Few destinations in Japan concentrate as much mythological weight as the Izumo region of Shimane Prefecture. This is the land where Izumo Taisha — one of Japan’s oldest and most important shrines — stands as the home of Okuninushi no Mikoto, the god who governs all human relationships. Every year in the tenth lunar month, the eight million gods of Japan are said to gather here for a divine assembly to decide the fates of people’s connections — marriages, friendships, and all other bonds. While the rest of Japan calls this month Kannazuki (“the month without gods”), the people of Izumo call it Kamiarizuki (“the month with gods”). This living mythology permeates every shrine in the region, from the eerie forest silence of Kamosu-jinja to the windswept cliffs of Hinomisaki. For goshuin collectors, Izumo offers something rare: a landscape where every stamp you collect carries the weight of Japan’s oldest stories. This guide covers 10 shrines where you can receive goshuin in the Izumo region, with practical access details and suggested routes.
1. Izumo Taisha (出雲大社) — Kitsuki-Higashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo City
Enshrined deity: Okuninushi no Mikoto (Great Lord of the Land)
Izumo Taisha claims a history stretching back to the age of the gods — its founding is recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki as a reward granted to Okuninushi after he ceded the land of Japan to Amaterasu and the heavenly deities. The current main hall, built in 1744 in the taisha-zukuri style, stands about 24 meters tall and is designated a National Treasure. It is normally closed to the public, but can be seen through the haiden (worship hall) and venerated from the hachashi-mon gate. The shrine’s theology of en-musubi — the tying of human fates — extends far beyond romantic love to encompass all connections: career, health, friendships, and family. One distinguishing feature of worship here is the ritual: visitors bow twice, clap four times (not the usual two), and bow once more. The signature giant shimenawa rope hanging in the kaguraden (dance hall) is the largest in Japan, measuring about 13 meters long and weighing approximately 5 tons.
- Goshuin style: Four separate goshuin are available — at the hachashi-mon gate, the main hall, the kaguraden, and the uji-sha auxiliary shrine. Bold calligraphy with distinctive shrine seals. Limited editions are released during major festivals including the Kamiari Festival in November
- Fee: ¥500 each
- Access: Bus from JR Izumo-shi Station to “Seimon-mae” (about 25 min); or Ichibata Electric Railway to “Izumo Taisha-mae” and walk 10 min
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:30–17:00 |
| Location | Juyusho (various locations on grounds) |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Direct writing (pre-written during busy periods) |
| Limited editions | Yes (Kamiari Festival, Grand Festival) |
2. Hinomisaki Shrine (日御碕神社) — Hinomisaki, Taisha-cho, Izumo City
Enshrined deities: Amaterasu (Lower Shrine / Hi-shizumi-no-miya) · Susanoo (Upper Shrine / Kami-no-miya)
If Ise Jingu guards Japan by day, Hinomisaki Shrine guards it by night — so goes the local tradition. The shrine occupies a dramatic position on a coastal headland about 8 kilometers west of Izumo Taisha, where its vermilion buildings stand against the churning Sea of Japan. The compound consists of two shrines: the lower Hi-shizumi-no-miya enshrines Amaterasu, the sun goddess, in an unusual configuration where she faces outward toward the sea rather than being enclosed in an interior sanctuary — a rare arrangement in Japanese shrine architecture. The upper Kami-no-miya enshrines Susanoo, her brother. The present buildings were constructed in 1644 under the order of the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, in the gongen-zukuri (linked hall) style and are classified as Important Cultural Properties. After visiting the shrine, the nearby Hinomisaki Lighthouse — the tallest stone lighthouse in East Asia — is a natural extension of the walk.
- Goshuin style: Two goshuin available, one for each shrine. Elegant calligraphy with red vermilion seals that echo the shrine’s striking red buildings. The inscription “the shrine of the land where the sun sinks” (Hinomisaki) gives these goshuin a poetic resonance
- Fee: ¥500 each
- Access: Bus from Izumo Taisha-mae to “Hinomisaki” (about 20 min); or 15 min by car from Izumo Taisha
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Shamusho (shrine office) |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Both available |
| Limited editions | Yes (Grand Festival, seasonal) |
3. Mankusen Shrine (万九千神社) — Hikawa-cho, Izumo City
Enshrined deity: Mankusen-Kotoamatsukami, Kamimusubi no Kami
Izumo Taisha gets most of the attention during the Kamiari festival period, but Mankusen Shrine plays the final act: it is where the assembled gods hold their farewell banquet before returning to their home provinces. The Karasade-matsuri (Gods’ Departure Festival), held on the 26th day of the tenth lunar month, features a priest calling out “o-tachi” three times to signal the gods’ departure, after which the shrine falls into a charged silence. For the serious Izumo pilgrim, attending both the arrival ceremonies at Izumo Taisha and the departure ceremony at Mankusen creates a complete narrative arc. The shrine grounds are modest, but the significance of the site — the endpoint of the annual divine assembly — lends it a gravity that is difficult to articulate. The goshuin program was properly established in recent years and has attracted growing numbers of visitors.
