Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo

About

The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo's distinctive Cor-Ten steel architecture by Fumihiko Maki, referencing traditional tatara ironmaking. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

CRITICAL CLOSURE NOTICE: The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo is scheduled to be closed from April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (tentative) for seismic retrofitting and renovation works. The museum will NOT be accessible during the October 30, 2025 route travel date. 🔗

The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo stands as one of Japan's premier archaeological museums, opened in 2007 to preserve and showcase the extraordinary cultural heritage of ancient Izumo Province. Designed by renowned Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki, the museum's 120-meter long Cor-Ten steel facade deliberately evokes the region's historic tatara ironmaking tradition—the pure iron production method that created Japan's legendary swords. 🔗 🔗

Located directly beside the sacred grounds of Izumo-taisha Grand Shrine, the museum serves as the definitive cultural companion to understanding one of Japan's most important Shinto sites. The museum's permanent collection focuses on three core themes: the architectural evolution and religious importance of Izumo-taisha shrine, the complete eighth-century Izumo no Kuni Fudoki gazetteer (Japan's only surviving complete provincial record), and the remarkable bronze artifacts from the Yayoi period (800 BCE–300 CE). 🔗

Cultural & Historical Significance

The region of Izumo holds exceptional significance in Japanese mythology and early political history, often called the "land of the gods." The museum's collections provide archaeological evidence for understanding the power and cultural sophistication of ancient Izumo, a region that features prominently in Japan's earliest written chronicles like the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. 🔗

The museum's most magnificent display showcases 358 bronze swords unearthed at the Kojindani archaeological site in 1984-1985—more bronze swords than have been found in all the rest of Japan combined. These ritual implements, designated as National Treasures in 1998, demonstrated the existence of a powerful political and religious force in ancient Izumo, challenging conventional understandings of regional power dynamics during the Yayoi period. 🔗 🔗

Visiting Information

Access: The museum is located at 99-4 Kizuki-Higashi, Taisha, Izumo City, approximately 30+ minutes detour from the main coastal highway. The museum has dedicated parking facilities available for driving visitors. 🔗

Hours (when operational):

• March–October: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• November–February: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Last admission 30 minutes before closing 🔗

Closure Days (when operational): First and third Tuesday of each month (subject to change) 🔗

Admission (when operational):

• Foreign visitors (with passport): Adults ¥310, University students ¥200, Students ¥100
• Standard admission: Adults ¥620, University students ¥410, Students ¥200
• Free English-language audio guide included with admission 🔗

Current Status: CLOSED for renovation from April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (tentative). The museum will not be accessible during the October 30, 2025 travel date. Merchandise sales and workshops may continue during closure. 🔗

Route Context: Directly adjacent to Izumo-taisha Grand Shrine, making it an ideal pairing for visitors exploring this sacred Shinto site when operational. 🔗

The Experience

The Uzubashira Pillars (Central Lobby)

The museum's dramatic entrance features the actual excavated remains of the Uzubashira—colossal wooden pillars that once supported Izumo-taisha's thirteenth-century main sanctuary. Discovered during archaeological excavations beginning in 2000, these bundled pillars formed massive supports measuring 3 meters in diameter, providing tangible proof of the shrine's legendary ancient grandeur. 🔗 🔗

The Kojindani Bronze Treasures (National Treasures)

The museum showcases 358 bronze swords—more than have been found in all the rest of Japan combined—alongside 16 bronze spearheads and 6 bronze bells. The exhibit hall presents both the original National Treasure artifacts and a stunning wall of gleaming reconstructions that convey how brilliantly these bronze blades would have shone when originally buried as religious offerings. 🔗 🔗

Izumo-taisha Architectural Evolution

The museum features extensive models and reconstructions documenting the architectural history of Izumo-taisha's main sanctuary. Historical records suggest that early versions of the shrine may have reached an astonishing 48 meters in height, with the gallery displaying various architectural models representing scholarly attempts to reconstruct these monumental ancient structures. 🔗

The Izumo no Kuni Fudoki Exhibition

The museum houses Japan's only complete version of the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki, an eighth-century provincial gazetteer compiled in 733 AD. The exhibit recreates daily life in ancient Izumo through this document, which preserves unique Izumo mythology including the Kunibiki (Land Pulling) legend and references to the gateway to the land of the dead. 🔗 🔗

Practical Visiting Tips

Driving Considerations: Accessible parking available at the museum with wheelchair-accessible facilities. The parking area connects to the museum via accessible pathways. 🔗

Route Integration: When operational, plan to visit in combination with Izumo-taisha Grand Shrine for a comprehensive understanding of ancient Izumo culture. Allow a full half-day for both the museum and shrine complex. 🔗

Cultural Etiquette: The free English-language audio guide is highly recommended for foreign visitors to fully understand the cultural and historical significance of the exhibits. 🔗

Budget Considerations: When operational, present your passport at admission to receive 50% discount on admission fees (¥310 vs. ¥620 for adults). 🔗

Alternative Options During Museum Closure

Since the museum will be closed during the October 30, 2025 travel date, route travelers should consider:

1. Extended Izumo-taisha Shrine Exploration: Dedicate more time to exploring the shrine complex, including the main sanctuary, auxiliary shrines, and sacred grounds. 🔗

2. Izumo Heritage Museums: Explore alternative museums in the Izumo area that may remain open. 🔗

3. Plan Future Return Visit: Consider returning to the region after the museum's scheduled reopening in late 2026 to experience the full archaeological and cultural narrative of ancient Izumo.

Location: View on Google Maps

Source: attractions/kinosaki-to-fukuoka-sanin-coastal-route/shimane-museum-of-ancient-izumo.md