Home to 358 bronze swords and the excavated pillars of Izumo Taisha — this museum deepens every visit to the Grand Shrine next door.
The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo is a specialist museum dedicated to the history and culture of Izumo, situated directly adjacent to Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine. It opened in 2007 and holds an extensive collection of archaeological and historical artifacts related to Izumo Taisha and ancient Izumo.
The highlight of the collection is a group of 358 bronze swords (National Treasure) unearthed in a single discovery at the Kojindani site in 1984 — a find that surpassed the total number of such swords previously excavated across all of Japan and sent shockwaves through the archaeological community. The museum also displays the actual excavated giant pillars (uzubashira) from the Izumo Taisha precinct, giving visitors a tangible sense of the scale of the main hall, which is said to have once stood as tall as 48 meters.
Visiting the museum alongside a pilgrimage to Izumo Taisha is the standard itinerary for good reason. The museum shop carries a rich selection of souvenirs inspired by the ancient world of Izumo.