伊勢 (Ise)
Ok, ok. I've been away for very long this time. Anyway, going back to business...
Going a little back in time, from November 29th to 30th I went with the iAT group to Ise.
The main attraction was also the first one: Ise Jingu, Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine enshrining Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. This shrine is also mentioned in many quotes and books, including Eiji Yoshikawa's "Musashi". No, no pictures are allowed close to that area, although it is allowed in most parts of the shrine. And given the amount of people there I wouldn't dare to take a snapshot.
Another thing Ise Jingu is famous for is that it is rebuilt every 20 years as a part of the Shinto belief of the death and renewal of nature; so the structures will be forever new and at the same time forever ancient. According to Wikipedia, the next reconstruction is due in 2013.
Although all that importance, the shrine itself has an interesting simplicity. Interesting reminder that something doesn't need to be fancy to be important.
Also, during the trip we stayed in a ryokan (sort of hotel) close to Meoto Iwa, or Husband-and-Wife Rocks. It is basically two rocks connected by a rope that weights over a ton and has a important meaning in Shinto belief as well. An interesting sight, especially since my parents had a framed picture of the place and I always wondered about where it was.
Too bad I wasn't there on the best times to see it. It wasn't summer, so I missed the sunrise between the rocks; and the tide wasn't low to see the rocks connected. I could take some nice night pics, but after seeing on the net one with the moon on the back, mine aren't so nice anymore...
On the next day, still sround the same region we went to Toba. Although the main attraction of the city is probably the Aquarium, as the weather was very nice most people decided to take a boat cruise. And it was fun, especially when we were throwing food to seagulls nearby and got many of them trying to follow the boat eventually.
The last stop was an observatory from where we could see the Toba and other areas of the Shima Peninsula. And after that, we went back to Kyoto... very tired and with one more famous spot in Japan visited.
For those who want to see more pics, check my Picasa album.
Going a little back in time, from November 29th to 30th I went with the iAT group to Ise.
The main attraction was also the first one: Ise Jingu, Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine enshrining Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. This shrine is also mentioned in many quotes and books, including Eiji Yoshikawa's "Musashi". No, no pictures are allowed close to that area, although it is allowed in most parts of the shrine. And given the amount of people there I wouldn't dare to take a snapshot.
Another thing Ise Jingu is famous for is that it is rebuilt every 20 years as a part of the Shinto belief of the death and renewal of nature; so the structures will be forever new and at the same time forever ancient. According to Wikipedia, the next reconstruction is due in 2013.
Although all that importance, the shrine itself has an interesting simplicity. Interesting reminder that something doesn't need to be fancy to be important.
Also, during the trip we stayed in a ryokan (sort of hotel) close to Meoto Iwa, or Husband-and-Wife Rocks. It is basically two rocks connected by a rope that weights over a ton and has a important meaning in Shinto belief as well. An interesting sight, especially since my parents had a framed picture of the place and I always wondered about where it was.
Too bad I wasn't there on the best times to see it. It wasn't summer, so I missed the sunrise between the rocks; and the tide wasn't low to see the rocks connected. I could take some nice night pics, but after seeing on the net one with the moon on the back, mine aren't so nice anymore...
On the next day, still sround the same region we went to Toba. Although the main attraction of the city is probably the Aquarium, as the weather was very nice most people decided to take a boat cruise. And it was fun, especially when we were throwing food to seagulls nearby and got many of them trying to follow the boat eventually.
The last stop was an observatory from where we could see the Toba and other areas of the Shima Peninsula. And after that, we went back to Kyoto... very tired and with one more famous spot in Japan visited.
For those who want to see more pics, check my Picasa album.
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