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- Mie
Ise Grand Shrine "Ise Jingu"
Okage Yokocho and Oharai Machi sightseeing is also fun when visiting Oise-san/Ise Shrine
The Ise Grand Shrine in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, has been known as “Oise-san” from a long time ago, and surrounded by great spots such as Okage Yokocho and Oharai Machi. Visitors can enjoy Akafuku Mochi and lot of great sightseeing even after visiting the Shrine.
Famous also for “Tsuitachi Mairi” (1st day of the month worship), the Ise Grand Shrine’s official name is simply as “Jingu”. Wrapped in gentle greenery, walking on Sando (an approach to a main shrine) in the natural beauty and overflowing life force of this holy place will bring calm to your heart. The Grand Shrine’s Geku and Naiku are most famous, but there are many other shrines large and small spread around the Ise Grand Shrine area, with consist of 125 shrines in total.
With its surrounding spots such as Okage Yokocho and Oharai Machi, known for Akafuku Mochi, visitors can enjoy sightseeing even after visiting the Shrine.
Ise Grand Shrine "Ise Jingu"
The Shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, with the Naiku is dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu-Omikami, where she is believed to dwell, and the Geku is dedicated to Toyo'uke-no-Omikami, the god of agricultural, rice, harvest, and industry.
It is said that it is customary to visit shrines in the order of Geku first, followed by Naiku. The way to worship in front of the shrine is “bow twice, clap your hands twice, and bow once more deeply”, with your prayer being said after clap your hands twice.
Early morning worship and “Tsuitachi Mairi” (1st day of the month worship) are also recommended. People are sparse early in the morning, so you can relax and enjoy a leisurely visit. There are rewards for rising early for “Tsuitachi Mairi”, such as buying Tsuitachi Mochi at the Akafuku Honten (main shop), and breakfast limited rice porridge only available at Sushikyu.
Oharai Machi
There is a street called Oharai Machi next to the Torii gate of the Ise Grand Shrine’s Naiku. Walking amidst the bustle makes you feel like you’ve time slipped back to the Edo period. Buildings representative of Ise-ji Route from the Edo to the Meiji eras are reproduced on the stone paved street that stretches for about 800 meters along the Isuzu River. In addition, meals and souvenir shops, banks, post offices, and convenience stores are also in wooden buildings making visitors feel the commitment that unifies the city of Ise.
Okage Yokocho
In Okage Yokocho, located in the middle of Oharai Machi, where visitors can eat the Ise specialty Akafuku Mochi with Ise Tea, or fill up on Ise Udon noodles, while strolling and shopping. Okage Yokocho is a town of about 60 shops with specialties such as old-standard tastes and famous items from Mie Prefecture. Every day is crowded with tourists for performances of Shinon Taiko drums and oral performances of picture-story shows. In addition, outlines of Japanese mythology are introduced using animation and Japanese paper dolls at the Okage-za Museum of Japanese Myth.
After visiting Ise Grand Shrine, did you enjoy the bustle with of Ise-Shima's food?
Location
| Name | Ise Grand Shrine "Ise Jingu" |
|---|---|
| Web Sites | http://www.travel.pref.mie.lg.jp/en/recommend/jingu.shtm http://www.isejingu.or.jp/en/ |
| Address | 1 Ujitachi-cho, Ise-shi, Mie |
| Access | About 15 minutes from Iseshi Station by bus bound for Isejingu Naiku Mae. |
| Business Hours | October to December: 5:00 to 17:00 January to April, September: 5:00 to 18:00 May to August: 5:00 to 19:00 |