Takihara Shrine: A Quiet Forest Walk in Mie

By Torimonn · Visited September 2026 with children ages 7 and 5

Takihara Shrine (瀧原宮) was our calmest walking stop on the drive south through Mie. Tall trees shaded the approach, and our visit took about 30 minutes. The forest setting was the reason to come: a change of pace after the food shops at VISON and before continuing to Kumano.

Shaded forest approach through tall trees at Takihara Shrine — The shaded approach was the highlight of our short September visit.

Is this the right stop for you?

Come for: a quiet shrine visit and a short walk beneath tall trees.
Our time here: about 30 minutes. Allow longer if you want to explore the precinct more slowly.
Walking: the gravel-and-stone approach felt mostly level to us and easier than a hiking trail.
Where: Taiki, Mie. This is a separate stop from Ise Jingu’s main Naiku and Geku precincts.

What the walk felt like

We visited as a family during our September road trip. After driving from VISON, walking under the cool canopy felt like a welcome break. The atmosphere of the approach mattered more to us than trying to fit in another large attraction.

This would suit someone who enjoys taking in a sacred forest at walking pace. It worked as a short stop for our children, aged seven and five. Our experience of the path does not establish a step-free route; the gravel and stone are worth considering if you are bringing wheels.

Entrance to Takihara Shrine and its wooded approach — Takihara was our forest stop between VISON and Kumano.

A little context before you visit

Ise Jingu’s official guide (Japanese) identifies Takihara-no-miya and neighboring Takihara-narabi-no-miya as auxiliary sanctuaries of Naiku, both dedicated to the spirit of Amaterasu. The two sanctuaries stand within the same wooded precinct.

The official guide describes the approach through old cedar trees and a purification place using the stream. It says visitors generally pay respects at Takihara-no-miya first, then Takihara-narabi-no-miya. Follow the signs and keep the precinct peaceful.

Getting here and visiting hours

By car: our drive from VISON took just under 30 minutes. That was our trip’s timing; traffic and your starting point will affect yours. Find Takihara Shrine in Google Maps.

By train: Ise Jingu lists the walk from JR Takihara Station as about 20 minutes. Check the train service and the onward connection before building a day around it. We came by car, so this is official access information rather than a route we tested.

Published visiting hours: 5 a.m.–6 p.m. in January–April and September; 5 a.m.–7 p.m. in May–August; 5 a.m.–5 p.m. in October–December. New Year arrangements can differ. Use the current shrine guide and official precinct leaflet (Japanese PDF) when planning.

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Combine it with other Mie stops

On our trip, the sequence was VISON → Takihara Shrine → Kumano Club. The shrine was the short, shaded pause between a food-and-shopping visit and our overnight stay.

See the full three-day Mie route for the order of the stops and our two overnight bases. Or choose another place on the map.

Visit notes by Torimonn. Official planning links checked October 20, 2026.