Ise Kaido

Riding the old Ise Kaidō in Mie Prefecture is a peaceful journey through history, tracing one of the traditional pilgrimage routes to Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan’s most sacred Shinto sites. The route winds through quiet countryside, small towns, and rural landscapes that have changed little over the centuries.

Along the way, cyclists can pass old milestones, shrines, and traditional architecture that recall the footsteps of pilgrims from long ago. The terrain is mostly gentle, making it accessible to riders of various levels. With its historical charm and relaxed pace, the old Ise Kaidō offers a culturally rich cycling experience through the spiritual heart of Japan.

The Route

The vast majority of the route is along a small old road with beautiful houses and shrines along the way starting from the Oiwake Station where it splits from the Tokaido and ends at the famous Ise Shrine “Geku”

Things to do and see

Ise Shrine (Geku)

Ise Shrine (Naiku)

Okage Yokocho

Okage Yokocho is a beautiful Edo Period village located just in front of the Naiku Ise Shrine

Getting there and away

Ise from Nagoya

To Ise (Ise-shi Station) both JR and Kintetsu offer good service., JR Rapid Service (90 minutes, 2040yen), Kintetsu Limited Express (85 minutes, 3080yen) and Kintetsu Express service (100 minutes, 1740yen)

Ise from Osaka

From Osaka, the only realistic option is Kintents with direct service from Tsuruhashi in about 100 minutes for 3,510yen. Direct express service also exists for 2,170yen and takes about 140 minutes.

JR service on the Kansai Main Line is so poor that it would take over 5 hours to make the journey from Osaka.

North End

The north end is at Oiwake Station on the Kintetsu Mainline or a short ride from Minami-Yokkaichi Station on the JR Kansai Line making access to Nagoya easy.