A Sudden Winter Journey to Izumo Taisha – Day 1 (Part 1)

One night, while I was planning my travel schedule for this year,
the name Izumo Taisha suddenly came to my mind.

I don’t know why.
But I felt as if I had to go there right away.

A few days later, I left Haneda on an early morning flight.
This time, I booked JAL Class J. It offers priority boarding and a more comfortable seat, which feels just right for a solo trip.

Tokyo was completely sunny that morning.
However, as we got closer to Izumo, the view outside the window slowly changed.
Everything turned white.

From the airplane window, I could see a world covered in snow.
I was surprised. I didn’t know Izumo had so much snow.

At that moment, one thought crossed my mind:
“I only brought sneakers… Will I be okay?”
As expected, both the airport and the town were covered in snow.
The sky was gray, and I felt a little uneasy.

I hurried to the bus stop because the website said the bus would leave shortly after the flight arrived. However, the bus didn’t come for a long time.

I waited for over 30 minutes in the cold. Even through my gloves, my fingers were freezing, and it felt as if my heart was shrinking.

Just when I started to worry that it might never come, the bus finally arrived. It was delayed by traffic jams caused by snow. I was cold, worried, and felt like I was wasting time. Honestly, my heart felt like it was about to freeze.

But then I realized something. This was Izumo, the land of the gods.

I decided to follow “Izumo time” and slow down. As soon as I thought that, my shoulders relaxed a little.

After arriving in Izumo, I left my luggage at my hotel near Izumo City Station. Then I headed toward Izumo Taisha by bus. Outside the window, the world was completely white. It was quiet and soft, so beautiful that it took my breath away.

Izumo Taisha has a unique way of praying. I was glad that I had looked it up on the plane.

First, I went to Inasa no Hama Beach.

I walked carefully along the snowy road, trying not to slip. I grew up in a snowy region, so I’m used to walking on snow, but wearing sneakers made it more difficult.

When I finally arrived at the beach, there were almost no people there.
I could only hear the sound of the waves and the cold winter wind.

The large rock with a torii gate standing on the white sand looked like something from a myth.

On the way back, I felt hungry and stopped at a small restaurant.

Izumo is famous for soba, and I saw “Izumo soba” written everywhere.
Unfortunately, I have a soba allergy. So I ordered Shimane beef hitsumabushi, which I had found while researching on the plane.

Although I couldn’t try the soba, the tender beef and warm rice were comforting.

Finally, I arrived at Izumo Taisha.

The sloping approach leading down to the main hall was covered in white snow.
The paths, roofs, and open grounds were completely blanketed in white.

I might never see Izumo Taisha this white again.

However, because of the cold and rain, I couldn’t take any photos I was satisfied with. No matter how many times I pressed the shutter, something felt missing.

Feeling a little frustrated, I decided to take a short break. I found a retro café along the approach and went inside. I ordered Izumo’s famous zenzai, sweet red beans with grilled mochi.

Holding the steaming bowl in both hands, I slowly began to warm up from the inside. On cold days, moments like this are truly necessary.

After warming up, I returned to Izumo Taisha once more. Strangely enough, I felt that I was finally able to take a few photos I liked.

Photos don’t turn out well when you rush them.

I also stopped by Starbucks, as I always do on my solo trips. I picked up a mug that was limited to Izumo as a souvenir. With my usual soy latte, I took another quiet break.

Unexpectedly, Izumo Taisha was completely white and dignified.

Somehow, I felt as if I had been called here.

I might not have taken perfect photos.

Even so, I will never forget the white silence of this winter.

But the day was not over yet.
That night in Izumo brought a different kind of warmth.