The Naiku is the inner sanctuary of the Ise shrine. Dedicated to Amaterasu, it is tucked away in a dark, thick forest of giant cedars, camphor trees and centennial cypresses spread over 13,500 acres. The grandiose Uji Bridge leads to the site, where you can observe the purification ritual in the Temizuscha. The Naiku, made out of wood and thatching, is out of bounds - only the imperial couple and religious dignitaries can enter, but you can glimpse the gilded beams inside.