Izumo is a small city in Shimane prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast of western Honshu. It is best known for Izumo Taisha, one of the oldest and most important Shinto shrines in Japan — according to tradition, the gods of all Japan gather here each October, turning Izumo into the only place in the country where the gods are present while everywhere else they are absent. The shrine's massive shimenawa (sacred rope) and the grand hall are impressive even for casual visitors, and the whole complex has a gravity that distinguishes it from the more decorative shrine circuits of Kyoto or Nara.
Beyond the shrine, the Hinomisaki Lighthouse stands on a dramatic headland and is the tallest stone lighthouse in Japan, with views to the Oki Islands on clear days. The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, opened in 2007 adjacent to the shrine, is one of the best archaeological museums in western Japan, covering the region's unexpectedly powerful role in prehistoric Japan. Izumo is famous for its soba noodles — Izumo soba, darker and stronger than the refined styles found elsewhere, served in stacked lacquerware boxes. Nearby Lake Shinji, shared with the prefectural capital Matsue, is known for its spectacular sunsets and its freshwater shijimi clams.