Mie 1-Day Trip: Ise Jingu Shrine & the Wedded Rocks You Must Visit Once

Explore Mie, a prefecture in the Kansai region and a sacred land full of cultural and natural charm. It is home to Ise Jingu, a shrine deeply revered by the Japanese and one of the places worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

There are also the Wedded Rocks, also known as the "Lovers' Rocks," standing tall by Ise Bay. Many people visit to pray for love and relationships, and few travelers want to miss them.

This trip covers a full day in Mie, with a complete plan from start to finish, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner spots, plus shopping stops you shouldn't miss. So get ready, and let's set off to discover the charm of Mie.

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1-Day Trip Itinerary: Round Trip from Nagoya

★ 8:30 Breakfast at Nikko Style Nagoya Hotel

Since the hotel serves breakfast, it's worth eating there before heading out — it's quick, convenient, and saves you hunting for somewhere to eat.

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NVhTaJk5fRVhvs6f8

★ 10:40 - 11:40 Visit and pay respects at Ise Jingu Geku, the Outer Sanctuary

Ise Jingu Geku, the Outer Shrine, is one of Japan's most important shrines, located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture. It is dedicated to Toyouke Omikami, the deity of agriculture, food, and daily necessities, who serves the goddess Amaterasu enshrined in the Inner Sanctuary.

By Japanese custom, visitors should start worship at the Outer Sanctuary (Geku) first to show respect to the guardian deity, then continue on to the Inner Sanctuary (Naiku).

・Access: Walk from the hotel to Kintetsu Nagoya Station (11 minutes, about 700m). Take the Kintetsu Limited Express at 9:10 to Iseshi Station (about 1 hour 20 minutes), then walk from the station to Ise Jingu Geku (9 minutes, about 600m).

・Cost: About ¥3,080

・Hours: Open daily 5:00 - 17:00

・Admission: Free

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E88ewdebQy32Dc729

★ 12:00 - 13:30 Take the bus to Ise Jingu Naiku, the Inner Sanctuary

Ise Jingu Naiku, the Inner Sanctuary, is the most sacred and important shrine in Japan, revered as the spiritual heart of the Japanese people for over two thousand years. It enshrines Amaterasu, the sun goddess considered the ancestor of the Japanese imperial family, who gives light and abundance to the world.
Before entering Naiku, visitors must cross Uji Bridge, a large wooden bridge spanning the Isuzu River, which is seen as the boundary between the human world and the realm of the gods. Visitors can purify their hands and mind by the river as is customary, before continuing to the main shrine. Although the inner hall is not open to view, the grounds still feel solemn and deeply sacred.
Access

・Access: Walk to bus stop No. 2, Geku Mae (外宮前), and take the Geku-Naiku bus to Naiku Mae (内宮前) stop (about 16 minutes), then walk to Ise Jingu Naiku (11 minutes, about 800m).

・Cost: ¥520

・Hours: Open daily 5:00 - 17:00

・Admission: Free

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ke6dCkP9Gd9SsbAN8

★ 13:50 - 15:00 Lunch at Ebiya Large Cafeteria

This legendary restaurant sits on Oharaimachi, the shopping street near the entrance to Ise Jingu Naiku. It has a history of over 100 years and is a spot many travelers mark as a must-visit when they come to Mie.

It brings together the famous dishes of Mie Prefecture in one place, using premium local ingredients such as Matsusaka beef, Ise lobster, abalone, and Ise udon, served in generous sets that deliver on both quality and quantity.

Another highlight is the free soup bar with three types of soup available for unlimited refills, which rounds out the meal nicely. It is a restaurant not to be missed.

・Access: Walk from Ise Jingu to Ebiya Large Cafeteria (11 minutes, about 850m).

・Hours: Open daily 11:00 - 16:00

・Price: ¥2,000 - 4,000

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/at5D8dCxREBp7DGB7

★ 15:10 - 16:10 Walk and Shop Along the Retro Okage Yokocho Street

Okage Yokocho is a traditional shopping district on Oharaimachi Street, built to recreate the atmosphere of a shrine town from the late Edo to early Meiji periods. It is lined with old wooden buildings, creating an old-town charm that's enjoyable to walk through and photograph.

