Ultimate Guide to Ise

Begin your pilgrimage from the Outer Shrine at Ise Grand Shrine and walk through the shrine grounds which have a history of 1500 years and are in beautiful harmony with nature. If you have time, drop by Sengukan Museum as well. There is also a bus which will take you to the Inner Shrine.

Tour the Inner Shrine which boasts a 2000-year history. This is a sacred area enshrining the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, the ancestor of the Imperial Family. Uji Bridge which stretches to the entrance to the Inner Shrine is said to be the gateway from the regular world to the holy world.

Oharai-machi is a town with some distinctive houses of Ise which run along the river from Uji Bridge. There are rows of historical buildings which manage souvenir shops and restaurants. You can sample the famous Ise confection of henba mochi here.

This is a side street located in one part of Oharai-machi. Old homes ranging from the Edo Era to the Meiji Era were moved here so that there are about 60 stores that have been restored to provide that old-fashioned elegance. The area is rich with dishes that can only be found here such as the famous Ise udon and the confection known as akafuku. You can enjoy shopping and lunch here. After touring the area, return to Iseshi Station and take either the JR line or the Kintetsu Line to Toba (takes 14-17 minutes).

Take a walk through Port Toba which is known as a famous picturesque area in Ise-Shima National Park. There are plenty of attractive tourist spots such as Mikimoto Pearl Island where pearls are cultivated and the Toba Aquarium. Also, you can take a cruise touring the islands.