After going to Awaji Island recently, where the founding gods of Japan are believed to have started creating the archipelago, our next trip was suitably to the Grand Shrines of Ise, which worship the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, also central to the national creation myth. The outer and inner shrines are 4 km apart, so this was the first time that I could enjoy the outer shrine for the first time as well. The founding gods were a male and female couple, as we found in various forms on Awaji Island. Our hotel was along the Ise Shima coast where there is a shrine with a sacred rope connecting husband and wife islets (third photo). Marriage on the rocks? This shrine is for you!