Wednesday, April 24, 2024 

Ise has been suggested to me by my uncle as a place I need to visit during this journey throughout Japan… A Tribute Journey to my Mother . It is a very special and holy city. And something deep in my consciousness said that I really needed this for my spirit and for my health. I arrived at ISE – SHI train station to a deluge of rain and wind. I took the Kintestu limited train from Kyoto, The Thousand Year capital of Japan. However, the major line that is served here is JR.

It was a nice comfortable ride. I did the deluxe car nothing to write home about, but it was quiet and comfortable. 

Exiting the train station I just followed the exit and it had me at street side, but on the opposite side of the entrance to the train station so I was pretty confused as to what I was doing, and I walked in the rain holding my umbrella and my luggage and getting pummeled by water 

Could be worse 

After making a Full Circle, I found my little inn called the Hinode ryokan. I did book it through Hotels.com. This is the first hotel that is not part of the JR line of hotels that I have been staying in.

I dropped my bags as it was way too early for check-in. I took a bigger umbrella from the end. Then, I made my way to see the outer shrine of ISE – JINGU called GEKU. There were a few little shops that were open. Some cafés and some little restaurants were operating. However, a lot of the other places seem closed. I guess maybe it’s the rain as it was 12 o’clock.

There is a street directly across from the train station that looks kind of pedestrian, but it isn’t but it also looks very touristy and pretty, and it leads to the park where the shrine is at 

I guess I should give you a little breakdown as to why I chose to come here as it is such offbeat and path and in fact I think now on my second day, I counted five non-Japanese people or five non-Asian descent, even though I am part Asian 

So the reason why I came here is because my uncle told me to see the most important Shinto shrine in Japan. It is such a sacred place. People have pilgrimage here for over 1000 years. He came here a few years back. He encouraged me to come here. Since I lost my mother, this whole trip is my little homage to her. I sought blessings from the goddesses residing here. This is why I made a two night detour to the small little town. It’s for a spiritual journey.

You enter the park and forest where the outer shrine is located. You are taken aback by the beauty of the natural world around you. While it may be raining, it feels purifying. Looking back, I realize it was necessary to start my visit during the rain. Just as you wash your hands at a temple or Shinto shrine to purify yourself, the rain cleansed me. It prepared me for the visit. I have just completed this visit today.

The outer shrine is composed of a few little thatched shrines that they obliterate every 20 years isn’t that amazing? I had a wonderful time here although I was wet and cold. I just enjoyed myself going through the forest and paying my respects to the different shrines here.

After I was really hungry, and I found this little café that made udon, but not the ISE udon but I was hungry so I ate that and some cheesy bread with kind of a Nori on it and a glass of wine so random

Finally, I was able to check in so that is what I did. The in here is so quaint and so special and I just cannot believe that there are not so many reviews on it on Tripadvisor or on Hotels.com or I booked the stay. 

The people are so nice you come in you take off your shoes. You grab a slipper that fits you and they keep it in the cubbyhole for you. You choose your amenities clearly let me know. There are no amenities in the room besides tea so I could grab it now. Then they took me in a maze towards my room. It was on the second floor. It’s really large. More importantly, it comes with its own bathroom, not just a shower, but a bathroom.

There is a entryway with a gate and a rocked entryway. I guess he could say it provides a place to store your luggage. Then you have a full tatami room. There is also a separate bathroom. It’s so absolutely perfect. It feels like I’m staying at my aunt’s house. It’s as if I were back in my grandmother‘s home that no longer exists. It just feels like home here and the people are really nice. And to top it all off there is a tiny ofuro downstairs. Which I used the room also comes with breakfast Japanese breakfast that is. They do not serve dinner, but there are a plethora of options around you even a little tiny Yokocho and a few restaurants next-door

I rest for a few hours and wrote into my journal. To play catch-up afterwards

After about two hours, I left the hotel and made my way through town, but it was raining really hard. I was getting hungry and I was trying to find a place to eat. But I was just getting very tired of noodles rice and sashimi don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love those cuisines. I grew up on them. However, when you have it every single day, you just want a little change. So, I just kept walking. I walked by the train tracks. I walked over the train tracks into a little area. I kinda got lost. I found some little restaurants. They were either fully booked or they served whale. That totally turned me off. It also reminded me of my mother. She loved to eat whale. She would just enjoy my face when I would cringe. I decided to come back towards the hotel. I kept going nowhere. I was stepping in huge puddles and getting soaking wet. Just by chance, I saw the Italian flag waving. I looked like oh my goodness it’s an. Osteria I went and checked it out and they had a seat available. I sat down and I had a fantastic Italian meal. I forgot how amazing Japanese Japanese people are at Italian cuisines. In fact they’re pretty phenomenal. I thoroughly enjoyed it so much. I’m gonna go back tonight for it again. I figured tonight is for Italian, and then I can spend the next two weeks enjoying Japanese food.

