Ise Jingu, a site where a long, splendid, multifaceted history unfolds. Satoyama and Satoumi, land of enrichment interweaved with the workings of people and nature.
Day 1
One of the things about the expansive Ise-Shima National Park in Mie Prefecture that always blows my mind is just how many attractions are crammed within its 555 square kilometers.
In addition to being the home of Ise Jingu, one Japan’s most important shrines, Ise-Shima National Park also has many other cultural allures too. Moreover, many of these are not what one might envision when they hear the world “national park.”
Pictured here is the ever-iconic Meoto Iwa or “wedded rocks.” Found within the confines of Ise-Shima National Park at Futami Okitama Shrine, this pair of rock represents a married couple.
In addition to the Meoto Iwa, you’ll also find a lot of frog statues at Futami Okitama Shrine. These are said to have the power to bring people or things back and are a play on the Japanese word for frog, kaeru.
Especially with the way the clouds looked, I felt overwhelmed with a sense of spirituality while in while I was in Ise-Shima National Park. It’s hard to get more historic than this party of Japan.
Day 2
If you’re going to make a visit to Ise Jingu, you also need to check out vendor-lined streets and allies that can be found along the approach to the shrine. Though they are technically located just outside of Ise-Shima National Park, these historic locations are frequently visited in combination with a visit to Ise Jingu. Don’t miss them!
Telling which is a bit confusing (even for Japanese) but basically, Oharai-machi is the shop-lined approach to Ise Jingu whereas Okage Yokocho is an area off to the side of Oharai Machi.
How do you know if you’re in Okage Yokocho? Well, keep your eyes out for the adorable cat statues seen here. They are emblematic of Okage Yokocho and searching for them can be a great source of fun.
Note that Okage Yokocho has a lot of great places to eat. Personally, I am partial to places that serve Matsusaka Wagyu but there are many other local specialties from Ise-Shima National Park to try too. One thing to note is that Oharai-machi and Okage Yokocho can get REALLY crowded. I honestly felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of people here but I guess that just goes to show how influential Ise Jingu really is. Hard to believe that these historic districts are one of NationalPark_Japan’s locations!
While the many @NationalPark_Japan are indeed full of natural beauty, one of the things that sets Ise-Shima National Park part is its ama diver culture.
For thousands of years, these brave and inspirational women have been diving deep into the nearby oceans to retrieve all sort of sealife.
Today, visitors to Ise-Shima National Park can experience this ancient ama diver culture at one of a number of seaside huts that are strewn about the island. In addition to having something delicious to eat, you’ll also get to learn all about this millenia-old culture. All in all, it’s the perfect combination of all of the elements that make traveling in Japan so great.
While enjoying some of the freshest seafood that I’ve ever had, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by how lucky I was to have the chance to experience a meal prepared for me by a real ama diver. Especially since their numbers are now dwindling, eating with an ama is a rare glimpse into their world which dates back hundreds if not thousands of years.
At least as far as I’m concerned, it’s activities like this put Japan’s national parks on an entirely different level!
Day 3
As can be seen here, one of the best parts about the southern portion of Ise-Shima National Park is the views. I mean just take a look at these epic vista!
While Ise-Shima National Park does indeed have a lot of activities and attractions to select from, the 555 square kilometer space is also breathtaking to behold from up high.
Though the most iconic of these is most definitely the #YokoyamaViewPoint,there are many others that also look out over Ago Bay. From these varied viewpoints, you can take the majestic scenery.
While there are a lot of locales in Japan with amazing vistas, I find that there’s just something special about the views of Ago Bay. Honestly, I felt like I could just spend the entirety of a day listlessly gazing out at the scenery.
If you’re considering visiting a @NationalPark_Japan, consider giving Ise-Shima National Park a try. Trust me when I say that the views are more than worth it.
