Today’s video is quite unusual as we are not featuring a location per se, but instead we will offer you the opportunity to follow our host from Ise-Shima area through a contemplative experience where they will both guide us by sea and by land around the Ise-Shima area.

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Known now as Ama or “sea-women”, these ladies have been recognized for their importance in the development of Japan after the Mikimoto Kokichi discovery and unique production of cultured pearls in 1983. [...]

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Donkaiin temple is part of Kongosho-ji which is located on top of Mount Asama, Mie’s highest mountain. Built-in 825 by Kobo Daishi (774~835) who was a Buddhist saint and founder of the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism. [...]

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Located near Meoto Iwa in Ise Shima (Mie), Hinjitsukan is a former guesthouse built-in 1887. Originally constructed to host the most important guests of the time such as members of the Imperial family. Primarily made of wood, Hinjitsukan was built in a record time of just three months. [...]

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Located in the city of Ise, Mie prefecture Ise Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Amaterasu-Omikami goddess. Spread across a vast part of Ise, the Grand Shrine is mainly composed of two major complexes known as Naiku and Geku. [...]

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Located off the shores of Futami city in Mie 10km away from the Ise Grand Shrine, Meoto Iwa (also known as the Married Couple Rocks), are a couple of small rocks sitting peacefully. According to the Shinto Futami Okitama Jinja, the rocks represent the union of the creators of Izanagi-no-Okami [...]

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Tsukiyomi-no-kami is an auxiliary shrine or “Betsugo” of Ise’s Grand Shrine Geku located near the center of Ise. This shrine is dedicated to the brother of Amaterasu Omikami, presiding over the ‘night world’ and revered for viewing the moon at night.

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Also known as the ‘bay of pearls’, Ago Bay is a stunning scenic bay located near Ise which hosts as many as 50 different islands of various sizes. Because of its unique location and its complicated coastline, Ago Bay quickly became one of the most famous pearl culture spots in Japan and this is thanks […]

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A good hour away by car from Ise, Kongosho-Ji is a secluded temple hidden on top of Mount Asama, Mie’s highest mountain. Founded in 825 by Kobo Daishi (774~835), a buddhist saint founder of the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism, Kongosho-Ji is in fact a rampart designed to protect Ise Jingu from any […]

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Located not so far from Ise Grand Shrine alongside the Miya River and between the small hills you will find the city of Watari, its rice fields and its many green tea fields. Japanese green tea fields around Mt Fuji are indeed very popular, but tea grows pretty much everywhere in Japan and each region, […]

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Oharai Machi (Oharaimachi) is the old 1 km long approach to the Ise Grand Shrine Naiku. With restaurants, shops and many old traditional buildings, Oharai Machi businesses have been serving customers, tourists and pilgrims for several centuries and as long as Ise Grand Shrine Naiku has existed. While Oharai Machi is full of history and […]

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Alongside Naiku, Geku is the second largest shrine in Ise and part of the Ise Grand Shrine. Located 6 km away from Naiku and near the center of Ise, Geku is is dedicated to Toyouke No Omikami, or the god of agriculture and industry. Despite being a large shrine, Geku is connected to 32 other […]

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