogi and Iwasaka. On the grounds you can find the main hall of Tachimushi Shrine, moved here in 1670, welcoming worshippers. This shrine enshrines three deities mentioned in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, who are known for their guardianship over forestry, planting, and architecture. Even today, they are revered as patron deities by those in the local civil engineering and construction sectors.
Wrap-Up
With this 2-day itinerary you should have everything to visit the famed homes of Japanese legend and myth, all while praying for even better relationships at Izumo Taisha and savoring the tastes of the ancient region.
You can even take a stroll through the cozy, historic district streets while trying 100% Shimane-brand wine. Prepare your heart and soul for an expedition into the glorious wonders and harmonious ties with others made here in Shimane Prefecture.