In front of the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu Shrine, there's a street called Oharai Machi that bustles with numerous worshippers every year. From the Edo Period to early Meiji Period, many people called Onshi lived here and performed Shinto dance and music for their worshippers (Oharai), thus, the name Oharai Machi is believed to have come about.
The town declined for a time, but with the effort to bury electric lines and restore cobblestones to bring back the traditional townscape, it has been renovated into a very charming area now.
At the center of Oharai Machi, there is an area called Okage Yokocho, lined with Ise architecture, which was built from Edo to Meiji Periods and transferred and rebuilt here. Akafuku-Main store is a classic store that sells Akafuku rice cakes with more than 300 years of history. Fukusuke serves traditional Ise udon noodles.
In Okage Yokocho, seasonal festivals and markets are held, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, there are taiko drum performances and kamishibai storytelling. Visitors can also purchase unique Ise souvenirs, among various other enjoyments.
Highlights
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After worship, stop by at Oharai Machi.
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Very Ise-like food and souvenirs are clustered here.
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Historic architecture is in this area that reflects Ise’s traditions and cultures.