Most viewed - SHIMANE 島根県 |
Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden with the iconic giant shimenawa sacred rope weighing 5 tons. Built in 1981. 神楽殿と注連縄316 views
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Amid a complex of moats, stone walls, and reconstructed turrets, the main castle tower largely retains its original 17th-century construction and stands five stories high. 315 views
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Yaegaki Shrine's wedded trees.263 views
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Izumo Taisha's Honden built in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. 本殿258 views
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Lake Shinji, Matsue237 views
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Yaegaki Shrine, Matsue 八重垣神社225 views
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Yomegashima island and Jizo statues, Lake Shinji, Matsue, Shimane Pref.224 views
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Kamosu Shrine in Matsue, Shimane. 神魂神社215 views
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Fudoki-no-Oka Okadayama tumulus, Matsue 風土記の丘210 views
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Giant torii as it looked years ago, minus the new paint job.188 views
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Shimane Art Museum rabbits173 views
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Haiden and Honden behind it.165 views
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Haiden and shimenawa sacred rope 拝殿. The Haiden was built in 1959 after the original building was destroyed by fire in 1953.153 views
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Izumo, Shimane manhole. Shows Hinomisaki lighthouse.152 views
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Izumo Taisha ema prayer tablet for the Year of the Dog.139 views
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Without the tents.129 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine toriis129 views
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Izumo Taisha's Haiden worship hall where you can hold prayers and other ceremonies like in a church. Rebuilt in 1959 after the previous one was lost in a fire in 1953. 拝殿127 views
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Sando path to the shrine. 参道125 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's many toriis going up the mountain.125 views
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Second torii to Izumo Taisha.121 views
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Omikuji charms.121 views
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Lake Shinji and Matsu pine trees121 views
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Lots of people took selfies here in front of the torii and big stone pillar engraved with "IZUMO TAISHA." For Instagram of course.121 views
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Lots of people took selfies here in front of the torii and big stone pillar engraved with "IZUMO TAISHA." For Instagram of course.119 views
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Map of castle grounds and my bicycle.118 views
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115 views
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Izumo Hinosaki Lighthouse 出雲日御碕燈台114 viewsWent there by bicycle.
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Built in 1611, Matsue Castle is Japan's latest and fifth castle whose main tower tower has been designated as a National Treasure (on July 8, 2015).114 viewsMatsue Castle is open 8:30 am to 6:30 pm (or 5 pm during Oct. to Mar.). No holidays. Admission is ¥280 for foreigners. Combination ticket that includes admission to the Lafcadio Hearn Museum is also available.
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Giant shimenawa straw rope of Izumo Taisha Shrine's Kaguraden, the largest sacred rope in Japan. Weighs 5 tons.114 views
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This center path is reserved for the gods visiting Izumo Taisha. Humans have to walk on the side paths to the shrine. 参道113 views
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Taisha Station, closed in 1990 and preserved as an Important Cultural Property. 大社駅112 views
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View of Lake Shinji from Matsue Castle.112 views
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Izumo Taisha's Honden, a National Treasure. The V-shaped roof ornaments (chigi), an unmistakable trademark of Shinto, also look slightly different from other shrine architectural styles.112 views
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Sagimai statue in Tsuwano, Shimane.112 views
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Tachikue Gorge 立久恵峡110 views
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JR Izumo-shi Station in the 1990s.110 views
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The famous giant tortoise at Gesshoji Temple, Matsue. They put a stone pillar on its back so it wouldn't walk around at night and wreak havoc. Animal cruelty?110 views
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JR Matsue Station 松江駅108 views
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On New Year's Day 2018, many people visit Izumo Taisha Shrine by car. Lots of parking was provided, but I always saw the "Full" sign.108 views
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Entering Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.108 views
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Tsuwano manhole 108 views
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Yaegaki Shrine 八重垣神社105 views
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Jizo statue at Lake Shinji, Matsue.101 views
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Tsuwano Castle ruins in Shimane.100 views
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99 views
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The famous giant tortoise at Gesshoji Temple, Matsue.99 views
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Almost sunset over Lake Shinji98 views
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Fudoki-no-Oka Okadayama tumulus97 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's many toriis going up the mountain.97 views
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Nice view as you go up. Lower left shows the entrance torii.97 views
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A closer look at the torii in the mountains.97 views
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A couple tries to find out how strong their bond will be.96 views
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Nicknamed Tsuwano O-Inarisan, Taikodani Inari Jinja is one of Japan's Top Five Inari shrines noted for many vermillion torii gates along the path to the shrine.96 viewsThe shrine worships Uka-no-Mitama, a deity associated with food and agriculture, and the goddess Izanami. It is Shimane Prefecture's second most popular shrine after Izumo Taisha. About a 20-min. walk from JR Tsuwano Station.
