Q & A

Taisha Tourist Information Center (a.k.a., Shinmon-dori Omotenashi Station)
Hinomisaki Tourist Information Center
Kicchokan (Roadside Station Taisha Goen-Hiroba)
Izumo Enmusubi Airport (IZO)

Depending on the time of month, there can be limited free Wi-Fi aboard Ichibata Electric Railway trains and in four stations, Dentetsu Izumoshi, Izumotaisha-Mae Station, Unshū-Hirata Station, and Matsue-Shinjiko-Onsen Station.

If you want to have Wi-Fi at all times, you can rent portable devices (Pocket Wi-Fi) at major Japanese airports. Sometimes, renting one in your home country may cost less, so check around before you visit Izumo! 

If you prefer to use a SIM card rather than a Pocket Wi-Fi device, they are available online and some shops in major cities around Japan, but SIM cards are not available to buy in Izumo.
We highly recommend ordering a prepaid SIM card before you come to Japan or reserving one to pick up when you arrive at a major Japanese airport.
SIM cards are sometimes available without a reservation in major airports, usually on the arrival floor.  

① Goodwill English Guide of Izumo (GoEn)
Known as “GoEn" to refer to the Japanese word for fate and relationships in Japanese, Goodwill English Guide of Izumo is a group of local volunteers who can give an English tour of Izumo Taisha Shrine free of charge to individual travelers. A nominal charge may apply to for-profit tour groups led by organizations and companies.

Please fill out this form to request a guide. Reservations must be made at least one week in advance.
Click here for reservation page

② Shimane Interpreter Guide Association (SIGA)
Please see our home page for details. Available languages: English, Chinese, Korean
Click here for SIGA Services Page

Yes! 
In addition to express and local JR trains that come to Izumo, there is sleeper train called "Sunrise Izumo" from Tokyo to Izumo that stops at other cities on the way.
It is only possible to book tickets for the "Sunrise Izumo" at JR Midori no Madoguchi (JR Green Ticket Counters, where reserved tickets can be purchased) and no more than one month in advance. You can also see the routes and departure times online here. In the “Specify Train” section, select “SUNRISE-IZUMO (Tokyo~Izumoshi) before attempting the “Specify Departure / Arrival Stations” section

The JR Rail Pass is no longer valid to use for JR Highway Buses between cities.

Lockers are available in and around JR Izumoshi Station, various places along the Taisha Shinmon-dori shopping street including near Izumo Taisha Mae Station, and the Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo (which will be closed for renovations from April 2025 to September 2026 -tentative end date) among other places.

If your bag is too large for a coin locker, you could make use of the luggage storage service for a small fee at the Izumoshi Station Tourist Information Centre. Make sure you know what time you need to come back to pick up your bag, though, as they usually operate from 9:00-17:00 (5:00pm) but hours can be subject to change.

Hinomisaki Shrine, Inasa no Hama (Inasa Beach) and Kirara Beach are the top three places, however, a lot of Izumo faces the Sea of Japan, so there are many other hidden spots for you to explore!
Depending on the season, you may even see dolphins swimming off the coast!  

At this time, no place in Shimane Prefecture exchanges foreign currencies for Japanese yen. If you plan to bring cash in your home currency to Japan, please change it at a major airport (the closest one to Shimane Prefecture is Yonago Kitaro Airport (YGJ) in Tottori Prefecture) or major city before traveling to Izumo.

Alternatively, you may be able to withdraw Japanese yen from ATMs here using a compatible debit or credit card from your home country, such as those found in convenience stores (7-11, Lawson, Family Mart, etc.) and shopping malls. For example, here is a site to locate the nearest SevenEleven ATM Seven Bank at SevenEleven

① JR Izumo Station East Bicycle Parking Lot
② Ichibata Railway Unshu Hirata Station
③ Susano-o Hall (near the Susa Branch of the Izumo City Office)
④ 園山輪店 (Sonoyama Rinten is on the Shinmon-dori Shopping Street near Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine. They call their bike rental service "Enchari")

Each station has a different number of regular and electric assist bicycles, and all have a limited number of available units. Please confirm the hours of rental at the location you use, as start times range from 8:00-9:00 in the morning to 17:00-18:00 in the evening depending on the location and day of the week.
Have a safe and enjoyable ride around Izumo!

Only onto Ichibata Railways trains (not JR trains) and requires an additional fee of ¥350 on top of the price of a regular ticket.

To get to Izumo
JAL Explorer Pass (Japan Airlines tickets)
JR Rail Pass can be used on most JR transportation all over Japan. All Highway Bus routes are exempt from the JR Rail Pass except for limited JR Busses running between Hiroshima and Izumo. When planning your trip, double-check to make sure that the bus is JR and NOT Ichibata. More information on bus routes can be found here: Chugoku Bus
Willer Travel Japan Bus Pass (discounted bus tickets between major cities and Izumo)

There is currently a special bus fare subsidized by Shimane Prefecture for foreign visitors traveling between Hiroshima and Izumo that is only ¥1000 yen each way (¥1,400 to Matsue). More information can be found here.


Within Izumo
Ichibata Railway 1-Day Pass
Welcome to Matsue & Izumo 3-Day Unlimited Bus Pass for Foreigners Visiting Japan

Please review Shimane Prefecture Disaster/Emergency and other relevant links.
Shimane Disaster Prevention Information
Shimane Prefectural Government Information About Current Disasters/Emergencies

Services available in English, Portuguese, Korean and Mandarin Chinese in case of emergency
Shimane International Center Disaster Links Page

We are currently researching this question and will post more information as it becomes available.

When available, the Tourist Information Centers at JR Izumoshi Station, Shinmon-dori Shopping Street, and Hinomisaki Light House have coupons for come local attractions or eateries. Feel free to stop by and see what is there!

Izumo experiences 4 seasons with warm, humid summers, and rain, wind, and some fleeting snow in winter, but it rarely drops below 0 degrees Celsius (freezing) at sea level. Trees begin to blossom as early as mid-March and fall foliage has come in mid-November or early December in recent years. Wind is common throughout the year.
Japan Meteorological Agency Izumo Weather Forecast

Drones cannot be flown around Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine. In other areas, permission is required.
Please see laws and regulations here.