Ise
Ise is home to Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan's most famous Shinto shrines, set in cedar forest, with old streets and the Ise-Shima coast close by.
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Ise is a city on the Pacific coast of Mie Prefecture, in central Honshu. Most visitors come for Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu), a shrine complex with two main sites: the Inner Shrine, Naiku, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the Outer Shrine, Geku. Both are rebuilt in the same style every 20 years, a cycle more than a thousand years old. You walk to the halls through cedar groves, and the approach streets of Oharai-machi and Okage Yokocho add old shops and local snacks.
Ise suits a short, unhurried trip. One or two days in town covers the shrines and the old streets, and a day trip to Toba and the Ise-Shima coast adds bay views and seafood, including Ise lobster. Spring and autumn are the mildest seasons and the most comfortable for walking the grounds. Avoid New Year, when the shrines draw very large crowds. Plan two nights if you want time at both the shrines and the coast.
Ise in five
- Take the Kintetsu line to Ise-shi stationIse-shi station on the Kintetsu line is the main rail gateway to Ise, and buses to the shrine areas leave from there. Check the bus stop for your destination before you walk out of the station.Getting around
- Get an eSIM before you landTrains, bus stops and the shrine approaches are much easier with live maps. Set up an eSIM or pocket Wi-Fi before arrival, not at the station.Phones and eSIM
- Carry yen for the small shopsSome food stalls and small shops on Okage Yokocho take only cash. Get yen from a convenience store or post office ATM before you walk to the shrine.Money and costs
- Rinse at the basin before the shrine gateAt the temizuya basin by the approach, rinse your left hand, then your right, then your mouth, and bow at the torii before you walk in. Walk along the sides of the approach path, not down the middle.
- Stay overnight for the shrine at dawnThe grounds of Naiku are quiet early in the morning, before the day's visitors arrive. Book a room near Ise-shi station or Oharai-machi for an early walk.Where to stay
Need to know
- Currency
- Yen (JPY)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; visa needed for others Read more
- Emergency
- 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+9, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCold, plum season
- MarchMild, spring
- AprilMild, pleasant
- MayGolden Week
- JuneRainy season
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHot, typhoon risk
- SeptemberTyphoon risk
- OctoberMild, dry
- NovemberAutumn color
- DecemberCool, quiet
Right now in Ise
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 69%
- Wind
- 32 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Ise
07:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today21°13°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 21°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed19°12°72%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 72%.
- Thu18°14°82%Thursday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Fri22°13°4%Friday: Fog. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat15°10°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun14°9°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Mon16°9°5%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 05:05 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarHōnen MatsuriNagoya, a day trip
- MayTado FestivalNagoya, a day trip
- JulOwari Tsushima Tennō FestivalNagoya, a day trip
- AugIshidori MatsuriNagoya, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Tobaabout 20 to 30 min by trainA coastal town with ferries and an aquarium, an easy half-day trip.
- Nagoyaabout 2 hours by trainA large city with a major rail hub, a good base for a longer Japan route.
- Osakaabout 2 hours by trainA large city for food and nightlife, reached on the same Kintetsu line.
Before you go to Ise
Rules for Ise, checked
- Many nationalities need no visa for short tourist stays. Check your entry rules on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site before you book.Source
- Declare cash and certain goods on the customs form at arrival. Check the current limits on the Japan Customs site before you fly.Source
- Some common medicines are banned or need an import certificate in Japan. Check your medicine with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare before you pack it.Source
Plan around Ise
Regions, entry rules and transport for a Japan trip
Read the guideGetting aroundRail and bus links from Nagoya and Osaka to Ise
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices in Japan
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to check before flying
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in Ise and nearby towns
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData for trains, buses and offline maps
Read the guideIse FAQ
How many days do you need in Ise?
One full day covers the inner and outer shrines and the old street. Stay two nights if you want the shrines at dawn and a day trip to Toba.
Is Ise worth visiting?
Yes if you want Ise Jingu, which is rebuilt every 20 years in the same style, and a seafood-focused coastal area. Skip it if you want big-city nightlife, since the town is quiet in the evenings.
How do you get to Ise from Nagoya or Osaka?
Take a Kintetsu limited express train to Ise-shi station, a trip of about two hours from either city. Buses run from the station to the shrine areas.
When is the best time to visit Ise?
Spring and autumn are the mildest seasons. June to September bring the rainy season and typhoon risk, and Golden Week in early May brings crowds.
What is Okage Yokocho?
It is a street of old-style shops and food stalls on the approach to Ise Jingu. It is a good place to try Ise-ebi, the local spiny lobster, and Akafuku mochi.
Is Ise walkable?
The old street and the shrine approaches are walkable. Buses link the station with the shrine areas, so use them for the longer rides.