Ise Shrine
Ise city
The head shrine of Japan's Shinto faith! Make your way to the place of greatest power.
Ise Shrine is such a special place for the Japanese that they have a specific expression (Ise-mairi) for visiting Ise Shrine. Although there are more than 80,000 Shinto shrines across the country, the highest of Japan’s gods, the goddess Amaterasu, is enshrined here at Ise Shrine. The approach to the shrine is beautifully green and swept perfectly clean. The clean air that refreshes both spirit and body makes Ise Shrine’s power all the more evident. This sacred air, which has existed in this area for over 1300 years, touches the hearts of all visitors regardless of national or religious boundaries.
Ise Shrine consists of Geku and Naiku. You should be sure to visit both.
Ise Shrine is made up of two areas: Geku and Naiku. They’re far enough apart that you catch a bus to move between them. You visit Geku first. When you get off at JR Iseshi station, first take the bustling shrine approach and then cross the Hiyokebashi Bridge to the shrine sanctuary. Here Toyouke-Omikami, goddess of food, clothing, shelter and industry, is enshrined. After this, travel to Naiku, where the goddess Amaterasu is enshrined. The area is also home to beautiful scenery such as the Isuzugawa River and the Uji Bridge. Stopping to worship at only one of the two sites is called katasangu, and is frowned upon. The accepted custom is to visit Geku first, and you too should visit the shrine in this order.
Once every 20 years, the Japanese go wild for shikinen sengu.
If you visit Ise Shrine, you’ll want to remember the key phrase shikinen sengu. This is the practice of ritually rebuilding the entire shrine and its bridges. The reasons for performing this ritual are several. Firstly, it keeps the site spiritually clean as a place where the gods are present. It is also said to be a way of passing on the construction techniques of the ancient Yayoi period. The shikinen sengu for the current Ise Shrine was just completed in 2013. This is why the main hall and torii gates of this historic shrine are finished in plain wood. Finally, it’s recommended that you visit Ise Shrine in the early morning if you can. There are fewer worshipers at this time, so you can better feel the inherent power of Ise Shrine.
For reference
Ise Shrine
-
- Address
- Geku: Toyokawa-cho, Ise-shi, Mie-ken
Naiku: 1 Ujitachi-cho, Ise-shi, Mie-ken
-
- Telephone
- 0596-24-111
-
- Opening hours
- 5 A.M. to 6 P.M. (varies seasonally)
-
- Closed
- Open seven days a week
-
- Price
- Free
Access
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 1-hour flight from Haneda Airport.
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 100-minute flight from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport.
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 75-minute flight from Sendai Airport.
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 65-minute flight from Matsuyama Airport.
- Matsusaka Port is 75 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport via the Tsu Airport Line.
-
- Matsusaka Station is 12 minutes by bus from Matsusaka Port.
- Iseshi Station is 12 minutes via Kintetsu line from Matsuzaka Station.
Map
Share this info
Related Destinations
-
Ise-ebi spiny lobster Toba city, Shima city, Ise city
-
AQUA×IGNIS (Yunoyama Onsen) Mie-gun district
-
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum Iga city
-
Kumano Kodo Ise city, Owase city, Kumano city
-
Mikimoto Pearl Island Toba city
-
Suzuka Circuit Suzuka city
-
Festivals Kuwana city, Kumano city, Toba city
-
Okageyokocho Lane Ise city