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Geku (Outer Shrine)

外宮

Geku

Kanagawa

The Outer Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine, dedicated to Toyouke-no-Omikami, the deity of agriculture, industry, and food. One of Japan's most sacred Shinto sites, rebuilt every 20 years in the ancient tradition of Shikinen Sengu.

Denomination
Imperial
Religion
shinto
Enshrined kami
Toyouke-no-Omikami
Kami enshrined
Toyouke-no-Omikami
Founding
Kofun period · 5
Shrine rank
Kanpei-taisha
Coordinates
35.3997308, 139.3057723

Visitor tip

Visit early in the morning for a more serene experience and remember to bow before crossing the bridge.

Cultural notes

Represents the provision of sustenance and material prosperity in Shinto cosmology. The 20-year rebuilding cycle symbolizes renewal and the transmission of traditional craftsmanship across generations.

Historical note

Founded in the 5th century to provide sacred food offerings to Amaterasu at the Inner Shrine. The shrine has been rebuilt 62 times as of 2013, maintaining its original architectural form through centuries of precise ritual reconstruction.

More shrines in Kanagawa