- Goshuin style: “Mankusen Shrine” in precise calligraphy with seals depicting the assembled gods. Special limited editions with additional prints are offered during the Kamiari festival month (November)
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: About 15 min walk from JR Sohara Station; or about 20 min by car from Izumo City
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–16:00 (may vary) |
| Location | Juyusho (offering office) |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Mostly pre-written |
| Limited editions | Yes (Kamiari month, Karasade Festival) |
4. Susa Shrine (須佐神社) — Sada-cho, Izumo City
Enshrined deity: Susanoo no Mikoto (Takahayasusanoo no Mikoto)
This remote mountain shrine is believed to be where Susanoo ended his earthly wanderings. According to tradition, after traversing the land of Izumo he declared it a “beautiful land” and left his name there — making Susa Shrine the place where Susanoo himself rests. It is considered the ancestral home of all shrines dedicated to Susanoo across Japan. A sacred cedar tree behind the main hall, reportedly 1,300 years old, towers over the compound and creates an atmosphere unlike any other shrine in the region. A spring called Shio-ido (Salt Well) in the precinct is said to carry the faint smell of seawater, echoing the legend that Susanoo brought seawater here to purify the land. The remote location — a 40-minute drive into the mountains — means the shrine sees far fewer visitors than Izumo Taisha, which makes it feel genuinely ancient.
- Goshuin style: Bold, powerful calligraphy with seals incorporating a sword and lightning bolt, motifs associated with Susanoo. A deeply atmospheric goshuin from one of Izumo’s most mythologically significant sites
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: Ichibata bus from Izumo-shi Station, about 50 min to “Susa” stop; or about 40 min by car (mountain roads)
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Shamusho |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Both available |
| Limited editions | Yes (Grand Festival) |
5. Kumano Taisha (熊野大社) — Yakumo-cho, Matsue City
Enshrined deity: Kaburokinomikoto (Susanoo no Mikoto) — the fire god aspect
One of the two ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrines) of the ancient Izumo Province, Kumano Taisha was once considered by some historical sources to hold even higher status than Izumo Taisha within Izumo itself. The shrine is known as “the original fire shrine of Japan” (Hi no moto ho-izome no yashiro), and every autumn the Kiribisai ceremony takes place in which representatives of Kumano Taisha carry sacred fire lit with traditional fire-starting tools to Izumo Taisha — an act of fire-gifting that has continued since ancient times. The shrine also preserves a tradition of kiboku (turtle-shell divination), an ancient Chinese-derived method of fortune-telling that is occasionally demonstrated publicly. The grounds are quieter than Izumo Taisha and deeply forested, making it an excellent complement to the busier main shrine.
- Goshuin style: Solid, dignified calligraphy reading “Kumano Taisha” with the seal of Izumo Province’s ichinomiya. Motifs of fire-starting stones and turtles appear in certain versions. Pairing this goshuin with Izumo Taisha’s as the “two great shrines of Izumo” has become popular
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: Bus from JR Matsue Station to “Kumano Taisha” (about 40 min)
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Shamusho |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Direct writing |
| Limited editions | Yes (Kiribisai, Kamiari Festival) |
6. Yaegaki Shrine (八重垣神社) — Sakusa-cho, Matsue City
Enshrined deities: Susanoo no Mikoto · Kushiinadahime no Mikoto (Princess Inadahime) · Oonamuchino Mikoto · Aohatasaku-sahikonokami
The name Yaegaki means “eightfold fence,” referring to the compound where Susanoo hid Princess Inadahime from the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi before slaying the beast. The story of protection and love makes this one of the most popular shrines in Shimane for prayers related to marriage and romantic relationships. The shrine’s most distinctive attraction is the kami-uranai (paper fortune) performed at the Kagaminoike (Mirror Pond) in the inner forest: visitors float a small piece of paper on the water, then place a coin on it and watch. If the paper sinks quickly and close to you, your love will arrive soon; if it drifts away before sinking, you may wait longer. The sight of dozens of paper slips floating slowly on a forest pool is quietly beautiful. The shrine is about 20 minutes from Matsue city center and pairs naturally with Kamosu-jinja nearby.
