Sign in for a personalized experience.
Japan Guide Homepage
Travel
Living
A-Z
Forum
Jobs
Friends
Shopping
Essentials
-
Sightseeing
-
Accommodation
-
Transportation
-
Food
-
Budget Travel
-
Shopping
-
Questions

Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kansai - Shima Peninsula
Ise Shrines 
# 1   of 8 most visited
sights in Ise Shima

jump to:   access  -  admission  -  hotels  -  ratings  -  tours  -  links

The Ise Jingu consists of two shrines: the Outer Shrine (Geku), which is dedicated to Toyouke, the Shinto deity of clothing, food and housing, and the Inner Shrine (Naiku), which enshrines the most venerated deity Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. They are Shinto's most sacred shrines.

Naiku and Geku are located several kilometers apart from each other at the foot of densely wooded hills. Unlike most other Shinto shrines, the Ise Shrines are built in a purely Japanese architecture style which shows no influence from the Asian mainland. Naiku is believed to have been established in the 3rd century and Geku in the 5th century.

Outside the Outer Shrine's main sanctuary

The shrines fascinate through their pure simplicity. There is nothing but green trees, broad gravel lanes and the wooden, barely painted shrine structures. Because the Ise Shrines are so sacred, no pictures may be taken near their main halls, a task that would be difficult anyway, as the view of the innermost buildings is partially obstructed by a set of wooden fences.

The Naiku and Geku are both rebuilt every 20 years according to an ancient Shinto tradition. For that matter, an empty lot is located besides every shrine building as the site for its next rebuilding. Ise Shrine's 62nd rebuilding is currently taking place and will be completed in 2013.

Auxiliary shrine at the Outer Shrine (Geku)

The 62nd Rebuilding of the Shrines

The new shrine buildings are currently being constructed on the lots beside the current ones - covered up by scaffolding. Once the new buildings are completed, visitors will be able to visit the old and new buildings for a short period of time before the old buildings are dismantled. Various ceremonies and festivals are accompanying the shrines' rebuilding. They started as early as 2005 and will culminate in the transfer of the deities from their old into their new homes in 2013.

The Sengukan Museum was opened in spring 2012 at the entrance of the Outer Shrine (Geku) for visitors to learn more about the shrines' rebuilding. The museum's outstanding exhibits include a fourth of a 1:1 replica of the shrine's main building as well as a beautiful 1:20 model of the main sanctuary. A pamphlet provides the only information in English, making it somewhat difficult to fully appreciate all the exhibits for visitors without Japanese reading skills.

Sengukan Museum

Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there
The Outer Shrine is located in central Ise, about a 5 minute walk from Ise-shi Station, while the Inner Shrine stands several kilometers outside of the city center. The Inner Shrine can be reached by bus from Ise-shi Station or the Outer Shrine in about 15 minutes and 410 yen.

Both shrines can also be accessed by the CAN bus, which provides direct connections between the shrines, Ise-shi Station, Edo Wonderland, the Meoto Iwa Rocks and Toba.

A one day pass for the CAN bus costs 1000 yen and provides unlimited rides on the bus, as well as discounts on admission to various attractions. A two day pass is available for 1600 yen.

How to get to and around the Shima Peninsula

Google Map

Hours and Fees
Outer and Inner Shrines
Hours:5:00 to 18:00 (March, April, September and October)
4:00 to 19:00 (May to August)
5:00 to 17:00 (November and December)
5:00 to 17:30 (January and February)
Closed:No closing days
Admission:Free

Sengukan Museum
Hours:9:00 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00)
Closed:Every 4th Tuesday of the month (or next day if that Tuesday is a national holiday)
Admission:300 yen

Advertisement

Hotels and Ryokan

Tours and Packages
Ise Shima Tours
Various tours and travel packages for Ise and surroundings.

User Ratings
Ratings for Ise Shrines:
japan-guide.com Rating:
  best of Japan  
User Rating (by 261 users):
89/100
  recommended

Best rated sights nationwide (out of 725):
67.  Nachi Taisha (Kumano)   89/100
68.  Tokyo Disneyland (Tokyo)   89/100
69.  Ishigaki Island (Yaeyama Islands)   89/100
70.  Asahidake Onsen (Daisetsuzan)   89/100
71.  Shugakuin Villa (Kyoto)   89/100
72.  Ise Shrines (Ise Shima)   89/100
73.  Miho Museum (Koka)   89/100
74.  Ainokura Village (Shirakawa-go)   89/100
75.  Suganuma Village (Shirakawa-go)   89/100
76.  Art House Project (Naoshima)   89/100
Most visited sights nationwide (out of 836):
124.  Naramachi (Nara)   542
125.  Kenchoji Temple (Kamakura)   539
126.  Kanazawa Castle (Kanazawa)   532
127.  Glover Garden (Nagasaki)   529
128.  Daigoji Temple (Kyoto)   529
129.  Ise Shrines (Ise Shima)   523
130.  Shuri Castle (Okinawa Island)   518
131.  Canal Area (Otaru)   515
132.  Mount Rokko (Kobe)   513
133.  Ramen Museum (Yokohama)   503

User Feedback
We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

English Links
Ise Jingu
Official English website.

