Ise Shrine Tour (Geku, Naiku and Meotoiwa) - Long version
Joined 2016
This tour includes visiting Geku and Naiku of Ise Shrine and Meotoiwa-wedded rocks. All of the spots are related to indigenous religion - Shinto. Ise shrines are the greatest shinto places and about 10 million people visit the shrines every year. In olden time, when people traveled by walking, everybody wanted to visit there at least once in a lifetime. It is like Vatican in Christian and Mecca in Islam.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At the ticket gate of Ise-shi Eki Station on JR side
At ticket gate of Ise-shi Eki station on JR side
Meet the guide.
Geku Of Ise Shrine
To visit Ise Grand Shrines, correct order to visit is Geku and Naiku. So, we follow the traditional and correct order. About 1500 years ago, the deity Toyouke was enshrined in Geku. It is goddess and she was invited to cook meals for Amaterasu who is the head of 8 million shinto deities. Toyouke is believed to be the goddess for good harvest and economical growth of the country. In Geku, we visit Main Shrine building called Go-Shoku and one of the subsidiary Shrine called Takanomiya. After visiting the both, we will visit Sengukan museum where a full scale replica of the main shrine building is displayed. Since no one except for the priest and Emperor can get close to the Main Shrine building to grasp how big it is, you can feel that in front of the replica.
Naiku of Ise Shrine
Naiku is founded about 2,000 years ago and is dedicated to Amaterasu - a head of Shinto deities. Amaterasu is also goddess and is sun goddess for peace and tranquility of the country. She is also believed to be the ancestor god of the present Emperor in Japan. Over there, we visit Go-shoku, Aramatsuri-no-miya after walking on the Ujibashi bridge and soaking your hands into Isuzugawa river at Mitarai-ba - a historical ablution place.
Oharai Machi Street and Okage yokocho block
This area is set for shopping and eating place in front of Naiku. Each houses are remodeled into classic style of building and brings you back what it looks like 300 years ago when commoners started traveling throughout the country. The guest enjoy shopping souvenirs and eating some snacks. You do not have to be hesitate to eat on the street. We will also have lunch there.
Meoto-iwa (wedded rocks)
Two big rocks protruding from the ocean are called Meoto-iwa. They works as torii gate of Futami Okitama shrine. Different size of rocks are bound by several strands of twisted ropes. Bigger rock is called Otoko-iwa, male rock and smaller one is called Onna-iwa, female rock. Since the rocks are bound by the ropes, that symbolizes a married couple. "Meoto" means married couple and "iwa"means rock. Futami Okitama shrine is dedicated to Deity Sarutahiko who is the deity of guide or pilot to lead travelers to destination and to return safely.
Futami Ura Station
After leaving Meoto-iwa, we walk on the road leading to the station. It will be about 15 to 20 minutes walk depending on the walking pace. After arriving at the station, we get on JR train to go back to Ise-shi eki station. If the guest is planning to move toward Toba or Shima areas and if not leaving any luggage at Iseshi Eki station, it may be better to head for Toba station.
Iseshi Eki Station
The tour ends
Ending Point
At the ticket gate of Ise-shi Eki Station on JR side
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee only
All transportation fee between the sites (you and guide), e.g.,
Bus fare from Geku to Naiku: 470 yen/person
Bus fare from Naiku to Meotoiwa Higashi-guchi: 740 yen/person
Train cost from Futami-ura to Iseshi Eki: 210 yen
The guide's transportation cost between the guide's residence and the meeting point: 2,820 yen
Admission: 300 Yen/person (Sengu-kan Museum is closed on the second and forth tuesday/month)
Those charge will be settled at the meeting point.
Tour Important Information
Visitors are expected to wear casual outfits and shoes as we walk on the approach covered by pebbles and gravels. Also it is recommended to bring a folding umbrella for raining, as most of the time will be spent in outdoor. In summer time, please wear a cap or a hat as it is hot and humid.
Sengukan Museum is closed on 2nd and 4th Tuesday per month (The next days on Holidays)
Important message from the supplier
If you need my guide in areas unlisted here, please indicate a particular location in your inquiry. If the area is where I already experienced, I would be delighted to guide you after consent between us in regard to date, price and any other special conditions.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2016
About Tour Guide Tetsuya T.
