My Pilgrimage Route & Sensations:
1st Offering (Haiden / Main Worship Hall): Tossed ¥50 — A super powerful, shocking electric sensation ran through my entire body.
2nd Offering (Yatsuashimon): Circled around the Haiden and tossed ¥50 — Felt quiet and calm, with no sudden shift.
3rd Offering (Soga-no-yashiro / Susanoo Shrine): Tossed ¥50 at the mountain base — Felt another electric shock run from head to toe, smaller than the first.
4th Offering (Kaguraden): Tossed ¥11 — Felt another surge of power, slightly smaller than the 3rd. Bought my sacred threads and mallet here.
5th Offering (Inasa Beach Shrine): Walked to the beach and tossed ¥11 at the shrine on the rock — Experienced a massive surge of power, almost comparable to the intense shock at the first hall.
Rationale Behind the Coin Offerings:
¥50 Coins: Represents Gojū-en (50-fold sacred connections) and Mitooshi ga ii (a clear outlook and unblocked path ahead, symbolized by the hole in the center of the coin).
¥11 Coins: Represents Ii En (いい縁 — where 11 sounds like "Ii"), meaning good connections, wonderful relationships, and a fortunate destiny.
Keeping the Blessings Close:
I wear my sacred thread tied on my wrist (just like a Thai Sai Sin thread), and keep the rest in my car, on my laptop case, at my desk at home, and in my wallet. My mallet charm and fortune are both on my keychain.
I visited in the evening, at around 6 p.m., as my flight from Tokyo was delayed. Nevertheless, the shrine was still open and not too crowded.
I was truly amazed by the serenity, cleanliness, and natural beauty of its wooden structures. They looked very different from the temples and shrines I have visited in Kyoto, Nara, Nikko, and northeastern Japan.
I also felt the spirit of Japan and the shrine's commitment to making this country a better place by preserving its traditions and contributing to world peace.
Thank you so much for creating and maintaining such an amazing place!
One of my personal favorite places in Japan is Izumo Taisha.
It has that unique Japanese, almost dour, solemnity combined with Japanese love of kawaii (cuteness) as seen in stone rabbits everywhere.
In any other context, the combo might seem strange or forced but here, it simply works!
The fact that Izumo Taisha is not easy to reach keeps crowds down and minimizes inauthenticity. This is not, primarily, a tourist site. It is a pilgrimage site for worshippers, first and foremost.
I would certainly highly recommend a visit
This is not an entry level attraction. If you are new to Japan, you might prefer Kyoto, Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine and shopping in Shinjuku.
On the other hand, if you are ready to visit a more "shibui", niche location that touches the Japanese soul, spend some time in Izumo. Wander around the grounds slowly, absorbing the atmosphere in silence. If possible, I suggest a winter visit when crowds are reduced to a trickle, but whenever you come, you will be able to find your own space.
Getting here is not easy but I suggest the local train (not JR) as you can walk from Izumo Taisha Mae station and enjoy Shinji Lake along the way.
Serenely Sacred Shimane Sinay says:
Why not spend two days in the area? Hike over Yakumo Mountain at the back of the shrine, make your way to the coastal caves and seaside shrines and weave your way over to Hinomisaki Lighthouse.
Simple incredible and incredibly simple beauty.
A great shrine to visit if you make it to Western Japan. Lots of shops nearby for gifts and omiyage. Izumo is much more laid back then many of the larger cities in Japan.
