Discover Ise: Shrines, historic streets, and regional cuisine

Ise offers travelers a variety of things to explore: shrine precincts, historic streets and buildings, regional specialties, as well as a beach and a hike in the municipality of Futami. Each place and activity has its own appeal—from a named street route to a viewpoint overlooking the sea.

Shrine precincts and routes

A road leads straight from the north gate of the Outer Shrine (Gekū) to Tsukiyomi-no-miya. Locally, it is known as 神路通り (Kamiji-dōri). For travelers interested in routes connected with shrines, the street name provides a specific point of reference.

The precinct of the Inner Shrine (Naikū) includes the subsidiary shrines 荒祭宮 and 風日祈宮. Visitors are also invited to visit these two shrines. The shrine connections offer different points of interest: 神路通り refers to the route from the north gate of Gekū to Tsukiyomi-no-miya; two subsidiary shrines are named as places to visit in the Naikū precinct.

Historic streets and buildings

The street おはらい町 is about 800 meters long, paved with stone slabs, and runs alongside the Isuzu River. It is lined with distinctive machiya townhouses. The houses have gabled roofs and entrances on the gable end—a style of construction that shapes the streetscape.

After visiting the shrine, おはらい町 invites you to stroll through the town, among souvenir shops, restaurants, and merchant houses. Here, taking in the streetscape goes hand in hand with browsing an area of shops and restaurants. Individual businesses may change.

At 伊勢河崎商人館, visitors can see seven storehouses and two machiya townhouses. The buildings are nationally registered tangible cultural properties. Those interested in different types of buildings can take a look at both the storehouses and the machiya.

Specialties from Ise and Ise-Shima

Along Gekū-sandō (外宮参道), you can enjoy Ise udon and local beer as specialties from Ise. The approximately 4,000-tsubo grounds of おかげ横丁 are lined with restaurants serving food from Ise-Shima and souvenir shops.

The culinary highlights differ: Ise udon and local beer are named as specialties from Ise along Gekū-sandō, while おかげ横丁 focuses on food from Ise-Shima and souvenir shops. When planning, you can choose between a specific connection to Ise cuisine and offerings with a regional Ise-Shima connection. Individual shops and restaurants may also change.

Beach and hike in Futami

Two more things to explore are located in the municipality of Futami. 二見浦海水浴場 is Japan’s first beach officially designated for swimming by the government. On 音無山, a hike takes just under 30 minutes to reach a viewpoint overlooking the sea. The time estimate refers to the hike to the viewpoint and can be factored into your plans as a separate time allowance.

You can choose from a variety of themes: shrine precincts and a named street route, a stroll through historic streetscapes, regional cuisine, and a beach and viewpoint in the municipality of Futami.

Discover more destinations: Iga, Suzuka, Nabari, Odai, Kameyama, Shima, Owase, Tsu

For the regional travel overview: Mie Prefecture.