Since the mythical times when the gods ruled the land, Izumo has been closely associated with the gods. One of these is sumo, a sport that has gained worldwide recognition and is very popular among visitors to Japan. Although sumo in Japan began as a Shinto ritual, its origins can be traced back to the myth of the "handing over of the land" here in the Land of Izumo.
On this tour, you will visit Izumo Taisha Shrine and a Tatara forge workshop in Izumo, the birthplace of sumo, and then watch a sumo match. The tour will also visit the Adachi Museum of Art, which has been voted the best garden in Japan by an American professional magazine for 20 consecutive years, and Matsue Castle, with its beautiful national treasure keep.
HIGHLIGHT
[Itinelary]
Day1 : Blacksmith Shop, Adachi Museum, Matsue Castle
Day2 : Izumo Taisha Shrine, Sumo Wrestling in Izumo
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
◆Regional Tournaments of Sumo Wrestling
Sumo wrestling tournaments are basically held six times a year in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyushu. In addition to these, regional tournaments of sumo wrestling are held in local cities throughout Japan.
Unlike regular tournaments, regional tournaments are characterized by a calm atmosphere and close proximity to wrestlers. You can communicate with the wrestlers waiting for their turn, and they are happy to take a commemorative photo or give you an autograph.
Also, although it is a tour, everyone participates, so you can see the matches between famous wrestlers such as yokozuna and ozeki. You will surely be excited by the fierce clashes and dynamic throws between sumo wrestlers. You can fully enjoy sumo tournaments including the ceremonial demonstration by Yokozuna and the closing ceremony. In between each bout, there are also special events, which you cannot watch at the main tournaments. The regional tournaments of sumo have all the fun of sumo.
◆Izumo Taisha Shrine
In Japan, it is said that in October of the lunar calendar, the 8 million gods from all over the country gather in Izumo to hold a meeting regarding the happiness of people. The Izumo-taisha Shrine is the place where the gods stay.
Izumo-taisha is famous as the god of marriage and the god of good fortune, and the history of its founding is recorded in "Kojiki," which is said to be the oldest history book in Japan.
Izumo is also said to be the birth place of sumo wrestling.
According to the Kojiki, the deity Takemikazuchi, an emissary of Amaterasu, was forced to concede the land to the deity Takemikazuchi, who then engaged in a contest of strength with Takemikazuchi on the beach of Inasa.
It is Takemikazuchi who wins the contest. As promised, Amaterasu receives the Land of Izumo from Okuninushi no Mikoto.
This power struggle is said to be the myth of "handing over the land," and is generally regarded as the origin of sumo.
It is also said that Izumo-taisha is the temple that Okuninushi no Mikoto requested in exchange for the handover of the land.
◆Sugaya Tatara Sannai
The Sugaya Tatara Sannai is the model for the tatara field in the movie "Princess Mononoke".
Tatara-ba is a place where "tatara-tekko", an ancient Japanese iron manufacturing method, is performed, and is an old ironworks. This process was actually practiced until the Meiji era.
At a tatara site, a village (Sannai) was formed with a population of 100 to 200 people, and they spent their lives engaging in iron manufacturing.
The Sugaya Tatara Sannai is the site of an actual village. The houses where the tatara craftsmen lived have been preserved, and the lifestyle and scenery of that time have been passed down to the present.
The tour guide will talk about life in those days and the unique social structure of the tatara.
The recently renovated Takadono (a large iron manufacturing facility) is also a highlight of the tour.
◆ Tatara blacksmith workshop
At a blacksmith workshop near the Sugaya Tatara Sannai, you will observe and experience the process of nailing and making paper knives.
You can experience the traditional way of forging and molding under the guidance of a professional artisan.
◆Adachi Museum of Art
Adachi Museum of Art is a famous Japanese garden, which was voted the best in Japan for 20 consecutive years in the rankings by the Journal of Japanese Gardening, an American magazine specializing in Japanese gardens, and for the largest collection of Yokoyama Taikan, who is a renowned painter.
The museum is especially famous for its garden. It is also an excellent museum of Japanese paintings housing more than 120 pieces of Yokoyama Taikan’s paintings as well as masterpieces by Takeuchi Seiho, Kawai Gyokudo, Uemura Shoen, and many fascinating pottery, and paintings by Kitaoji Rosanjin collected by its founder Zenko Adachi during his lifetime.
◆Matsue Castle
Matsue Castle is one of the 12 existing castle towers that have remained in their original state for more than 400 years. It is also one of only five castles in Japan designated as a national treasure.
In particular, the castle tower is the second largest after Himeji Castle, and the castle walls boast an imposing appearance. The stonewalls that support the castle's footing are beautifully curved with no gaps.
The moats surrounding the castle still retain the original appearance when the castle was built, and a tour around the moat is one of Matsue's attractions.
Matsue Castle is not only beautiful, but also has an excellent offensive and defensive structure here and there. Thinking about how to attack the castle tower while walking is fun.
More info
Itinerary
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you cancel your reservation, the following cancellation rates and remittance charge will be charged.
(1) over 15 days before to the program date: 10 % of the program fee
(2) 14 - 3 days prior to the program date: 50 % of the program fee
(3) 2 - 0 days prior to the program date: 100 % of the program fee
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