Ise Shrine

Ise Shrine: a must see for those interested in Japan's Imperial history

If you are interested in royal families or, more specifically, the history of Japan's imperial family, then Ise Shrine is a must-see. It's certainly off the beaten path, so it's not the easiest trip to make, but the shrine is bonded with the Imperial family. Ise Shrine is considered the representative shrine for the Emperor, so it is treated with the utmost care and consideration. It truly is an amazing place. You'd be hard pressed to find a stone out of place or an overgrown bush. This is in part because the Shinto religion holds the goddess Amaterasu at the pinnacle of its religious beliefs, and it is said that the Imperial lineage traces back to her. The shrine grounds are huge, so be sure to bring some water (if it's hot) and decent walking shoes. Keep in mind that there are always two main shrines: one open and one closed. Since the shrine is dedicated to the Imperial family, it gets renewed every 20 years. The closed shrine is the one being dismantled and slated for renewal sometime within the next two decades. So what if you're not that into the royals or Japan's imperial history? If you're in Mie, you should definitely make the trip. If not, I wouldn't go out of my way for this shrine alone.