In Shimane Prefecture, start with sacred sites such as Izumo Taisha and Mononobe Jinja, with 2 highlighted cities and wards to start from. Use the listings below to compare temple and shrine clusters, check goshuin details, and plan visits by area.
Izumo Oyashiro, also called Izumo Taisha, enshrines OkuninushinoKami, associated with nation building and enmusubi, the forming of bonds between people. Its origins are described in early eighthcentury chronicles, and the current honden dates from the...
Mononobe Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kawaicho, Ōda, Shimane, and the ichinomiya of former Iwami Province. It is known for its ancient history, annual festivals on January 7 and November 24, and culturally important sword and honden properties.
Why you should go
The shrine's hereditary priests, the Kaneko family, were one of only 14 priestly families in all of Japan to hold noble rank, earning the title of baron under the kazoku peerage system.
Mononobe Jinja is the ichinomiya, or chief shrine, of the former Iwami Province in present-day Shimane.
A masterwork sword by Kamakura period swordsmith Ryokai of the prestigious Yamashiro school was donated here in 1542 by warlord Ōuchi Yoshitaka. It's now a National Important Cultural Property.