The Ise-Shima area is centred on Ise, Toba and Shima in Mie Prefecture. By car you can reach Ise Jingu, the Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks) at Futami, the sea around Toba and the ria coast of Ago Bay. From Ise-Nishi IC on the Ise Expressway it is about 5 minutes to the city car parks at Naiku, the inner shrine of Ise Jingu. This page sets out a one-day drive from Ise Jingu to Daiozaki Lighthouse and how to park near Naiku to avoid the queues, and lists the roads and places to stop.
Map of the Ise-Shima area
- Views and nature
- Roadside stations
- 1Ise Jingu Geku
- 2Ise Jingu Naiku
- 3Mt. Asama summit
- 4Toba Aquarium
- 5Toba Observatory
- 6Yokoyama Observatory
- 7Kashikojima and Ago Bay
- 8Daiozaki Lighthouse
- 9Michi-no-Eki Ise-Shima
- 10Meoto Iwa
Line: 1 → 2 → Ise-Shima Skyline → 3 → 4 → Pearl Road → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8
The map could not be loaded. Use the junction-by-junction directions below.
The line on the map is the route described below under "First visit: one day from Ise Jingu to Ago Bay and Daiozaki". The numbers are places to stop: green for views and nature, blue for roadside stations (michi-no-eki). Hover over or tap a number to see its name.
Recommended drives
First visit: one day from Ise Jingu to Ago Bay and Daiozaki
Visit Geku (the outer shrine) and Naiku (the inner shrine), then take the Ise-Shima Skyline up to the summit of Mt Asama and down to Toba. From Toba, take the Pearl Road to Toba Observatory, then go on to Yokoyama Observatory in Shima and Kashikojima, and finish at Daiozaki Lighthouse. It is about 81 km and about 2 hours of driving. Distance and time are calculated from map data and do not include traffic.
The only toll is on the Ise-Shima Skyline (¥1,270 for a standard car). If you show your receipt from a city car park near Naiku, the Skyline toll is 20% off. The Pearl Road and the Ise-Futami-Toba Line are free.
At Naiku, park in a city car park and walk
The area around Naiku can be busy from just after 9:00 until about 17:00, and the queues are worst in the early afternoon. Leave the expressway at Ise-Nishi IC, drive about 1.2 km along Mikimoto Road and park in the city car park near Urata intersection, then walk. Around Geku, the outer shrine, it is busiest in the morning. The Geku car parks are free for up to 2 hours.
Stop at the Meoto Iwa
It is about 10 minutes from Ise IC to the Meoto Iwa at Futami Okitama Shrine. The car park in front of the shrine gets very crowded, so park at a nearby car park such as the Futami Sogo car park (220 cars) and walk.
Roads you can drive
| Road | What it is | Length and toll | Hours and rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ise Expressway | From Ise-Seki to Ise-Nishi IC and Ise IC | — | On 22 November, from 9:00 to 15:00, the exit at Ise-Nishi IC on the southbound side (towards Toba) is closed. At New Year and in Golden Week there are exit restrictions |
| Ise-Futami-Toba Line | From Ise IC through Futami to Toba | Free | Connects to the Ise Expressway. Coming from the Futami or Toba side, you cannot exit at Ise-Nishi IC |
| Ise-Shima Skyline | From Ise over the summit of Mt Asama to Toba | 16.3 km, ¥1,270 for a standard car | 7:00–19:00 (until 20:00 in August). Open all night from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day. Motorbikes of 125 cc or less and bicycles cannot use it |
| Pearl Road | From Toba along a ridge by the sea to Shima | 23.8 km, free | One lane each way with a series of small bends |
| Daini Ise Road | From Ise to Toba-Minami IC and Shiraki IC | 7.6 km, free | — |
| Ise Road (Prefectural Road, Ise-Isobe Line) | A road over the hills from near Naiku to Isobe in Shima | Free | Closed at 40 mm of rain per hour or 150 mm of continuous rain |
| Route 167 | From Toba through Isobe and Ugata to Kashikojima | Free | — |
| Route 23 (in front of Naiku) | From Uji-Urata-cho intersection to Naiku-mae intersection | About 0.7 km | Roadworks leave one lane towards Naiku |
Places to stop
Views and nature
The numbers match the map.
