Saturday, May 7, 2011

Ise Shrine

My home town called shima-city in Mie Preficture is located in the southern Honshu, Japan. It is about about 2.5 hours from Osaka by train. Ise Shrine is an important Shinto Shrine located in about 20 miles form my home town.  It has been designated a National Treasure by the Japanese government.  Amaterasu-Oomikami, a god described in Japanese myth was enshrined in the shrine.  The People from all over Japan come to the shrine to pray for a happiness and a healthy year.  People can visit there all year around but the New Years day is the busiest because the first visit of shrine or temple at New Year called "Hastumoude" is one of our important religious event. I also like to visit "Okage Yokocho" next to the shrine grounds where it feels time slipped back to Edo period around 1700s.  I love to eat Japanese traditional sweets there!!

1 comment:

  1. Your home town looks really pretty. Also, that kind of church or temple looks beautiful. I am not really a religious person. However, I think that religion is an important part of the human history and it is great to know a little bit of religion in Japan.

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