Mie Travel Guide for Japanese Learners
Japan's holiest shrine at Ise and the pearl-diving Ama tradition.
Mie is home to Ise Jingū, the most sacred Shintō shrine, set in ancient forest. The coast is known for pearls and the free-diving Ama women.
History & background
Mie (三重) holds Ise Jingū (伊勢神宮), Shintō's most sacred shrine, rebuilt every 20 years for over 1,300 years. The Shima (志摩) coast is the cradle of cultured pearls and the Ama (海女) free-divers.
What to see
- Ise Jingū grand shrine
- Meoto Iwa (the Wedded Rocks)
- Toba pearl islands
- Iga-Ueno ninja sites
What to eat
Ise-Shima seafood and prized Matsusaka beef.
Getting there & when to go
Getting there: Ise is ~1h20m from Nagoya by limited express; ~2h from Osaka.
Best time: Any season; the shrine is especially atmospheric in early morning.
When to go — season by season
Early morning at Ise is serene year-round. Spring and autumn are mild for the coast; pearls and seafood are available throughout.
A suggested visit
Visit Ise Jingū's Outer then Inner Shrine, walk the restored Okage Yokochō (おかげ横丁) street, then see the Wedded Rocks (夫婦岩) at Futami. Toba (鳥羽) adds pearls and the Ama divers.
Visit the Outer Shrine (Gekū) before the Inner Shrine (Naikū) — the traditional order.
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