Ise is a city which is located in eastern Mie prefecture, on the Honshu island, Japan. Ise was formerly known as Ujiyamada. The city has a very ancient nickname which roughly implies The Holy City. The Ise Grand Shrine of Japan is located in Ise and is a major crowd-puller.
The history of Ise city is directly associated to that of the Grand Shrine. During the Edo period, Ise was a popular pilgrimage and thus settlements started growing in the areas. The villages around the Inner Shrine were called Uji and those around the Outer Shrine were named Yamada. Thereafter, these two villages were amalgamated and the name Ujiyamada came into existence and was used for 66 years. Between the years 1890-1930, two train lines were laid which connected Ise to Osaka, Nagoya and the rest part of Japan. The name Ise was chosen because people all over Japan were familiar with the name of Ise Grand Shrine. The city was officially renamed in 1955.
The city of Ise enjoys a moderate climate throughout the year. There is not much of snowfall in the area.
Ise is well connected to other parts of Japan by rail and road network. The Ise expressway and national routes number 23, 42 and 167 pass through the city. The city is easily accessible from all major towns and cities of Japan.
Some of the popular tourist attraction places of Ise are:
- Ise Grand Shrine
- Ise-Shima National Park
- The Wedded Rocks
- Edo Wonderland
- Kawasaki
- Miya River
- Shintomi-za
