Izumo, Shimane

Infobox City Japan
Name= Izumo
JapaneseName= 出雲市
Map

Region= Chūgoku (San'in)
Prefecture= Shimane
District=
Area_km2= 543.48
PopDate= January 2008
Population= 146,115
Density_km2= 269
Coords=
LatitudeDegrees= 35
LatitudeMinutes= 22
LatitudeSeconds=
LongtitudeDegrees= 132
LongtitudeMinutes= 46
LongtitudeSeconds=
Tree= Japanese Black Pine
Flower= Chrysanthemum
Bird=
Symbol
!border
SymbolDescription= Flag
Mayor= Masahiro Nishio
CityHallPostalCode=693-8530
CityHallAddress= 109-1 Imaichichō, Izumo-shi, Shimane-ken
CityHallPhone=0853-21-2211
CityHallLink= [http://www.city.izumo.shimane.jp/ Izumo City]

nihongo|Izumo|出雲市|Izumo-shi is a city located in Shimane, Japan. Izumo is known for "Izumo soba" noodles and the Izumo Taisha Shinto shrine.

Demographics

The modern city was founded on November 3, 1941.

As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 87,940 and density of 510.30 persons per km². The total area was 172.33 km².

On March 22, 2005, the city merged with cities of Hirata and four cities from Hikawa District to form the new city of Izumo.

After the creation of the new city, as of 2008, the estimated total population is 146,115 and the combined area of the new city of Izumo is 543.48km².

Transportation

Izumo is serviced by two rail networks. The JR West Sanin Main Line, connecting Izumo-shi Station to Okayama through Yonago and Matsue, and then continuing west past Oda along the coast to Hamada and Masuda.

The secondary rail network is the Ichibata Electric Railway. The Dentetsu Izumo-shi Station is the terminal, and the line runs from Izumo to Matsue, passing through and connecting Hirata. The Dentetsu line also branches out and runs to Izumo Taisha from Kawato Station.

Izumo Airport serves the city.

History and attractions

The Grand Shrine (Izumo Taisha) is the oldest jinja in Japan. In 2008, the holy area was open for renovations from 1 August until August 17. The nearby Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo [http://www.izm.ed.jp/] , also located in Taisha Machi (大社町), has artifacts from the site.

The Takase River is a canal that runs through the center of Izumo. Beginning at the Hiikawa River, the canal runs directly across the town. Constructed by developer Okaji Shichibei in 1670, the Takase was the first canal ever constructed in the then-Matsue domain. Before Okaji began his agricultural developments, the Izumo area was infertile and unable to support crops. Thanks to Okaji's developments, the area became an important region for the growing of rice and grain in the Matsue area.

Izumo Dome is a venue located just north of the city proper. It has the distinction of being Japan's largest wooden building, at 49 metres high and 143 metres in diameter. It is used for sports and events such as baseball games and soccer matches, as well as for other events including sumo. It is a prominent symbol of Izumo, and can be seen from a distance from the train passing towards Hamada.

Orochi Festival is held every November. Celebrating the myth of Susano slaying the fearsome Orochi serpent that would come to take one girl from the village every year, a long mock snake is paraded through the streets with dancers following.

Hi No Misaki Lighthouse (Hinomisaki Toudai, or 日御碕灯台) is a modern stone lighthouse with a very powerful lamp. From the tower, one can see the Oki Islands, from where the story of the 'white rabbit' comes.

Shimane Winery [http://www.shimane-winery.jp/index.html] is famous for its super-sweet wines. The winery features free all-you-can-taste wine tasting every day. Additionally, there is a barbecue eatery attached to the winery.

In Izumo, there are various tombs and temples, including an ancient cluster of tombs to the south of the station.

Beautiful "Kirara" Beach is located in Taki-Chō (多伎町), one of the small cities merged into Izumo in 2005. The beach has clean water and off-shore stacks of cement tetrapods to break the waves. Nearby is an all-you-can-eat buffet eatery; "buffet" in Japan is called "Viking," or "baikingu" in the Japanese pronunciation. The dining area of the buffet restaurant commands a gorgeous view of the beach and sea. The eatery shares a complex with a health spa and onsen.

The Okuizumo Museum of Tatara and Sword-making features demonstrations twice a month, switching off every two weeks: one demonstration shows smithing techniques, while the other is a usage demonstration.

The Izumo Handicraft Museum is set in a traditional Japanese workshop complex; there are no English tours available.

Town twinning

Izumo has a town twinning relationship with these sister cities:
* Santa Clara, California (1986)
* Hanzhong, People's Republic of China (1996)
* Évian-les-Bains, France (2002)
* Kalajoki, Finland (2003)

ee also

*Mergers and dissolutions in Shimane
*Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
*Tetsundo Iwakuni

External links

* [http://www.city.izumo.shimane.jp/ Izumo official website] in Japanese
*wikitravel|Izumo
* [http://santaclarasistercities.org/izumo.htm Santa Clara Sister Cities: Izumo] in English