60-Min. Sample Route (Geku)
It is considered customary to visit Geku first on visits to Ise Jingu. The main path where sunlight filters gently through the leaves of trees above provides a calming walk to the main sanctuary which when viewed from the vacant plot of land where it used to be pre-reconstruction invites onlookers to travel back in time to a mysterious mythological age.
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60-Min. Route (Geku)
This route is for people with some extra time to intimately experience Jingu and enjoy the lush nature in its precincts.
Beware, as the time required for each recommended route does not include formal ceremonies.
Not all of the spots introduced in these routes may be accessible depending on unforseen circumstances.
- ❶ Hiyokebashi-Bridge
- ❷ Kiyomori Kusu Camphor Tree
- ❸ Temizusha
- ❹ Sengukan
- ❺ Magatamaike Pond
- ❻ Toyo'uke-daijingu(Geku)
- ❼ Mishikichi
- ❽ Mitsu-ishi Triple Stones
- ❾ Taka-no-miya
- ❿ Tsuchi-no-miya
- ⓫ Shimo-no-mi'i Shrine
- ⓬ Kaze-no-miya
- ⓭ Miyanomeguri-no-kami Shrine (Geku)
- ⓮ Gojoden / Kujoden
- ⓯ Kaguraden (Geku)
- ⓰ Kitamikado (North Gate)
- ⓱ Mi'umaya (Geku)
- ⓲ Watarai-kunimi Shrine / Otsu Shrine
You can also view the route map on Google My Maps.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❶ Hiyokebashi-Bridge
The Hiyokebashi Bridge crosses over a canal created as a means of fire prevention that flows at the entrance to the shrine precincts.
Why it is Customary to
Visit Geku First
The ceremonies of Jingu are held at Geku first, influencing a custom of visiting Geku before Naiku that has been practiced for centuries. As the diety of Amaterasu-Omikami's sacred offerings, Toyo'uke-no-Omikami would provide meals before important ceremonies at Naiku, leading to the order of shrine visits still prominent today.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❷ Kiyomori Kusu Camphor Tree
Legend has it Taira no Kiyomori had the branches of this camphor tree chopped down for touching his crown during his visit to Jingu as an imperial envoy.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❸ Temizusha
This basin is used for ablution, a simple purification ritual which involves washing one's left hand, right hand, and mouth in that order.
Click Here for Shrine Etiquette
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❹ Sengukan
A museum located along the Magatamaike Pond at Geku. There, visitors can learn a lot from the exhibits on display about Ise Jingu, including a full-size model of the main pavilion of Geku.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❺ Magatamaike Pond
A pond in the shape of a curved, comma-shaped magatama. There beautiful Japanese irises bloom every June.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❻ Toyo'uke-daijingu(Geku)
Enshrines Toyo'uke-no-Omikami, the kami responsible for offerings to Amaterasu-Omikami. She is the guardian deity of all industry, including food, clothing, and shelter.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❼ Mishikichi
The alternate site where the previous divine palace stood. On the occasion of the next Shikinen Sengu, a new divine palace will be constructed here.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❽ Mitsu-ishi Triple Stones
Three stones piled atop one another where Kawara-Oharai, a ceremonial purification for treasures and shrine attire, is conducted during Shiknen Sengu.
About Distant Worship
At one point, the main path at Geku branches of into a separate area paved with white stone and tied off with sacred shimenawa rope. This is where the affiliated superior betsugu shrine Taka-no-Miya is located. It is a place for worshipping from afar that has been used during the ceremonies of Shikinen Sengu. There is a similar place for distant worship in Neku as well known as Aramatsuri-no-Miya that is also used for important rituals and ceremonies of Shikinen Sengu.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❾ Taka-no-miya
The vigorous aspect, or Aramitama, of Toyo'uke-no-Omikami's spirit is enshrined in this affiliated betsugu shrine, ranked highest in its shrine class at Geku.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
❿ Tsuchi-no-miya
Ōtsuchinomioya-no-kami, the landlord deity is enshrined here. It is the only affiliated betsugu shrine to face the east.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓫ Shimo-no-mi'i Shrine
Located inside this shrine is a well that acts as a backup for providing offerings of water for ceremonies when it cannot be procured from Kami-no-mi'i shrine.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓬ Kaze-no-miya
Shinatsuhiko-no-mikoto and Shinatobe-no-mikoto who preside over wind are enshrined here. They are the same deities enshrined at Kazahinomi-no-miya in Naiku.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓭ Miyanomeguri-no-kami Shrine (Geku)
Protective deity of the Geku precincts whose name represents the four cardinal directions. The kami has neither shrine paviliion nor fence, and is simply enshrined in a stone on the ground.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓮ Gojoden / Kujoden
Used as a substitute locations for ritual offerings and purification ceremonies during rain. They also serve as the venues for a ceremonial dinner known as Kyozen-no-gi for those participating in the reconstruction during Shikinen-Sengu.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓯ Kaguraden (Geku)
Along the path to the main sanctuary lies a building with copper shingle roofing known as Kaguraden that offers formal ceremonies, amulets, talismans, and shrine seals.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓰ Kitamikado (North Gate)
An additional entrance to Geku that is also considered ura-sando, or rear approach, in contrast with the typcial sando, or approach leading to the main sanctuary.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓱ Mi'umaya (Geku)
Sacred horses presented to Jingu by the imperial family are located here. The horses typically visit the main sanctuary at 8:00 am on the first, eleventh, and twenty-first of each month.
60-Min. Route (Geku)
⓲ Watarai-kunimi Shrine / Otsu Shrine
Watarai-kunimi Shrine is dedicated to former Geku shrine priest Watarai, while Otsu Shrine enshrines the estuary guardian deity of Isuzugawa River.