SNOW MONKEY RESORTS
Experience Japan's most sacred shrine on a fully guided day trip from Nagoya. Visit Ise Grand Shrine, explore the charming streets of Okage Yokocho, watch traditional Ama divers at Mikimoto Pearl Island, and stand before the famous Wedded Rocks of Meoto Iwa.
This small group tour takes the stress out of planning with round-trip transportation from Nagoya, included admission to location, and an experienced guide who brings Japan's Shinto traditions, history, and culture to life.
Whether it's your first visit to Japan or you're returning to explore beyond the major cities, this tour offers the perfect way to experience the soul of Japan and explore the natural highlights of Ise in one unforgettable day.
Highlights
Visit Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu), Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine, and discover the traditions, history, and rituals that have made it one of the country's most important spiritual sites.
See the iconic Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) and admire the stunning coastal scenery of Ise Bay
Enjoy free time to sample Ise's famous local cuisine, including Ise Udon, fresh fried oysters, seasonal spiny lobster, and other regional specialties in the historic Okage Yokocho district.
Explore Mikimoto Pearl Island and watch a live demonstration by the legendary Ama female sea divers, while learning about Japan's cultured pearl industry and centuries-old diving traditions.
Stroll along the scenic Isuzu River beneath the forests of Ise Grand Shrine, and relax surrounded by the natural beauty of Mie Prefecture.
Duration
9 hours 30 minutes
Offered in
English
What is included
English speaking guide
Transportation during the tour
Omikuji (lucky fortune) at Futami-Okitama Shrine
Entry fees at all tour locations
What is not included
Lunch
Accommodation
Transportation to/from Nagoya Station
NAGOYA STATION @ 9:00
The meetup point is at the base of the SILVER clock tower outside of the Shinkansen gates.
If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the clock tower should be located directly in front of you as you exit the gate.
If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.
For those coming from outside the station, you will most likely be entering through the Sakura-Dori gate (the side with the gold clock). In this case, please walk straight through the station towards the Taiko-Dori Gate. The silver clock is located inside the station just before the Taiko-Dori exit.
You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign. We highly recommend arriving early as Nagoya station can be quite crowded.
Start time
09:00:00
End point
The tour concludes at Nagoya Station, where the guide will say their goodbyes. *We cannot guarantee the end time as traffic could cause delays. For guests booking onward tickets to other destinations, we recommend doing so for times of 20:00 or later from Nagoya.
View Japan’s most sacred shrine and marvel at the natural beauty of the bay as we gaze upon the iconic twin rocks. Taste local specialties such as spiny lobster, fried oysters, and a famous regional noodle dish. Stroll along the banks of a serene river, basking in the seasonal beauty of the flowers and foliage, and immerse yourself in a peaceful, picturesque landscape.
Description
This tour will start at Nagoya Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Silver Clock tower near the Shinkansen Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station or load it onto our tour bus if you feel the need.
Your guide will provide you with a brief history of the region and set the scene as we depart Nagoya JR Station via our tour bus toward our first destination, Ise Grand Shrine
Your guide will lead you through the expansive grounds and towering cypress groves of Ise-Jingu, providing insights into Shintoism, the history of the shrine, and the proper actions to take as we make our way to the Inner Shrine.
More than 1,500 rituals are conducted at Ise Shrine every year to pray for everything from the prosperity of the Imperial family to a successful harvest. So, there is a good chance that you might get to witness a ritual for yourself.
After paying our respects, we will stop for lunch at a shopping street full of restaurants and shops constructed in a traditional Japanese style of architecture giving the feeling of shopping at merchant houses from the Edo period. The street is home to many well-known restaurants serving up local dishes, craft beer, and Instagramable desserts. We highly recommend the Ise Udon or fried oysters.
After sampling the local fare, you’ll have plenty of time to shop for souvenirs or take a stroll along the banks of the Isuzu River before meeting back up with your guide and boarding the tour bus for our next stop, Mikimoto Pearl Island.
Mikimoto Pearl Island is located in the beautiful Toba Bay. The island is where Kokichi Mikimoto achieved the world's first successful cultured pearl in 1893. Today, Mikimoto is the world's leading brand for pearls and prides themselves on their sustainable pearl harvesting methods.
Your guide will lead you through the island sharing how pearls are formed, harvested, and turned into jewelry, beauty products, and more. You will even learn how to tell for yourself if pearls are real or fake!
During your exploration of the island, you will learn how Ama sea divers were harvesting oysters and practicing sustainable fishing in the region long before Mikimoto cultured his first pearl. Today, Mikimoto employs these divers to harvest their pearls, not only for the Ama's skills and expertise, but also to preserve this tradition.
You will have the unique opportunity to watch these divers in action during a live demonstration. Please note that the Ama demonstration may be canceled due to weather.
After seeing the Ama dive for oysters, we will continue our journey along the coast to one of Ise's most iconic shrines.
Our final stop of the tour is Meoto Iwa and Futami-Okitama Shrine. These wedded rocks are another important Shinto location and an excellent spot for photos. If you’re lucky, we may even catch the silhouette of Mt.Fuji in the distance.
The Futami-Okitama Shrine is a quirky shrine full of frog statues. These auspicious symbols associated with the shrine will hopefully bring you luck as you draw your fortune (omikuji). Your guide will help you translate your fortune and instruct you on how to avoid bad luck if you’ve drawn a bad fortune.
From here, we will return to Nagoya station via our tour bus and say our goodbyes there. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations or instructions back to your hotel.
Itinerary
9:00: The tour begins with a meetup at Nagoya Station at 09:00. Guests should wait inside the station, in front of the SILVER clock tower across from the Shinkansen exit gates. Your guide will greet you there.Your guide will provide you with a brief history of the region and set the scene as we depart from Nagoya Station toward Ise via our tour bus.
11:00: We will tour the sacred grounds of Ise Grand Shrine.
12:30: Your guide will provide you with a tour of Okage Yokocho before stopping for lunch and free time to purchase souvenirs. Feel free to ask your guide for lunch recommendations or let your nose lead the way!
13:30: We’ll hop back on the bus and make our way to Mikimoto Pearl Island.
14:15: Your guide will lead you through Mikimoto Pearl Island, sharing how pearls are formed and turned into jewelry. You will also have the chance to witness Ama sea divers harvesting oysters the same way they have for generations.Please note, the Ama demonstration may be canceled due to weather.
16:00: We will then continue to our final destination, Meoto Iwa. Your guide will give you a brief tour of the wedded rocks and help you translate your fortune. Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time for taking pictures.
16:30: We will head back to Nagoya station via our tour bus.
18:30: The tour concludes at Nagoya Station, where the guide will say their goodbyes. *We cannot guarantee the end time as traffic could cause delays. For guests booking onward tickets to other destinations, we recommend doing so for times of 20:00 or later from Nagoya.
The Ama demonstration may be canceled due to the weather.
This tour involves several hours of walking outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or raincoat if necessary.
In the summer, temperature highs are around 35 °C (95 °F) and above with extreme humidity. We recommend wearing something light and airy while minding sunburn and heatstroke. A parasol is highly encouraged.
Winter temperatures around Nagoya/Ise average between 0℃-10℃ (32°F-50°F). Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for cold conditions.
There will be free time along the way for guests to purchase souvenirs to remember their trip.
This tour operates daily through August 2028. The schedule from September 2028 onward is TBA (to be advised).
SNOW MONKEY RESORTS
