About
Geku, the Outer Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine, stands in the city of Ise in Mie Prefecture, in Japan's Kansai Region. It is also known as Toyouke Daijingu. The shrine is dedicated to Toyouke-Omikami, the deity of agriculture and industry, and it forms one half of the Ise Grand Shrine complex.
What to expect
Geku is a quiet, reflective place to visit, set among tall trees and wooden buildings in the Honmachi district. Visitors come to walk the grounds, observe the traditions of worship, and take in the atmosphere of a site that has long been part of Japanese religious life. The shrine is a natural first stop for anyone exploring the wider Ise area.
Planning your visit
Geku is traditionally visited before the Inner Shrine, so many travellers begin here and continue on to the other part of the complex. Keep these points in mind:
- The shrine address is 279 Honmachi, Ise, Mie 516-0042, Japan.
- For questions about the shrine, the contact number is +81-596-24-1111.
- Allow time to move between the two shrines, which are a short distance apart.
The area around it
Ise is a city on the coast of the Ise Bay, and visitors often combine a shrine visit with time spent exploring its streets, local food and surrounding landscape. Because Geku is central to a long-standing pilgrimage route, a visit here fits naturally into a day or more spent discovering the region at an unhurried pace.
