On the second day of my first visiting Ise Grand Shrine, I visited Naiku.
The Shogu of Naiku, Kotai Jingu, enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the ancestor of Imperial family, and established in the era of Emperor Suijin, about 2000 years ago.
"Chronicles of Japan" said that the princess of Emperor Suijin, Yamatohime, travelled to seek where Amaterasu had been newly enshrined on that time, and heard that Amaterasu had decided to enshrine herself and worship in Ise because the waves from utopia named "Tokoyo no Kuni", which is believed to exist over the ocean by Japanese people and sometimes be construed as the after-life named "Yomi no Kuni", had come and the beautiful nature surrounded. Yamatohime had followed what Amaterasu said and constructed a shrine for Amaterasu named "Iwai no Miya" along Isuzu River, the origin of the Grand Shrine.
Walking straight from the bus stop of Shinto Bus, I came to a roundabout which a torii gate with Uji-bashi bridge faces and is also known as the goal of All Japan University ekiden relay racing. From the bridge, mountains over the river began to turn colour.
From the end of the bridge, the approach to Shogu runs in parallel with the river and toward the mountains. While walking, I saw the green- and red-coloured mountains.
In addition to cleansing at chozuya, I tried to cleanse their body and mind at Mitarashiba, where persons can directly immerse their hands in river water. The leaves from Mitarashiba was also beautiful.
Following the approach, the way to Shogu turn left and separate from the river. Walking in a forest, I could see Shogu.
The Shogu building of Naiku is built with the method called Kyorogumi structure and its Chigi projecting bargeboards from beyond the roof is cut horizontally (Uchisogi) and ten Katsuogi billets on the ridge of the roof.
I also dedicated a betsugu in the sanctuary Aramatsurinomiya.
After going out of the sanctuary, I also visited Oharai-machi Street and Okage Yokocho district, where relocated classic buildings and aesthetic buildings used as souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes are located. I ate hamburger and twisted icecream tofu while walking along and Ise Udon noodles on lunch time.