Town guide
Izumo
出雲市
Home of Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's oldest and most important shrines, where the gods of Japan are said to gather every tenth lunar month to decide matches.
City in Shimane
Advisories (minor): Heavy rain · Alerts for all of Japan
- places to see
- 12
- protected local foods
- 4
- traditional crafts
- 4
- Japan Heritage stories
- 9
Map of Izumo
Every place on this page, on the map. Switch on places to eat and stay nearby.
Things to see in Izumo
Ageshima Kofun
上島古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Kojindani Site
荒神谷遺跡A historic site in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Takarazuka Kofun
宝塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Imaichi Dainenji Kofun
今市大念寺古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo
島根県立古代出雲歴史博物館A museum in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Kamienya Tsukiyama Kofun
上塩冶築山古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Kamienya Jizoyama Kofun
上塩冶地蔵山古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Izumo Taisha Shrine
出雲大社A Shinto shrine in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Kunidomi-Nakamura Kofun
国富中村古墳An ancient burial mound in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Saka Shrine
佐香神社A Shinto shrine in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Izumo Iris Hill
出雲いりすの丘A flower-viewing spot in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Izumo-taisha Precinct Site
出雲大社境内遺跡A historic site in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Explore by interest
Nearby towns and day trips
Japan Heritage stories in Shimane
- Esashi: the herring town that outshone Edo
- Fukiya: the birthplace of Japan Red
- Iwami kagura: gods and demons dance the old myths
- Iwami's volcanoes: Jomon forest and silver mountain in Oda
- Izumo: the sacred land where the sun sets
- Izumo's tatara: a thousand years of making iron
- Kitamaebune: the merchant ships that made Japan's port towns rich
- Masuda: a medieval masterpiece of Japan
Local foods from Shimane
Crafts from Shimane
Weather in Matsue this week
Today
24 Oct
Rain
High 24°CLow 16°C
Sun
25 Oct
Rain
High 23°CLow 19°C
Rain 90%
Mon
26 Oct
Cloudy
High 21°CLow 16°C
Rain 70%
Tue
27 Oct
Cloudy
High 22°CLow 14°C
Rain 50%
Warm: T-shirts and breathable clothes, plus a light layer for air-conditioned trains and shops.
Good to know
- At Izumo Taisha, people clap four times, not twice as at most shrines: bow twice, clap four times, bow once.
- In the tenth month of the old lunar calendar, Japan's gods are said to gather in Izumo. Locals call it Kamiarizuki, the month with gods.
- Try Izumo soba, dark buckwheat noodles often served in stacked round dishes, and shijimi clam soup from Lake Shinji.
More of Shimane
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.