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Izumo

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Izumo (出雲)[1] is a city in Shimane Prefecture with a population of around 150,000 people and a land area of 543.43km². It's located near Matsue.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

From Tokyo's Haneda Airport, there are five flights per day (¥28,800) which will get you to Izumo in 80 minutes (plus 30 minutes by bus to Izumo Station).

[edit] By train

From the Kansai region, take the Shinkansen to Okayama and then transfer to the Super Yakumo train which gets you to Izumo in 3 hours (¥6710 from Okayama, ¥12,300 from Kyoto). From Tokyo there are three basic ways to get to Izumo.

From Hiroshima, those using the J.R. Pass may want to save money and take the Shinkansen back to Okayama and hop on the Super Yakumo train (total travel time 4 hours).

[edit] By bus

Those wishing to save money on transportation should consider highway buses. Izumo is easily accessible by bus, because buses from a wide variety of locations stop at Izumo.

From Hiroshima, going by bus (¥4000 one-way, ¥7200 round-trip) is the best option. Eight buses per day leave from Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen-guchi exit) and get to Izumo just over three hours later.

From Kyoto, bus rides cost ¥6000 and take 6 hours. From Osaka, buses cost about ¥5600. Buses also depart from Kobe.

The Sunrise Izumo Limited Express sleeper train (¥21,110) leaves Tokyo at 10:00 P.M. and arrives in Izumo at 10AM. There are also sleeper buses (¥12,070), which also take 12 hours but are cheaper and less comfortable. They leave Tokyo at 7:10PM and return buses leave Izumo Station back to Tokyo at the same time.

[edit] By car

Izumo is about one hour drive from Matsue on Route 9, the main road through the Sea of Japan side of western Japan from Northern Kyoto to Shimonoseki.

[edit] Get around

Trains will get you to Izumo Taisha or out of the city, but otherwise bus, taxi or rental car will be your only option.

There are 2 different train companies in Izumo. The JR West Sanin Main Line and the Ichibata Electric Railway [2] (Ichibata Densha Kabushiki-gaisha [一畑電車株式会社]). The JR West Izumo Station is next to the Ichibata's Dentetsu Izumo Station. Ichibata has 2 lines, the Kita Matsue Line which runs for 33.9 km from Dentetsu Izumo Station to Matsue Shinji-ko Onsen Station in Matsue, and the Taisha Line which runs 8.3 km from Kawato Station (on the Kita Matsue Line) to Izumo Taisha-mae Station, near Izumo Taisha.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Izumo Taisha (出雲大社), ☎ 085-353-3100, [3]. Although the date of construction is unknown, Izumo Shrine is regarded as one of the oldest shrines in Japan. In the Kojiki, the shrine is said to have been built for Ōkuninushi by the gods at his bidding, and Okuninushi, god of marriage, became the patron deity of the shrine. As the god of marriage is worshipped here, it is no surprise that Izumo Shrine is a popular shrine for couples to come to pray for happy marriages. Although the current shrine is quite large at about 25 meters tall, records show that it is only half the size it was 800 years ago. Every year in November, Shinto gods from all over are said to gather inside the shrine for one week. Note that if you wish to pray at Izumo Taisha, it is customary to clap four times instead of the typical two claps, because you are praying for yourself, as well as your partner (or future partner). Watch many people attempting to toss small change into the large rice-straw rope of one of the shrines outside the main shrine until it lodges. If you are able to get ¥45 stuck in or on the rope, you'll have good luck. Entrance is free.  edit
  • Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, [4]. Open from 9 AM to 6 PM March to October, 9 AM to 5 PM November to February. Closed the third Tuesday of each month. Near Izumo Grand Shrine is an elegantly designed complex with interesting and enlightening displays. Exhibitions feature speculative designs of the original Izumo Taisha shrine, explanations of the history and development of nearby Iwami Ginzan, and a dramatic collection of ceremonial bronze bells and swords. Entrance is ¥600 adults, ¥400 yen university students, ¥200 children.  edit
  • Hinomisaki Lighthouse, ☎ 085-354-5341. Open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Supposedly, it's the tallest lighthouse in Asia. The lighthouse appears like any other lighthouse, but the bus ride out there and the chance to see a fishing village makes it worth the 1/2 hour trip. Entrance is ¥200.  edit
  • Tachikue Gorge (Tachikue-kyo), south of Izumo City. A pleasant hike that ends with hundreds of stone figures with red hats on them. Buses go here as well (1/2 hour) and there's an onsen/youth hostel.
  • Hinomisaki Shrine, ☎ 085-354-5261.  edit
  • Shimane Flower Village (shimane hana no sato), ☎ 085-320-1187, [5]. Open from 9:30 AM to 5 PM (4:30 PM in winter). Closed every Tuesday from December through February. Entrance is ¥200.  edit
  • Gakuenji, ☎ 085-366-0250.  edit
  • Ichibata Yakushi, 866 Kozakai-cho, ☎ 085-367-0111, [6].  edit
  • Susa Shrine, ☎ 085-384-0605, [7].  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Izumo soba (出雲そば), the local variety of noodles, is the region's most famous food, but the beef (Shimane wagyu) is good as well.

  • Shimane Winery, [8]. Try yakiniku (barbecue). Also offers free tours and wine tastings, though connoisseurs will likely be unimpressed.
  • Hara, a good selection of small dishes is available here in addition to soba. Go straight out the north exit of JR Izumo station and look for the purple banner on the right just past the Toyoko Inn. Good food with an interesting crowd of local patrons from construction workers to groups of young women out for a party.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Just northeast of Izumo Station is Daikancho, Izumo's drinking district. It's mostly "snacks" and hostess bars aimed at the older crowd, but there are a few venues for young people.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Marine Thalasso Izumo, 859-1 Taki, ☎ 085-386-7111, [9]. checkin: 3:00 PM; checkout: 11:00 AM. A spa that uses Thalassotherapy, which utilizes all its resources from the sea in order to rejuvinate and make you healthier.  edit

[edit] Budget

There are a few low-priced minshuku and ryokan throughout the city. Pick up an English map at Izumo Station.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Izumo Green Hotel Morris, 6-1 Minami Honmachi, Imaichi-cho, ☎ 085-324-7700 (, fax: 085-324-7711). A business hotel just south of Izumo Station. Singles from ¥5145.  edit

  • Izumo Royal Hotel, ☎ 085-323-7211, [10]. A short taxi ride from the JR Station in town. Includes parking and wireless Internet. Rooms from ¥5400.  edit

[edit] Get out

  • Matsue to the east has a nice castle, among other things.
  • Iwami The World Heritage Site, Iwami Ginzan is an easy and affordable daytrip from Izumo
  • Daisen Home to Mount Daisen
  • Yonago
  • Sakai Minato

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