Ujōda-jinja, Shinto shrine in Japan
Ujōda-jinja is a small Shinto shrine in Ise with a simple structure featuring straight lines and a steep, gabled roof designed to shed rain and snow. Wooden pillars are set directly into the ground, thatch covers the roof, and a wooden fence surrounds the grounds to mark the sacred boundary.
The shrine was built in the shinmei-zukuri style, one of Japan's earliest architectural traditions believed to have begun during the Yayoi period. Over centuries, this style remained rare, but it survived mainly in the Ise region, particularly in the main buildings of major shrines like Ise-jingu.
Ujōda-jinja serves as a place where locals come to pray for good fortune and health within living religious traditions. The simple design encourages visitors to focus on worship itself, with people performing modest bows and ringing a small bell before making their prayers.
The shrine grounds are easy to reach by walking from central Ise town and following local signs. Visitors should dress modestly and it is customary to wash hands and mouth at the purification fountain before praying.
The main doors of the shrine, called Otobira, are often made from a single piece of very large wood that requires old, strong trees sometimes over 400 years old. Locals believe these ancient trees carry spiritual power, which is why they are especially valued for shrine construction.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
