Experience history and breathe in nature at Ise.

Besides the Ise Grand Shrine, there are still a lot of spots to explore, history & culture to experience, cuisine to try out nearby the Ise-Shima region. Let’s take a look at all these musts.

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  Sightseeing map nearby
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  Explore Ise & Saio Remains
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  Indulge in history & Culture
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  Experience & Leisure
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  Cuisine
• Useful links

• Useful links

Ise/SaiouExplore Ise & Saio Remains

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  IseIse Grand Shrine

  Approx. 10 - 20 min drive from our resort

  A historical shrine with over 2,000 years of history and a strong association with the imperial family in Japan as it enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestral deity of the imperial family. The shrine is so unique to Japanese people that it has been commonly regarded since ancient times as a shrine one must visit once in a lifetime.

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  IseNaiku (inner shrine)

  Approx. 20-min drive from our resort

  Also known as “Kodaijingu Shrine”; dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the guardian deity of the nation. It’s the main shrine of the Ise Grand Shrine with tourist hotspots like the Kazahi Prayer Shrine, Arasai Shrine, and the Uji Bridge over the Isuzu River.

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  IseGeku (outer shrine)

  Approx. 10-min drive from our resort

  The main shrine of the Ise Grand Shrine, is dedicated to Toyouke Daigo, the guardian deity of businesses and food. Also known as “the lower hall”. The area is home to many must-sees including three important shrines- Takanomiya, Tsuchinomiya, and Kazenomiya, as well as Mitsuishi (three stacked stones) and the Hiyokebashi bridge over the Horikawa River for fire prevention.

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  (*) Pictures are for reference only

  Saio RemainsItsukinomiya Hall for Historical Experience

  Approx. 30-min drive from our resort

  Themed “Heian period”, when the Saio culture reached its flower peak. The museum reveals the life and culture of the ancient period. Visitors can try on Heian costumes, weaving, and mini-games such as “Kemari” (an athletic game) and “Kai-awase”(a shell game). The exterior of the museum resembles the residence of the nobles in the Heian period, which is definitely instagrammable!

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  Saio RemainsThe Saio Forest

  Approx. 30-min drive from our resort

  The mysterious forest is home to many lush trees. It’s commonly believed that there was once a Saio palace in the forest in the past for the unmarried female members of the Japanese Imperial Family sent to serve at Ise Grand Shrine. The forest is well curated as a national park with remains of pillars and the palace for visitors to experience the magnificent culture.

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  Saio RemainsSaiku Historical Museum

  Approx. 30-min drive from our resort

  The prefectural museum is located near the Saiku remains, a designated national historic site. Through literal descriptions and videos, it reveals the stories of Saios, who was sent to serve at Ise Grand Shrine, and their residence called Saiku. Don't miss the plum grove, the best season to see is from mid-February to March.

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History/CultureIndulge in history & Culture

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  HistoryThe Moon-Gazing Night Shrine

  Approx. 15-min drive from our resort

  A separate shrine out of the Ise Grand Shrine sacred area, which is about 300m away from Geku, enshrining Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto and Tsukiyomi-son Aramitama, the younger brothers of Amaterasu Omikami. It’s a love shrine for wish fulfillment.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  HistorySarutahikojinja Shrine

  Approx. 15-min drive from our resort

  Located near the Naiku shrine, this shrine is famous for traffic safety and the prosperity of family businesswa\. Enshrining the “god of Michihiraki'', Sarutahiko Okami, who guided Ninigino Mikoto to Takachiho in the legend of Tenson Korin.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  HistoryThe Yamatohime Hall

  Approx. 10-min drive from our resort

  Yamatohimenomiya” (The Yamatohime Hall) is located at Isuzu Riverbank. It is a separate shrine of the Naiku (Imperial Grand Shrine). The surrounding area is full of attractive spots such as the Jingu Chokokan Agricultural Museum, Jingu Bunko, and the Jingu Art Museum. The great area is also known as the “Yamatohime Cultural Forest.

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  CultureIsekawasakisyouninkan (Ise merchant's house)

  Approx. 20-min drive from our resort

  Isekawasaki is a small town by the Setagawa River once flourished as a wholesale district for its extensive water transport network. Visitors can see ancient tools and crucial records of business activities in the old times in the historical architects and storehouses of liquor wholesalers built from the Edo period to the Meiji period.

