Ise Jingū

Overview

Ise Jingū is a Shinto shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, whose formal name is simply Jingū. To distinguish it from other shrines called Jingū, it is commonly known by the place name as Ise. It is a shrine complex centered on two main shrines: the Inner Shrine (Naikū), dedicated to Amaterasu Ōmikami, and the Outer Shrine (Gekū), dedicated to Toyouke-hime.

Highlights

• ●The Inner Shrine (Naikū, or Kōtai Jingū), dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu
• ●The Outer Shrine (Gekū, or Toyouke Daijingū), dedicated to Toyouke-hime, deity of grain and agriculture
• ●More than 120 additional Shinto shrines in and around Ise, together forming the 125 shrines of Ise
• ●Shrine buildings of solid cypress wood, joined without nails

History

Long regarded as a shrine of the highest special rank, Ise came to be the center of worship of Amaterasu. It held the highest position within the ancient system of shrine ritual and, in the Heian period, was counted among the seven uppermost of the Twenty-Two Shrines. Under the modern shrine-ranking system from the Meiji period until the Pacific War, it stood above all other shrines and was placed outside the ranking scale entirely.

Map

34.4550, 136.7258 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Visit the Outer Shrine (Gekū), dedicated to Toyouke-hime
2. 2Walk the wooded approaches and grounds
3. 3Continue to the Inner Shrine (Naikū), dedicated to Amaterasu
4. 4Take in the surrounding shrines that form the 125 shrines of Ise

Did you know?

💡 Besides the Inner and Outer Shrines, many additional shrines stand in and around Ise, together called the 125 shrines of Ise.

Nearby spots