1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Ise’s Sacred Shrines and Captivating Coastlines

Discover the spiritual heart of Japan on a 1-day journey from Nagoya to Ise. 

On this small group tour, you will walk beneath the towering cypress groves of Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu), stand before the iconic wedded rocks of Meoto Iwa, have a chance to savor regional flavors, and explore Mikimoto Pearl Island, where you can witness traditional Ama divers in action. 

Marvel at the natural beauty Ise and refresh your body and soul as you are led by a professional, guide with round-trip transportation from Nagoya.

Highlights

• View Japan’s most sacred shrine, the Ise Grand Shrine (Ise-Jingu).
• Marvel at the natural beauty of Ise Bay as we gaze upon Meoto Iwa.
• Taste local specialties such as spiny lobster, fried oysters, or Ise Udon.
• Learn about the female Ama sea divers and witness them harvesting pearls.
• Stroll along the banks of the Isuzu River, and bask in the seasonal beauty of the flowers and foliage. 

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below.

Review

Description

This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station or load it onto our tour bus if you feel the need.

Your guide will provide you with a brief history of the region and set the scene as we depart Nagoya JR Station via our tour bus toward our first destination, Ise Grand Shrine. 

Your guide will lead you through the expansive grounds and towering cypress groves of Ise-Jingu, providing insights into Shintoism, the history of the shrine, and the proper actions to take as we make our way to the Inner Shrine.

More than 1,500 rituals are conducted at Ise Shrine every year to pray for everything from the prosperity of the Imperial family to a successful harvest. So there is a good chance that you might get to witness a ritual for yourself.

After paying our respects, we will stop for lunch at a shopping street full of restaurants and shops constructed in a traditional Japanese style of architecture giving the feeling of shopping at merchant houses from the Edo period. The street is home to many well-known restaurants serving up local dishes, craft beer, and Instagramable desserts. We highly recommend the Ise Udon or fried oysters.  

After sampling the local fare, you’ll have plenty of time to shop for souvenirs or take a stroll along the banks of the Isuzu River before meeting back up with your guide and boarding the tour bus for our next stop, Mikimoto Pearl Island.

Mikimoto Pearl Island is located in the beautiful Toba Bay. The island is where Kokichi Mikimoto achieved the world's first successful cultured pearl in 1893. Today, Mikimoto is the world's leading brand for pearls and prides themselves on their sustainable pearl harvesting methods.

Your guide will lead you through the island sharing how pearls are formed, harvested, and turned into jewelry, beauty products, and more. You will even learn how to tell for yourself if pearls are real or fake!

During your exploration of the island, you will learn how Ama sea divers were harvesting oysters and practicing sustainable fishing in the region long before Mikimoto cultured his first pearl. Today, Mikimoto employs these divers to harvest their pearls, not only for the Ama's skills and expertise, but also to preserve this tradition.

You will have the unique opportunity to watch these divers in action during a live demonstration. Please note that the Ama demonstration may be canceled due to weather.

After seeing the Ama dive for oysters, we will continue our journey along the coast to one of Ise's most iconic shrines.

Our final stop of the tour is Meoto Iwa and Futami-Okitama Shrine. These wedded rocks are another important Shinto location and an excellent spot for photos. If you’re lucky, we may even catch the silhouette of Mt.Fuji in the distance.

The Futami-Okitama Shrine is a quirky shrine full of frog statues. These auspicious symbols associated with the shrine will hopefully bring you luck as you draw your fortune (omikuji). Your guide will help you translate your fortune and instruct you on how to avoid bad luck if you’ve drawn a bad fortune.

From here, we will return to Nagoya station via our tour bus and say our goodbyes there. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations or instructions back to your hotel.

Meetup Points

NAGOYA STATION @ 9:00

The meetup point is at the base of the SILVER clock tower outside of the Shinkansen gates. 

If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the clock tower should be located directly in front of you as you exit the gate.

If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the Sakura-Dori gate (the side with the gold clock). In this case, please walk straight through the station towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.

You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We highly recommend arriving early as Nagoya station can be quite crowded. 

Notes

Included

• (Your choice of) English or Chinese speaking guide
• Transportation during the tour
• Omikuji (lucky fortune) at Futami-Okitama Shrine
• Entry fees at all tour locations

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Transportation to/from Nagoya Station

Other Information

• The Ama demonstration may be canceled due to the weather.
• This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
• In the summer, temperature highs are around 35 °C (95 °F) and above with extreme humidity. We recommend wearing something light and airy while minding sunburn and heatstroke. A parasol is highly encouraged.
• Winter temperatures around Nagoya/Ise average between 0℃-10℃ (32°F-50°F). Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for cold conditions.
• There will be free time along the way for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.