Japanese Links
Ise Jingu
Official website.

Online Reservations
Hotel
 
Car
 
Flight
 
Bus

(check-in)

Related Pages
Travel
Sightseeing
Kansai Region
Shima Peninsula
Ise

Shinto
Shrines
Imperial Regalia

Ise Shrines
Oharaimachi
Meoto Iwa
Edo Wonderland
Mikimoto Pearl Island
Toba Aquarium
Ago Bay
Spain Mura

Ise-Shima: Access and Orientation

News and Reports
May 9, 2012
Rainy visit to the Ise Shrines
by schauwecker
Ise Autumn Color Report
November 17, 2010

Related Questions
Nagoya to Ise Shima
 2 reactions, last updated 101 days ago
What is the date for ise shikinen sengu...
 1 reaction, last updated 169 days ago
Toba Aquarium to Oharaimachi
 1 reaction, last updated 199 days ago
Bus Schedule at Ise-shi
 3 reactions, last updated 204 days ago
Nikko Edomura and Azuchi Bunka Mura
 3 reactions, last updated 228 days ago
About getting on train
 1 reaction, last updated 389 days ago
Ise-Jingu, Ise Shrine
 7 reactions, last updated 487 days ago
Is it possible to explore Ise Shima in a...
 17 reactions, last updated 507 days ago
Oharaimachi in winter
 4 reactions, last updated 515 days ago
Driving from Nagoya to Ise-Shima
 1 reaction, last updated 808 days ago
Bus to inner Ise Shrine
 4 reactions, last updated 840 days ago
CAN bus and Shima Peninsula
 12 reactions, last updated 903 days ago
Lockers at Futaminoura Station
 1 reaction, last updated 954 days ago
Buying pearls at Mikimoto Pearl Island
 4 reactions, last updated 954 days ago
Ise, worth the time?
 2 reactions, last updated 1017 days ago
JR to Iseshi station
 6 reactions, last updated 1037 days ago
Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba
 5 reactions, last updated 1049 days ago
Ise shrine
 5 reactions, last updated 1064 days ago
Kagurasai Ceremony in Ise-jingu
 1 reaction, last updated 1237 days ago
Pearl diving performance
 0 reactions, last updated 1392 days ago

Travel
Living
Japan A-Z
Community
Sightseeing
Accommodation
Transportation
Shopping
Essentials
Regions
Prefectures
Cities
Working
Studying
Living Cost
Apartments
Arts and Crafts
Entertainment
History
Religion
Etiquette
Food
Language
Tradition
Question Forum
Classifieds
Trip Reports
Member Area
Sightseeing Guide
Hokkaido
Sapporo
Otaru
Hakodate
Noboribetsu
Niseko
Furano
Daisetsuzan
Shiretoko
more...
Tohoku
Sendai
Matsushima
Hiraizumi
Hachimantai
Hirosaki
Lake Towada
Dewa Sanzan
Aizu
more...
Kanto
Tokyo
Yokohama
Kamakura
Hakone
Nikko
Kawagoe
Kusatsu
Narita
more...
Chubu
Nagoya
Mount Fuji
Izu Peninsula
Matsumoto
Kiso Valley
Takayama
Shirakawa-go
Kanazawa
more...
Kansai
Kyoto
Osaka
Nara
Kobe
Himeji
Mount Koya
Kumano
Ise Shima
more...
Chugoku
Hiroshima
Miyajima
Okayama
Kurashiki
Tottori
Matsue
Iwakuni
Hagi
more...
Shikoku
Takamatsu
Kotohira
Naoshima
Matsuyama
Kochi
Tokushima
Naruto
Iya Valley
more...
Kyushu
Fukuoka
Nagasaki
Kumamoto
Mount Aso
Beppu
Kagoshima
Kirishima
Yakushima
more...
Okinawa
Honto
Kume
Miyako
Yaeyama
Copyright © 1996-2013 japan-guide.com All rights reserved - Last Page Update: June 7, 2012
home - site map - privacy policy - terms of use - contact - employment - L‚ɂ‚¢‚Ä - advertising