Walking into Ise Jingu, towering trees lined both sides. Listening to the gentle sound of cicadas and walking along the gravel path, I quietly became one of the worshippers. I stopped briefly by the Isuzu River, where the clear water and soft breeze took away the summer heat. It was peaceful and serene. I liked the simple, unadorned atmosphere, and felt that my restless, heat-weary heart found calm here.
Ise Jingu | Review by 周黛西
Other Reviews by 周黛西
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Akafuku-Main store
Founded in 1707, during the early Edo period, this long-established store has been welcoming visitors to Ise Jingu shrine for centuries with its famous "Akafuku Mochi." This traditional Japanese sweet consists of a mochi rice cake topped with smooth sweet bean paste, and its shape is distinctive. The three lines on the bean paste represent the pure flow of the Isuzu River that runs through the sacred grounds of Ise Jingu, while the white mochi symbolizes the pebbles at the riverbed.
As soon as you enter Okage Yokocho and turn into an alley, you'll see Akafuku. Their signature “Akafuku Mochi” is chewy mochi covered with red bean paste, similar to Taiwanese red bean mochi. The red bean paste is sweet but not cloying, and it's a perfect match with a cup of hot tea. No wonder there's a constant stream of customers. The matcha shaved ice is also great, with their signature red bean paste and two pieces of mochi hidden inside. It's the perfect treat for cooling off.
The main store is in the middle of the street, and takeout gift boxes are also available, but they have a short shelf life, so it's best to enjoy them there. -
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Oharai Machi, Okage Yokocho
In front of the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine, there's a street called Oharai Machi that bustles with numerous worshippers every year. From the Edo Period to early Meiji Period, many people called Onshi lived here and performed Shinto dance and music for their worshippers (Oharai), thus, the name Oharai Machi is believed to have come about.
Okage Yokocho is next to Ise Jingu and has lots of authentic Japanese food, cafés, and shops. Enjoy traditional sweets from the long-established Akafuku shop and seafood from Ise while browsing the stores. The lively atmosphere completely immerses travelers in the experience.
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Kashikojima
Kashikojima, where the Ise-Shima Summit was held in 2016, is an island floating in Ago Bay in the southern Shima Peninsula, with the unique location of being just Approx. 10 m from the mainland of Honshu. It is also widely known for having Kashikojima Station, the terminal station of the Kintetsu Shima Line. Beloved as one of Japan’s leading resort destinations for its calm sea views, this compact island of Approx. 0.68 sq km is dotted with a variety of leisure facilities.
Cute otters can be seen everywhere at Kashikojima Station. Next to the platform is the “Shima no Kaze” mailbox, which is also cute and eye-catching.
Kashikojima feels like a sparsely populated, slow-paced little town. Without the noise of tourists, you can enjoy the tranquility of the seaside, which is really nice!
Besides the pearl shops around town, what left a strong impression on me was the “Ago Kashikojima Post Office.” I picked out a pearl-oyster-shaped postcard there and mailed it to myself, leaving me with a beautiful and precious, pearl-like memory of the trip. -
