This brightly coloured shrine is dedicated to the gods Amaterasu and Susano. As it lies in the west, it was established as a shrine to protect the country after nightfall. It later became a holy site from which to worship the evening sun, and such rituals are held throughout the year. See more details Special [...]

Izumo Taisha is one of Japan’s most well-known and important shrines, and attracts worshippers from all over the country. It is dedicated to the god Okuni-nushi and was built for him in return for him giving up the land to the Yamato rulers. The shrine complex is vast and contains many halls and shrines. The [...]