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Japan 2016 – Day 5 Ise Jingu and sushi restaurant

Road trip to Ise Jingu

On Day 5 of my journey, me and Azusa’s family went on a trip to the biggest, most important Shinto shrine complex in Japan, called Ise Jingu. It was a fun trip in the car with a lot of nice views of mountanis and a themepark near the river of Nagoya with the steepest rollercoaster in the world. On our way to the temple complex and back, we ate all kinds of delicious snacks, such as green tea ice cream and takoyaki.

Ise Jingu

When we arrive at Ise Jingu, the first thing we did was walking through the gate (torii). This torii was made of rough wood. I find that in Shinto, the use of natural materials is quite important. In Ise Jingu, there is a beautiful forest full of ancient sky high trees. These trees were seen as sacred in earlier times.

Me at Ise Jingu, in front of a torii.
Me at Ise Jingu, in front of a torii.

 

Kotajingu and Toyoukedaijingu

Ise Jingu has a totally of 125 jinja (shrines).

Jinja at Ise Jingu with banners of the flowery symbol of the current Emperor of Japan.
Jinja at Ise Jingu with banners of the flowery symbol of the current Emperor of Japan.

The two most important shrines are called jingu. Ise Jingu has two important jingu: Kotaijingu and Toyoukefaijingu. Kotajingu is dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, who is the great great …. great grandmother of the Emperor of Japan. A divine palace is built in her honour. Japan knows 3 Holy Symbols which approve and strengthen the power of the Emperor. One of them is a mirror. And this mirror is enshrined in Kotajingu.
Toyoukedaijingu is dedicated to Toyouke-no-Okami.Amaterasu-Okami predicted that this kami would be summoned about 1500 years ago and it was enshrined in Toyoukedaijingu. Toyoukedaijingu provides companionship and sacred foods to Amaterasu-Okami and she is also worshipped to get an abundant harvest.

The shopping street near Ise Jingu

After visiting the shrines, we went to the large shopping street near Ise Jingu. It looked really old fashioned and pretty. It had a very Japanese and ancient atmosphere. We tried some candy and local specialities. I was lucky, because I was treated to Ise Udon (a thick noodle local speciality and delicacy) and hot cocoa afterwards! We watched taiko drummers play, which was awesome.
Underneath, you will find pictures of the shopping street.

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2iseudon
Ise Udon restaurant
A shop with a sign board of O-Fuku-san
A shop with a sign board of O-Fuku-san
4oshougatsukazari
A Shimekazari, an ornament which keeps the bad spirits out of the house. This ornament is attached to people’s doors at o-Shougatsu, or New Year’s Day (January the 1st).

6winkelstraata

Sushi restaurant

For some reason, I can’t find the picture I took in this restaurant right now! But anyways, it was a conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Nagoya and we could order specific sushi with the use of an iPad. It was delicious and abundant and afterwards I felt like I had to buy new pants, because I ate so much.

Day 6 Nagoya – Kimono, Atsuta Jingu, hot pot and dango

About Kimono, Atsuta Jingu and other Jingus and nabe (hot pot)

In Japan you can find Buddhist temples, called o’tera(お寺). And often, at the same terrain, you can find jinja (神社), or Shinto shrines. The three largest Shinto shrines of Japan are called jingu (神宮 ). Jingu are the most important Shinto shrines of Japan (What is Shinto? I will write a blog about that later on) and are connected to the Japanese Imperial Family. During this trip to Japan, I visited 3 of them, namely Meiji Jingu, Atsuta Jingu and Ise Jingu.

On day 6 of my trip, Azusa’s aunt dressed us up in kimono. I wore a pink one and Azusa wore a purple one. I am fond of the esthetics of kimono and I really liked those kimono. We wore spring kimono with a warm scarf. We also had kimono coats, but you can’t see them in the pictures. With the right hairdo, we were ready to go to Atsuta Jingu. This Shinto shrine is located in the same place where Azusa lives (Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture).

Azusa’s sister and her children went along with us. We walked around in kimono and we took a lot of pictures.

Azusa and Natasja closeup kimono Atsuta Jingu
Azusa and Natasja closeup kimono Atsuta Jingu

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