Sada Shrine

Sada Shrine stands in the Kashima area of Matsue. It was ranked as the second shrine of the old province of Izumo, and was counted among the province's three great shrines alongside Izumo Taisha and Kumano Taisha, under the name Sada Taisha. It appears in the eighth-century Izumo Fudoki under two older names, so its history goes back at least that far.

Three halls in a row

The most unusual thing about the shrine is the shape of its main sanctuary: three halls standing side by side, each built in the taisha style used at Izumo Taisha. The arrangement is rare, and the three halls together are designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government. The buildings standing today date from 1807.

The Kamiarizuki tradition

Like other shrines in the region, Sada Shrine receives the gods of Japan during the month they are said to gather in Izumo. The tradition here has its own explanation: the gods are said to come to remember Izanami, the mother goddess, whose grave was believed to have been moved to this shrine. The observance is called Oimisan locally, and the shrine keeps one of the oldest surviving forms of it. It is held from 20 to 25 November.

Sada Shin Noh

The shrine is also known for its ritual dance, Sada Shin Noh, performed in connection with the Gozagae festival in late September, when the rush mats on the seats of the gods in every hall are ceremonially replaced. The dance is on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property nationally. It is regarded as a source of the kagura traditions performed across the Izumo region.