A couple of women monks at the shinto shrine of Izumo Taisha , Taisha, Shimane prefecture, Japan. Contract me through <a href="http://www.picardo.photography">www.picardo.photography</a> or <a href="mailto:picardo.photography@gmail.com">picardo.photography@gmail.com</a> ========================================================== follow me: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/picardo2009/">Flickr</a> | <a href="http://plus.google.com/u/0/109629906513290184518">Google+</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/Picardo2009">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://500px.com/Picardo2009">500px</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Picardo-Photography/835233253208068">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/picardophotography/">Instagram</a> ==========================================================

Izumo Taisha shrine in Japan.

At Izumo Taisha Shrine by Areum Seo

During the Kamakura era, around 1200, the main structure was reduced in size. Then in 1744, the shrine was reconstructed to the present size of 24 meters high and 11 meters square at its base. In the 18th and 19th centuries, as travel became more common in Japan, the shrine became a central place of pilgrimage. Since the shrine spirit was settled in the inner shrine in 1744, it has been relocated three times for renovation of the inner shrine, using a traditional ceremony. The relocations took place in 1809, 1881, and 1953. From 1871 through 1946, the Izumo-taisha was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. In April 2008, the spirit was moved to temporary housing in the front shrine of Izumo-taisha in preparation for the Heisei-era renovations. Izumo-taisha's inner shrine was opened to the public for the first time in 60 years in the summer of 2008. On completion of the renovations, Ōkuninushi was returned to the inner shrine in a ceremony attended by over 8,000 people, held on May 11, 2013. 島根県出雲市 Izumo-shi, Shimane,Japan