DORO-KYO gorge is easy and fun

While on a boat, you are sometimes on the borders of three prefectures: Wakayama, Nara, and Mi-e.
Changing views are refreshing to your mind and eyes. It's a two-hour cruise trip worth trying. It costs about 3500 yen an adult (a bit cheaper with a discount coupon available on the net) but you won't regret paying that much.

Doro hotel cafe on the cliff; no longer a hotel  but a cafe

looking back

fishermen catching sweetfish

the roof opens later on the cruise

Ninja town, IGA

It takes time to come here but families have fun wearing ninja costumes and watching the ninja show. Before the show, you will visit the ninja house where interesting tricks can be witnessed. There night be taped English narration but even without it, it's easy enough to guess what's going on. There's a reconstructed feudal castle tower and the impressive pavilion dedicated to Basho, Japan's famous haiku poet from the 17th century. Here are some photos.

Salt making in Futami, Ise

This salt being made in one of the most natural ways is dedicated to GEKU or the outer shrine of the Ise Grand shrine complex. It is made from sea salt. It is on sale too. The lady whose hotel is making and selling this salt insists the body temperature has to be properly warm and then you would be free from sickness. This salt, she says, helps your body temperature rise properly. No worry about higher blood pressure, she adds. 

Ocean view at Futamigaura

Make yourself cleansed with sea water at Futamigaura before your visit to Ise Grand Shrine. Looking at a photo like this, it's easy to imagine there should be a place of wonder somewhere beyond the waves.

YABUUCHI Satoshi is ubiquitous

Not he himself but his works of sculpture is often spotted and quite easy to identify due to his unique style. This one is from the GEKU area, Ise.

Sculpture done by YABUUCHI Satoshi

You can't see the sanctuary but this you can see

Here's a photo of the rice storehouse at NAIKU of Grand Ise Shrine. You can't see the very Shinto house where AMATERASU Sun goddess has been enshrined. It's surrounded by five types of wooden fences and you are only allowed to go beyond the outermost fence. However, you can see this storehouse built in the same architectural style, YUI-ITSU SHINMEI-ZUKURI. Don't miss looking at this carefully when you are at NAIKU of Ise.

The two pillars on either side of the storehouse are unique to this style. 

The real sanctuary building has veranda around the raised storage and the staircase leading to the door.

Geku is renewed but with part of the old structure

Two spread of ground always stand side by side. The new structure was completed last year and the residing goddess moved from her old house to the new. These houses lie in the adjacent grounds. Soon her old residence is to be gone completely but for the time being psrt of it still stands. 

The old 

And new:

A black cormorant never left the best spot

This is a picture of the married rocks at Futami-okitama shrine, not far away from ISE. Perched on the gate there must be a black cormorant, sunbathing under the blazing sun. It never left while I was there.