July 24, 2006

Trippin'

So despite the best efforts of a comfy bed, we managed to get up super early (ok so about 10.30) and headed out for a day trip.

About an hour and a half away is one of Japan's most famous Shrines, Ise Jingu. So we bought our tickets, hopped on and whiled away the hour by playing Mario Kart.

Well we thought we'd bought our tickets!

First I bought us a ticket for the wrong stop, but luckily it was the same price so it wasn't a huge deal. Then we got to the station and the machine wouldn't accept our tickets. Showed them to the attendant who proceded to ask us for our tickets. He obviously got too scared by our confused looks and told us to just go ahead.

It was only after we'd left the station that we realised that we'd only bought seats for our train journey not the tickets themselves! Damn Gaijin.

Anyhoo, constantly looking over my shoulder for the police coming to arrest the renegade foreigners we headed for the Outer Shrine, which is in the town itself. Nestled at the entrance to a sacred wood, the shrine itself is hidden from view by large walls and trees, but you can see the golden tips of the roof glinting through the trees.

Although a little unimpressed by the Outer Shrine, we hopped on a bus and headed to the Inner Shrine, deeper in the forest and set on the river. This is where most of the photos are from.


The inner shrine, again is off limits to non-royal family members, but houses one of Japan's three sacred treasures, A Sacred Mirror. But Dave and I were again reduced to craning our necks along with all the other tourist to try and get a small glimpse.

The area itself was beautiful, quiet and so peaceful despite the crowds. Quite the remedy to Saturday night's over-indulgence.

Leave a Comment

< Back