Izumo Taisha, one of Japan's oldest and most sacred Shinto shrines, is steeped in fascinating traditions. Unlike most shrines where you clap twice during prayers, at Izumo Taisha, you clap four times—twice for yourself and twice for the person you hold dear.

In October of the lunar calendar (around November in the modern calendar), something extraordinary happens. While the rest of Japan calls this month Kannazuki (神無月), meaning "the month without gods," Izumo celebrates it as Kamiarizuki (神在月), "the month with Gods." Why? It's believed that all the deities across Japan gather here for their annual meeting.