 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307 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. 307 views
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Yaegaki Shrine's wedded trees.251 views
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Izumo Taisha's Honden built in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. 本殿247 views
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Lake Shinji, Matsue227 views
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Yomegashima island and Jizo statues, Lake Shinji, Matsue, Shimane Pref.215 views
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Yaegaki Shrine, Matsue 八重垣神社215 views
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Kamosu Shrine in Matsue, Shimane. 神魂神社203 views
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Fudoki-no-Oka Okadayama tumulus, Matsue 風土記の丘201 views
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Giant torii as it looked years ago, minus the new paint job.182 views
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Shimane Art Museum rabbits161 views
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Haiden and Honden behind it.154 views
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Izumo, Shimane manhole. Shows Hinomisaki lighthouse.143 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 1953.142 views
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Izumo Taisha ema prayer tablet for the Year of the Dog.125 views
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Without the tents.123 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine toriis118 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117 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's many toriis going up the mountain.117 views
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Sando path to the shrine. 参道116 views
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Omikuji charms.114 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.114 views
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Map of castle grounds and my bicycle.111 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.110 views
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Second torii to Izumo Taisha.110 views
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Lake Shinji and Matsu pine trees110 views
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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).105 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.105 views
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105 views
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Tachikue Gorge 立久恵峡104 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104 views
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Izumo Hinosaki Lighthouse 出雲日御碕燈台103 viewsWent there by bicycle.
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View of Lake Shinji from Matsue Castle.103 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.102 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.102 views
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Taisha Station, closed in 1990 and preserved as an Important Cultural Property. 大社駅100 views
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JR Izumo-shi Station in the 1990s.100 views
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Sagimai statue in Tsuwano, Shimane.100 views
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Entering Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.99 views
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JR Matsue Station 松江駅98 views
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Tsuwano manhole 95 views
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Yaegaki Shrine 八重垣神社93 views
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Jizo statue at Lake Shinji, Matsue.93 views
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A couple tries to find out how strong their bond will be.90 views
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Tsuwano Castle ruins in Shimane.90 views
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Almost sunset over Lake Shinji89 views
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89 views
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Fudoki-no-Oka Okadayama tumulus89 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's many toriis going up the mountain.87 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.86 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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Nice view as you go up. Lower left shows the entrance torii.86 views
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A closer look at the torii in the mountains.86 views
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Finally reached the shrine.86 views
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84 views
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View of garden in Lafcadio Hearn's old residence.84 views
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84 views
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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.84 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's many toriis going up the mountain.84 views
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84 views
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Another switchback.84 views
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84 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.84 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet.84 views
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From a distance, you see the shrine halfway up the mountain.84 views
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84 views
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Yasaka Jinja in Tsuwano.84 views
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83 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.83 views
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Gate to Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.83 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.83 views
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Inside Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.83 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet.83 views
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83 views
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83 views
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Stone lantern near the shrine entrance.83 views
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Lion dancer was at Yasaka Jinja for New Year's.83 views
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Inside the torii tunnel at Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.82 views
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82 views
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82 views
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Small shrine on the way up.82 views
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View of the adjacent valley.82 views
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On the mountain in the distance, you can see a vermillion torii.82 views
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Wash basin to purify yourself before praying at the shrine.82 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.82 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.82 views
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Shrine office and souvenirs.82 views
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Ema prayer tablets.82 views
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New Year's charms.82 views
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The shrine's old worship hall called Motomiya. Used before the current shrine Haiden worship hall was built in 1969.82 views
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82 views
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The famous giant tortoise at Gesshoji Temple, Matsue.82 views
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81 views
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Inside the torii tunnel at Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine in Tsuwano, Shimane Prefecture81 views
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81 views
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Moss growing on the top.81 views
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81 views
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One of the torii switchbacks on the way up.81 views
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81 views
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81 views
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81 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.81 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's Haiden worship hall.81 views
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Shrine offices and souvenir stand.81 views
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81 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet for 2018, Year of the Dog.81 views
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View from the parking lot.81 views
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Inside the shrine's old worship hall called Motomiya.81 views
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Shrine gate81 views
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Shrine gate81 views
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Walking back down from the shrine.81 views
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Shrine gate81 views
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Way to Inari Shrine.81 views
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Train tracks cross over the path to the Inari Shrine.81 views
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Yomegashima island and Jizo statues, Lake Shinji81 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?81 views
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Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture.81 views
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80 views
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Map of the torii path and shrine.80 views
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Makeshift roof over a bunch of toriis.80 views
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80 views
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80 views
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80 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.80 views
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80 views
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80 views
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Fried tofu, a good snack.80 views
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Shrine's first torii in town.80 views
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About Yasaka Jinja.80 views
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79 views
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Photo of the Izumo Taisha Honden. Built in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. 本殿79 views
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Entrance to Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine.79 views
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Torii peg.79 views
