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 in Tamatsukuri

Some interesting statues are placed along the stream of Tamatsukuri Onsen resort. They were done by YABUUCHI Satoshi. His works are now easily found at many locations. 

SHIMANE, where Tamatsukuri is one of the cities, is a rich deposit of Japanese mythology. YABUUCHI's works are based on some of the mythological stories remaining in SHIMANE.

Descending approach of IZUMO GRAND SHRINE

Rare case of a descending approach to the shrine.

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.