Realm of Shimane

The Realm of Shimane is located along the Sea of Japan in western Honshu, encompassing both coastal plains and the mountainous interior of the Chūgoku region. Historically, the area was divided between Izumo, Iwami, and Oki Provinces, with Izumo being the most culturally prominent due to its legendary shrines and mythological associations. The prefecture is renowned for its spiritual heritage, particularly Shinto worship, with shrines that rank among the most important in Japan, including ichinomiya (provincial chief shrines) and Myojin Taisha. Shimane’s towns and cities have long been centers of agriculture, fishing, and local governance, with spiritual sites serving as community anchors.

Matsue (松江市)

Matsue, the prefectural capital, lies on the eastern shore of Lake Shinji and is known for its historic castle and waterways. Key shrines include Kumano Taisha, a Myojin Taisha and ichinomiya of Izumo Province, Miho Shrine, a Shikinai Shosha, Sada Jinja, a ninomiya, Hirahama Hachimangu, and Yaegaki Shrine, a Shikinai Shosha designated a Prefectural Shrine. Matsue Gokoku Shrine honors war dead, connecting the city to both spiritual and civic tradition. The city blends Edo-period heritage with modern urban life, and its shrines remain central to festivals and cultural identity.

Izumo (出雲市)

Izumo, famed as a spiritual heartland, is home to Izumo-taisha, a Kanpei-taisha and Myojin Taisha recognized as ichinomiya of Izumo Province. The city also hosts Hinomisaki Shrine and Susa Shrine, reinforcing its reputation as a center for Shinto pilgrimage and ritual. Izumo’s religious sites attract visitors from across Japan, celebrating the kami associated with marriage, harvest, and prosperity.

Hamada (浜田市)

Hamada is a coastal city on the Sea of Japan, historically tied to fishing and trade. It hosts Hamada Gokoku Shrine, preserving local history and honoring fallen soldiers. Smaller village shrines throughout the city continue to mark seasonal festivals and local observances.

Masuda (益田市)

Masuda, along the western Shimane coastline, integrates agricultural hinterlands with historical urban centers. Its shrines preserve community traditions, celebrating seasonal rites and the local kami that govern land and sea.

Yasugi (安来市)

Yasugi lies inland near the Naka River and the Izumo region, with village and district shrines maintaining ties to agrarian rituals and local history. The city’s spiritual sites anchor its cultural identity, hosting seasonal festivals that date back centuries.

Unnan (雲南市)

Unnan encompasses a rural interior of Shimane, with shrines dispersed across its mountains and valleys. These shrines mark settlements and celebrate local kami, reflecting centuries of village life and agricultural observance.

Ōda (大田市)

Ōda, historically part of Iwami Province, hosts Mononobe-jinja, a Shikinai Shosha and ichinomiya of Iwami Province. The city preserves village shrines that maintain agrarian rituals and community cohesion, linking the present to the past.

Gōtsu (江津市)

Gōtsu lies along the western coast, maintaining shrines that mark both village origins and seasonal agricultural rites. The city balances its maritime and agricultural heritage with civic development.

Okinoshima (隠岐の島町)

Okinoshima, part of the Oki Islands, is home to Mizuwakasu Shrine, a Myojin Taisha and ichinomiya of Oki Province. The shrine anchors spiritual life on the islands, celebrating local deities and maritime safety.

Okuizumo (奥出雲町)

Okuizumo is an inland town in Shimane’s mountainous interior. Local shrines honor kami of mountains, rivers, and forests, connecting residents to the natural environment and traditional agricultural cycles.

Ōnan (邑南町)

Ōnan’s rural landscape is dotted with shrines that celebrate local kami and village founders. Festivals and seasonal rites continue to mark the passage of the year and sustain communal life.

Tsuwano (津和野町)

Tsuwano, often called “Little Kyoto of San’in,” hosts Taikodani Inari Shrine, a district-level shrine central to local rituals. The town’s historic streets and shrines reflect centuries of cultural and religious development.

Yoshika (吉賀町)

Yoshika is a rural town with shrines integrated into village life, preserving seasonal festivals, ancestral veneration, and agricultural observances. These sites maintain a spiritual link between the community and its historical roots.

This completes the full narrative-style fudoki for all 13 municipalities of The Realm of Shimane, including their major shrines and local context.

Further reading

** List of Shikinaisha in Izumo Province ** List of Shikinaisha in Iwami Province ** List of Shikinaisha in Oki Province