7) Ise Grand Shrines

These are the most famous and venerated of the Shinto shrines. Over six million visitors come to these shrines each year, many of them Shinto followers on a pilgramage. The Outer (Geku) and Inner (Naiku) Shrines are actually located several kilometers apart, each at the foot of a hill with thick woods. Both are burnt to the ground every 20 years and rebuilt according to tradition.The Ise shrines have a very stark austerity, and are built in a strictly Japanese style. Many of the shrines in Japan are influenced by other mainland Asian shrins and temples. The Ise Grand Shrines are not extravagant in their design and are almost minimalist in their simplicity. While these qualities represent some of the ideals of purity and simplicity within the religion, to the untrained eye, they are not the most exciting shrines to visit.