After a bronze torii gate I came to the main shrine grounds. Immediately upon entry there was the worship hall with a sacred straw rope. The rope separates divine space and indicates the presence of a deity, it is quite common in Shinto shrines.
Behind the worship hall is the Main Hall (Honden), just like in Ise visitors cannot enter.
However here there's only one set of fence (I think) and you can walk around it, getting some reasonable views of the structure.
The Honden was originally built before Buddhism came to Japan, so without outside influences it is the purely Japanese architectural style. It is very tall, but according to studies it used to be even considerably taller, on some large pillars (we'll get to that later).
Here you can see the main hall behind fences.
Different angle.
Kaguraden with an even more impressive rope!
And here's another mini rant.
Remember I was collecting Shuin. During this trip some temples/shrines would not write on your Shuin book as per tradition. Instead they will sell you a printed/written one, I was not happy about it but what can you do, COVID blah blah blah. Mind you, these places are all cash only, so my money is clean but not the Shuin book!
Anyways, Izumo Taisha is pushing this to a new limit. Here's sign actually says, if you buy a new Shuin book here they will write on it, otherwise only pre-written ones. I was like WTF?! I was not going to give them money for that!
This blatant money grabbing kinda ruined my feelings for Izumo Taisha, sigh.
(hint, Okayama)
)
