Believed to have been founded in the 3rd century, 滨蝉别-箩颈苍驳奴 is Japan's most venerated Shint艒 shrine. It鈥檚 in two parts 鈥 骋别办奴, the outer shrine, and 狈补颈办奴, the more important inner shrine, several kilometres away 鈥 both set in sprawling, deeply forested precincts. According to tradition, the shrines are rebuilt every 20 years, with exact imitations on adjacent sites according to ancient techniques 鈥 no nails; only wooden dowels and interlocking joints. The present buildings were rebuilt in 2013.
Upon completion of the new buildings, the god of the shrine is ritually transferred to its new home in the Seng奴 No Gi ceremony. The wood from the old shrine is then used to reconstruct the torii (Shint艒 shrine gate) at the shrine's entrance, or it is sent to shrines around Japan for use in rebuilding their structures.
The buildings are rare examples of pre-Buddhist Japanese architecture. Unfortunately, the main sanctuaries at both 狈补颈办奴 and 骋别办奴 are almost completely hidden from view behind wooden fences 鈥 though you can just about make out their distinctive roofs, with their cross-hatched finials (called chigi) that are a hallmark of early Shint艒 architecture. Only members of the imperial family and certain shrine priests are allowed to enter the inner sanctum. Both shrine precincts have smaller subsidiary shrines that are visible to the public and are designed in the same style as the main sanctuaries.
Smoking is prohibited throughout the grounds of both shrines and photography is forbidden around their main halls.
骋别办奴 is an easy 10-minute walk from Ise-shi Station; 狈补颈办奴 is accessible by bus from the station or from the stop outside 骋别办奴.
