Fascinated by the Realm of the Sun God – A Journey to the Light of Purity

What reasons make people so enchanted by the realm of the Sun God? What kind of allure drives one to transcend life and death to fulfill a once-in-a-lifetime quest? Unfolding an ancient map of Japan, returning to the sacred origin of Japanese history, here, travel is not leisure but a pilgrimage for inner peace and spiritual elevation.

Located in Mie Prefecture, Ise Grand Shrine boasts a longer history and deeper cultural significance than Kyoto. It can be considered the spiritual homeland of the Japanese people and the core of their profound spiritual connection. The Japanese, whose civilization is built on agriculture, believe that harmony and mutual aid in daily life lead to coexistence and shared prosperity with all things. Against this backdrop, the development of faith focuses on the relationship between nature, the divine, and humanity.

In Japanese mythology, Amaterasu (the so-called “Sun Goddess”) possesses the power to illuminate the heavens, bestowing not only sunlight and rice but also serving as the ancestor of the Japanese Imperial Family. At the founding of Japan, the political core was the Imperial Family, the economic core was rice, and the spiritual core was Ise Grand Shrine. The most fascinating aspect of Ise Grand Shrine is its ritual relocation known as the “Shikinen Sengu,” which occurs once every 20 years. It’s said this tradition began in the 4th year of Empress Jito’s reign (690 AD), and while theories abound—some say it's to preserve ancient architectural techniques, others suggest it prevents the Shrine from aging and losing its sanctity—no definitive answer exists.

In ancient Japan, visiting Ise Grand Shrine was once a privilege reserved solely for the Imperial Family. Later, with the spread of Shinto beliefs, it became customary for shoguns to visit from around the Muromachi period. By the Edo period, people even organized “pilgrimage tours,” considering a trip to Ise Grand Shrine a once-in-a-lifetime event. There’s even a legend that one in six people had visited Ise. Even today, over 6 million people visit annually, making Ise Grand Shrine arguably Japan’s foremost shrine. It is divided into the Inner Shrine (Kotai Jingu), dedicated to Amaterasu, and the Outer Shrine (Geku), dedicated to Toyouke no Omikami. Pilgrims from across Japan would first visit Geku to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, then proceed to Kotai Jingu to express gratitude to Amaterasu. In front of the great torii gate of the Inner Shrine, a shopping street called Yasaka-cho developed.

 

In Yasaka-cho, one can observe various food cultures born from the Ise Grand Shrine pilgrimage boom. Since pilgrims had little time to rest, mochi artisans quickly shaped and slapped mochi onto freshly steamed rice dough, creating the signature textured appearance of Akafuku mochi. Also, if you're used to firm udon, you might struggle with Ise udon. Initially, to serve hungry pilgrims instant access to noodles, the shop kept its cauldrons boiling year-round, resulting in soft and tender udon due to prolonged cooking.

 

Yorokobi Town in Yasaka-cho also features traditional nagaya-style buildings reminiscent of the Edo period, along with many old-style shops that recreate the ambiance of the Ise Road. There’s something for everyone—food, fun, and sights—as well as lively seasonal festivals that let visitors deeply experience the essence of Ise and the pilgrimage lifestyle of ancient times.

 

To the southwest of Ise Grand Shrine lies another expansive sacred mountain region—the Kii Mountain Range, revered as a spiritual site by practitioners of Shugendo. Shugendo is a unique syncretic religion in Japan that blends elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto, centered around mountain worship. The Japanese historically believed mountains to be dwelling places of the gods, and practitioners (known as “yamabushi”) who trained in these mountains were thought to gain supernatural powers. Thus, the core of Shugendo is mountain asceticism. From the Kumano Hongu Taisha area onward is considered the most sacred site, and venturing deep into the mountains here is seen as entering a divine realm. The path leading to Kumano Hongu Taisha was dubbed the “Road to Paradise.”