ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ise, Mie

"ise" and "mie" are the names of two cities in Japan. They are both very special places because they are considered to be very important in Japanese culture and history.

Let's talk about ise first. Ise is located in Mie prefecture, which is a region in Japan. In ise, there is a very famous and old shrine called the "Ise Grand Shrine." This shrine is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, who is believed to be the ancestor of the Japanese Imperial family. The Ise Grand Shrine is actually two shrines: the Inner Shrine and the Outer Shrine. The Inner Shrine is the most important one and is rebuilt every 20 years. People from all over Japan come to visit this shrine and pray for good luck and blessings.

Mie, on the other hand, is a city located in the same prefecture as ise. It is also a very special place because it has many beautiful natural sights and is known for its delicious seafood. One of the most famous attractions in Mie is the Ise-Shima National Park, which is a protected area with stunning coastlines, islands, and forests. In this national park, you can find different types of animals, plants, and even the famous ama divers. These ama divers are women who dive into the sea without any breathing equipment to catch seafood like oysters, abalone, and pearls. Mie is also known for its delicious Matsusaka beef, which is a very high-quality and tasty type of beef.

So to sum it up, ise and mie are two cities in Japan that are very important and special because ise has the famous Ise Grand Shrine, and mie has beautiful natural sights and delicious food. Both places attract many visitors and are loved by the Japanese people for their rich culture and history.