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In Tsuwano, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine is on a hilltop with its many toriis clearly visible from the nearby river.96 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet.96 views
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Yasaka Jinja in Tsuwano.96 views
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Lion dancer was at Yasaka Jinja for New Year's.96 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's many toriis going up the mountain.95 views
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Finally reached the shrine.95 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.95 views
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From a distance, you see the shrine halfway up the mountain.95 views
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94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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94 views
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Another switchback.94 views
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This is what the torii looks like up close. It's a giant torii next to the mountain highway on the way to Tsuwano. Donated by someone for the shrine.94 views
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94 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.94 views
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Inside Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.94 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet.94 views
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New Year's charms.94 views
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94 views
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93 views
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Inside the torii tunnel at Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.93 views
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Gate to Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.93 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.93 views
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Ema prayer tablets.93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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93 views
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Stone lantern near the shrine entrance.93 views
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View of garden in Lafcadio Hearn's old residence.92 views
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92 views
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Moss growing on the top.92 views
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One of the torii switchbacks on the way up.92 views
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92 views
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Small shrine on the way up.92 views
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Torii peg.92 views
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View of the adjacent valley.92 views
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92 views
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Wash basin to purify yourself before praying at the shrine.92 views
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The shrine's parking lot is downstairs. If you have a car, you can skip hiking through the torii gates and drive up here. There's also a trail to Tsuwano Castle.92 views
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View from the parking lot.92 views
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The shrine's old worship hall called Motomiya. Used before the current shrine Haiden worship hall was built in 1969.92 views
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Shrine gate92 views
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Fried tofu, a good snack.92 views
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91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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91 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.91 views
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Inside the shrine's old worship hall called Motomiya.91 views
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Shrine gate91 views
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Shrine gate91 views
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Way to Inari Shrine.91 views
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Many of the toriis are very old like this one from 1926.90 views
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Map of the torii path and shrine.90 views
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Makeshift roof over a bunch of toriis.90 views
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90 views
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On the mountain in the distance, you can see a vermillion torii.90 views
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Shrine offices and souvenir stand.90 views
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90 views
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Shrine office and souvenirs.90 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet for 2018, Year of the Dog.90 views
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Walking back down from the shrine.90 views
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About Yasaka Jinja.90 views
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Yomegashima island and Jizo statues, Lake Shinji90 views
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89 views
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Map of Izumo Taisha's central buildings centering on the Honden.89 views
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89 views
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89 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.89 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet for 2018, Year of the Dog.89 views
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89 views
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Shrine's first torii in town.89 views
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Yasaka Jinja's centuries old zelkova keyaki tree.89 views
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Train tracks cross over the path to the Inari Shrine.89 views
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88 views
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Entrance to Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.88 views
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Inside the torii tunnel at Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine in Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture88 views
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Since it was New Year's 2018, a kadomatsu decorated the Haiden.88 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.88 views
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88 views
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Photo of the Izumo Taisha Honden. Built in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. 本殿87 views
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86 views
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Honden (largest and tallest structure) flanked on both sides by smaller shrines.86 views
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86 views
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Near Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine is anotjer Shinto shine named Yasaka Jinja.86 views
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Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture.86 views
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Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture.86 views
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85 views
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Mori Ogai's birth home. 森鴎外旧宅85 views
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Kitchen of Mori Ogai's birth home. 森鴎外旧宅85 views
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84 views
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It is unknown exactly what Izumo Taisha's Honden Hall looked like during the 13th century Kamakura Period. Based on the evidence they could find, five researchers built their own scale models of what they thought the Honden Hall looked like.84 views
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84 views
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Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture.84 views
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Izumo Taisha's Honden built in the Taisha-zukuri style as seen from the left corner. National Treasure. 本殿83 views
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Giant loach in front of the hall in Yasugi, Shimane.83 views
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82 views
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Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.82 views
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Old tsuzumi shoulder drum and koto.82 views
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Closeup of bronze bell design.82 views
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Haniwa figures82 views
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82 views
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Mori Ogai's birth home. 森鴎外旧宅82 views
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The large roof of the Honden Hall (god's residence) can be seen in the center.81 views
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Fence surrounding the Honden.81 views
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Rear side view of the Amasaki-no-Yashiro, Mimukai-no-Yashiro, and Honden shrines. 東端垣から天前社・御向社・本殿を望む81 views
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Taisha-zukuri architecture.81 views
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Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018.81 views
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Rear view of the shrine scale models.81 views
