Ise Jingu (Geku, Naiku)

This is Ise Jingu with 2,000-year history, and the precinct is surrounded with clean atmosphere. People paid a visit to Ise Jingu as ‘once in lifetime’ in old days. At present over 8 million people visit Ise Jingu annually. Ise Jingu is the generic name of 125 Shinto Shrines centering on Naiku consecrated to the ancestral deity of the imperial family of Japan and Geku to the deity for food and grains. Such architectural style and techniques unique to Japanese Shinto shrines as Ujibashi Bridge across the Isuzugawa River, the large Torii gate, the main sanctuary enclosed with fourfold fences, and the hall of the sacred dances with half-hipped roof are splendid. It is customary that the palaces of two main sanctuaries (Naiku・Geku) and 14 associated jinja are rebuilt anew every 20 years in the Shikinensengu (periodic jinja reconstruction) ceremony. Currently the preparation is underway for the ceremony to be held in 2033.