Ise Jingū is the spiritual heart of Shinto Japan, comprising the Inner Shrine (Naikū), dedicated to sun goddess Amaterasu, and the Outer Shrine (Gekū), set within vast forests of cypress and cedar. The shrines are rebuilt in their exact original form every 20 years in a ceremony called Shikinen Sengū — a living tradition of architectural preservation through renewal, last performed in 2013. The approach to Naikū via the Uji Bridge and forested gravel paths is profoundly serene, while the adjoining Okage Yokocho street offers Edo-period architecture and regional cuisine including Ise udon and akafuku mochi. Over eight million pilgrims and visitors arrive each year.
- Type
- Venue
- Category
- Temple/Shrine
- Season
- Year-round
- Month
- Year-round
- Region
- Chubu
- Prefecture
- Mie
- City
- Ise
Highlights
- ◆Japan's holiest Shinto shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu
- ◆20-year ritual rebuilding (Shikinen Sengū) since the 7th century
- ◆Pristine forested approach via ancient gravel paths
- ◆Okage Yokocho Edo-style street food and craft shops
- ◆Inner and Outer Shrine explorable as a half-day pilgrimage walk