I’m not religious or even really spiritual at all in my own life. In spite of this, I do love visiting religious sites when I travel—especially in Japan.
At the same time, I usually prefer visiting Buddhist temples (which tend to be more unique from one another, and more architecturally compelling broadly speaking) than Shinto shrines. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, such as the Ise Grand Shrine in underrated Mie prefecture.
But can you visit Ise Shrine? Yes, though as is often the case in Japan, some rules do apply. Continue reading to get yourself pumped for this extremely unique place.
Why So Few People Visit Ise Shrine
The Ise Shrine forbidden rumor stemmed from a misunderstanding. Like every Shinto shrine in Japan, this one is open to the public. But the larger issue is that Mie prefecture is extremely isolated from the rest of Japan. Not so much in terms of geography—it’s connected directly to Nagoya, one of Japan’s largest cities—but rather by the fact that so few people even know it’s there. It’s obscure, in the best way possible.
Ise and the rest of Mie have a decent number of attractions, of course, but the reality is that you’ll have more downtime here than you will elsewhere in the country. In order to occupy this space in your itinerary, playing online roulette might not be a bad idea. Simply log into the website from your hotel in Ise City (or wherever you’re staying in Mie) and try your luck. You might win enough money to treat yourself to a meal of Ise-ebi, a local kind of lobster.
How to Approach Your Ise Shrine Visit
Get on the bus
If you want to reach the main part of the shrine (which, due to its distance from town, is known as the “outer” shrine or Geku in Japanese), you’ll realistically need to go by public transport. Although you could go via Kintetsu train and walk from there, the easiest option is to go to the bus stop in front of Iseshi Station, where frequent buses depart to the shrine from the well-marked stop.
Cross the bridge
Who says you can’t visit Ise Shrine? Certainly not the legions of other tourists, mostly Japanese but some foreign, walking from the Geku bus stop over the Ujibashi bridge onto the shrine’s grounds. The bridge itself is worthy of admiration, and almost reminds me of a smaller version of Kintai-kyo bridge in Yamaguchi, another highly underrated part of Japan.
Obey posted placards
I’ll admit: I’m not the most ardent rule-follower in Japan. Generally, if I feel a rule is excessive or downright silly and there’s no one around to enforce it, I’ll ignore it and then claim ignorance if caught. This is particularly the case when photography is prohibited—I don’t travel thousands of miles not to take pictures! However, there are tons of guards at Ise Jingu, particularly near the Kotai Jingu and its mirror.
Don’t forget about the “inner” shrine
Many tourists who visit Ise Grand Shrine only focus on the famous Geku, and ignore Naiku (the Inner Shrine), to their detriment. Naiku is smaller than Geku, but it’s also less crowded. More importantly, it’s located within Ise city, which means it’s walking-distance from most hotels there. I sometimes like going here early in the morning, when I can have it even more to myself.
(Or the rest of Mie prefecture)
Mie is a hugely underrated part of Japan, even if the shrine isn’t your taste. Speaking of taste, Ise City is famous for Ise Ebi, a small but delicious lobster you can find in many local restaurants. Another culinary hotspot is Matsusaka, whose beef is less famous than Kobe’s, but every bit as tasty. Culturally, I love heading east to Toba, where ama free-dive for pearls at Mikimoto Pearl Island.
Is Ise Shrine Worth Visiting?
I’ll be honest: Ise Shrine wasn’t the highlight of my trip to Japan’s Mie prefecutre, which was such an eclectic whirlwind that it was honestly difficult to pick a favorite. It does stick out in my memory, of course, especially given that I visited the “inner” and “outer” shrine on separate days. It simply took up more real estate within my itinerary than anywhere else I visited in Mie-ken.
Which sort of leads into my larger point, which is an echo of one I made a few paragraphs ago. If you visit the Ise Shrine, doing so makes the most sense within the context of a larger trip. For most travelers this isn’t a problem; you aren’t going to be in such a remote part of Japan unless you plan to do other things, whether that’s eating wa-gyu in Matsusaka, or seeing Ama pearl divers in Toba. Still, being mindful of this reality can be helpful.
Other FAQ About Ise Jingu Shrine
Why is Ise Jingu rebuilt every 20 years?
The rumors are true: Shrine officials rebuild Ise Jingu every 20 years. The reasons for this, as you might expect, relate to Japanese spirituality and philosophy. Namely, the principle of tokowaka (常若), whereby divinity and eternity are to be pursued, and not necessarily states of existence.
Why is the Ise Grand Shrine forbidden?
A portion of the Ise Grand Shrine known as the Kotai Jingu is officially off-limits because of a sacred mirror you find there; in other places, placards prohibiting photography are posted. Broadly speaking, however, Ise Grand Shrine is not “forbidden”—anyone can enter the site at any time.
Why is Ise Grand Shrine important?
The most notable reason that Ise Grand Shrine is important? It’s been linked to Japan’s imperial family for centuries; they’ve used their platform to promote it for that entire span of time. Mythologically, it’s also associated with the sun goddess Amaterasu, though in my estimation the links to the emperor are more consequential.
The Bottom Line
Can you visit Ise Shrine? Of course, though sadly many foreigners have convinced themselves that this isn’t possible. In fact, you can visit both the “inner” and the “outer” shrine during your time in Mie prefecture, though it’s important to follow any posted rules as you explore them. This is to say nothing about the rest of Mie, which in general is one of the most underrated places in Japan (make sure to try the beef in Matsusaka!). Need more personalized advice as you plan your trip off Japan’s beaten path? Commission a custom Japan itinerary, and let me take care of the details!