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  CultureThe Jingu Museum

  Approx. 20-min drive from our resort

  Founded in 1902 as the first private museum in Japan.
  Jaw-dropping exhibits include those related to local festivals and history, as well as sacred offerings at the Shikinen Sengu ceremony held once every 20 years.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  HistoryMeoto Iwa (Married Couple Rocks)

  Approx. 25-min drive from our resort

  Two sacred rocks in the ocean connected by a shimenawa rope. They also serve as the Torii gate. The spot is also famous for “Hamasangu” in which participants purify themselves in seawater before visiting Ise Grand Shrine. Many frog sculptures can be seen in the vicinity. It’s a love shrine, also for traffic safety.

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Experience/LeisureExperience & Leisure

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  CuisineOkage Yokocho (Oharai-Machi)

  Approx. 20-min drive from our resort

  A tiny, small town right in front of the Naiku shrine recreating the townscape from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period, when pilgrimages to Ise were popular. It is a tourist hotspot offering Ise local food such as Tekone sushi and Ise udon. The walk-and-eat experience simply brings you back to the ancient times.

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  (*) Pictures are for reference only

  ExperienceGoriki Marine Village

  Approx. 25-min drive from our resort

  An integrated facility to experience sea fishing in Ise Bay, charcoal grilling of vegetables and your fresh catches, as well as salt making and fish drying. The popular lunch package includes the fillet, tempura, and grills of your own catch.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  LeisureIse Sea Paradise

  Approx. 25-min drive from our resort

  This aquarium is near the Meoto Iwa. It has a huge migratory tank filled with local Ise-Shima fishes, a penguin zone, and a sea lion pool. There are also plenty of interactive events in which visitors can go close and take photos with the sea animals, actually touch the sea lions, and walk with them.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  ExperienceIse-Shima Skyline

  Approx. 30-min drive from our resort

  A 16㎞ expressway connecting Ise and Toba- a popular scenic driving route also known as the "Sky highway”. At the observation deck at the peak, there is a foot spa and a sky mailbox for visitors to take a birds-eye view of the Ise Bay and the city. It’s absolutely a perfect mid-stop for your long drive.

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  (*) Pictures are for reference only

  LeisureToba Aquarium

  Approx. 30-min drive from our resort

  This aquarium is famous for its dugongs as it is the only aquarium in Japan that has the animal. It also boasts one of the largest numbers of sea animals in Japan, with approx. 30,000 animals in about 1,200 species. Lovely animal shows such as penguin walks, sea lion shows, and sea otter feeding times are also popular among visitors.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  LeisureMikimoto Pearl Island

  Approx. 30-min drive from our resort

  A small island in Toba Bay, the first place in the world to have cultivated pearls successfully. It has a pearl museum, souvenir shops, and a spiritual spot called “the Love Stone”. Don’t miss the popular diving shows of Ama female divers in traditional white isogi diving suits.

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Cuisine

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  (*) Pictures are for reference only

  Local cuisineAkafuku Mochi

  Akafuku mochi is a rice cake wrapped in crushed red bean paste, which is an Ise specialty with a history of over 300 years. The three lines of the bean paste represent the flow of the Isuzu River flowing through the sacred Ise Grand Shrine. “Sakubi mochi'', on the other hand, is associated with the Sakubi pilgrimage to Ise Grand Shrine on the first day of every month.

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  Local cuisineIse Udon

  Ise udon is featured with its thick but soft noodles and thick soy sauce, It is a local dish that has been served to worshipers at Ise Grand Shrine since the Edo period. Different restaurants have different toppings and their secret recipe of broth so visitors can try multiple times to compare!

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  (C) ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau

  Local cuisineTekone Sushi (Mie-style hand-mixed sushi)

  “Tekone sushi” is a popular local dish/fisherman's dish in the Ise-Shima region. The classics are tuna, bonito, and other soy sauce-marinated fillets hand-mixed with vinegared rice. It pulls out the true flavor of the seafood.

Seafood

(*) Pictures are for reference only

SeafoodOysters, lobsters, abalone

Ise Bay- The Black Stream (Kuroshio Current) flows towards Ise Bay so it offers seafood options throughout the year. Lobsters (a symbol of luck), chewy abalone, plump oysters, premium seas snails…Ise-Shima seafood is simply widely loved by visitors.

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Useful links