Accessible Travel San-in Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo

Basic data

Facility summary and accessibility conditions	This is a prefectural museum focusing on the history of Shimane. It mainly holds expositions on the history and culture of the Ancient Izumo area. It displays real items such as bronze swords, bell-shaped bronze vessels dōtaku, bronze spearheads, some of which are National Treasures. They also have a 1/10 scale replica of the Izumo Shrine in the Heian era, which expresses the long history of ancient Izumo. Besides, it’s known for being designed by world-famous architect Fumihiko Maki. There are no bumps in the museum and the aisles are wide and easy to move along. Wheelchair and audio guidance loaning are available.
Address	99-4 Kizukihigashi, Taisha-chō, Izumo, Shimane
Telephone	0853-53-8600
Fax	0853-53-5350
URL	http://www.izm.ed.jp/
E-mail	Please use the contact form on the website.
Reception hours	9:00 - 18:00 (November - February: 9:00 - 17:00)
Regular holidays	The third Tuesday of every month (If national holiday, then the following day is closed.)
Transportation, closest station, bus stop	Nearest Station and Bus stops - Ichibata Train: Get off at Izumo Taisha Mae Station. 10 minutes on foot. - Ichibata Bus: Take the bus to Izumo Taisha-Hinomisaki (around 25 minutes). Get off at the Seimon Mae Bus stop. 2 minutes on foot. - Ichibata Bus: Get off at Kodai Izumo Rekishi Hakubutsukan Mae bus stop. Just nearby. Trains - Ichibata Train (at the time of getting on and off, there’s a ramp.) Dentetsu Izumo-shi Station (there’s an elevator) → Kawato Station (sometimes, there can be transfer at the nearby track) → Get off at the Izumo Taisha Mae Station (you can pass through the ticket barrier without stairs) → 10 minutes on foot. Buses Ichibata Bus (inquiry required for low floor bus schedule and wheelchair use) To Izumo Taisha - Hinomisaki, Izumo-shi Eki, Bus stop 1 → (about 25 minutes) → Seimon Mae. To Izumo Taisha (North Line, Via Winery) Izumo-shi Eki, Bus stop 1 → (about 35 minutes) → Kodai Izumo Rekishi Hakubutsukan Mae.
Bumps at the entrance	No
Entrance width	80cm or more
Accessible bathroom
Bathroom entrance width	87cm
Accessible parking space	Yes (6)
Wheelchair loaning	Yes
Multilingual information	Partially available
Display items with multilingual explanation	Partially available
Multilingual pamphlets	Available
Staff fluent in foreign languages	Not available
Wifi connection	Yes
Audio (English) guidance	Yes

Accesible data

Photo	Comment
	View
	Accessible parking space
	East side entrance
	Braille information board at east side entrance, push cart, powered wheelchair (power for up and down only), baby carriage, etc.
	Reception at entrance. Attendant always present
	Audio guide, written conversation board, tactile graphics for the building, at the reception
	Inside the exhibition hall
	There are some display items that you can touch (picture of replica of Otoriosame chōgin, said to be offered to the Royal Palace by Mōri Motonari, which is 16 cm long and weighs 160 g).
	Accessible bathroom inside the building (accessible bathrooms are available inside the building, at the accessible parking space, and in the experience factory.)

Inspector’s comments

A visually impaired person (complete blindness) / Female
I enjoyed the visit because in the exhibition hall there’s audio guidance, display items that can be touched, and an experience section. At the east side entrance, there’s an instruction bell and a Braille information board is installed. Upon entering, I heard an audio announcement saying: “The information board is this way,” which made it relatively easy to find. At the right side of the information board, there’s an intercom through which you can talk with the staff. At the reception, you can borrow a portable laminated tactile graphics sheet for the building, which makes it possible to know the location of the exhibition halls and bathrooms. From the entrance to the exhibition hall, there are Braille blocks installed, leading your way. A while after entering the building, you hear the audio guidance, convenient for knowing the direction of reception and bathrooms. There’s a service for keeping your luggage, which makes your visit light. By making a reservation, it’s possible to get support from trained staff members or volunteer guides.

A visually impaired person (complete blindness) / Female

I enjoyed the visit because in the exhibition hall there’s audio guidance, display items that can be touched, and an experience section.

At the east side entrance, there’s an instruction bell and a Braille information board is installed. Upon entering, I heard an audio announcement saying: “The information board is this way,” which made it relatively easy to find.
At the right side of the information board, there’s an intercom through which you can talk with the staff.

At the reception, you can borrow a portable laminated tactile graphics sheet for the building, which makes it possible to know the location of the exhibition halls and bathrooms.
From the entrance to the exhibition hall, there are Braille blocks installed, leading your way.

A while after entering the building, you hear the audio guidance, convenient for knowing the direction of reception and bathrooms.
There’s a service for keeping your luggage, which makes your visit light.

By making a reservation, it’s possible to get support from trained staff members or volunteer guides.