Izumo Taisha
One of Japan's oldest shrines; the giant shimenawa rope at the main hall weighs 5.2 tons. Tradition holds that all 8 million kami gather here every October.
Open in Maps ↗Prefecture profile · 都道府県
Shimane 島根県
Japan's mythological heartland — Izumo Taisha is arguably Shintō's most senior shrine, Iwami Ginzan silver mine bankrolled the 17th-century world, and Matsue's castle is one of only five surviving original keeps. Sparse population, deep tradition, slow.
Capital
Matsue
Population
660,000
Area
6,708 km²
Region
Chūgoku
History
Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's oldest and most senior shrines — the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki place it at the center of the country's founding mythology, and all 8 million kami gather here every October (kamiarizuki, the 'month with gods') by Shintō tradition.
The Iwami Ginzan silver mine, opened in 1526, produced roughly a third of the world's silver by the early 17th century — Shimane's silver underwrote much of Tokugawa-era trade with China and the Dutch. UNESCO-inscribed in 2007.
Matsue Castle (built 1611) is one of only five surviving original castle keeps in Japan; the city's Edo street pattern was preserved because the prefecture never industrialized at scale. Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) lived here in 1890 and made Matsue's quiet supernatural atmosphere globally famous.
Economy & business
Shimane's prefectural GDP is around ¥2.6 trillion (US$18 billion), Japan's 2nd-smallest. Agriculture (Shimane saffron, Nita wagyu), forestry, fisheries (Hamada and Shichirui ports), small but high-precision steel and machinery (Hitachi Metals, Shimane Mazda Powertrain), and an outsized cultural tourism share.
Key industries
Specialty steel & machinery
Hitachi Metals (Yasugi Works) produces high-grade specialty steels including the famed Yasuki Hagane used in premium kitchen knives.
Agriculture & livestock
Nita wagyu, Iwami honey, Hamada matsutake mushrooms, and the country's only commercial saffron production.
Fisheries
Hamada is the country's main port for nodoguro (rosy seabass), one of the most expensive wild fish on the Japanese market.
Tourism — sacred sites
Izumo Taisha, Matsue, Iwami Ginzan, Tamatsukuri Onsen — Shimane is Japan's most concentrated cluster of UNESCO-listed sacred and cultural sites per capita.
Forestry & traditional crafts
Iwami sugi cedar, Sekishu-banshi washi paper (UNESCO), Yunotsu pottery, Hagi-shibori indigo.
Notable companies
Hitachi Metals Yasugi WorksSan-in Godo BankShimane MazdaNobiru Sake (Iwami)Yokota Saori Honpo (silk)Yunotsu Pottery Co-op
Trade partners
South KoreaChinaTaiwanRussia (historical)Vietnam
Tourism highlights
Matsue Castle
One of only five surviving original castle keeps; black-walled and surrounded by a still-working moat with boat tours.
Open in Maps ↗Iwami Ginzan
Edo-era silver mine and the surrounding workers' village — UNESCO World Heritage. The mine tunnels are open to walk through.
Open in Maps ↗Adachi Museum of Art (Yasugi)
Modern Japanese paintings and a famous strolling garden ranked #1 in the world by US journal Sukiya Living for 20+ consecutive years.
Open in Maps ↗Tamatsukuri Onsen
Hot-spring town famous since the 8th century; the legendary magatama (comma-shaped jade beads) of ancient Japan were carved here.
Open in Maps ↗Hinomisaki Lighthouse
43.65-metre stone lighthouse on the Sea of Japan coast — Japan's tallest, built in 1903.
Open in Maps ↗Did you know
October is called Kannazuki ('month without gods') everywhere in Japan except Shimane, where it's called Kamiarizuki ('month with gods') — by Shintō tradition all 8 million kami leave their home shrines and gather at Izumo Taisha for the month.
The Iwami Ginzan silver mine produced roughly a third of the world's silver in the early 1600s; Shimane silver financed much of the European East-India trading companies' operations through the 17th century.
The Adachi Museum of Art garden has been ranked the #1 Japanese garden in the world by the journal Sukiya Living for over 20 consecutive years, beating Kyoto's most famous gardens every year.
About Shimane — Frequently asked
What is the capital of Shimane?
The capital of Shimane is Matsue.
What region of Japan is Shimane in?
Shimane is part of the Chūgoku region of Japan.
What are Shimane's main industries?
Shimane's key industries include Specialty steel & machinery, Agriculture & livestock, Fisheries, Tourism — sacred sites.
What are the top tourist attractions in Shimane?
Top attractions in Shimane include Izumo Taisha, Matsue Castle, Iwami Ginzan, Adachi Museum of Art (Yasugi).
What major companies are based in Shimane?
Notable companies headquartered in Shimane include Hitachi Metals Yasugi Works, San-in Godo Bank, Shimane Mazda, Nobiru Sake (Iwami), Yokota Saori Honpo (silk).
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