Futami Okitama Shrine
二見興玉神社
A seaside shrine at Futamiura, Ise, famed for the rope-linked Meoto Iwa rocks, where pilgrims once purified themselves before visiting Ise Grand Shrine.
The Wedded Rocks, a torii in the sea
Futami Okitama Shrine stands by the sea at Futamiura in Ise, Mie Prefecture. It is dedicated to Sarutahiko no Okami, a deity believed to bring good fortune, a safe and happy household and safety on the road.
The two rocks, one large and one small, in the sea right in front of the shrine are the Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks). They are joined by a thick shimenawa (a sacred rope that marks a holy place). According to tradition, the Meoto Iwa act as a torii (the gate that marks a shrine) for worshipping both the Okitama Shinseki, a sacred rock lying under the sea about 700m offshore, and the rising sun.
Where pilgrims purified themselves before Ise
In the past, people on their way to worship at Ise Grand Shrine first bathed in the sea at Futamiura to purify themselves before going on. This was called hama sangu. Today, instead of going into the sea, you receive oharai (a purification ritual) at the shrine, which counts as hama sangu.
The shrine grounds are full of frog statues offered by worshippers. Frogs are regarded as messengers of the deity and are loved as good-luck charms thanks to a pun: the Japanese word for frog, kaeru, sounds like the word for "return", as in "come home safely" and "money comes back to you".
Sunrise season and the great sacred rope
You can see the sun rise between the Meoto Iwa from around May to July. Around New Year the sun does not rise between the rocks. Early in the morning of the summer solstice (21 or 22 June) the shrine holds the Geshisai (Summer Solstice Festival), when people worship the sunrise between the two rocks.
The great shimenawa linking the Meoto Iwa is made of five ropes, each 35m long, weighing 40kg and 10cm thick. Local people replace it three times a year: on 5 May, on 5 September and on a weekend around mid-December. It is a religious ceremony carried out to the sound of kiyari-uta (work songs chanted during heavy labour).
Getting there
It is about a 15-minute walk from JR Futaminoura Station. The shrine presents itself as a place to stop before visiting Ise Grand Shrine, with the saying "a pilgrimage to Ise starts at Futami".
Tips
- To see the sun rise between the rocks, go early in the morning between May and July. Note that around New Year the sun does not rise between them.
- The rope-replacing ceremony starts at around 10am. If the date fits your plans, go and watch.
- Hunting for frog statues as you walk around the grounds is part of the fun.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
