Yaegaki Shrine Visitor Guide: Essential Shrine Etiquette
If you are visiting Yaegaki Shrine in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, for the first time, knowing the order of worship and the terms used around the grounds will help you feel at ease.
Along with following general shrine etiquette, prioritize local guidance and consideration for people offering prayers.
What Is Yaegaki Shrine? Deities and Blessings for Relationships
Yaegaki Shrine (Yaegaki Jinja) is a shrine associated with Izumo mythology in Sakusa-chō, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture.
Its principal deities are Susanoo no Mikoto, who defeated the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi, and Inatahime no Mikoto, who became his wife.
Ōnamuchi no Mikoto and Aohata-sakusahiko no Mikoto are also enshrined here.
According to shrine tradition, Susanoo no Mikoto built eight layers of fencing in Sakusame no Mori, the forest at the back of the grounds, to hide Inatahime no Mikoto, and after defeating the serpent, the two deities married and established the tradition of matchmaking here.
The shrine's name comes from a poem attributed to Susanoo no Mikoto that begins “Yakumo tatsu Izumo yaegaki,” referring to the rising clouds and eightfold fences of Izumo.
Because of this history, the shrine is known for enmusubi, blessings for good relationships and a harmonious marriage.
Visit the Shrine as a Place of Prayer
Worship at a shrine is a way to express respect and gratitude to its deities.
Even when you are simply admiring the buildings, if someone is praying in front of you, wait in a place where you will not disturb them.
Keep your voice down when sharing impressions with your companions, and put your smartphone away before the deity to help focus on your prayers.
Learn the Basic Terms Used on Shrine Signs
At a shrine, the names of different spaces can help you understand what people do there.
Buildings and facilities are arranged differently at each shrine, so learning their names and checking which areas you may enter are separate matters.
Here are some basic terms used in shrine guidance.
| Term | Pronunciation | General Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Shrine grounds | Keidai | The shrine's property |
| Approach path | Sandō | The path leading to the shrine buildings |
| Purification pavilion | Temizuya (chōzuya) | A place to cleanse your hands and mouth |
| Worship hall | Haiden | The building where visitors offer prayers |
| Main sanctuary | Honden | The building where the deity is enshrined |
Walking Through Yaegaki Shrine's Torii Gate and Approach
Being mindful of respect for the shrine and leaving room for others will help you enter through the torii gate and visit comfortably.
Pause and Prepare Yourself at the Torii Gate
The torii gate is an important boundary between the inside and outside of the shrine.
A considerate way to enter is to straighten your clothing and bow lightly before passing through.
If you need to check a map or your belongings at the entrance, step aside before stopping so that you do not block the way.
Keep to the Side of the Approach and Follow Local Guidance
One custom is to avoid walking down the center of the approach, which is considered the path of the deity.
The center of this path is called the seichū, and some customs also call for a slight bow of the head when crossing it.
However, it is also important not to go against traffic guidance or bump into people because you are concentrating too hard on etiquette.
Give way naturally to people coming toward you and keep a comfortable distance from those ahead.
Discuss Plans Away from the Path
Deciding where to go next or where to meet is easier in a safe place away from the flow of people.
Tell children where they may walk in advance, and hold large bags close to your body to help avoid bumping into others.
If you have concerns about moving around, ask locally about steps and accessible routes.
How to Purify Your Hands and Mouth at the Temizuya
Temizu is a ritual for cleansing your hands and mouth and preparing yourself before worship.
If the facilities are available, follow the instructions provided there.
Learn the Basic Purification Ritual Using a Ladle
In the usual arrangement with a hishaku ladle, hold it in your right hand to pour water over your left hand, then switch hands to cleanse your right hand.
To rinse your mouth, pour water into your left palm rather than putting your mouth directly on the ladle.
After rinsing, pour water over your left hand again, keeping your hands positioned so that water used for cleansing does not flow back into the basin.
Check How to Use Unfamiliar Facilities
If there are no ladles or instructions are posted, check the method suited to the facilities in front of you.
Keeping a handkerchief within easy reach before worship means you will not have to search through your bag at the water basin.
When you finish, make room for the next person and organize your belongings somewhere you will not be in the way.
How to Pray at the Worship Hall and Make a Wish for Relationships
At the shrine, the focus of worship is to compose yourself and concentrate on your gratitude and wishes.
If instructions for prayer are provided, follow the customs of that shrine.
Understand the Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow Ritual
The bows and ritual handclaps, known as kashiwade, used in shrine worship express respect and gratitude to the deities.
The usual basic ritual is nihai nihakushu ippai: bow deeply 2 times, bring your hands together at chest height and clap 2 times, then bow once more.
Prayer customs differ between shrines, so a method learned on your travels will not necessarily apply everywhere.
For example, at Izumo Taisha, also in Shimane Prefecture, the usual prayer ritual is 2 bows, 4 claps, and 1 bow.
If you see unfamiliar guidance, take your time to read the diagrams and explanations before approaching to pray.