| No. | Place | Parking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ise Jingu, Geku | Car parks 1 to 3, 360 cars in total, free (up to 2 hours) | Open 5:00–17:00 for visits from October to December |
| 2 | Ise Jingu, Naiku | Uji city car parks (A and B). In the daytime, free for the first hour, ¥500 up to 2 hours, then ¥100 per 30 minutes | Oharai-machi and Okage-yokocho have no car park of their own; walk from the city car parks |
| 3 | Summit of Mt Asama (Ise-Shima Skyline) | Summit square, 100 cars, free | 555 m above sea level. Foot bath with a view, adults ¥100 (10:00–17:00) |
| 4 | Toba Aquarium | 500 cars, ¥1,000 once a day | 9:30–17:00. The car park at neighbouring Mikimoto Pearl Island is ¥600 for 2 hours |
| 5 | Toba Observatory, Ama no Terrace | 250 cars, free | On the Pearl Road, 163 m above sea level. The cafe and shop are open 9:30–16:30 on weekdays and closed Wednesdays |
| 6 | Yokoyama Observatory | Observatory car park P2: 26 cars. From P1 and P3 it is a 15–20 minute walk on a mountain path | Overlooks Ago Bay. From 24 November the road to the observatory car park is closed |
| 7 | Kashikojima and Ago Bay | Tourist car park at the south exit of Kashikojima Station, about 20 cars | Ago Bay sightseeing boat: adults ¥1,900 |
| 8 | Daiozaki Lighthouse | 80 cars (paid) | A lighthouse you can climb, lit since 1927. From November to February it is open 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00, entry ¥300 |
| — | Meoto Iwa (Futami Okitama Shrine) | Nearby: Futami Sogo car park 220 cars, Futami beach 150 cars and others | About 10 minutes from Ise IC |
| — | Tomoyama Park (Kirigaki Observatory) | Car park available | About 35 minutes from Shiraki IC |
Roadside stations
| No. | Station | Parking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Michi-no-Eki Ise-Shima | 19 standard cars, 2 large vehicles | In Isobe, Shima. The shop is open 9:00–17:00, every day of the year |
There are no roadside stations in Ise or Toba.
Best seasons and crowds
The area around Ise Jingu is congested at New Year, in Golden Week and on long weekends. At those times a park-and-bus-ride scheme runs: you park at the temporary car park around the Mie Prefectural Sun Arena (¥1,000 per car) and take a shuttle bus to Naiku, and the exits at Ise-Nishi IC and Ise IC are restricted. The dates for the 2026–27 New Year period had not been announced as of 26 October.
| When | What to see and watch for |
|---|---|
| New Year's Eve to New Year's Day | The Ise-Shima Skyline stays open all night, and you can see the first sunrise from Mt Asama. Toba Observatory also opens early on New Year's Day |
| New Year and Golden Week | Traffic control and park-and-bus-ride around Naiku. The previous New Year had traffic control from 31 December to 5 January and on weekends and public holidays in mid-January |
| Weekends and long weekends | The car parks at Yokoyama Observatory and the Meoto Iwa are very crowded |
Closures and restrictions (as of 26 October)
- 1 November is the All Japan University Ekiden (a relay race), with traffic control in Ise. Around Naiku some sections are closed to cars from 10:55 to 15:00, and you cannot drive through from the Minami-Ise side past Naiku into the city.
- On 22 November, from 9:00 to 15:00, the exit at Ise-Nishi IC on the southbound side (towards Toba) is closed. Use Tamaki IC or Ise IC.
