Daytip to Mie Prefecture

Ise Grand Shrine Shinto Shrine

The Ise grand shrine is the most important and famous Shinto shrine in Japan. We had previously visited Atsuta Jingu shrine in Nagoya and there were many similarities between the two. Ise is located in the Mie prefecture approximately half way between Osaka and Nagoya and was a two hour drive.

Compared to Buddhist temples, the shinto shrines are fairly spartan. The focus is on natural spirits and you are drawn to the power and the ages of the trees and the forests around them.

There are actually two shrines in Ise called the Inner and the Outer shrines. We visited the Naiku (or inner) shrine. The Naiku shrine was surprisingly small and we were in and out in less than an hour.

The entry to the Naiku Shrine

One of the hypnotically beautiful trees inside the shrine complex.

Ise Shrine and the origin of Omiyage

One symbol of the Shrines importance is wrapped up in one of the most important parts of Japanese culture, Omiyage. Gifts that any traveler must take home. Omiyage first originated with visits to the Shrine. According to one of my favorite web pages - Quirky Japan:

"The roots of Japan's love with souvenirs go back to the days of pilgrimages to Japan's most sacred shrine, Ise Jingu in Mie prefecture.

The first omiyage were boards purchased from the shrine for displaying ofuda (sacred strips of paper inscribed with messages to bring good fortune or ward off evil). In those days, towns or villages would often choose one person to visit the shrine as a representative of the community, and he would be given money and asked to pray for everyone.

The omiyage were purchased by the representative with this money and were given out to everyone after the trip. As time went on, many shops sprang up around Ise Jingu and sold locally produced goods for pilgrims to take home with them. These mementos from the trip also became known as omiyage and the new meaning of 'local goods' gradually replaced the original one.

Trips to Ise were usually once in a lifetime events and souvenirs, because of their religious association, were very important, so people got in the habit of buying gifts for everyone, creating a tradition that continues to this day". - From Quirky Japan SAQ

The entry to Kotaijingu (Main Shrine)

The shrine is popular at new year (like all temples in Japan). The official website for the Shrine has an amazing photo showing it's popularity.

The entry to Kotaijingu (Main Shrine)

Kotaijingu (Main Shrine). The main buildings are not open to the public and the closest you can get is outside a fence. This shrine holds the Yata no kagami, a sacred mirror and one of the three pieces of the Japanese imperial regalia.

According to the story, the three items belonged to an ancestor of the Japanese Royal family who was the goddess Amaterasu and are a sign of the divinity of the emperor. Another piece of the regalia, the sword Kusanagi is held by another Shinto shrine in Nagoya . Nobody outside a few Shinto priests and members of the Royal family ave seen the items in hundreds of years. There are no pictures or drawings of the items in existence.

Rebuilding the Shrine every 20 years since 690AD

The architecture of the shrine predates the Chinese influences in much of Japanese architecture and is an interesting window into an older past. The Shrine buildings have existed in their current forms since around the year 690. (though the shrine existed for hundreds of years before that date.)

According to the Shinto philosophy of renewal, the shrines are rebuilt every 20 years. The year 2013 will see the 61st rebuilding of the shrine or rather the shrines have been demolished and rebuilt every 20 years since 690AD. To ease the process of rebuilding an empty lot exists besides each shrine to be used as the location of the next rebuilding. - Ref Japanguide.com

Just as we were leaving the shrine we passed a small ceremony involving some beautiful harmonies. One of the best parts for me is to watch these events and we did hang around to watch. Due to its importance Ise has events nearly every day. The official website has a calendar in English.

Meoto-Iwa (Wedded Rocks)

Just 8km away from the Ise temple are the sacred Meteo-Iwa "Wedded rocks". They represent husband and wife (the husband is the big rock) and are joined by a one tonne rope that is replaced a number of times each year

We visited at low tide so we did not see the rocks submerged. What we did get though was an incredible racket from numerous motorboats and jet skis roaring around just behind the rock. which was not very impressive.

Frogs. Beside the wedded rocks is the Okitama-jinja shrine dedicated to patron god of the local fishermen. The word for "frog" (kaeru) is the same as the word for "return." - Ref

Frog at the Shrine.

Walking along the beachfront

Mikimoto Pearl Island

The third stop in our day trip was Mikimoto Pearl Island. A tourist trap designed by the Mikimoto pearl company. The Mikimoto company was established by Mikimoto Kokichi who started the now famous company.