The town itself is nothing that amazing. Fairly modestly sized but surprisingly very little Romaji, or roman alphabet on signs. Although it was harder to navigate, somehow the lack of translation forced me to actually pay attention to those little squiggle boxes of characters and start to notice patterns. When all else failed I had google translate on my phone to assist me. Thank god for technology!
The shrine is considered one of Japan's oldest, most austere of buildings. While visually not that exciting, spiritually it certainly holds high reverence of the Japanese people.
Dating from 3rd Century, it holds the godess of the sun. Amaterasu-Omikami. An ancestral goddess of the imperial family and guardian of Japan. Japan is the land of the rising sun. Once again it's significance dictates this be Japans most revered.
Main Torii (Spritual entrance gate). Whilst other temples see huge traffic over new years then die off in the weeks following, Ise Jingu holds such a significant place in the minds and tapestry of Shinto religion that it still sees thousands of people visiting. From anyone wanting to just pay respects for the new year, to people about to undertake a tuning point in their lives, one and all come visit Ise Jingu.
Rice/sake store barrels (I think) I didn't have a tour guide
Each shrine has a place to wash hands before entering. This one also allows people to cleanse with the river water.
Shrine with old buildings. Covered in an indicator of age.
Every 20 years dictates the temples are rebuilt as exact imitations on a site adjacent, then ritually transferred gods to the new one. Old timbers go into making new Torii or sent around to other shrines. 2013 is actually the year this is happening with IseJingu so there was a little construction happening nearby.
Architecture of main temple building. This is pre-buddhism architecture. While the main temple is reserved for shrine priests and imperial family you can still see it. I was lucky actually, an imperial family were visiting and I got to see some of the processions. Amazingly traditional. Like I stepped back in time in some ways.
The streets outside large shrines often have many shops & restaurants. Selling all sorts of things from unique speciality foods, to cuteshit. This one was particularly amazing.
Crab meat on a stick and cooked over a flame. Sooo tasty.
Dried fish to smoke
Dried fishies
A whole shop of dried everything. Stingrays, sharks, eels, you name it - they had it dried.
Batter & nuts & compressed under weight while cooked makes for a really interesting biscuit
Choose your chopsticks
American heli presence definitely strong in this town I think there is a base nearby. Very noisy. I think the population as a whole dislikes how strong the american presence is here. There were some peaceful protests on the news asking for less Helis.
Toad Kami on the entrance to Futami. I think he represented the ideology of love. Maybe that's why he looks so angry.
Futami. Connected by love.
The streets near Futami were very old pre-war buildings
