![\"ise-shrine-mie\"](\"http:\/\/japaninfoswap.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/ise-shrine-mie.gif\")
Japanese folklore has it that Yata no kagami, or the “eight hand mirror,”\u00a0was brought to earth by Ninigi-no-Mikoto; legendary ancestor of the Japanese imperial line. \u00a0The mirror is\u00a0one of the Three Imperial Regalia or Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, and\u00a0possession is passed from emperor to emperor to confirm the divine right of succession.<\/p>\n
The Imperial Regalia of Japan consists of a\u00a0sword “Kusanagi no Tsurugi,”\u00a0\u00a0the mirror”Yata no kagami,” and a\u00a0jewel “Yasakani no Magatama.” \u00a0The Three Imperial Regalia\u00a0represent the three primary virtues: valor (sword), wisdom (mirror), and benevolence (jewel). \u00a0 All these treasures are shrouded in mystery, and none has\u00a0been seen by any living soul, save\u00a0the emperor and a few select priests in a long, long time.<\/p>\n
Not being able to see the sacred mirror, however, is no reason skip\u00a0the shrine in which it is held; Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu)\u00a0in Ise city, Mie prefecture.<\/p>\n
Ise Grand Shrine is officially titled Jingu. \u00a0It lies a mere 90 minute train journey from Nagoya, and is one of the three most important shrines in Japan; the others being Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya (which holds the sword “Kusanagi no Tsurugi”), and Meiji shrine\u00a0in\u00a0Tokyo. Visiting Jingu is a a pilgrimage that all Japanese are encouraged to make at least once in their lifetime, and it is undertaken by some\u00a0 7.5 million people annually. Set on a 13,600 acre forest, the two main shrines of Jingu are comprised of a fully 123\u00a0shrines, in addition to the main\u00a0Geku and Naiku Shrines.<\/p>\n
Tradition dictated that\u00a0pilgrams were to visit 1500-year-old Geku Shrine first, and this is a custom still followed to this day by everyone from the\u00a0casual daytripper to the Imperial family itself. With an associated\u00a032 Shinto sanctuaries, there are plenty of places of worship, including Kaguraden, a hall for special prayer. However, the focal point of Geku is its main sanctuary\u00a0Totoukedaijingu, the place\u00a0where Toyouke Omikami, the kami of industry and architecture is worshipped.<\/p>\n
Established some 2000 years ago, Naiku is the most important of the two major shrines, and visitors with time constrictions are advised to make it their first port of call. The main entrance to Naiku is the Uji bridge, a 100 metre long\u00a0wooden bridge that marks the entrance from our world to that of the sacred.\u00a0The causeway through the shrine shadows the flow of Isuzu river which, at a point called Mitatrashi, is used to perform the cleansing ritual of ablution; the washing of the left hand, then the right followed by rinsing the mouth so as to enter the shrine clean. Eventually the path takes you to the main sanctuary, Kotaijingu,\u00a0where\u00a0Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestral kami of the imperial family, is enshrined. General worshipers may only approach the outer of four gates.<\/p>\n
The various structures themselves are built of wood, and are of\u00a0reserved designs; classic examples of pure Japanese architecture, showing almost no evidence of outside influence\u00a0from mainland Asian culture. The sanctuaries of\u00a0Kotaijingu\u00a0and Totoukedaijingu, as well as the Uji Bridge, are moved and rebuilt afresh every twenty years. This reflects the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi<\/em>, the impermanence of all things beautiful.<\/p>\n This practice, last occurring in 2013 ensures that the buildings have\u00a0retained their original 2,000 year old form,\u00a0as well as keeping alive the traditional carpentry techniques that\u00a0are passed down from generation to generation. The main shrine is rebuilt on a cleared site adjacent to the old one, and alternates between the two sites. The next scheduled rebuild is of Naiku in 2033.<\/p>\n Oharai dori and Okage Yokocho perhaps keep with another Japanese tradition of sorts, that being one of commerce amongst tourism. Found at the foot of the\u00a0Uji bridge,\u00a0Oharai dori is a street lined with restaurants and eateries as well as shops peddling various\u00a0souvenirs, handcrafts and sake. It was traditionally the passage by which those making the pilgrimage to Naiku followed, perhaps pausing for sustenance and shelter along the way.<\/p>\n Okage Yokocho is a recreated Japanese market, giving the visitor a glimpse into how the area may have\u00a0seemed \u00a0in ancient times, with further restaurants and stalls as well as holding festival events throughout the year. Visitors to this area are advised to try the Matsusaka beef croquettes as, not only are they delicious, should you fail to do so, you may seriously shock your Japanese friends and coworkers. Seafood fans can enjoy oysters or awabi (abalone) intriguingly grilled by blowtorch.<\/p>\n Both shrines can be accessed from Nagoya by either Iseshi station \u2013 90 minutes on JR or Kintetsu lines \u2013 or Ujiyamada station \u2013 100 minutes by Kintetsu. Busses run regularly from outside both stations and take approximately twenty minutes to get to\u00a0Naiku, while Iseshi\u00a0station is a short five-minute walk to Gaku shrine.<\/p>\n Naiku and Geku are several kilometers from each other and there is a bus service that can be picked up outside the Geku shrine, and is sign posted in English.<\/p>\n 1 Ujitachi-cho, Ise, Mie 516-0023, Japan\u00a0 – Google Map<\/a> By Mark Guthrie<\/p>\nOharai dori and Okage Yokocho.<\/h2>\n
Getting Around<\/h2>\n
Ise Shrine<\/h3>\n
\nTel: 0596-24-1111
\nwww.isejingu.or.jp<\/a><\/p>\n