Ise: Shrines, Street Life and Local Specialties

Ise has many different facets: shrines, a historic streetscape and regional specialties. If you’re planning a trip, you can focus on whichever interests you most—from visiting religious sites and strolling through the city to taking a trip to the Futami area.

Shrines and Special Routes

A straight road leads from the north gate of the Outer Shrine (Gekū) to Tsukiyomi-no-miya (月夜見宮). It is known locally as Kami-ji Street (神路通り). The street’s name and its precise starting point make this route a distinctive landmark for anyone interested in Ise’s shrines.

The grounds of the Inner Shrine (Naikū) include the auxiliary shrines Aramatsuri-no-miya (荒祭宮) and Kazahi-no-miya (風日祈宮); visitors are also invited to visit these. Thus, the grounds include other named shrines in addition to the Inner Shrine, which you can take into account when planning your visit. You can make these sites a focus in their own right, without limiting your visit to a single shrine.

A Stroll Through Historic Streetscapes

Oharaimachi (おはらい町) is an approximately 800-meter-long stone-paved street along the Isuzu River. Traditional townhouses line the way, with gabled roofs and entrances on the gable ends as defining features. Its approximate length, stone paving and architectural style give the streetscape a distinct character. After visiting the shrine, Oharaimachi invites you to stroll among souvenir shops, restaurants and merchant houses. Here, the focus is not just on architecture, but also on a street shaped by commerce and dining.

At the Ise Kawasaki Merchant Hall (伊勢河崎商人館), visitors can tour seven storehouses and two machiya townhouses. All nine buildings are nationally registered tangible cultural properties. The different building types and their number give the visit a clearly defined focus: the storehouses and townhouses take center stage as architectural heritage.

Discover Regional Specialties

Along Gekū Sando (外宮参道), you can enjoy Ise udon and local beer as specialties from Ise. At Okage Yokocho (おかげ横丁), eateries serving food from Ise-Shima and souvenir shops line an area of approximately 4,000 tsubo. The two locations offer different options for a break: the Ise specialties mentioned above along the approach to the Outer Shrine, and food from Ise-Shima and shops spread over a larger area. Individual businesses may change.

Include Futami in Your Plans

Futami is home to Futamiura Beach (二見浦海水浴場), Japan’s first officially designated bathing beach. Also in the area, a hike up Mount Otonashi (音無山) takes just under 30 minutes to reach a viewpoint overlooking the sea. The beach and viewpoint each offer a different focus; these details describe them as options to consider when planning your trip, not as a single combined route.

When looking for a holiday rental in Ise, you can first consider which of these facets you want to shape your trip: shrines, streets and regional specialties, or the destinations mentioned in the Futami area as well.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Iga, Odai, Kameyama, Yokkaichi, Tsu, Toba, Nabari and Suzuka.

Back to the main travel overview: Mie Prefecture.