Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Train -- The easiest way to get to Ise-Shima is from Nagoya on the private Kintetsu Nagoya Line (Kinki Nippon Railway; tel. 052/561-1604), which departs about every 30 minutes or so from Kintetsu Station, next to the JR Nagoya Station. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes via limited express to reach Ise (with stops at both Ise-Shi and Ujiyamada stations), about 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach Toba, and 2 hours and 10 minutes to reach Kashikojima. Note: Kintetsu trains do not go to Futami-no-ura. A ticket from Nagoya to the end of the line in Kashikojima costs ¥3,480 ($29/£15) one-way. There are also Kintetsu lines to Shima Peninsula both from Kyoto (2 1/4 hr. to Toba; fare: ¥3,780/$32/£16) and from Osaka's Kintetsu stations in Uehonmachi and Tsuruhashi (2 hr. to Toba; fare: ¥3,550/$30/£15 and ¥3,450/$29/£15 respectively). Most economical, however, is to purchase a Kintetsu Rail Pass at any Kintetsu Station office, which costs ¥3,500 ($30/£15), is valid for 5 days (but only three journeys can be aboard a limited express train) and includes travel to and from Nagoya, Osaka/Kyoto, and Ise.

If you're traveling on a Japan Rail Pass, you can also reach Ise-Shima by JR Kaisoku (Rapid) Mie trains, which depart hourly from Nagoya Station, but you'll be charged an extra ¥490 ($4.10/£2.05). JR trains stop at Ise-Shi and Futami-no-ura before terminating at Toba where, if you're heading to Kashikojima, you'll have to transfer to the Kintetsu Line (fare from Toba to Kahikojima: ¥460/$3.85/£1.90).

By Ferry -- From Nagoya's Centrair Airport, a ferry is the quickest way to Ise. The Matsusaka Bell Line (tel. 0598/50-1102) ferries you to Matsusaka in 45 minutes for ¥2,100 ($18/£8.75), plus ¥ 100 (85¢/45p) for the shuttle from the pier to Matsusaka Station. The Tsu Airport Line (tel. 059/213-4111) goes to Tsu in 40 minutes and costs ¥1,890 ($16/£8), plus ¥200 ($1.65/85p) for the shuttle to Tsu Station. Both Matsusaka and Tsu stations are on the Kinetetsu/JR train lines and are 15 and 30 minutes, respectively from Ujiyamada Station in Ise City.

By Bus -- Buses depart nightly from Tokyo's Ikebukuro Station's east exit at 10:20 and 11:20pm, arriving at Ise-Shi Station at 7:10 and 8:10am respectively. The fare is ¥9,200 ($77/£38) one-way.

Visitor Information

Be sure to drop by the Tourist Information Centers in Tokyo or the international airports at Narita or Osaka to pick up the free leaflet, "Ise-Shima," which lists train schedules from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya and gives information on the park's main attractions (you can also download it from the Japan National Tourist Organization's website at www.jnto.go.jp by looking under "Browse by Destinations"). Otherwise, drop by the Ise City Tourist Information Offices located in front of the Outer Shrine Gate (tel. 0596/28-3705), open daily 8:30am to 5pm, and at Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station in Ise City (tel. 0596/23-9655); or the Toba Tourist Office (tel. 0599/25-2844) at Toba Station (exit 1). The latter two are open daily 9am to 5:30pm.

Getting Around

Transportation within Ise-Shima National Park is either by train or by bus. Trains are convenient if your destinations are Ise City, Toba, Futami-no-ura, and Kashikojima. Some major sites, however, including the Outer and Inner Shrines and Ise Azuchi Momoyama Bunkamura, are best reached by bus. For sightseers, there's the CAN-Bus, which you can board in front of the JR stations in Ise City and Toba. Buses, departing about once an hour on weekdays and twice an hour on weekends, travel from Ujiyamada and Ise-Shi stations to both Outer and Inner Shrines of the Ise Grand Shrines and Ise Azuchi Momoyama Bunkamura before continuing onward to Toba. One-day passes for ¥1,000 ($8.35/£4.20) and 2-day passes for ¥1,600 ($13/£6.65) can be bought aboard the buses. There are also local city buses that run between the Outer and Inner Shrine of the Ise Grand Shrines; you must also take a bus to reach Parque España.

In Ise, it makes sense to rent a bicycle, available at Ujiyamada Station (¥300/$2.50/£1.25 per day). Ise-Shi and Ujiyamada stations are a 7-minute walk apart. There are luggage storage facilities at Ujiyamada, Toba, and Ise-Shi stations, as well as at the entrance to the Inner Shrine in Ise.