Izumo Shrine

One of the most important Shinto Shrines. It is located in the town of Taisha, in Shimane Prefecture. The current main building was built in 1744, the 25th building since the original structure. The mythic origin of the shrine is described in the 8th century chronicles Kojiki and Nihon shoki. The shrine is built in the taisha-zukuri style, considered the oldest of shrine architectural styles in Japan. (adapted from Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1993)