Ise Shrines, Japan

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The Ise Jingu consists of two shrines: the Outer Shrine (Geku), which is dedicated to Toyouke, the kami of clothing, food and housing, and the Inner Shrine (Naiku), which enshrines Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. They are Shinto's most sacred shrines.

Naiku and Geku are located several kilometers apart from each other at the foot of densely wooded hills. Unlike most other Shinto shrines, the Ise Shrines are built in a purely Japanese architecture style which shows no influence from the Asian mainland. Naiku is believed to have been established in the 3rd century and Geku in the 5th century.

The shrines fascinate through their extreme simplicity. There is nothing but green trees, broad gravel lanes and the wooden, barely painted shrine structures.


The Naiku and Geku are both rebuilt every 20 years according to an ancient Shinto tradition. For that matter, an empty lot is located besides every shrine building as the site for its next rebuilding. Ise Shrine's 62nd rebuilding will take place in 2013.

Because the Ise Shrines are so sacred, no pictures may be taken near their main halls, a task that would be difficult anyway, as the view of the innermost buildings is partially obstructed by a set of wooden fences.

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