Isemiya

The neighbourhood of bars and restaurants a short walk from Matsue Station takes its name from an Ise shrine founded in 1644 by the domain lord Matsudaira Naomasa, burnt down in the fire of 1874 and finally merged into Mefu Shrine in 1899.

The original shrine was established by kanjo, that is, by transferring worship from Ise Shrine, at the wish of the daimyo Matsudaira Naomasa; it stood east of the present Mefu Shrine, along what is now a stretch of Prefectural Road 21. It burnt down in the great Matsue fire of 1874 and, after a quarter of a century without a home of its own, its deities were received into Mefu Shrine in 1899. Nothing is left of the place of worship: only the name, passed on to the neighbourhood of restaurants and bars that occupies the area today, 5–6 minutes on foot from JR Matsue Station.

Isemiya-cho is a neighbourhood in central Matsue, now known as an area of restaurants and evening bars, which takes its name from a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deities of Ise. The shrine was founded in 1644 (some sources give 1642 for the vassals' extension) by the lord of the Matsue domain, Matsudaira Naomasa, through kanjo (transfer of worship) from Ise Shrine; it stood on the east side of Mefu Shrine (賣布神社), along the former course of the Isemiya River, where Prefectural Road 21 (Shin-ohashi-dori) now runs. It was destroyed in the great fire of 1874 (Meiji 7) and its deities were transferred to Mefu Shrine in 1899 (Meiji 32): no original structure survives today.

ℹ️ There is no shrine left to visit: the name has passed to the neighbourhood of restaurants and bars that now occupies the area, 5–6 minutes on foot from JR Matsue Station, with opening hours that depend on each venue. Paid car parks are available in the area.

🚉 Matsue · 11 min walk

Sources: jinja.matsue-hana.com · shimane-kodaibunka.jp · kankou-shimane.com

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