Visiting Ise Shrine
A scene from the pilgrimage to the shrine. Umbrellas on heads, ladles on waists. (Ise Furuichi Sangū Kaido Museum)
"I want to go to Ise, I want to see the Ise Route, at least once in my life," is the lyrics of the Ise Ondo song about the pilgrimage to Ise. From the Edo period to the Meiji period, around 5 million people visited the shrine in some years. At the time, Japan's population was around 30 million. It was an incredibly lively event, with one in six people visiting the shrine. It took 15 days to walk from Edo, and if you also visit Nara and Kyoto, the journey could last for over a month, making it a truly once-in-a-lifetime journey. This time, we spoke with Seko Tomiyasu, director of the Ise-Furuichi Sangu Kaido Museum, who is an expert on the pilgrimage to Ise.
Mr. Tomiyasu Seko talking about the pilgrimage at the Ise Furuichi Sangū Kaido Museum
The reason behind the popularity of the 'Oshi' was the existence of the 'Oshi'. It is said that the Oshi visited villages all over the country and distributed the shrine's talismans and the Ise calendar with rice cultivation instructions to the parishioners, spreading the value and significance of Ise Grand Shrine. When parishioners from all over the country came to Ise, they treated them to lodging and lavish meals and played the role of guiding them around the shrine. In addition, each village created an organization called 'Ise Ko', which was a system for saving and raising funds for the 'Oshi', and several village members visited the shrine as representatives. "In other words, the Oshi are like the modern travel industry. Many of the Oshi in Ise were shrine priests, and it is said that there were 800 to 900 Oshi families in Ise," says Seko. It is also said that the increase in the number of worshippers was due to the 'Nukaku Mairi', which was conducted by people other than the village representatives. "Children who visit the shrine in secret from their parents or people who take time off work to visit the shrine on a whim are called nukemairi, and many of these people were teenagers. Because it was a good deed, they should not be scolded and should be rejoiced when they returned safely. Worshippers who came from all over the country carried a dipper along with a hat with the name of the place they came from written on it. The dipper served as a landmark for those making the pilgrimage, and it is said that they received help and hospitality along the way.
Looking back at history, Ise Furuichi was a cutting-edge city in fashion.
Magichi Ryokan, which is said to have been in business for over 200 years, is a nationally registered tangible cultural property.
While most of these were burned down during the Pacific War, one inn called "Amakichi" still retains its old atmosphere. "Furuichi was famous as one of Japan's three major red-light districts, alongside Yoshiwara in Edo and Shimabara in Kyoto. What set it apart from the others was that it was located on a sacred land, so the town wasn't surrounded by walls and had a free atmosphere that anyone could visit."
Graves of the courtesans Okon (left) and Magofukusai (right) from the Ise Ondo Koi Neba (Dairinji Temple, Ise-Furuichi)
Kabuki is popular in Furuichi, and "Ise Ondo Koi no Netaba," based on a real sword fight that took place in Furuichi's red-light district, is still a standard play performed at the Kabukiza and National Theater. Furuichi was also a gateway to success for Kabuki actors, and it was said that if they succeeded here, they could also be successful in Edo and Osaka. "Furuichi has produced many painters, including Ainoyama Osugi Otama, a female street performer who is said to be known to all Japanese people at the time, and Nakamura Sashu, a Japanese painter also known as "Tai no Sashu," who won first place at the 125-year-old National Painting Exhibition. It was an economic city where people gathered, and where culture and art also developed, like a corner of Paris or New York." Experience a journey through time in Furuichi, where the lingering echoes of the past bustle still remain.
A visit to Ise Shrine in the Reiwa Era will refresh your mind
"Okage Mairi" is a way of expressing gratitude for good health, prosperity in business, and safety throughout the year. This accommodation plan includes a ladle, which is a symbol of this, as a carry-around ladle for yourself.
The "pilgrimage ladle" is made from the same "Tono Hinoki" wood as the Geku Shrine of Ise Jingu, and is produced by Marujin Co., Ltd. in Aichi Prefecture using advanced round masu techniques. In addition, it is adorned with SHINJU charms, typical of Ise-Shima , making it the only ladle in the world. The reason we insisted on using a masu ladle is because masu have been sacred objects that have acted as gods since ancient times, and it is said that the power of the gods resides within them. SHINJU have also been revered as a special entity that connects gods and people.
Be sure to take the auspicious "pilgrimage ladle" with you when you go to pray and take home lots of good fortune.
Gratitude Visit Accommodation Plan
| Sales Period | From Thursday, December 1, 2022 (limited to 50 rooms) |
|---|---|
| Rates | the CLASSIC ¥45,500~ the BAY SUITES ¥61,500~ *For 2 people in 1 room, 1 night stay with breakfast and dinner included |
| Benefit | Hotel original "pilgrimage ladle" (one per room) Kashikojima Hojoen day spa admission ticket (1 per person) |
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Shima Kanko Hotel quarterly magazine "Shima Time"
The Ise-Shima region changes its appearance little by little with the gentle passage of time, providing us with the flavors and colors of each season.
As the seasons change, Shima Kanko Hotel quarterly magazine, "Shima Time," introduces the four seasons of Ise-Shima through the local culture and abundant nature.
