There are large crowds on both weekdays and weekends. After all, it’s not just tourists—Japanese people also come here to worship. When visiting Ise, you can plan to see both the Inner and Outer Shrines as well as the shopping street in front of the shrine, which can fill an entire day. The shrine grounds are very large, and there are also many smaller shrines nearby. If you have enough time, you can walk around and explore more.
Ise Jingu | Review by 簡崧丞
Other Reviews by 簡崧丞
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Hado Misaki Cape
A small port sticking out from the Higashimatsuura Peninsula. It is famous for its scenic views of the Genkainada Ocean, where visitors can feel the ocean breeze atop a grass patch. The cape is on the “Genkai Quasi-National Park” which spans across the North West of Kyushu. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, swimming, and other fun activities.
Transportation is a little inconvenient since it’s in the countryside and at the northwesternmost point of Japan, but this was also the base from which Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched his campaign into the Korean Peninsula. If you’ve taken the time to come all the way here, besides the nearby underwater observation tower and grilled turban shells, the Yobuko Morning Market and Nagoya Castle Museum are also worthwhile attractions where you can learn more about the local history.
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Oharai Machi, Okage Yokocho
In front of the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine, there's a street called Oharai Machi that bustles with numerous worshippers every year. From the Edo Period to early Meiji Period, many people called Onshi lived here and performed Shinto dance and music for their worshippers (Oharai), thus, the name Oharai Machi is believed to have come about.
If you come to Ise, be sure to make time to walk around here. You can find all kinds of local foods, including Matsusaka beef, Ise udon, and the main Akafuku store. Sitting by the Isuzu River, cooling off while drinking tea and eating wagashi, is truly enjoyable. The shopping street also has various souvenir shops, local sake breweries, and many other products with distinctive local character.
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Mt. Kagamiyama (Saga prefecture)
Kagamiyama, located in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, is a mountain with an elevation of 284 meters, known for its beautifully shaped trapezoidal form, becoming a symbol of Karatsu City. You can reach the summit via a winding road approximately 4 km long, attracting many visitors for hiking and drives. The mountain also has slopes suitable for hang-gliding, attracting enthusiasts of hang-gliding and paragliding.
When the weather is nice, the scenery is really beautiful. You need to drive up the mountain since there is no public transportation. Before reaching the observation deck, you'll pass a shop selling souvenirs (snacks, dried goods, and ceramics) that you can browse. There's also a café where you can take a break. The view is said to be quite nice at night as well.
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