Satisfied and happy , I came back and I went to the ofuro and passed out afterwards 

I woke up super refreshed thinking wow I must’ve slept really long while yeah I slept until 3 AM and that totally sucked so I was on the Internet for a few hours and then I went back to sleep for one hour and then I woke up because breakfast was about to be served

Day 2, Thursday April 26

As mentioned earlier, I woke up because I knew that breakfast was about to be served. Fortunately, I set an alarm because I had breakfast to be served at 7 AM. And like clockwork, the lady of the house showed up. She brought a tray of Japanese food, including salmon, konbu, tsukemono, miso soup, rice, salad, and tea. It was so delicious and perfect.

I took my sweet time today leaving the end I Journal a little bit more still trying to catch up and finally around nine something in the morning I left on my way to the inner shrine of ise-jingu called Naiku 

My Ryokan is literally two minutes from the entrance to the train station and all the buses so it was super convenient today

By the time I got there in two minutes, the bus is already there. I hopped on and in 20 something minutes I was exiting the bus.

The park is beautiful as you enter and see that big TORI gate. That beautiful bridge connects you from the modern world to the ethereal. You cannot help but feel this magic come upon you. The rushing waters below you and the fresh clean air around you enhance the experience. The smell of cedar and pine is everywhere. It’s such an experience. My visit here was about an hour and a half. I will not go into full detail because it was just too much to explain. It’s such a wonderful place to visit and I recommend it at least once for everyone in their life, if they come to Japan to try to make it here, it really does something to you

After my visit, I walked down the famous okage yokocho which is an experience within it. The merchants here some have been here for hundreds of years. There is even a fabulous Starbucks. I just can’t with Starbucks. I know I just cannot, but I went and got a coffee. It’s beautiful just like Kyoto one 

I did a little shopping here and there.

I was hungry and I found a place That served ISE udon with egg and yamaimo. The set also came with sashimi over shiso sushi rice and of course I had to have sake for lunch

Afterwards, I had a fabulous ice cream or soft cream with dango 🍡 and did some more shopping

I found this beautiful maneki neko shop. I got a few for my friends. I also got a big one for my home. When the lady brought out the box for my cat, I got really scared. Then I thought it’ll probably fit in my small duffel. Well, it didn’t fit. When I was trying to pack it, I just couldn’t make it fit. So, I took it out of the box. I wrapped it in my sarong and tried to gently place it in the duffel bag. I then put other delicate things in it. Well, I heard a crack and I started freaking out. I took the cat out and one of the cats there are several on them came loose. Nothing broke. It just came loose off the cat’s body so I thought this cat is naughty. But of course, I was beating myself up. I thought that I just give myself bad luck. But I guess because it’s not broken it’ll be OK. So, I talked to the cats. I told them I’m so excited for them to come home. I’m not gonna abandon them and yes, I’m crazy superstitious lol

Anyway, I went way off track 

When you walk down this beautiful path, you cannot help but be in awe. Today, the sun is out. The clouds are drifting by. The greenery surrounds you. It is absolutely spectacular today. This makes sense because this shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess. She definitely came out and shone powerfully today.

It was such a lovely day there I will never forget it unfortunately, I have 1 million pictures to remember it by 

Afterwards, at the end of the street on the opposite side, I wait for the bus. It picks me up to take me back to the train station where I am located. 

It was a pleasant ride going back because this town is so beautiful in the sunlight I could not see it’s beauty yesterday only a little bit but today ,majestic and beautiful

Now I’m just waiting for the Italian restaurant to open up again. By the way, it’s called Osteria Labbro. It was good, so I’m going back. Then tomorrow it’s all about Japanese food again. Tomorrow I head to Tokyo with a brief stop in Nagoya to see a friend and wish her happy birthday. 

I hope each and every one of you can visit if your timing ever permits. This beautiful place is stunning. If you decide to come, please stay at the Hinode ryokan. It’s absolutely worth it.

Next stop, Nagoya and then off to Tokyo. Thank you!.