Reflect on Your Feelings Before Making a Relationship Wish
Before praying, consider what you are grateful for and which wishes matter most to you.
You do not have to make the same wish as your companions; each person can reflect on their own feelings.
Even if you ask someone to photograph you praying, check first that photography is allowed there and take care not to disturb others' worship.
Prepare Useful Japanese Phrases for When You Are Unsure
If you cannot read Japanese guidance, pointing to the place or sign you do not understand and asking a brief question can help get your meaning across.
Showing a translated sentence on your screen is another useful approach while traveling.
- “Sanpai no sahō o oshiete kudasai” — Please explain how to worship at the shrine.
- “Kono saki ni haitte mo yoi desu ka?” — May I go beyond this point?
- “Kono annai wa dō iu imi desu ka?” — What does this notice mean?
If the person is helping someone else, wait a little and decide exactly what you want to ask before speaking to them.
How to Try Relationship Fortune-Telling at Yaegaki Shrine's Mirror Pond
When visiting Yaegaki Shrine, try the relationship fortune-telling at Kagami no Ike, the Mirror Pond, at the back of the grounds.
Knowing the steps and how to interpret the results will help you wait calmly by the pond.
The Origins of the Inner Shrine, Mirror Pond, and Sakusame Forest
The Mirror Pond is the pond of the inner shrine, set within Sakusame no Mori at the back of the grounds.
Inatahime no Mikoto is said to have drunk its water and seen her reflection in it while hiding within the eightfold fences to escape Yamata no Orochi.
The 8 fences that protected Inatahime no Mikoto are called Ōgaki, Nakagaki, Mangaki, Nishigaki, Manjōgaki, Kitagaki, Sodegaki, and Himigaki.
Ame no Mikagami Shrine, dedicated to Inatahime no Mikoto, stands beyond the pond, so quietly putting your hands together there before fortune-telling can help you settle your thoughts.
Where to Get Fortune-Telling Paper and How to Use It
Fortune-telling paper is available at the shrine's amulet counter for an offering of 100 yen per sheet.
At the Mirror Pond, float the paper on the surface and gently place a 10-yen or 100-yen coin on top.
Then quietly watch from the bank as the paper sinks.
The fortune-telling is said to cover many kinds of relationships and wishes, not only romance and marriage, and you can also do it on someone else's behalf.
Reading the Result from Where and How Quickly the Paper Sinks
If the paper sinks quickly, within 15 minutes, a relationship is said to come soon; if it takes 30 minutes or more, the relationship is said to take longer.
If it sinks nearby, your connection is said to be with someone close to you; if it sinks farther away, it is said to be with someone from afar.
Here is a guide to how the paper sinks and its traditional meanings.
| How the Paper Sinks | Traditional Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sinks within 15 minutes | A relationship will come soon |
| Takes 30 minutes or more to sink | A relationship will take longer |
| Sinks nearby | A connection with someone close to you |
| Sinks farther away | A connection with someone from afar |
Mirror Pond Fortune-Telling Etiquette
After floating your paper, step aside a little so that people arriving later can also approach the pond.
Avoid leaning over the pond or putting your hands in the water to move the paper, and wait for it to sink naturally.
Do not photograph other people's papers or faces without permission, and respect the time each person spends watching for their result.
Results can take more than 30 minutes, so allow enough time for your visit to avoid feeling rushed.
Things to See at Yaegaki Shrine: Married Camellias and Historic Paintings
Along with worship, Yaegaki Shrine's grounds offer sights such as camellias associated with its matchmaking tradition and historic wall paintings of deities.
Renri no Tamatsubaki: Camellias Symbolizing Marriage
The grounds contain “married camellias” known as Renri no Tamatsubaki.
Tradition says that 2 camellias planted by Inatahime no Mikoto joined into one above ground, making them a symbol of the marriage bond.
There are 3 Renri no Tamatsubaki on the grounds.
These trees have been protected as part of the shrine's faith, so avoid touching their branches or leaves or leaning against them for photos.
Important Cultural Property: Painted Wooden Panels in the Treasure Repository
The treasure repository preserves and displays itae chakushoku shinzō, colored paintings of deities on wooden panels that once formed the main sanctuary's walls.
The paintings depict 6 deities across 3 panels and are traditionally attributed to the Heian-period court painter Kose no Kanaoka, although the wood has been found to come from trees felled in the 13th century.
Designated a national Important Cultural Property in 1959, they are among Japan's oldest paintings of deities on wooden panels.
Admission is 200 yen for junior high school students and older, 100 yen for elementary school students, and free for younger children.
Follow posted notices and reception guidance on whether photography is allowed inside the repository.
Photography and Sightseeing Etiquette at Yaegaki Shrine
Before taking a photo, check the notices for that area and be aware of the people around you.
Do not assume that photography is allowed because you are outdoors, or that you may enter because a door is open.
Consider Photography Rules and People's Privacy Separately
Even where photography is allowed, that does not necessarily mean you can photograph people praying from close up.
