Ise
A quaint coastal town on the tip of the Kii peninsula in Mie Prefecture, Ise has been welcoming pilgrims to pay their respects at Japan’s holiest shrine for centuries. Local culture is characterized by a deep sense of empathy and respect, from the easily digestible udon catering to weary pilgrims to the heavy shimenawa ropes that hang in front of doorways marking each home as a sacred space. Ise ShrineIse shrine is the geographical and spiritual heart of Ise, making up around a fifth of its total area. It’s the most sacred Shinto site in Japan and is considered a spiritual place. Walking in si...