Ise Shrine

The Ise Shrine is built in a forest of cryptomeria trees next to the Isuzu River at the foot of Mount Kamiji and Mount Shimaji in the Mie Prefecture in southern Honshu, Japan.

The shrine consists of:
The Inner Shrine (Naiku) also known as the imperial shrine (Kotai Jingu) devoted to the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, and the Outer Shrine (Gaku) devoted to Toyouke Omikami, the goddess of grains and food.

The Ise Shrine is unique because of its construction. Every 20 years, this wood shrine is torn down and reconstructed. Everything is demolished and reconstructed save for a small shack (oi-ya) that houses the shin-no-mihashira or the sacred central post.