Travel Guide Izumo

In the east of Shimane prefecture, this city has a solemn and mysterious atmosphere. It is known for its sanctuary, Izumo Taisha, the birthplace of Okuninushi-no-mikoto, the deity who would have created Japan. This shrine would be the oldest in Japan, its existence is proven since the 7th century. The province of Izumo is the land of gods in Japanese mythology and it is said that these deities gather once a year, during the kamiarizuki, and stay in Izumo to perform religious services from October 11th to 17th (according to the lunar calendar). So much so that in the rest of Japan, this period deserted by the gods, is called kannazuki, month without gods. As far as atmosphere is concerned, we are far from the effervescence of the big Japanese tourist centers, an argument of choice to discover an authentic archipelago.