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79 views
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Yasaka Jinja's centuries old zelkova keyaki tree.79 views
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Map of Izumo Taisha's central buildings centering on the Honden.78 views
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Honden (largest and tallest structure) flanked on both sides by smaller shrines.78 views
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Many of the toriis are very old like this one from 1926.78 views
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Since it was New Year's 2018, a kadomatsu decorated the Haiden.78 views
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Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine's ema prayer tablet for 2018, Year of the Dog.78 views
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Near Taikodani Inari Jinja Shrine is anotjer Shinto shine named Yasaka Jinja.78 views
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Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture.77 views
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Adachi Museum of Art garden, Shimane Prefecture.76 views
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Giant loach in front of the hall in Yasugi, Shimane.76 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74 views
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Kitchen of Mori Ogai's birth home. 森鴎外旧宅74 views
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73 views
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Map of Izumo Taisha Shrine. Not as huge as Ise Jingu, but large enough.72 views
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The large roof of the Honden Hall (god's residence) can be seen in the center.72 views
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72 views
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Entrance to Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.72 views
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72 views
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Rear view of the shrine scale models.72 views
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Haniwa figures72 views
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Iwami kagura dance costumes72 views
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71 views
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71 views
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Izumo Taisha ema prayer tablet for a good marriage.71 views
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71 views
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Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018.71 views
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Old tsuzumi shoulder drum and koto.71 views
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Closeup of bronze bell design.71 views
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About the Izumo no Okuni dancer. Quite a mysterious historical figure.71 views
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Mori Ogai's birth home. 森鴎外旧宅71 views
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Fence surrounding the Honden.70 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70 views
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70 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70 views
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70 views
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Lots of construction going on in jan. 2018.70 views
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Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.70 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70 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)70 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. 70 views
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Wonder how resistant this was to typhoons and earthquakes.70 views
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High wooden pillars supporting the Honden Hall so that it is closer to the gods.70 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.70 views
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70 views
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Pottery70 views
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70 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.69 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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Shokokan, a museum of dolls. Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. 彰古館69 views
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Back of Izumo Taisha's Honden in the Taisha-zukuri style. National Treasure. 本殿69 views
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Taisha-zukuri architecture.69 views
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Izumo Taisha has many smaller shrines surrounding it. 69 views
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69 views
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Near the gate to the Honden are souvenir tents during New Year's.69 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.69 views
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Under the giant shimenawa straw rope.69 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. 69 views
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Souvenir shop selling all kinds of Izumo Taisha goods.69 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69 views
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69 views
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Remains of the giant pillars of the ancient Izumo Taisha.69 views
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Rear view of the shrine scale models.69 views
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69 views
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Pottery kiln69 views
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69 views
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Mori Ogai's birth home. 森鴎外旧宅69 views
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Retro style building on the way to the shrine.68 views
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Third torii made of copper and the Haiden. 碧銅の鳥居と拝殿68 views
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Smaller shrine. 氏社68 views
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Way to the Kaguraden Sacred Dance Hall.68 views
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Kaguraden Sacred Dance Hall 68 views
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Rear side of the giant shimenawa straw rope.68 views
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New Year's68 views
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68 views
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Souvenir shop selling all kinds of Izumo Taisha goods.68 views
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People believe that the original shrine was on high pillars accessible by this long, sloping wooden steps. Really awesome.68 views
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The elevated shrine supposed to make it closer to gods.68 views
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Little priests going up the many stairs.68 views
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Very impressive model of the shrine.68 views
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68 views
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Other museum exhibits included many different ancient artifacts like dotaku bronze bells that are all National Treasures.68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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Statue of Izumo no Okuni dancer near the first Otorii gate.68 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.67 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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On New Year's Day 2018, cars and people crowd the road to the shrine.67 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."67 views
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Back of Haiden.67 views
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67 views
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Rabbits or hares at Izumo Taisha, symbol of fertility and marriage.67 views
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Soga Shrine, a smaller shrine behind the Honden. 素鵞（そが）社本殿67 views
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Izumo Taisha ema prayer tablets.67 views
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Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.67 views
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Small pond next to the Kaguraden.67 views
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67 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. 67 views
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Dotaku bronze bells that are all National Treasures in Shimane.67 views
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Iwami kagura dance masks67 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66 views
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Izumo Taisha's Haiden worship hall.66 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66 views
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66 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66 views
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Closeup of the giant shimenawa straw rope.66 views
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66 views
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Souvenir shop selling all kinds of Izumo Taisha goods.66 views
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Lawn outside Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo. 66 views
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New Year's kadomatsu at Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo. 66 views
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66 views
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These two models are similar to the large model.66 views
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Boat66 views
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66 views
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66 views
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Jozan Inari Shrine by Hearn.65 views
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Uchibori Moat behind Matsue Castle.65 views
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Sign says we are not to walk along center path in order to protect the roots of the pine trees. I'm also told that this center path is reserved for the gods visiting the shrine..65 views
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You can walk completely around the main shrine buildings outside the fence at Izumo Taisha.65 views
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The Honden is flanked on both sides by smaller shrines.65 views
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Shrine library built in 1667 and moved here in 1914. 文庫65 views
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About the shrine library. Mito Komon once donated books to this library.65 views
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