Must-visit spots in Ise-Shima, a hidden gem in Kansai region
Jun 19, 2023
Must-visit spots in Ise-Shima, a hidden gem in Kansai region
Ise-Shima (伊勢志摩) is a region of Japan that refers to the areas of eastern Mie Prefecture and the areas in or around Ise-Shima National Park. Also called the Shima Peninsula (志摩半島, Shima-hantō), this region includes the cities Ise, Toba, Shima, and parts of the town of Minami-Ise.
Packed with tourists throughout the year, Ise-Shima is home to many amazing tourism facilities and sightseeing spots, including some top-notch resort hotels, beaches, national park, shrines, and theme parks.
The peninsula extends out into the Pacific Ocean, and the main industry conducted in the area is seafood and marine products, including oysters and pearl cultivation.
To help you with this, we’ve come up with a list of things to do in Ise-Shima, which you can find in the paragraphs below!
Index : Must-visit spots in Ise-Shima
- 1. How to access Ise-Shima
- 2. Start your journey by praying at the Ise Grand Shrine
- 3. Visit Kongōshō-ji at the summit of Mt. Asama
- 4. Praying for love at Futami Okitama Shrine
- 5. Anori Shrine, a must-visit spot for surfers
- 6. Refreshed by the beautiful greenery of Ise-Shima National Park
- 7. Create your own Maneki Neko (lucky cat) at Okage Yokochō!
- 8. Visit Bennoya to try Ise-Shima’s craft Japanese sake
- 9. Tasting Kinkoimo products at Ueda Shoten
- 10. Other spots to visit when you’re in Ise-Shima region
1. How to access Ise-Shima
One of the best ways to access the Ise-Shima region is by using the Kintetsu railways. There are direct Kintetsu Limited Express (特急, tokkyū) running everyday between Nagoya and Ise, which only takes around 80 minutes in total and costs 3,080-yen one way. All seats are reserved seats, and many of these trains continue to run to Toba and Kashikojima. There are also slower express trains (急行, kyūkō) that takes around 100 minutes in total and costs 1,740-yen one way.
If you plan to travel around Ise-Shima for a few days, the cheapest way to do so is by purchasing the Kintetsu railway pass, which offers you unlimited rides on all Kintetsu lines for a very reasonable price. Read this article to find out more about the pass.
2. Start your journey by praying at the Ise Grand Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮), is a shrine in Ise, Mie, that is known as one of the most important and sacred Shinto shrines in Japan. The shrine accommodates around 125 shrines in its ground, including the main inner shrine (Naiku) and the outer shrine (Geku).
The inner shrine, which is also known as the main shrine, was built for Amaterasu Omikami, a female sun goddess worshiped by the Japanese, who is also believed by others as the ancestor of the Japanese Imperial Family. Unlike other shrines in Japan, the main shrine building was built using solid cypress wood and connected with joined wood without any nails. The outer shrine was built for Toyouke Omikami, a male god of food and harvest.
Information about Ise Grand Shrine
Address
- 1 Ujitachicho, Ise-shi, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- 5:00 – 18:00
Official Website
Google Map
3. Visit Kongōshō-ji at the summit of Mt. Asama
Kongōshō-ji, or officially known as Asama-dake Kongosho-ji Temple (朝熊岳金剛證寺), is a Rinzai school Zen Buddhist Temple located at the summit of Mt. Asama, a mountain in Ise, Mie. The temple is only a few kilometers away from Ise Grand Shrines, and from there you can enjoy the view of Ise City from 555 meters altitude.
The temple has been closely associated with the Ise Grand Shrine throughout its history, and there are numerous National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties in the area, including the sutra mounds found behind the temple, which were designated a National Historic Site in 1936. The history claims that the temple was founded by Emperor Kinmei, who ordered a monk named Kyōtai to build a chapel on this site in the middle of the 6th century. Later, Kūkai converted it into a dojo for teaching Shingon esoteric Buddhism in 825 AD, and ever since then the temple was regarded as the guardian of Ise Grand Shrine, protecting it from demons.
The temple grew to be the largest temple in Ise and Shima Provinces, but its popularity declined in the later Heian and Kamakura periods until Togaku Buniku of Kenchō-ji in Kamakura converted the temple into a Rinzai Zen Temple in 1392.
Information about Kongōshō-ji
Address
- 548 Asamacho, Ise-shi, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- 9:00 – 15:45
Official Website (Japanese)
Google Map
4. Praying for love at Futami Okitama Shrine
Futami Okitama Shrine is in Futami, a small town in Ise City, Mie. The shrine is famous for bringing good fortune in marriage, and a lot of Japanese women visit the shrine to pray for happiness in their marriage.