- Goshuin style: Calligraphy reading “Yaegaki Shrine” with seals depicting Princess Inadahime and the eightfold fence. A heart motif appears in limited seasonal editions. This is among the most aesthetically distinctive goshuin in Shimane
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: Ichibata bus from JR Matsue Station to “Yaegaki Jinja” (about 20 min)
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Shamusho |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Both available |
| Limited editions | Yes (marriage prayer festivals, seasonal) |
7. Kamosu-jinja (神魂神社) — Oba-cho, Matsue City
Enshrined deities: Izanami no Okami · Izanagi no Okami
Kamosu-jinja contains what is considered the oldest surviving main hall in the taisha-zukuri architectural style — the same style used for Izumo Taisha’s main hall, but more ancient in the surviving structure. The building dates to 1346 and is a National Treasure, predating the current Izumo Taisha main hall by nearly 400 years. The shrine sits on a wooded hillside above the town of Oba, and the approach through a quiet forest before the main hall suddenly appears makes for one of the more memorable shrine arrivals in the region. The deity enshrined is Izanami, the goddess of creation and death, who died giving birth to the fire god and descended to the underworld in the Kojiki narrative — making this a shrine with particular depth of mythological resonance. The atmosphere is austere and undisturbed; on quiet weekdays the place can feel entirely private.
- Goshuin style: Understated calligraphy with an ancient-looking seal appropriate to a National Treasure shrine. The sparse simplicity of the goshuin mirrors the shrine itself — a contrast to the more elaborate stamps at tourist-oriented sites
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: About 20 min by bus or taxi from JR Matsue Station; walk about 20 min from “Oba” bus stop. The shamusho is not always staffed — confirm in advance
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 (may be unstaffed) |
| Location | Juyusho (when staffed) |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Mostly pre-written; direct writing when priest is present |
| Limited editions | Yes (Grand Festival) |
8. Miho Shrine (美保神社) — Mihonoseki-cho, Matsue City
Enshrined deities: Mihatsuhime no Mikoto · Kotoshironushi no Kami (ebisu)
Miho Shrine is the head shrine (souhonsha) of around 3,400 ebisu shrines across Japan — shrines dedicated to the smiling, fishing-rod-carrying god of commerce and good catches. Kotoshironushi, the deity enshrined here, is the son of Okuninushi at Izumo Taisha, which gives rise to the custom of “ebisu-daikoku ryosanmari” (visiting both parent and child shrines). For goshuin collectors, this means a natural two-shrine circuit: Izumo Taisha first, then Miho Shrine, with both goshuin as a pair. The shrine stands in the fishing village of Mihonoseki, facing a small harbor on Miho Bay, and the combination of ancient sacred architecture and working fishing port is genuinely atmospheric. The Morotebuneshinji festival (April 7) — in which two traditional hand-rowed boats race as a form of divination — is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. The main hall itself, in a variation of the taisha-zukuri style called “miho-zukuri,” is an Important Cultural Property.
- Goshuin style: Lively calligraphy with seals incorporating the fishing rod, sea bream, and bonito flakes — all symbols of Kotoshironushi. The ebisu-daikoku pair makes this goshuin particularly meaningful when collected alongside Izumo Taisha’s
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: Ichibata bus from JR Matsue Station to “Mihonoseki” terminal (about 50 min); or from Sakaiminato by ferry to Mihonoseki
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Juyusho |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Direct writing |
| Limited editions | Yes (Morotebuneshinji Festival, seasonal) |
9. Sada Shrine (佐太神社) — Kashima-cho, Matsue City
Enshrined deities: Sata Okami (Sarutahiko no Mikoto) · Amaterasu · Susanoo · Izanagi · Izanami · and others
Sada Shrine is considered the second-ranking shrine (ninomiya) of the ancient Izumo Province and holds its own Kamiari Festival (Kami-ari-sai) parallel to the one at Izumo Taisha during the divine assembly month. The three main halls stand side by side in a distinctive configuration — all three built in the taisha-zukuri style and together classified as Important Cultural Properties. This three-hall layout is rare in Japanese shrine architecture and worth visiting for its architectural significance alone. The Sada Kagura performed at this shrine is one of the oldest surviving forms of ritual sacred dance in Japan, designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, with roots traditionally dated to the Nara period (8th century). For visitors committed to experiencing the full Izumo mythological landscape, attending both the Izumo Taisha and Sada Shrine ceremonies during the Kamiari month creates a genuinely immersive experience.