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81 views
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Retro style building on the way to the shrine.80 views
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Smaller shrine. 氏社80 views
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Shokokan, a museum of dolls. Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. 彰古館80 views
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Back of Izumo Taisha's Honden in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. 本殿80 views
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Izumo Taisha has many smaller shrines surrounding it. 80 views
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Izumo Taisha ema prayer tablet for a good marriage.80 views
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Entrance to Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.80 views
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New Year's80 views
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Pottery kiln80 views
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80 views
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Iwami kagura dance costumes80 views
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Izumo Taisha Shrine is one of Japan's Top Three most famous and important Shinto shrines. Historically, it may be Japan's oldest shrine. The Honden hall is a National Treasure.79 viewsIzumo Taisha Shrine's first torii called Otorii (Giant Torii). I visited Izumo Taisha on New Year's Day Jan. 1, 2018. 大鳥居
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Map of Izumo Taisha Shrine. Not as huge as Ise Jingu, but large enough.79 views
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79 views
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79 views
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Small dishes for a sip of sake if you give a small donation. They also had this in front of the Honden. 79 views
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Souvenir shop selling all kinds of Izumo Taisha goods.79 views
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The museum's centerpiece exhibit is this scale model of Izumo Taisha's Honden Hall from the 10th-century Heian Period. 79 views
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High wooden pillars supporting the Honden Hall so that it is closer to the gods.79 views
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About the Izumo no Okuni dancer. Quite a mysterious historical figure.79 views
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Third torii made of copper and the Haiden. 碧銅の鳥居と拝殿78 views
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The Honden is flanked on both sides by smaller shrines.78 views
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East Jukusha Shrines where the millions of visiting gods lodge during the Kami-ari-zuki festival in autumn. There's also a twin building on the west side. 十九社 八百萬神78 views
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Lots of construction going on in jan. 2018.78 views
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Near the gate to the Honden are souvenir tents during New Year's.78 views
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Way to the Kaguraden Sacred Dance Hall.78 views
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Rear side of the giant shimenawa straw rope.78 views
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Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.78 views
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Small pond next to the Kaguraden.78 views
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Souvenir shop selling all kinds of Izumo Taisha goods.78 views
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Shimane's official tourism mascot named "Shimanekko," a yellow cat with a shrine roof cap. しまねっこ78 views
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78 views
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78 views
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Little priests going up the many stairs.78 views
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78 views
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Pottery78 views
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78 views
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This is the second and most popular torii at Izumo Taisha. With the big stone pillar engraved with "IZUMO TAISHA."77 views
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Izumo Taisha's Haiden worship hall.77 views
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Back of Izumo Taisha's Honden in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. Rabbits or hares look on too. 本殿77 views
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Rabbits or hares at Izumo Taisha, symbol of fertility and marriage.77 views
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Soga Shrine, a smaller shrine behind the Honden. 素鵞(そが)社本殿77 views
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77 views
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77 views
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West Jukusha Shrines where visiting gods lodge during the Kami-ari-zuki festival. There's also a twin building on the east side. 十九社 八百萬神77 views
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Under the giant shimenawa straw rope.77 views
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Within the shrine grounds is the very impressive Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo. (島根県立古代出雲歴史博物館)77 views
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New Year's kadomatsu at Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo. 77 views
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People believe that the original shrine was on high pillars accessible by this long, sloping wooden steps. Really awesome.77 views
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77 views
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The elevated shrine supposed to make it closer to gods.77 views
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Wonder how resistant this was to typhoons and earthquakes.77 views
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77 views
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Statue of Izumo no Okuni dancer near the first Otorii gate.77 views
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Uchibori Moat behind Matsue Castle.76 views
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On New Year's Day 2018, cars and people crowd the road to the shrine.76 views
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Back of Haiden.76 views
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76 views
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Omikuji charms.76 views
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You can walk completely around the main shrine buildings outside the fence at Izumo Taisha.76 views
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Closeup of the giant shimenawa straw rope.76 views
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Local manga figure based on the Izumo no Okuni dancer. She was from Izumo and originated kabuki in the early 17th century. 出雲阿国76 views
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Very impressive model of the shrine.76 views
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The five models look quite different although they are in agreement on some things like the number of pillars supporting the Honden. 76 views
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Rear view of the shrine scale models.76 views
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Models of the different shrine building architencture in Japan.76 views
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Boat76 views
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Other museum exhibits included many different ancient artifacts like dotaku bronze bells that are all National Treasures.76 views
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76 views
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Iwami kagura dance masks76 views
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Jozan Inari Shrine by Hearn.75 views
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Closest train station to Izumo Taisha Shrine is Izumo Taisha-mae Station on the Ichibata Taisha Line. There are also buses running from Izumo-shi Station. 出雲大社前駅75 views
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Kaguraden Sacred Dance Hall 75 views
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Kaguraden Hall (for sacred dances) is famous for its gigantic straw rope. It looked pretty faded and I was told that it will be replaced in 2018. They replace it once every 7 years or so.75 views
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Kaguraden entrance area75 views
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75 views
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Souvenir shop selling all kinds of Izumo Taisha goods.75 views
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Lawn outside Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo. 75 views
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These two models are similar to the large model.75 views
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75 views
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75 views
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Iwami kagura dance masks75 views
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Matsue Castle moat boat.74 views
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Sign reads, "Izumo Taisha" (出雲大社). The shrine's officially named "Izumo Oyashiro" written with the same kanji.74 viewsIzumo Taisha worships Okuninushi (大国主大神), the Shinto god of marriage and Kotoamatsukami, the very first Shinto gods born in heaven even before Japan was created.
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Torii pillar74 views
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74 views
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74 views
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