Oharai-machi & Okage-yokocho — Ise's Edo-Period Shopping Streets

Oharai-machi (おはらい町) is an 800-meter pedestrian street lined with Edo-period style wooden buildings, connecting Ise Jingu's Naiku Shrine to the town center. The street recreates the atmosphere of Ise pilgrimage routes from centuries past, when millions of Japanese traveled to worship at Ise Jingu during the Okage Mairi mass pilgrimages. Today it houses 100+ shops selling regional specialties: Akafuku mochi (red bean mochi, Ise's signature sweet since 1707), Ise udon (thick noodles in dark soy broth), dried bonito products, and ceremonial items.

Okage-yokocho (おかげ横丁) branches off Oharai-machi — a smaller alley recreating a Meiji-era village with traditional architecture, street performances, and artisan workshops. The district combines authentic historical atmosphere with commercial vitality, offering an accessible introduction to traditional Japanese town design and Ise's pilgrimage heritage.