Ise Grand Shrine is one of the most important
Shinto shrines in Japan. To embody the teachings of death
and rebirth, the shrine is rebuilt every twenty years while
using traditional techniques.
Ise Grand Shrine is located in Ise
City and was
formally
known as Kotai Jingu. It is said that the Sun Goddess
Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined in the Inner Shrine.
This makes the Ise Grand Shrine one of the most
important Shinto shrines in Japan. The main buildings
are designed to resemble rice granaries because the
establishment predates the introduction of Buddhist
architecture to Japan. According to Shinto tradition,
both
the inner and outer shrines are rebuilt every 20 years
from scratch. The next time it will be rebuilt is in 2033.
It is said that the first Inner Shrine was built over 2000
years ago. It takes about 60-90 minutes to reach the
Inner Shrine from the Uji Bridge. The two bridges are
made out of the former pillars of the Shinto
structures.
Visitors have an opportunity to purify themselves
using
the sacred water of the Isuzugawa River. The main
sanctuary is located at the top of some stone steps.
Beyond that is the main hall where the Sun Goddess
is
enshrined. It can be identified by the multiple sets of
fences and please that photography is not allowed
past
a certain point. There are many structures to visit
around the grounds like the Kaguraden and
Aramatsurinomiya.
Please see
below for tours that include Ise Grand Shrine:
