Ise-Shima

Home to Ise Grand Shrine, Japan's most sacred shrine — its Okage Yokocho approach street, Ago Bay's pearl farms, ama diver culture and Shima Spain Village make a classic three-day trip.

Ise-Shima occupies the Shima Peninsula in eastern Mie Prefecture, taking in the cities of Ise, Toba and Shima. The whole area lies within Ise-Shima National Park, and Kashikojima hosted the 2016 G7 Summit. Ise Grand Shrine (the Inner Shrine, Outer Shrine and 125 affiliated shrines) is the foremost of all Japan's shrines, drawing millions of pilgrims a year in the Edo period. Toba and Shima are the home of a ria coastline, pearl farming and ama diver culture, and local specialties include Ise spiny lobster, abalone, oysters and Matsusaka beef.

Areas: (1) Ise City — visit the Outer Shrine first, then take the bus to the Inner Shrine, followed by Oharai-machi and Okage Yokocho, with Sarutahiko Shrine, the Jingu Chokokan Museum and the old Kawasaki district along the way; (2) Futami — Meoto Iwa (the Wedded Rocks), Ise Sea Paradise and Ise Ninja Kingdom; (3) Toba — Toba Aquarium, Mikimoto Pearl Island, the Toba Sea-Folk Museum, Kongoshoji Temple on Mt. Asama and the Ise-Shima Skyline, and to the south, Ishigami-san shrine and the ama huts at Osatsu; (4) Shima — Yokoyama Observatory, Ago Bay cruises from Kashikojima, Shima Spain Village, Shima Mediterranean Village, Izawa-no-miya, Daiozaki and Anorisaki Lighthouse.

Best seasons: spring and autumn have the most pleasant weather; the New Year's first shrine visit in early January draws the biggest crowds; from May to July you can watch the sunrise between the Wedded Rocks; Ise spiny lobster and oysters are in season from October to March. Getting there: Kintetsu limited expresses reach Iseshi Station in about 1.5 hours from Nagoya and about 2 hours from Osaka-Namba, and the Shimakaze sightseeing limited express runs straight through to Kashikojima. Within the area, the Kintetsu line links Ise, Toba, Ugata and Kashikojima, while coastal and cape sights need a bus or car; the Kintetsu Ise-Shima rail pass is a good option. Allow 2–3 days: one for the shrines and approach streets, one for Toba and one for Shima. Note: photography is prohibited at the main sanctuaries; worship in order, Outer Shrine first and then Inner Shrine; and many shops close around 5 p.m.

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Itineraries