- From 24 November to 1 March 2027, the road to the observatory car park at Yokoyama Observatory is closed for roadworks. The P1 car park can still be used.
- On Route 23 in front of Naiku, roadworks leave one lane towards Naiku.
Getting there and fuel
| From | Time |
|---|---|
| Nagoya | About 1 hour 40 minutes on the Ise Expressway to the city car parks at Naiku |
| Osaka | About 2 hours 40 minutes on the Ise Expressway to the city car parks at Naiku |
| Ise-Nishi IC (Ise Expressway) | About 5 minutes to the city car parks at Naiku, 5 minutes to Geku |
| Ise IC (Ise Expressway) | About 10 minutes to Futami Okitama Shrine, 40 minutes to Toba Observatory, about 40 minutes to Kashikojima |
| Toba-Minami IC and Shiraki IC | About 25 minutes to Yokoyama Observatory, about 35 minutes to Daiozaki Lighthouse |
There is no official list of petrol stations and EV chargers. Fill up in Ise or Toba before you head along the Shima coast.
If you don't have a car
Driving in Japan on a foreign licence needs a 1949 Geneva international driving permit or an official Japanese translation; see Driving in Japan on a Foreign License. If you are picking up a car at the airport, see Renting a Car at Haneda, Narita or Kansai Airport: Pickup and Return.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best one-day drive in Ise-Shima?
Visit Geku and Naiku, take the Ise-Shima Skyline over Mt Asama and down to Toba, then go to Toba Observatory on the Pearl Road, Yokoyama Observatory and Kashikojima, and finish at Daiozaki Lighthouse. It is about 81 km and about 2 hours of driving.
How much is parking at Naiku?
At the Uji city car parks, if you enter in the daytime the first hour is free, up to 2 hours is ¥500, and after that it is ¥100 per 30 minutes. The Geku car parks are free for up to 2 hours.
How much is the Ise-Shima Skyline toll?
It is ¥1,270 for a standard car. If you show your receipt from a city car park near Naiku, it is 20% off. It is normally open from 7:00 to 19:00 (until 20:00 in August).
When is the traffic control at New Year?
The dates for 2026–27 had not been announced as of 26 October. At the previous New Year there was traffic control around Naiku from 31 December to 5 January and on weekends and public holidays in mid-January, and park-and-bus-ride was in operation.
Can I use the car park at Yokoyama Observatory?
Yes, for now. From 24 November to 1 March 2027 the road to the observatory car park is closed for roadworks, so park at P1 and walk 15–20 minutes on a mountain path.
Nearby areas and guides
Sources & verification
Last verified: 2026-10-26
- Ministry of the Environment (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mie Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Ise City Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Shima City Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Ministry of the Environment Chubu Regional Environment Office (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mie Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mie Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mie Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Jingu Shicho (Ise Jingu administration office) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Shima City Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- NEXCO Central Japan (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Ministry of the Environment Chubu Regional Environment Office (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- MLIT Chubu Regional Development Bureau (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mikimoto Pearl Island (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Okage Yokocho (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Toba City (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mie Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Futami Okitama Shrine (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mie Prefecture (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Toba Observatory (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Shima City Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Shima City Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- MLIT Chubu Regional Development Bureau (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Minami-Ise Town (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Jingu Shicho (Ise Jingu administration office) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Rakuraku Ise-mode (Ise traffic information) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Jingu Shicho (Ise Jingu administration office) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Okage Yokocho (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Okage Yokocho (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Futami Okitama Shrine (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Toba Aquarium (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Toba Aquarium (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Mikimoto Pearl Island (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Toba City Tourist Association (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Ministry of the Environment Chubu Regional Environment Office (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Toko-kai (Daiozaki Lighthouse) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Shima City (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- Kanko Mie (Mie Tourism Federation) (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-26
- OpenStreetMap (map positions and route; © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL; route calculated with OSRM) · 2026-10-26