If you want a person to be the main subject, obtain their permission; if that is difficult, choose an angle or composition without people in it.
When other people's offerings bear their names or wishes, take care with photos that show readable personal details.
Share Space While Taking Photos and Looking Around
Stay aware of your surroundings while checking your photos, and clear the way first if someone wants to pass.
Take turns taking photos instead of having your whole group focus on their screens, so that you do not occupy paths or prayer spaces for too long.
Here are some general considerations for different sightseeing situations.
| Situation | What to Keep in Mind | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Near worshipers | Keep enough distance to avoid disturbing prayers | Close-up photos without permission |
| Taking photos on a path | Give priority to people passing through | Occupying a spot for a long time |
| At a building entrance | Check entry guidance | Entering without permission |
| Viewing offerings | Respect personal wishes | Sharing photos with readable names |
How to Receive Amulets and Goshuin at Yaegaki Shrine
If you are interested in items offered by the shrine, learn their meaning and check how your chosen items are provided and where to request them.
Relationship Amulets and Ema Carry Your Wishes
In general, omamori amulets are cherished as items worn or carried to receive the deities' protection.
Yaegaki Shrine offers a variety of amulets, including relationship amulets, beauty amulets, and amulets for traffic safety and physical well-being.
The offerings for these amulets are 500 yen for a relationship amulet and 800 yen for a beauty amulet or a traffic safety and physical well-being amulet.
Ema are wooden plaques on which you write a wish and dedicate it to the shrine.
If there is something you would like, point to its name or a sample, and ask if you are unsure how to choose or handle it.
When writing an ema, remember that others may see it, and consider avoiding unnecessary personal details such as your address or contact information.
Receive a Goshuin as a Record of Your Visit
A goshuin is a shrine seal received as a record of worship at a shrine.
If you would like one, make worship the focus of your visit and check how the service is being provided that day.
Remembering the order and collection method explained at reception will help you wait comfortably.
If you have a fixed departure time, ask how long collection is likely to take before making your request and decide what fits your schedule.
Requesting a Prayer Ceremony for Relationships or Marital Harmony
Yaegaki Shrine accepts requests for various prayer ceremonies, including prayers for good relationships, marital harmony, safe childbirth, protection from misfortune, and Shichi-Go-San visits celebrating children at ages 7, 5, and 3.
Offerings for a prayer ceremony start at 5,000 yen.
If you would like a prayer ceremony, contact the shrine office in advance about the application process and how much time to allow.
How to Get to Yaegaki Shrine: Hours and Fees
Yaegaki Shrine is about 15 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station and is easy to include in a Matsue sightseeing itinerary.
Getting There by Bus or Car from JR Matsue Station
For public transportation, take a Matsue City Bus bound for Yaegaki Jinja from JR Matsue Station; the journey takes about 20 minutes.
Buses depart from stop 5 at Matsue Station, so check your service's departure time in advance.
By car, the shrine is about 15 minutes from JR Matsue Station and about 6 minutes from Matsue Chūō IC on the San'in Expressway.
Parking is available for regular vehicles, but there is no dedicated parking for tour buses, so check in advance if visiting with a group.
Visiting Hours, Time Needed, and Fees
The grounds are open for worship without time restrictions, and inquiries are accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; check closing times for shrine items and the treasure repository separately.
Allow about 30 minutes for worship, or at least 1 hour if you also want to try fortune-telling at the Mirror Pond and visit the treasure repository.
Here is the basic information to check before visiting.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 227 Sakusa-chō, Matsue, Shimane Prefecture |
| Worship | No time restrictions (inquiries: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) |
| Treasure repository admission | 200 yen for junior high school students and older; 100 yen for elementary school students; free for younger children |
| Mirror Pond fortune-telling paper | 100 yen per sheet (available at the shrine's amulet counter) |
| Access | About 20 minutes by city bus or 15 minutes by car from JR Matsue Station |
| Inquiries | 0852-21-1148 |
Visiting on Festival Days
At 3:00 p.m. on May 3, the Mikakushi Shinji, an ancient ritual based on the shrine tradition of hiding Inatahime no Mikoto within the eightfold fences, is held together with the Kinensai ceremony to pray for the harvest.
On this day, a procession with a mikoshi portable shrine travels from the main sanctuary toward the paired cedars of the inner shrine, so keep the route clear if you are present.
Religious ceremonies take priority during festivals such as the annual festival on October 20, so follow the priests' instructions and local guidance for photography and sightseeing.
Yaegaki Shrine Travel Tips: Respect the Shrine and Follow Local Guidance
Learning shrine terminology and basic etiquette will help you decide how to act at Yaegaki Shrine, even on your first visit.
Understand the meaning of purification and prayer, and follow local guidance on Mirror Pond fortune-telling, photography, and shrine items.
Ask when you are unsure about etiquette and share space with other worshipers for a calm and thoughtful visit.
Reviews (0)