The Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu, known in Japanese as Naiku, is one of the most sacred sites in Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion. Located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, it enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and one of the most important deities in Japanese mythology. The sacred object housed within the shrine is the Yata no Kagami, the Sacred Mirror, one of the Three Imperial Regalia of Japan.
Situated beside the Isuzu River at the foot of Mount Kamiji, Naiku is surrounded by dense, ancient forests that create a profound sense of peace and spirituality. The approach to the shrine is covered with gravel, and the quiet paths beneath towering trees offer visitors a chance to experience the atmosphere of one of Japan’s most revered religious destinations.
One of the shrine’s most remarkable traditions is the Shikinen Sengu, a ceremony in which the shrine’s buildings and sacred objects are renewed according to an approximately 20-year cycle. This tradition has continued for more than 1,300 years, preserving ancient architectural techniques and religious customs across generations.
The formal name of Naiku is Kotaijingu. Together with Toyouke Daijingu, commonly known as Geku or the Outer Shrine, it forms the spiritual center of Ise Jingu. Kotaijingu is officially recognized as a major shrine in Japan’s historical system of Shinto shrines.
The shrine holds a special place in Japanese religious life. The Jingu Taima, a sacred talisman distributed through Shinto shrines throughout Japan, originates from Kotaijingu. This tradition connects households across the country with the worship of Amaterasu Omikami.
When visiting multiple Shinto shrines, worshippers commonly pay their respects at shrines in order of religious standing. At Ise Jingu, however, an established tradition known as Geku-sen-sai gives precedence to the Outer Shrine in the performance of religious ceremonies. For this reason, visitors are traditionally encouraged to worship at Geku before proceeding to Naiku.
Some major ceremonies follow different prescribed orders. During the Shikinen Sengu relocation ceremony, the transfer of the sacred object takes place first at Naiku and then at Geku, while offerings of sacred cloth and other items are presented first at Geku and then at Naiku.
Naiku also has a special role in imperial traditions. When members of the Imperial Family marry, it is customary for them to make a formal visit to Ise Jingu as part of their post-wedding observances.
Naiku includes several subsidiary shrines, known as betsugu, within and beyond its main precincts. The two located within the grounds are Aramatsuri-no-Miya and Kazahinomi-no-Miya. Other important associated shrines include Tsukiyomi-no-Miya, Takihara-no-Miya, and Izawa-no-Miya.
The wider shrine complex also encompasses numerous auxiliary shrines and associated sanctuaries. These include 27 subsidiary shrines containing 33 enshrined deities, 16 subordinate shrines containing 16 deities, and 30 administratively affiliated shrines containing 30 deities. Together, these sites form an extensive network of sacred places connected with the worship and traditions of Ise Jingu.
The main sanctuary of Naiku is protected by four layers of sacred fences, arranged from the outside inward as Itagaki, Soto-tamagaki, Uchi-tamagaki, and Mizugaki. Gates on the northern and southern sides are accompanied by guard buildings, and Shinto priests maintain the grounds and protect the sacred precincts through a system of continuous duty.
The shrine’s architectural style emphasizes simplicity, natural materials, and the preservation of ancient Japanese building traditions. Visitors cannot freely enter the innermost sacred areas, which remain reserved for religious observances and authorized personnel.
The nearest railway station is Isuzugawa Station on the Kintetsu Toba Line. Near the main entrance, the traditional approach streets of Oharaimachi and Okage Yokocho offer shops, restaurants, and historic streetscapes that make the area one of Ise’s best-known tourist destinations.
The principal deity of Kotaijingu is Amaterasu Omikami, also known as Amaterasu Sume Omikami. She is the sun goddess and a central figure in Japanese mythology. The Yata no Kagami, one of the Three Imperial Regalia, serves as her sacred object.
Two additional deities are enshrined alongside the principal deity: Ame-no-Tajikarao-no-Kami, associated with physical strength, and Yorozuhata Toyoakitsuhime-no-Mikoto. According to shrine tradition, a bow is associated with the former deity and a sword with the latter.
According to the Nihon Shoki, one of Japan’s oldest historical chronicles, Amaterasu Omikami was originally worshipped within the Imperial Palace. During the sixth year of Emperor Sujin’s reign, traditionally dated to ancient Japan, her worship was transferred to Kasanui-no-Mura, where Princess Toyosukiirihime-no-Mikoto served her.
Later, in the 25th year of Emperor Suinin’s reign, Princess Yamatohime-no-Mikoto succeeded her predecessor. As the deity’s sacred attendant, she traveled through various regions in search of a suitable permanent place for worship.
In the 26th year of Emperor Suinin’s reign, Princess Yamatohime-no-Mikoto arrived in Ise Province. According to tradition, she received a divine revelation from Amaterasu expressing a desire to remain in this beautiful land, where the waves of eternity return again and again. In response, the princess established a sanctuary along the upper reaches of the Isuzu River. This is regarded as the origin of Kotaijingu.
