ISE-JINGU
It's a once-in-a-lifetime visit. Considered Japan's holiest shrine, and therefore the most important of the Shinto religion, Ise-jingū, officially called jingū, comprises 125 shrines scattered around two parts: Naiku, dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, and Geku, dedicated to Toyouke-no-Omikami. Dating back to the 3rd century, this highly spiritual site is a must for any visit to the prefecture. Every year, the shrine holds numerous rituals and ceremonies to pray for the prosperity of the imperial family, peace in the land and bountiful harvests. The shrine is so valuable that its buildings are literally rebuilt, according to tradition, every 20 years. The rebuilding is carried out identically, a few meters away, using age-old techniques. Even today, craftsmen who never use nails erect new buildings using only wooden dowels and interlocking individual parts. Once rebuilt, the deity is transferred to her new place of worship in the Shikinen Sengu ritual ceremony. The wood from the old shrine is then used to rebuild the huge torii at the entrance and to help renovate other sacred sites around the country. As Ise-jingū has a very special character, most of its buildings are hidden behind palisades and the entrance to the sacred perimeter is off-limits to the public. This adds mystique to a visit to this national treasure.
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