Roof of the Inner Shrine at Ise.
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Ise Shrines, Ise
The Ise Shrines (Ise-jingū), also called Grand Shrines of Ise (Ise Daijingū) are several Shinto shrines located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan.
Officially known simply as Jingū or "The Shrine," Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of over one hundred individual shrines, divided into two main parts. The two are located some 6 km apart, joined by a pilgrimage road that passes through the old entertainment district of Furuichi.
The Outer Shrine (Gekū) is located in the town of Yamada and dedicated to the deity Toyouke no ōmikami, the goddess of food, housing and clothing. The smaller of the two, this is a 5-minute walk from Ise station.
The Inner Shrine (Naikū) is located in the town of Uji and dedicated to Amaterasu ōmikami, the Sun Goddess. the larger and more important of the two. The shuttle bus from Geku to here takes 15 minutes and costs ¥410.
According to the official chronology, the shrines were originally constructed in the year 4 BC, but most historians date them from several hundred years later, with 690 AD widely considered the date when the shrines were first built in their current form.
The Ise Shrines are mentioned in the annals of the Kojiki and Nihonshoki (dating from 712 and 720 AD, respectively). The old shrines are dismantled and new ones built to exacting specifications every 20 years at exorbitant expense. The present buildings, dating from 1993, are the 61st iteration to date and are scheduled for rebuilding in 2013.
Reputedly the home of one of the Japanese Emperor's Sacred Mirror, the shrine is the holiest and most important Shinto site. Access to both sites is strictly limited, with the common public allowed to see little more than the thatched roofs of the central structures, hidden behind three tall wooden fences. Photos of the sacred main hall are not allowed.
The Ise Shrine has been designated a National Treasure (kokuhō) by the Japanese government.
- Isejingu – official site, in English and Japanese
- Ise Shrines – Japan-Guide.com
- Ise City (Ise-Shi) – Frommer's Attraction Review – focuses mainly on the Ise Shrines
- Ise City – Ise Sightseeing Information