Within the district, there are also beckoning cat figures and cat-themed artwork hidden around different spots, making them fun to hunt for. On some days there are also taiko drum performances in the central square, creating a lively traditional Japanese atmosphere.

Famous foods not to miss include red bean mochi, Ise udon, Matsusaka beef croquettes, soy-marinated bonito sushi, and kamaboko fried fish cakes. It's a spot where you can eat, sightsee, and take photos all in one place.

・Access: Continue walking from Ebiya Large Cafeteria

・Hours: Most shops open 9:30 - 17:00

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nmWiCDruQDBTrxmT6

★ 17:00 - 17:50 Enjoy the Evening View at the Wedded Rocks of Ise Bay (Meoto Iwa)

Meoto Iwa, also known as the "Wedded Rocks" or "Lovers' Rocks," is an important landmark of Ise City, Mie Prefecture, and a symbol of love and marriage.

The two rocks stand in the sea near the coast. The larger rock represents the husband and the smaller one represents the wife, connected by a sacred shimenawa rope, symbolizing a bond of love that never breaks.

Nearby is also Futami Okitama Shrine, another sacred spot popular for wishes related to love, marriage, and safe travels.

・Access: Walk from Okage Yokocho to bus stop No. 1, Naiku Mae (内宮前), and take the CAN Bus at 16:17 (buses run every hour, more frequently on weekends) to Meotoiwa Higashi-guchi stop (about 30 minutes), then walk to the Wedded Rocks (7 minutes, about 550m).

・Cost: ¥850

・Hours: Open 24 hours

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZSfPZjhfHXj7egGVA

★ 18:05 - 19:00 Dinner at Shofuken

Shofuken is a long-established Japanese restaurant in the Futami area that has been open for over 60 years. It stands out for using fresh ingredients from Ise to prepare simple yet high-quality local dishes.

The most popular menu item is the "Ise-Shima Set," which brings together the best of Mie Prefecture: thick, soft Ise udon topped with rich soy sauce, and rice topped with soy-marinated bonito for a well-balanced flavor.

There is also a set with large fried shrimp, crispy outside and tender inside, plus other seafood dishes such as grilled scallops, grilled giant asari clams, and tuna rice bowls, for a satisfying meal. It's a great stop for a meal after exploring Futami.

・Access: Walk from the Wedded Rocks to Shofuken (15 minutes, about 1.1km).

・Hours: 12:00 - 20:00 (closed Tuesdays)

・Price: ¥1,000 - 2,000

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/T4Uqk6rtuvywijCx7

★ 21:30 - 22:30 Return to Nagoya, Shopping Stop at Don Quijote Sakae Honten

If you still have energy left, it's worth a shopping stop before heading back to the hotel at Don Quijote, a major shopping landmark in the Sakae area with a wide range of products, from food and daily necessities to fashion and brand-name goods.

The store also offers tax-free service for tourists, perfect for ending the day browsing to your heart's content in Nagoya's night-time buzz.

Click to see the special Don Quijote discount coupon >> https://www.talonjapan.com/coupon/don-quijote-coupon/

Access
・Access: Walk from Shofuken to JR Futaminoura Station (7 minutes, about 450m). Take the Rapid Mie train at 19:26 to Nagoya Station (about 1 hour 43 minutes), then transfer to the Higashiyama Subway Line to Sakae Station, and walk to Don Quijote (3 minutes, about 270m).

・Cost: ¥2,750

・Hours: Open 24 hours

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2oEsF4bLBbqemXtT9

・Access: Walk from Don Quijote to the hotel (21 minutes, about 1.5km) / Walk from Don Quijote to Hisayaodori Subway Station (10 minutes, about 600m), take the Sakuradori Line to Kokusai Center Station, and walk to the hotel (8 minutes, about 400m).

・Cost: ¥210

・MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NVhTaJk5fRVhvs6f8

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Cost Summary (Approximate Price per Person)

Accommodation: ¥15,000 / night

Food: ¥6,000

Transportation: ¥7,410

Total: ¥28,410