Outer Shrine (Geku)

What to know

The Outer Shrine (Geku) is one of the two main shrines that form the Ise Shrines in Ise City. Officially called Toyouke Daijingu, it is dedicated to Toyouke Omikami, the Shinto deity of food, housing, and clothing. Toyouke provides offerings for the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami, who is enshrined at the Inner Shrine, located four kilometers to the south. Traditionally, visitors come to the Outer Shrine before proceeding to the Inner Shrine.

The Outer Shrine is believed to have been established over 1,500 years ago, about 500 years after the Inner Shrine. Like its counterpart, it is rebuilt every 20 years (next in 2033) and features an architectural style largely free of influence from mainland Asia. The grounds are slightly smaller than those of the Inner Shrine, with gravel paths winding through a forest of tall trees.

At the entrance to the shrine grounds stands the Sengukan Museum, opened in 2012 to coincide with the most recent rebuilding. The museum explains the monumental rebuilding process. Highlights include a quarter-scale replica of the Inner Shrine's main building and a beautiful 1:20 model of the main sanctuary. An English pamphlet and audio guide are available, but all signs are in Japanese only.

The main sanctuary is about a five-minute walk from the Sengukan Museum and closely resembles that of the Inner Shrine. The main building is surrounded by several fences, and visitors cannot go beyond the outermost one. Only partially visible, the building features forked roof finials (chigi) cut vertically at the tips and nine decorative horizontal beams (katsuogi).

Several auxiliary shrines stand near the main sanctuary at the base and summit of a small hill. These include Kazenomiya (god of wind), Tsuchinomiya (god of the land), and Takanomiya (spirit of Toyouke).

The Outer Shrine is located in central Ise, about a ten-minute walk from Iseshi or Ujiyamada Station. Frequent buses connect the Outer Shrine with the Inner Shrine (15 minutes, 520 yen one way). The Outer Shrine is also served by the CAN buses.