Susa jinja

The Main Shrine of Susanoo
from Ancient Times
Located in Shimane Prefecture, Susa Shrine has been regarded as the main shrine of Susanoo-no-Mikoto since ancient times.
According to the Izumo Fudoki, when Susanoo-no-Mikoto developed this land, he said, "This country is good, so instead of giving my name to a rock, I will give it to this land," and thus he named it "Susa" and enshrined his spirit here.
Originally, it is said to have been built on Mount Miyao located to the north of the shrine grounds and was moved to its current location during the Middle Ages.

Throughout its history, Susa Shrine has changed its name several times. During the Nara period, it was known as Susa-sha; in the Heian period, it was called Susa Shrine; in the Muromachi period, it was called Jusansho Daimyojin; during the Tenmon period, it was known as Omiya Daimyojin; in the early modern period, it was called Susa Omiya or Izumo Omiya, and in Meiji 4 (1871), it was named the current Susa Shrine.

The torii gate is a stone Myojin torii, and the Zuijin-mon gate along the approach enshrines Toyoiwamado no Kami and Kushi-iwamado no Kami.

Inside the gate, there are enshrined deities, with a silver koma-inu (guardian dog) on the right and a gold koma-inu on the left, which is quite striking.
The gate is a copper-roofed kirizuma-style structure and is not very large.

The worship hall is an irimoya-style structure with a large shimenawa rope displayed prominently.
In front of and to the right of the worship hall is the kagura hall.
The large main hall is located behind it.

The Oldest Architectural Style
Taisha-zukuri
The main hall, which stands over 12 meters tall, is in the taisha-zukuri style with a two-bay layout.
The hall is raised high on foundation stones, with a corridor running around it, and the roof is a kirizuma-style gabled roof.
The front has a similar gabled portico over wooden steps.
The ridge of the roof is adorned with outward-facing chigi (forked finials) and three katsuogi (log weights), both indicative of a male deity.

The auxiliary shrines around the main shrine include the Amaterasu Shrine, which is located away from the main shrine grounds, and four others within the shrine grounds.
Behind the Zuijin-mon gate are eight pillar shrines called the East-West Sue Shrines, and behind the main hall are the Miho Shrine and Inari Shrine.

Among the auxiliary shrines, the Miho Shrine, which enshrines Mihotsuhime-no-Mikoto and Kotoshironushi-no-Mikoto, is unique for its three-bay layout with two kirizuma-style structures placed side by side.
The gabled roofs over the left and right doors create a valley in the center where there is no ridge.
The chigi on the left side indicate a male deity, while the chigi on the right indicate a female deity.

Susa Shrine is known for its Seven Wonders, with various legends and stories associated with different locations around the shrine grounds.
Shionoi Spring, which wells up next to the kagura hall, is said to be connected to the sea and is affected by the tides, resulting in periods of water flow and cessation.
Other wonders include the sacred horse, the twin pine tree, the shadowless cherry tree, the evergreen maki tree, the star-sliding stone, and the rain pot.