The Izumo district of Shimane Prefecture is revered as the heartland of the gods. It is home to Izumo Taisha, one of the largest and most venerated Shinto shrines in all Japan. Renovation work is conducted on the shrine every 60 years, to renew the buildings and keep alive the skills and craftsmanship required for their maintenance. Since the completion of the latest renewal work last year, people have been flocking from around the country to worship in front of the honden (main shrine), as its spiritual power is believed to have increased.
On this episode of Journeys in Japan, Peter MacMillan is shown around the precincts of Izumo Taisha. He witnesses the rituals of the annual Daisairei Festival, held each year in May. He relaxes at one of the most highly regarded hot springs in the area, where the ancient deities are believed to have bathed. And he tries his hand at making magatama, a form of power stone associated with this sacred region since ancient times.
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