5 Photogenic Power Spots in Mie | Recommended Instagrammable Shrines & Temples

When you think of Mie Prefecture, it's not just Ise Jingu! In this spiritually powerful land, said to have been home to the gods since ancient times, breathtaking scenery is scattered everywhere, making you want to press the shutter. This time we've carefully selected five power spots that are sure to be Instagrammable. Wrapped in a mystical atmosphere, let's go aim for that special shot.

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(1) Ise Jingu Naiku (Ise City, Mie Prefecture)

Uji Bridge, spanning the Isuzu River, is a representative photogenic spot of Ise Jingu. The "sunrise torii" phenomenon, where the morning sun shines down from directly above the bridge, is a miraculous sight seen around the spring and autumn equinoxes. Visit around 6 a.m. in the early morning and the morning mist and golden light will create a fantastical atmosphere. Shooting from a low angle straight in front of the bridge creates a composition with depth, like a tunnel of light. The cobblestones and the green of the trees are also beautiful, and it can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons.

Access: About 10 minutes by bus from Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station.

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(2) Futami Okitama Shrine (Ise City, Mie Prefecture)

The Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) standing in the sea are also popular as a power spot for matchmaking. The summer solstice sunrise rising from between the rocks is spectacular, and the golden shimmering water surface and the silhouette of the torii put on a miraculous collaboration. The recommendation is the magic hour right after sunrise. The time when the horizon is dyed pink and purple has a beauty like a painting. From a low angle right at the water's edge, aiming for a water-surface reflection with the Wedded Rocks as the star is the best composition.

Access: About 25 minutes by bus from JR / Kintetsu Iseshi Station.

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(3) Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine (Kumano City, Mie Prefecture)

Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine, also said to be Japan's oldest shrine, boasts an overwhelming sense of scale with a 45-meter-high giant rock as its object of worship. The atmosphere flowing along the rock face and the primal sacredness create a one-of-a-kind worldview. May, with fresh greenery, and November, with autumn foliage, are especially beautiful, and the contrast of the giant rock with the green and red is ideal for photogenic photos. With a dynamic upward-angle shot looking up at the rock, try to express the sense of scale to the fullest.

Access: About a 5-minute walk from JR Kumanoshi Station.

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(4) Shishiiwa (Kumano City, Mie Prefecture)

Shishiiwa (Lion Rock), towering along the Kumano coast, is a giant 25-meter-high rock created by nature. As its name suggests, its figure, like a roaring lion, is somehow exotic and photogenic. At dusk the rock is dyed vermilion, and the contrast with the blue of the Kumano Sea backdrop gives a vivid impression. You can shoot from the parking lot along National Route 42, and capturing the entire rock with a wide angle against the sea backdrop is recommended.

Access: About a 15-minute walk from JR Hadasu Station.

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(5) Tsubaki Grand Shrine (Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture)

Tsubaki Grand Shrine, enshrined in the deep green forest of the Suzuka mountain range, is an ancient shrine known as the head shrine of Sarutahiko-no-Okami. The moss-covered stone steps continuing along the approach and the green tunnel created by giant trees give off a mystical atmosphere. The spring fresh-greenery season and the time of day in autumn when morning mist hangs are especially worth aiming for. Shooting the stone steps in a vertical composition, the sunlight filtering through the trees and the green of the moss draw a fantastical gradation.

Access: About 50 minutes by bus from Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

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Mie Prefecture's mystical power spots seem to convey even their spiritual energy through photographs. By all means, wake up early and visit during the refreshing time when no one is around. It's sure to be a special trip that purifies your heart too.

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