https://om.trip.com/moments/detail/ise-57140-133507894?locale=en-OM
Joanna✨Malaysia
levelIconExpert traveler

My "Special Forces" Day Trip to Ise & Toba, Mie Prefecture! 🇯🇵⛩️

#summervacay I just had an intense but amazing "special forces" itinerary in Ise and Toba, starting before dawn! 1. Futami Okitama Shrine (Meoto Iwa - Wedded Rocks) My day started at Futami Okitama Shrine, home of the famous Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks). It was just a 5-minute drive from my Ise hotel. (If you're coming from the city during the day, you can take the JR from Ise Station to Futaminoura, then walk 15 minutes.) The best time to visit and capture that iconic shot is at sunrise (around 5:30-6:00 AM), when the sun can be seen rising between the rocks. You'll need to check the local tide tables for the best view. They also have a special Shimenawa (sacred rope) changing ceremony in the summer. 2. Ise Grand Shrine - Geku (Toyouke-daijingu) Next, I drove about 12 minutes to Ise Grand Shrine's Geku (Outer Shrine). (After 9:20 AM, you can take a bus from Futaminoura back to Ise JR Station and walk 5 minutes.) Geku is dedicated to the goddess of food. The century-old cedar trees lining the path are incredibly impressive! I highly recommend arriving early, around 7:30-8:00 AM, to experience the serene morning atmosphere. This is also the best place to buy a Goshuin-cho (stamp book), as they have the widest selection of designs here. 3. Ise Grand Shrine - Naiku (Kōtai Jingū) From Geku, I took a bus to the Naiku-mae stop for Ise Grand Shrine's Naiku (Inner Shrine). Photography is prohibited in the main sanctuary, but you can truly feel the 2,000-year-old sacred aura of the place. It's incredibly powerful. 4. Lunch Near the Shrine For lunch, we ate at Matsuya Honten Akabuku Yokochoten, a specialty shop famous for Matsusaka beef. We even tried their limited A5-grade sukiyaki set – delicious! Mid-meal, I heard some kind of shrine ceremony happening outside, so I rushed out to see. About 30 people, looking like a procession of Abe no Seimei (famous historical occultists), marched past in a grand procession. It was an unexpected and very cool sight! #ise #toba #mieprefecture #japantravel #futamiokitamashrine #meotoiwa
Posted: Jul 2, 2025
Submit
0
Mentioned in this post
Attraction

Meoto Iwa

4.5/533 reviews
Ise
Details
Show more
Related Trip Moments
Ise Shrine

⛩️ Sacred Stillness in Ise – A Soulful Walk Through Kotai Jingu

Crumpled Nomad
Ise Shrine

Ise Grand Shrine: A Sacred Journey and Japan’s Timeless Tradition

Maryyngyng1
Meoto Iwa

Meoto Iwa: A Sacred Symbol of Love and Harmony in Ise

Maryyngyng1
Meoto Iwa

Futamiokitama Shrine, Mie Prefecture

เที่ยวแล้ว เที่ยวอีก
Meoto Iwa

Pray for love with the Meoto Iwa, Mie wedding stones

เที่ยวแล้ว เที่ยวอีก
Ise Shrine

[Mie Prefecture] Ise Shrine, the spiritual home of the Japanese people

ポッカレモン
Ise Shrine

Japan's Purifying Journey: A Visit to Ise Grand Shrine

愛旅行與藝術的Winwing
Ise Shrine

Ise Grand Shrine

_TI***pu
Meoto Iwa

Ise | Futamiura Meoto Iwa, a place to pray for everlasting love.

Moutain
Geku-sando (Front Approach leading to Geku Outer Shrine)

Ise | Asora Teahouse, a local popular breakfast --- Wang Xian fast rice porridge

Moutain
Ise Shrine

Ise Jingu Shrine cleanses the soul and walks with nature and faith⛩️🌿

愛旅行與藝術的Winwing
Ise Shrine

A Stroll Through Ise Grand Shrine's Inner Shrine: Horses, Shrines, and Crystal-Clear Waters

愛旅行與藝術的Winwing