Strolling Through the Abode of the Gods: The Sengu Festival at Ise Grand Shrine

Written by TRAVELER Luxe / Reported by Chuang Wei-Ting

 

Ise Grand Shrine is the highest-ranking shrine among Japan’s Shinto shrines and is regarded as the spiritual homeland of the Japanese people. It consists of the Inner Shrine and Outer Shrine, along with 125 surrounding shrines. This October, Ise Grand Shrine will celebrate the 62nd biennial “Sengu” festival in 1,300 years, which is considered one of Japan’s most important festivals. The purpose of the Sengu is to allow the divine power to remain “ever youthful,” preserving its vitality eternally. Next to the main shrine is an equally sized vacant plot of land where, every twenty years, the shrine buildings are reconstructed, along with the recreation of the deities’ garments, daily items, and sacred treasures. The deities are then transferred to the new structures. This ceremony has been passed down since the 7th century. For the general public, a participatory ritual is the “Oshiraishi-mochi Shinji” held between July and September — the ceremony of laying white stones on the new shrine site in preparation for the formal relocation.

Approaching the Outer Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine, you are greeted by towering ancient trees with swaying shadows. The pleasant greenery before your eyes calms your heart, while the rustling of leaves in the breeze is accompanied only by the sound of your own footsteps. The order of worship is from the Outer Shrine to the Inner Shrine. Before passing through the torii gate, you bow as a sign of greeting to the deities, marking your entrance into their abode. The same gesture is made upon departure. Neither the Outer nor Inner Shrine torii gates are painted, displaying the natural color of the wood — simplicity and unadorned beauty are key features of Ise Grand Shrine, reflecting the grandeur of the highest divine rank. It feels like stepping into a serene and magnificent vast forest. The Outer Shrine enshrines Toyouke-no-Omikami, the deity governing agriculture, food, clothing, and shelter. Our guide, Mr. Masao Minamoto, shared that legend has it the Sun Goddess Amaterasu felt lonely eating alone, so the shrine invited Toyouke-no-Omikami, the deity of food, to keep her company. Such stories highlight how close the gods are to the people.

 

Before entering the Inner Shrine, you pass over the majestic Uji Bridge, which symbolically guides people from the secular world into the sacred realm. Like the shrine buildings, the Uji Bridge is also rebuilt every twenty years. Beneath the bridge, the clear river water sparkles, reflecting the lush surrounding forests, creating a breathtaking scene. Walking along the long approach paved with white pebbles, European-style gardens are lined with neatly trimmed pines and cypresses, alongside sacred trees that are often over 800 years old. Purify your hands in the waters of the Isuzu River, letting the cool stream flow over your fingertips, as if cleansing your soul as well.

 

◎ Attraction Introduction: Ise Grand Shrine

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