Izumo, Administrative city in Shimane Prefecture, Japan.
Izumo is an administrative city in Shimane Prefecture along the Sea of Japan coast, where the land lies between the sea and mountains. The Hii River flows through the area, dividing flat rice paddies from forested slopes.
Stone tools used around 120,000 years ago at the Sunabara Site are among the oldest objects discovered in Japan. The city received its modern administrative structure in the 20th century through the merger of several smaller communities.
The name comes from an old expression meaning "prominent," and today people walk through the central district where shops sell traditional ceremonial ropes made from rice straw. These thick braided cords hang at doorways and gates throughout the area, marking thresholds between everyday space and sacred ground.
The airport lies east of the city center, and trains connect several stations throughout the urban area. Travelers find most lodging and restaurants near the main railway stations, while bus lines serve the more distant districts.
Each October, according to tradition, one million deities gather in the city for their annual meeting. During this month, local shrines carry different names than they do the rest of the year, reflecting the temporary presence of the visiting deities.
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