Izumo Oyashiro Shrine (Izumo Taisha Shrine), Shimane

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Izumo Oyashiro Shrine is known as “god of marriage”

“Izumo Taisha Shrine” is the official name is “Izumo Oyashiro Shrine”. According to “Kojiki” (Records of Ancient Matters) and “Nihonshoki” (Chronicles of Japan), “Okuninushi no Mikoto” (chief god of Izumo in southern Honshu Island, Japan, and the central character in the important cycle of myths set in That region) is said to have handed over the Japanese land that he made to the “Amaterasu Omikami” (the God of the sun) which is said to be the ancestor of the Emperor. In honor of its accomplishment, the grand temple “Amanohisuminomiya” was founded, and “Okuninushi no Mikoto” came in. It is said to be “Izumo Oyashiro Shrine.” Okuninushi no Mikoto, celebrated by Izumo Oyashiro Shrine, is known as the “god of marriage.” is said that there are benefits not only for men and women but also for every tie and auspicious. It seems that it is highly supported as a sacred place in recent years, especially for women. The surrounding area with Yakumo mountain back is a majestic atmosphere, which may be mysterious because Izumo Oyashiro Shrine has a history of thousands of years. Okuninushi no Mikoto is enshrined in the main shrine. The main shrine of Japan’s oldest shrine architectural style called “taishazukuri” (style of shrine construction), which was built in 1744, is designated as a national treasure. It is the largest shrine building in Japan, the height is about 24 meters, and on the thick cypress roof ridge, there are two pairs of Chigi (ornamental crossbeams on the gable of a Shinto shrine), 7.9 meters in length.

Four “Sengu” (transfer of a deity to a new shrine building once in a prescribed number of years) have been done. In the fourth “Great Sengu of Heisei,” in 2013, the “Honden Senzasai Festival,” which Okuninushi no Mikoto returned to the main shrine where the remodeling was over, was performed.
Okuninushi no Mikoto is a god of kindness and healing that taught rabbits attacked by sharks in a myth “Inaba no shirousagi” (the hare of Inaba) to cure a wound. Also, since Okuninushi no Mikoto is a God of every “matchmaking,” it will connect various matchmakings such as the marriage between a man and women, children, work, and money bonds. Who wants to get a serious and good match? Why not go to the God of “matchmaking” of Izumo Oyashiro Shrine?

Charms and Highlights of Izumo Oyashiro Shrine

The main shrine of the national treasure

Izumo Oyashiro Shrine enshrines “Okuninushi no Okami,” who is famous as the god of match-making.
In the precincts of approximately 27,000 square meters, the national treasure’s main shrine and the front shrines stand around, and the current main shrine was built in 1744. It is a representative architecture of the Taisha shrine style, which is the shrine structure style that is the oldest in Japan using unpainted wood.

The largest size in Japan

The Shime-nawa (a sacred straw festoon in Shinto) of 13m in length, neighborhood 9m, 5t in weight in a kagura hall west side of the main shrine, is the largest in Japan.

One of the top 100 of Japanese excellent pines

The row of pine trees of wonderful ramifications, which line up in the place around the approach to a shrine entrance, is called “Matsu no Baba” (the riding ground at the pine tree) and selected as one of the top 100 Japanese excellent pines.

Gods from all of the country gather

Izumo is called the hometown of gods. There are various reasons to be called so. The name of the calendar has an example to represent it. In Japan, “Kannazuki” (the month of no gods) generally means October. But in the Izumo region, it is believed that October is the month when gods from all of the country gather in the area, and accordingly, the month is called ‘Kamiari zuki,’ meaning the month in which gods exist.

The match-making god

“Izumo Oyashiro Shrine,” the symbol of Izumo and hometown of gods, is the shrine of “the match-making god” on Japan’s behalf.
It is informed that every good match, not only the relation between man and woman but also every relationship, is provided if you pray.

Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)

Name:	Izumo Oyashiro Shrine (Izumo Taisha Shrine)
Adresse:	Taishachokizukihigashi 195 Izumo, Shimane 699-0701 Japan
Access:	Ichibatadensha Line “Izumotaisha-mae-eki Station” (10 minutes walk)
Tel:	(+81) 853-53-3100
Price/Charge:	Free
Official site:	http://www.izumooyashiro.or.jp/