ise jingu

Breakfast was huge the next morning
 

After checking out we made our way to Ise Jingu to meet up with a tour guide

It was my first time to Ise Jingu, Satoshi’s last time here was in elementary school!

We found another Pokemon manhole cover

I loved how they decorated the shops with these flower arrangements along the Ise Geku Sando (walkway to Outer Shrine)

This was our tour guide for the next 80 minutes at Ise Jingu Geku (Outer Shrine) area, Ms Otsu

She was super patient with all the questions Satoshi had, BUT she also spoke super fast!

Trees are wrapped to protect them against people's hand oils not to protect them against the cold

For this area, you are asked to walk on the left side.

If they tell you "no photos" please abide by the rules, there were some adults not "adulting"

I was kind of annoyed by how loud and unruly some people were here

And amazed by the huge trees

From the Geku (Outer Shrine) to the Naiku (Inner Shrine) you can take a bus or taxi

I think they said it is 6 kilos (3.7 miles)?!

We didn't have much time before our next tour to take the bus, so we took a taxi...2000 yen (one way!)

After checking in with our tour, we had a little over an hour to eat something

We stood in line for Akafuku

We’ve had these before in Osaka.

These mochi are made fresh and covered with smooth sweet bean paste by hand.

They are so soft! delicious!

Perfect with hojicha...300 yen (tax included) for one serving

Then at 13:30 we met up with our next guide Mr Takeda (we think) for a 60 minute tour of the Naiku (inner shrine)

This guy spoke so fast, walked fast, and just "threw" all his info about this place at us!

For the inner shrine they ask you to walk on the right

Do not throw coins into the rivers!

The coins dirty the water and kills all the “natural” stuff in the water

By the end of the tour our brains were fried...

We were kinda starving at this point, so we had Ise Udon at Nikodo Ichirakutei

If you like pull and chew for your udon, this is not for you.

The noodles are soft soft soft, the story behind this is that people who made the pilgrimage to Ise Jingu were usually tired, these soft noodles are supposedly better for digestion after a long journey.

I had the Asama, which was lighter than the Isuzu

Satoshi had the Isuzu, his had a thick tamari sauce on them..550 yen (tax included) each

Change up the flavors with ginger and or chili

It was my first time trying this type of udon, I enjoyed it

We made our way to the hotel we would be staying at, Senpokaku, which we stayed at in 2007

They must've really renovated over the years, because we didn't really remember too much of the place.

Dinner was kaiseki.

Lots of walking, lots of info to soak in.

Satoshi said he was able to learn quite a bit today.

Akafuku Honten

26 Ujinakanokiricho

Ise, Mie

Open daily: 5:00-17:00

Nikodo Ichirakutei

19 Ujimazaikecho

Ise, Mie

Closed: Wednesdays & Thursdays

Hours: 11:00-15:00

*cash only

Senpokaku

2-12-24 Toba

Toba, Mie