Near the shrine, there is a pair of sacred rocks called Meoto Iwa, which stand 700 meters away from the shoreline. The first rock is called Oiwa, which is 9 meters tall and represents males. The second rock is called Meiwa, which is 4 meters tall and represents females. Both rocks are tied together with shimenawa, a sacred straw rope, and there is a torii (shrine gate) on top of Oiwa.
Information about Futami Okitama Shrine
Address
- 575 Futamichoe, Ise, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- 7:00 – 16:15
Google Map
5. Anori Shrine, a must-visit spot for surfers
Anori Shrine is a shrine in Shima, Mie, which literally means “safe ride shrine”. Due to its name, many surfers flock to this shrine before summer, as they believe that the God here offers them “safe ride” when they’re riding on the wave.
The shrine is also known for hosting a traditional Anori Puppet Play that is shown annually in September. Anori harvests puffer fish as well, and Anori Shrine is the place where Anori Puffer Fish Festival is held every year in October.
One of the best things to get from this shrine is its lucky charm that protects you from danger, which features pictures of shark and wave
Information about Anori Shrine
Address
- 844 Agocho Anori, Shima-shi, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- 9:30 – 16:30
Google Map
6. Refreshed by the beautiful greenery of Ise-Shima National Park
Ise-Shima National Park is the largest national park in the Ise-Shima region, and the park functions like a living museum. The park is in the Mie Prefecture, and it is mainly known for its exceptional nature, with lavish greenery and crystal blue ocean on three sides.
The park has small islands offering local delicacies like abalone and spiny Ise lobsters, which are collected by fisherwomen known as ama to this day, using traditional methods of freediving.
In addition to its scenic beauty, the national park serves as the backdrop to some of Japan’s foundational legends. The park is also home to one of the most important shrines in Japan, the Ise Grand Shrine.
Information about Ise-Shima National Park
Business hours
- Opens 24 hours
Official Website (Japanese)
Google Map
7. Create your own Maneki Neko (lucky cat) at Okage Yokochō
Another fun thing to do in Ise is to visit the Okage Yokochō, a shopping alley where you can try local food, shop for souvenirs, and experience Japanese cultures. There is a shop called Iseji Saien, where you can draw your own Maneki Neko for a very reasonable price.
Japanese believe that if you put Maneki Neko at the entrance of your house or shop, it will bring good fortune or customers to your place. At Iseji Saien, you can draw your Maneki Neko statue with your favorite color and design.
Information about Iseji Saien
Address
- 150-6 Ujinakanokiricho, Ise-shi, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- 9:30 – 17:30
- workshop starts from 10:00 and ends at 16:00)
Fee
- 1,220 yen / session
Payment method
- ash / credit cards
Google Map
8. Visit Bennoya to try Ise-Shima’s craft Japanese sake
If you love Japanese sake (nihonshu), you might want to stop by Bennoya sake store to try Ise-Shima’s craft nihonshu.
In the shelves, you can find numerous bottles of local Nihonshu, which you probably cannot find in other prefectures.
Before purchasing one of the bottles, you can order a glass of it for tasting, so you don’t have to worry about it. Craft nihonshu is extremely rare, so buying a bottle of it for your friends and family back home will definitely be great.
Information about Bennoya
Address
- 3065 Shimacho Wagu, Shima-shi, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- 9:00 – 20:00
Official Website (Japanese)
Google Map
9. Tasting Kinkoimo products at Ueda Shoten
Kinkoimo is a type of sweet potato from Ise-Shima, and at Ueda Shōten, you can purchase some of its products as souvenirs. There are also sweets like Kinkoimo pudding, Kinkoimo parfait, and Kinkoimo cake for you to try on the spot.
The best seller items you can try purchasing as souvenirs are dried Kinkoimo, Kinkoimo chips, Kinkoimo pudding, and Kinkoimo Monaka.
Information about Ueda Shōten
Address
- 794-1, Agocho Anori, Shima-shi, Mie, Japan
Business hours
- Monday to Friday 10:00 – 16:00
- Saturday & Sunday 9:30 – 16:00
Official Website (Japanese)
Google Map
10. Other spots to visit when you’re in Ise-Shima region
In addition to the sightseeing spots we’ve mentioned above, there are some other spots in Ise-Shima you can visit as well, and some of them can be found in the features below :
- Ninja Kingdom Ise
- Oharai Machi
- Hinjitsukan
- Ago Bay
If you want to know more about these attractions, you can check more information in this article. >> 10 Amazing Things to do in Mie
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Now that you know how great the Ise-Shima region is, how about visiting it when you’re in Japan next time?
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