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Museum

Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo

📍 99-4 Kizuki Higashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo, Shimane, Japan
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4.3/ 5.0
★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location
Japan
Category
Museum
Duration
2-3 hours
Address
99-4 Kizuki Higashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo, Shimane, Japan
Coordinates
35.3988, 132.6886

Introduction

The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo, next to Izumo Taisha, opened in 2007 and traces the region's story from Jomon and Yayoi to the Kofun era. Its treasures include 358 National Treasure bronze swords, six dotaku bells and 16 bronze halberds excavated at the Arashiyama site, the towering Uzubashira pillar from the shrine precinct, and a 1:10 model of the ancient Izumo Taisha hall said to have stood 48 metres high. After closure for seismic retrofitting from April 2025, it reopened on 1 October 2026 with refreshed Myth Theatre screens.

✨ Highlights

1
Arashiyama treasures
358 bronze swords, six dotaku and 16 halberds — the largest such hoard ever excavated in Japan
2
Uzubashira pillar
The immense column base from the Izumo Taisha precinct, displayed in the Myth Theatre
3
1:10 shrine model
A reconstruction of the ancient hall, said to have risen 48 metres
4
Myth Theatre
Refreshed multilingual screens tell the story of the land-transfer myth
5
Tatara ironmaking
An exhibit on Izumo's tamahagane steel and the sources of Japanese blade steel
6
Beside Izumo Taisha
A single road separates the museum from the shrine, so both fit in one day

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：99-4 Kizuki Higashi, Taisha-cho, Izumo, Shimane
→Time needed：2-3 hours
→Closed：1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month
→Last entry：30 minutes before closing
→Latest：Reopened 1 October 2026

Opening Hours

Opening Hours
Monday9:00-18:00
Tuesday9:00-18:00
Wednesday9:00-18:00
Thursday9:00-18:00
Friday9:00-18:00
Saturday9:00-18:00
Sunday9:00-18:00

9:00-17:00 Nov-Feb

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult680 yen
Student450 yen (university)
Child220 yen (elementary/junior high/high school)

Groups of 20 or more: 530 yen

Transportation

train

7 min on foot from Izumotaisha-Mae Station

Bus

2 min from the Seimon-mae bus stop

Driving/Parking

20 min from Izumo IC; free parking for 126 cars

💡 Tips

• The museum was shut from April 2025 to September 2026 for seismic works and only reopened on 1 October 2026 — reconfirm before travelling
• It closes on the first and third Tuesday of every month
• The Myth Theatre films are available in English, Korean and Chinese
• The third-floor deck looks straight out to the thousand-year pines of Izumo Taisha
• Permanent and special exhibitions are ticketed separately; the permanent fee is halved when combined
• There is a museum shop and a glass-house cafe on the upper floors

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo?

Monday: 9:00-18:00; Tuesday: 9:00-18:00; Wednesday: 9:00-18:00; Thursday: 9:00-18:00; Friday: 9:00-18:00; Saturday: 9:00-18:00; Sunday: 9:00-18:00; 9:00-17:00 Nov-Feb

How much is the admission for Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo?

Adult: 680 yen; Student: 450 yen (university); Child: 220 yen (elementary/junior high/high school); Groups of 20 or more: 530 yen

Any practical tips for visiting Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo?

The museum was shut from April 2025 to September 2026 for seismic works and only reopened on 1 October 2026 — reconfirm before travelling It closes on the first and third Tuesday of every month

How long should I spend at Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo?

A typical visit takes 2-3 hours.

How do I get to Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo?

train: 7 min on foot from Izumotaisha-Mae Station; Bus: 2 min from the Seimon-mae bus stop; Driving/Parking: 20 min from Izumo IC; free parking for 126 cars