- Goshuin style: Imposing calligraphy reading “Sada Shrine” with three-hall motif and ninomiya designation seals. Special prints are added during the Kamiari Festival. A deeply satisfying goshuin for history-conscious collectors
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: Ichibata bus from Matsue Shinjiko-onsen Station to “Sada Jinja-mae” (about 30 min)
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Shamusho |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Direct writing |
| Limited editions | Yes (Kamiari Festival, Sada Kagura performance) |
10. Tamatsukuri Yujinja (玉作湯神社) — Tamatsukuri, Tamayu-cho, Matsue City
Enshrined deities: Tamayuhikonokami · Okuninushi no Mikoto · Sukuna-hikona no Mikoto
Tamatsukuri Yujinja sits at the entrance to Tamatsukuri Onsen, Shimane’s hot spring town famous for skin-beautifying waters. The shrine serves as the guardian deity of the spa resort and carries a dual heritage: it is associated both with ancient tamatsukuri (jewel-crafting, specifically magatama comma-shaped beads) and with hot spring worship. The shrine’s “wishing stone” (negai-ishi) ritual has attracted significant attention in recent years — visitors touch the sacred stone at the shrine office to infuse a piece of paper with divine power, write their wish on the paper, place the stone on it, and pray. The pairing of an ancient jewel-working tradition, hot spring healing, and en-musubi (relationship tying) theology makes this shrine a satisfying final stop on a longer Izumo circuit, particularly if combined with an overnight stay at one of Tamatsukuri Onsen’s ryokan.
- Goshuin style: Flowing calligraphy with magatama jewel and hot spring steam motifs. Seasonal limited editions are released, often incorporating floral imagery that reflects the onsen town’s aesthetic
- Fee: ¥500
- Access: JR Tamatsukuri-onsen Station, 15 min walk; or bus from Matsue Station to “Tamatsukuri Onsen” stop, 5 min walk
Goshuin Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 |
| Location | Shamusho |
| Direct writing / pre-written | Both available |
| Limited editions | Yes (marriage prayer festival, seasonal) |
Suggested Routes
One Day (Izumo City Focus)
Izumo Taisha (2–3 hours) → Hinomisaki Shrine (1 hour) → Mankusen Shrine (30 min) → Susa Shrine (requires car, 1 hour)
Two Days (Izumo + Matsue Area)
Day 1: Izumo Taisha → Hinomisaki Shrine → Susa Shrine → Kumano Taisha
Day 2: Yaegaki Shrine → Kamosu-jinja → Sada Shrine → Tamatsukuri Onsen overnight (Tamatsukuri Yujinja) → Miho Shrine
Kamiari Month (November) Route
Attend the Kamiari Festival at Izumo Taisha → Mankusen Shrine (Karasade-matsuri) → Sada Shrine (Kami-ari-sai). Timing these three ceremonies within the same festival period is the most immersive Izumo experience possible.
Practical Tips
Car is essential: Public transport covers Izumo Taisha and central Matsue, but Susa Shrine, Kamosu-jinja, and several others are difficult or impossible to reach efficiently without a car. Rental cars are available at Izumo-shi Station.
Kamiari month crowds: November is peak season for Izumo. Izumo Taisha in particular can be extremely crowded during the Kamiari Festival (first week of November). Early morning visits are strongly recommended.
The ebisu-daikoku circuit: Visiting Izumo Taisha (daikoku, the parent) and Miho Shrine (ebisu, the child) in one trip has been a traditional pilgrimage for centuries. It requires about 70 km of travel by car but can be done in a long day.
Kamosu-jinja staffing: The shrine office is not always manned. If receiving a goshuin there is important to you, check current conditions in advance through the Matsue Tourism Association.
Goshuincho selection: Izumo Taisha’s own goshuincho (available at the shrine) features a design based on the traditional large-scale shrine architecture pattern. Starting an Izumo circuit with a new book purchased there adds to the experience.
Image Credits
- Izumo Taisha haiden: Saigen Jiro, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Hinomisaki Shrine romon gate: Naokijp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yaegaki Shrine: Monado, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kamosu-jinja main hall door: Naokijp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Miho Shrine: SNHRRN, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
