Atsuko Ikeda, the high priestess of Ise Grand Shrine and sister of Emperor Akihito, slowly inched her way into the courtyard that this October will become the most sanctified space in Shinto, Japan’s ...

Ise Grand Shrine (called Ise-jingu or often just Jingu in Japanese) is Japan’s most important Shinto shrine. It’s the main location of worship for the top deity in the Japanese pantheon, the sun ...

In the West, art is usually considered a product. Rembrandt would paint a portrait for a patron; it would be a masterpiece, and that would be the end of it. Bernini would sculpt Apollo and Daphne, and ...

"At least once, I’d like to make the pilgrimage to the Ise Grand Shrine.” From around the 12th century, commoners young and old alike longed to make the once-in-a-lifetime visit to pay their respects ...

This Ise Naiku-mae Starbucks store fits in seamlessly with the surrounding shops and buildings in Oharai-machi – the café was designed to emulate the traditional architecture of the area. Photo: ...

Japan's emperor Naruhitu and empress Masako today visited Ise Jingu, a Shinto shrine in central Japan to 'report to the gods' that two major rites had been completed, signifying Naruhitu's official ...

Japan's Emperor Akihito is stepping down on April 30 in the country's first abdication in 200 years. He performed a sacred ritual on Thursday to report his abdication to the Shinto gods and start the ...