Ise Grand Shrine

Ise Jingu is the most sacred shrine in Japan's Shinto religion, dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess and mythical ancestress of the Imperial family. The shrine complex comprises two main sanctuaries: the Inner Shrine (Naiku) and the Outer Shrine (Geku), along with 125 subsidiary shrines spread across the forested hills of Ise. In a tradition spanning nearly 2,000 years, the shrine buildings are completely rebuilt every 20 years in a ceremony called Shikinen Sengu, most recently in 2013. The Inner Shrine, set deep within an ancient cypress forest along the Isuzu River, exudes an extraordinary sense of spiritual purity. While visitors cannot see the main sanctuary beyond the silk curtains, the atmosphere of reverence and natural beauty is deeply moving.