Izumo Taisha Shinkoden Treasure Hall

The Izumo Taisha Shinkoden Treasure Hall is a museum set up within the grounds of Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's oldest shrines. Since its completion in 1981 (Shōwa 56), designed by architect Kikutake Kiyonori, it has displayed and exhibited sacred treasures and offerings, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties handed down by the shrine. After renovation commemorating the Heisei no Dai-Sengū (Heisei Great Reconstruction), it reopened in November 2017 (Heisei 29). It also exhibits items such as the shin no mihashira (central pillar) of the ancient main shrine, which was excavated from the grounds in 2000 (Heisei 12). The name “Shinkoden” carries the meanings of “divine help” and “receiving blessings from the gods,” and objects deeply tied to faith in Ōkuninushi no Ōkami, the enshrined deity of Izumo Taisha, are displayed together under one roof.

National Treasure “Akinono Shika Makie Tebako” (designated on March 29, 1952 (Shōwa 27)): The most important item in the Shinkoden collection is the National Treasure “Akinono Shika Makie Tebako,” a lacquer box believed to have been made in the early Kamakura period. The box depicts deer running across autumn fields in precise maki-e technique, and it is highly regarded as a craft object that embodies the peak of early Kamakura maki-e technique. It holds a special place among the sacred treasures that have long been offered to Izumo Taisha, and scholars focus on it as an important example in the history of Japanese lacquer art.

Swords and armor collection: Izumo Taisha has received offerings of swords and armor from warlords. The mid-Kamakura tachi signed “Mitsutada” (with itomaki tachi mounting), donated by Toyotomi Hideyori, and the Muromachi-period Akaito-odoshi Katajiro Yoroi (with helmet and ōsode shoulder guards) are designated Important Cultural Properties of the nation. The matchlock gun (with its gun case), made and donated in Keichō 17 (1612), is a Shimane Prefecture Designated Cultural Property.

Ancient documents and sacred records: Izumo Taisha also preserves ancient documents that record the history of its rituals and construction. These include the “Izumo Taisha Monjo” (Shimane Prefecture Designated Cultural Property), which runs from 1164 (Chōkan 2) through the Meiji period, as well as the rinji (imperial edicts) of Emperor Go-Daigo and the “Hōji Ninen Sengū Gishiki Chūshinjō” (both Important Cultural Properties).

Integrated experience with the shrine grounds: A major appeal of the Shinkoden is that it can be visited together with the shrine grounds. Viewing the sacred treasures and swords alongside religious and architectural highlights, such as the Izumo Taisha Honden (National Treasure), built in Enkyō 1 (1744), the great shimenawa rope of the Kagura-den, and the sessha and matsusha shrines within the Arakakiuchi enclosure, offers a cultural experience that a standalone museum cannot provide. Izumo City also has many related facilities, including the adjacent Shimane Prefectural Ancient Izumo Museum and the Izumo Bunka Denshōkan, forming a rich sightseeing route for enthusiasts of Japanese swords and ancient history.