Hisashi was obliged to help out with some things around the family home today so Owen and I were on our own. Regardless, Hisashi helped us plan our day.
Our first stop was the Naikū area of Ise Shrine. It is the inner area and took several stops on the bus to reach from where we are staying near the outer shrine.
This inner shrine area was very busy today. Busloads of business men and school kids arrived as we did. I was happy to see them.
There is a shopping district on the way just before crossing the bridge to the shrine.
We cleaned ourselves and visited the grounds stopping to honor several lesser shrines and the shrine where the Goddess Amerterasu (The sun goddess) was asked to resign. It is also where the sacred mirror that was given as a gift from the gods to the first emperor is kept.
While exploring the grounds, I came across a performance of some of the oddest music I have ever heard. I assume it is religious in nature because it did not sound very entertaining. It was cacophonous.
Amaterasu (天照)
Futami Okitama-jinja
We took a bus and a train to this photogenic shrine just south of Ise city.
When we saw that the shrine was still a mile walk from the station, we were somewhat dismayed. Fortunately, there was a shop that rented bicycles just outside of the station.
I would have liked an electric assisted bike but they were too small for my legs. I barely fit on the regular bike. They were still great fun.
Importantly, we were able to enjoy the beautiful shrine without being exhausted.
After our shrine visit. We were quite hungry. My phone was dead so I asked Owen to find us a place for lunch. “Maps” found a ramen place a little outside of town so we set off on our bikes.
I followed Owen through town, then past the residential neighborhood, then through the rice fields, then up into the hills.
The further out we got, the more tired, hungry, and hot we got. I was loving the adventure but it eventually got absurd.
“Maps” led us on a wild goose chase. We found ourselves at a “Ninja” amusement park that was mostly shut down and abandoned. We went inside to ask about a restaurant but it became clear that the restaurant was not in operation. The vibe of the amusement park ghost town was creeping Owen out. We were both in somewhat if despair.
We pedaled are way back to town but got lost. We got turned around trying to navigate riding on the left side of the road. Sweat was in our eyes and pouring down our backs. We were in a state of heat stroke and at each others throats.
We returned the bikes and got on the train scrambling for the shelter of our hotel.
We just made it back to our air conditioned room hungry and tired.
Imagine our relief when Hisashi told us that we were going to a ramen place that his niece Ripo recommended for dinner.
The ramen place was adjacent to the miso / soy sauce factory that used to be run by Hisashi’s relatives.