Hello, Everyone. I am a National Licensed Guide Interpreter for English. It is my pleasure of introducing what I am doing as the guide to you. I can offer the following services through my career and experience:
a) Tour Guide - Nagoya, Takayama, Ise, Nara and Kyoto areas.
b) Plant Tour Guide - Metal, Casting, Automobile, Chemical and Machinery
c) Interpreter for Business and Basic Engineering Meetings
d) Bicycle or Mountaineering Guide Tour
I am 67 years old now but quite healthy. I love bicycle ride and go on cycling for 40-100 km/day every weekend. That is why I have included bicycle ride tour in the above selections. As the guide, I would like you to get clear picture or image about Japanese history and culture in your mind. So, to achieve this purpose, I sometimes use iPad to explain more in details depending on area. So, please try to use me as the guide and have good experience while you are in Japan.
Reviews
Laura A.
“Amazing trip to Nakasendo trail”
Tetsuya was very helpful from the get go. He make sure to gather as much information about the trip as possible to ensure that the day will run smoothly. He provided information and alternatives throughout the day, and is very knowledgeable about the area. He made sure the trip was amazing and it was! We will definitely come back and have Tetsuya san guide around the area!
Tetsuya T.
Laura-san, Thank you very much for warm and wonderful message. It has been quite a while to walk through Magome mountain pass after covid-19. Weather was unstable, sometimes rain and sometimes cloudy. But anyway I am gland that everything went smoothly and had chances to see you around in those areas. In your comment, the trip was amazing. Thankful to you but I have to tell you actually your kids were amazing because they walked through Magome mountain pass that spans 8 km distance in mountain road without delay. Every time I answered questions from local people and even drivers how to get to Tsumago, they all were surprised at such young children walked through the road. You all helped me to get success in this tour. Once again thank you very much for your ordering this tour and hope to come back Japan again to view other areas, hopefully, with my guiding. Till then, good luck.
Saiyu T.
“Great guide!”
The tour with Tetsuya-San was great! The Ise shrines are very beautiful and have a certain majesty to them.
Tetsuya T.
Thank you for your comment and hope you enjoy the rest of your tour Tetsuya
Richard H.
“Excellent tour of a truly amazing part of Japan”
We met Tetsuya immediately after disembarking from our ship. He guided us to a train station 10 minutes away and navigated us easily on trains and buses throughout the day - without which we would have had to hire a taxi likely costing $500 more! We visited Ise Jingu Naiku Shrine, Japan's most sacred shrine. Tetsuya, who spoke excellent English, guided us through all the appropriate etiquette: - bowing before going under an arch entrance - purging and cleansing our hands and mouths - throwing a coin into the offering area, bowing and clapping twice We visited the Isuzu river (the truck company is named after the river) and our daughter paddled in the river. We enjoyed wonderful shave ice. Finally we went to the Pearl museum where we learned about cultured pearl making and female pearl divers. Overall we would highly recommend Tetsuya as a guide. He was very knowledgeable, patient and has great communication skills.
Tetsuya T.
Thank you very much for warm and thoughtful comment. I am glad to hear that you have enjoyed the tour, and I appreciate your patience in hot and humid weather of the day. On behalf of your daughter, I have to add to the comment that though she dipped her feet in the river - she didn’t paddle, it is the down stream and away from the Uji bridge where it is out of Naiku precinct. So, it is said that some local people sometimes swim over there. I am glad that she could directly touch the nature of the city. It was rare to see not so many tourists are walking around the Shrine as well as Oharai-machi and Okageyokocho areas. Perhaps that is because of this heat and just after three consecutive holidays. This circumstances enabled us to walk smoothly and take some photos just under the steps leading to the Main Sanctuary and near the river and bridge without worrying about passersby. I hope this tour gave you and your family good memories. Though you might have had difficulty in viewing Ama diving show in Mikimoto due to many spectators seated in front of us, please try to consider it is better than open air stand in the summer time, as our room was air-conditioned well. Again thank you very much for being my guests and I hope you will return to your country safely. Bon voyage ! Tetsuya T
$220/ per group
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