The medieval text Yamatohime-no-Mikoto Seiki, believed to have been compiled in the early Kamakura period, describes the route taken by the goddess’s worship through various regions. Places where the deity was temporarily enshrined before reaching Ise are known as Moto-Ise, meaning former or original sites of Ise worship.
One theory suggests that the present location was chosen partly because the surrounding river terraces offered greater protection from flooding than the low-lying wetlands elsewhere in the region.
Until the Meiji era, Buddhist monks were not permitted to approach the main sanctuary directly. Instead, they worshipped from a designated area across the river known as the Buddhist clergy worship site. The celebrated poet and Buddhist monk Saigyo is said to have prayed there and been moved to tears by the experience.
For generations, the Arakida family held hereditary positions as shrine officials. This system was abolished following the Meiji Restoration, when Japan’s religious institutions underwent major administrative changes.
On July 29, 1945, during an air raid on Ujiyamada near the end of World War II, the city suffered extensive destruction, but Naiku escaped damage. Shrine priests reportedly wept with emotion at what they regarded as a manifestation of the deity’s divine protection.
After World War II, women from former branches of the Imperial Family have served successively as the shrine’s chief ritual officiants, known as saishu.
Beyond the main sanctuary, Naiku’s grounds contain Aramatsuri-no-Miya and Kazahinomi-no-Miya, as well as several affiliated shrines, including Takimatsuri-no-Kami, Mishine-no-Mikura, Yuki-no-Mikura, and Yotsuji-no-Kami.
Near the eastern side of Uji Bridge stand Oyamazumi Shrine and Koyasu Shrine. On a nearby hill is the headquarters of the Jingu Administration Office, which oversees religious ceremonies and the administrative affairs of Ise Jingu.
The area of Naiku’s sacred grounds is approximately ten times that of Geku. Unlike the Outer Shrine, where visitors keep to the left, the customary walking direction at Naiku is on the right side of the approach.
Other important buildings include Imibiya-den, where sacred offerings are prepared using purified fire; Onie-cho-sha, where rituals related to preparing food offerings for the main sanctuary take place; Gaiheiten, which stores certain sacred treasures; and Gojoden, used for ceremonies including the remote worship of associated shrines.
The grounds also include a purification residence where the chief ritual officiant and shrine priests undergo ritual cleansing, a lodging facility reserved for the Emperor during official visits, and stables for sacred horses donated by members of the Imperial Family.
Kagura-den is a facility where visitors can request private Shinto ceremonies featuring sacred music and dance known as kagura. Following the ceremony, participants may take part in naorai, a traditional communal meal associated with religious offerings, at the designated dining facility.
The distribution office at Kagura-den also handles requests for ceremonies and provides sacred talismans, protective amulets, the Jingu calendar, and goshuin, the traditional calligraphic seals collected by shrine visitors.
At Sanshuden, a gathering and rest facility for worshippers, visitors can relax and enjoy tea or other refreshments. Commemorative items associated with a visit to Ise may also be available.
The main sanctuary of Naiku stands on elevated ground reached by a flight of stone steps. Photography is permitted only up to the foot of these steps, preserving the privacy and sanctity of the innermost worship area.
Near the steps is Shiobashi, associated with the ritual transport of sacred salt. The salt is prepared at Mishiodono Shrine and used in religious ceremonies, including those involving abalone offerings.
The sanctuary is enclosed by the same four layers of sacred fences that protect its boundaries. Its roof is thatched and decorated with distinctive crossed roof beams known as chigi, as well as decorative billets called katsuogi. The chigi ends are cut horizontally, a style traditionally known as otoko-chigi.
Although the exterior appears restrained and understated, the sanctuary reflects highly refined traditional craftsmanship. Mature pine and cedar trees surround the sacred precincts, while sacred trees stand near the innermost fence. The main sanctuary’s roof features six katsuogi.
Tradition also associates the area behind the main sanctuary with the former tomb of Princess Yamatohime-no-Mikoto. Today, Yamatohime-no-Miya, a separate shrine dedicated to her spirit, stands elsewhere within the Ise Jingu network.
Ise Jingu Naiku offers visitors an opportunity to encounter the foundations of Japanese Shinto through its ancient traditions, sacred architecture, and forested landscape. From the worship of Amaterasu Omikami to the centuries-old renewal of the shrine buildings, every aspect of the site reflects the continuity of Japan’s spiritual heritage.
A visit to Naiku is also an opportunity to explore the historic streets of Oharaimachi and Okage Yokocho, sample local Ise specialties, and discover why Ise has remained one of Japan’s most important destinations for pilgrimage and cultural travel.
January - April 5:00 - 18:00
May-August: 5:00-19:00
September: 5:00 - 18:00
October - December: 5:00 - 17:00
Open all year round
15 minutes by bus from Ise-shi Station
Take the Soten-Naiku circulation bus from Kintetsu/JR Ise-shi Station or Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station/Isuzugawa Station and get off at “Naiku-mae” stop.
5 min. drive from Ise Nishi IC *5 min. drive toward Uchikyu after getting off at Ise Nishi IC on Ise Expressway