Yasaka Shrine is located in Tsuwano Town in Western Shimane. It is dedicated to Susano and is famous for its “Heron dance” ritual which is held annually on July 20th and 27th. The tradition started in 1542 as a ritual to repel illness and bad health, and has continued ever since. In the temple grounds [...]

Tsuwano is a charming town located in the Western-most part of Shimane Prefecture. It is affectionately called ‘Little Kyoto’ due to its traditional and elegant atmosphere. Tsuwano is located in the westernmost part of Shimane Prefecture. It is a castle town, developed along the Tsuwano-gawa River and surrounded by nature, and is also called “Little [...]

Kigami Shrine is located in the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan area. The main deity of the shrine is Oomononushi (Ookuninushi). It was built in the hope that it would bring prosperity to the silver mine. Inside the prayer hall is a ceiling mural of a dragon. If you sit under the mural and clap your [...]

Shogen-ji Temple was built in 1601 and is the resting place of the local magistrates of Iwani Ginzan. The gate and temple are adorned with stunning carvings. Inside the temple there are pictures and gold statues of the deity Kannon. It is free to walk around the temple grounds, however the admission fee for entering [...]

Rakanji Temple is located in the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan area. There are around 500 statues in front of the temple, which are said to appease the souls of the workers killed in the silver mine. They were made in the 1700s with the cooperation of the local people. Each one has a unique expression, [...]

Toyosaka Shrine is located in the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan area. It is associated with Mori Motonari, the warrior who ruled most of the Chugoku area in the warring states era. Getting to the Iwami Silver Mine area: From Nima Station: Take the bus bound for Omori Daikansho ato. (15 mins). From Oda Station: Take the bus [...]

Sahimeyama Shrine ensrines the deity Kanayama-hiko-no-kami. The deity is worshipped in this area as the protector of the silver mine. Getting to the Iwami Silver Mine area: From Nima Station: Take the bus bound for Omori Daikansho ato. (15 mins). From Oda Station: Take the bus bound for Omori Daikansho ato. (30 mins).

Seisuiji Temple is located in the World Heritage Iwami Ginzan area. It is said the temple was built by Empress Suitenno after she received a divine message in a dream. After the temple was established, silver mining began and the temple became a popular place of worship. Getting to the Iwami Silver Mine area: From Nima Station: [...]

Saishoji-Temple was established before the silver mine and is this area’s oldest and largest temple. The roofs of the gate and main hall are lined with local traditional slate called sekishu-gawara. The kyo-do (scripture storage hall) next to the main hall is a well-known example of the beauty of Japanese architecture with its wall carvings of phoenix and peonies. [...]

Taikodani Inari Shrine is a popular shrine located in Tsuwano in West Shimane. It is said to attract around 1 million visitors annually and is often rather crowded during the daytime. There are many Inari shrines in Japan, however, this is one of only five ‘grand’ Inari shrines in the country. It enshrines the deities [...]

Toda Hachumangu Shrine is located in Hirose in Yasugi. A 200 metre long path of moss-covered stone steps leads you up through the woods to the shrine. As this area was the sight of battles, the long gate at the entrance of the shrine was built to protect the shrine and keep out the enemy [...]

Iwakuraji-Temple in Yasugi was established in 726AD and is a designated Important Cultural Asset of Japan. It was originally located upstream of the Toda River, but was moved to its present location in 1187 and made the official temple of Toda Castle. The main hall contains a statue of the Kannon deity and original paintings [...]