Ise, a sacred place for Japanese people

Japan's sacred place, Ise Jingu

Ise Jingu is a sacred place for the Japanese with a history of over 2000 years.
The buildings themselves are rebuilt every 20 years,
so the techniques and traditions are passed on.

In August 2022, I visited Ise Jingu for the first time in 24 years. Ise Jingu is a shrine located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Japan, with a history of over 2000 years. Since ancient times, Ise Jingu has been a sacred place for Japanese people to visit at least once in their lifetime. 

Ise Jingu is an old place, but it is new because the shrine buildings are rebuilt once every 20 years. Therefore, in preparation for construction twenty years from now, tree planting for building materials is carried out systematically, and the techniques of shrine carpenters are passed on to grandfathers, fathers, and grandchildren. At Ise Jingu, it is customary to go to the Geku first and then the Naiku.

Futamigaura, a seaside sanctuary for purification

Large and small rocks sticking together like a married couple. "Futami Okitama Shrine" is enshrined on the Futamigaura coast where "Wedded rock (Meoto-iwa)" rises. Before going to Ise Jingu, it is a formal worship since ancient times to visit Ise Jingu with a purified body and mind. 

I felt an overwhelming sacred atmosphere.
Is it also a portal to higher dimensions?

In this tour, due to scheduling conflicts, we visited the shrine after the Geku. The sun had just risen, and the sanctuary was filled with fresh air. I missed it, but my daughter found a UFO (unidentified flying object)  in the sky. I sensed that she was surrounded by a mysterious atmosphere, but it may have been connected to a higher dimension of consciousness.

Isuzu River

The Isuzu River is so transparent that
even the stones at the bottom of the river can be clearly seen.
It's deep, so when you put your hand in the river,
it's important to get on your knees so you don't fall.

The Isuzu River flows through the entrance to the Naiku. The bridge over the river can be said to be a bridge connecting the sacred world from the everyday world. A bridge is a metaphor that connects this world with the other world. If you wash your hands at the Isuzu River before worshiping, you will be able to purify yourself for the purpose of worship.

Oharaimachi/Okage Yokochou

Oharaimachi is a street that runs straight from Ise Jingu Naiku to Sarutahiko Shrine. Okage Yokocho is located in the middle of Oharaimachi. Both streets are lined with food stalls and souvenir shops. After visiting the inner shrine, it feels good to walk along this street while eating dumplings and soy milk soft serve ice cream.

At Henbaya (Japanese sweets shop),
you can buy tea sweets on the 1st floor and drink tea slowly on the 2nd floor.

The azuki bean jelly (yokan) was delicious.

Sarutahiko Shrine

If you come all the way to Ise, you should also pay a visit to Sarutahiko Shrine. The shrine enshrines the god of guidance. It seems to be a good idea to tell God about your life's resolutions. I expressed my ambition that I would like to be aware of myself as a member of the universe as an earthling.

Sarutahiko Shrine is dedicated to the god of guidance.

At the end

Japanese shrines are more majestic in the nature that surrounds them than in the buildings, and Ise Jingu is the largest. Thanks to that, I tuned the waves from big trees, rivers, and rocks.