The tenth month of the year in Japanese lunisolar calendar is the "month without gods" all throughout Japan, except for the Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture.
In your travel to Japan, or at least reading travel stories or viewing photos, you may have noticed the piece of rope tied around a tree or a rock, or found zigzagged paper stramers attached to massive boulders. These string and papers show the presence of gods or kami. They are almost found everywhere.
In Shinto tradition, it is believed that these gods leave their mountaintops to meet in a "divine gathering", where it is labeled as "kanna-zuki". However, October is called in Izumo as "the month of gods" or "kami-arizuki".
Izumo Taisha Shrine is like the hotel of these kami. It is the oldest shrine in Japan, which exact establishment is still unknown, but is believed to exist as early as the 7th century. Arriving by the sea, the gods are greeted in a grandiose ceremony by the Shinto priests. They gather to talk about the year.
During the month, the shrine becomes crowded, not with gods alone, but also with the pilgrims and tourists.
Even if October is considered to be a godless month, you don't need to fret-- the gods will still hear your wishes.
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