JP · Mie Prefecture · 34.48°N 136.72°E

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Forest shrine paths, soft udon and sweet mochi along old pilgrimage streets.

Best time: March–May and October–November are comfortable. July–August is hot and humid, and the New Year period draws huge crowds to the shrines.
How long: 1–2 days
Getting there: Fly from KL to Osaka Kansai (about 6.5 hours). Kintetsu limited expresses from Osaka-Namba reach Ise-shi or Ujiyamada in about 2 hours. Japan is an hour ahead of KL.

JP · Mie Prefectureise34.48°N 136.72°Egowherelah.com

Dear group chat,Forest shrine paths, soft udon and sweet mochi along old pilgrimage streets.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingIseJP, Mie Prefecture

≈ 5,023 km from KL, as the crow flies

Photo: Douglas Perkins · CC BY 4.0
Photo: そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Tawashi2006 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. N yotarou assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5
Photo: M.G · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Home of Ise Jingu, Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine, rebuilt every 20 years in the same simple style. The forest paths are calm in the morning, while the old street outside fills with people eating udon and mochi.

Makan

Ise udonVery soft, thick noodles in a dark, sweet soy sauce.Map ↗
Akafuku mochiRice cakes under smooth red bean paste, sold in Ise since the early 1700s.Map ↗

Things to do

GekuThe outer shrine, in woodland a short walk from Ise-shi Station. Tradition says to visit it first.Map ↗
NaikuThe inner shrine, reached over the Uji Bridge and through tall cedars. The main sanctuary is seen only from behind a fence.Map ↗
Oharai-machi and Okage YokochoOld-style streets outside Naiku, lined with food stalls and craft shops.Map ↗
Meoto IwaTwo rocks in the sea at Futami, tied together with a thick straw rope.Map ↗

Good to know

Geku and Naiku are about 5 km apart, with a bus between them.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.