Retro Japan: Former Taisha Station in Izumo boasts finest Japanese-style architecture

IZUMO, Shimane -- Among Japan's three train station buildings designated as important cultural properties by the national government, the Former Taisha Station in Izumo stands out for its finest Japanese-style architecture. Completed in 1924 to replace the original 1912 structure, this station was designed by Mitsuo Niwa and overseen by architect Chuta Ito, whose expertise in planning and designing the grounds of the renowned Izumo Taisha Shrine was invaluable.

Unlike the Western-style stations of Tokyo and Mojiko, Taisha Station was uniquely crafted in a modern Japanese style, earning its reputation as a masterpiece of such architecture. In a recent preservation and restoration project from 2020 to 2025, costing around 1.25 billion yen, the station reopened as the Former Taisha Station in April, now bearing the weight of its historical significance and architectural grandeur.

The building's black tiled roof, adorned with ornamental shibi finials at the ridge, and its spacious third-class waiting room without pillars, contrast beautifully with the former ticket office, offering a glimpse into its bygone heyday. A platform from which one can see the first torii gate of Izumo Taisha Shrine completes the scene, undoubtedly evoking the joy and reverence of worshippers stepping off the train in the past.

This exploration of Japan's architectural wonders and yesteryears continues with more Retro Japan stories available here.