Sea women and holy waterfalls: discover Japan's mysterious beauty

Sea women and holy waterfalls: discover Japan's mysterious beauty

In the cool waters of the Ise-Shima National Park in Japan, Aiko Ohno, a traditional AMA diver, for sea urchin and turban shells. It floats with ease at three meters depth, equipped with diving goggles, fins, a weight belt and a sukari, a network that is attached to a lively ring. "I just love the sea and the water," she says when she reappears.

traditional life of the Ama divers

Ohno is an AMA diver, also known as the "sea woman" in Japan. For centuries, these traditional fishermen have been living from the waters of the waters around the Ise Shima region, collecting seafood that they sell on the market. "We live in harmony with nature-we do not catch too much and are aware of the need to protect them. This tradition has been passed on for thousands of years," says Ohno, who moved here from Tokyo nine years ago to become AMA diver.

The challenges of diving

Today the Pacific is somewhat more tortured - the remains of a late autumn taifus - which is why Ohno and their crew from free divers do not stay in the water for long. However, your networks are already filling up within just ten minutes. Age doesn't matter. At the age of 46, it is one of the youngest in her group - the oldest diver today is 74 years old. According to estimates, there are only about 2,000 Ama divers in Japan, most of them in this idyllic region.

The soul of Japan - isse jingu

The Ise-Shima region is also a well-known pilgrimage destination, especially with regard to the ISE JINGU. This sacred shrine, which consists of 125 smaller shrines, is a center of Shinto-Spirituality and attracts millions of visitors every year who admire the area and its time-honored cedar and codes.

The old ceremony of waterfall meditation

About half an hour drive from iSe Jingu, in the lavish mountains of Toba, is the holy Shirataki waterfall. Here visitors can take part in a centuries -old Buddhist ceremony called Takigyo, which comprises sitting under the lavish water and cleans the body and mind. "This area has been a place of worship for nature for 1,300 years where people clean themselves with water," says Shigeki Matsumoto, the chairman of the Shirataki Daimyojin Shrine Association.

active in nature

The ISE-Shima region offers a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking and cycling to ziplining and parachuting. One of the best ways to explore this beautiful area is with an ATV. In the south of the national park, near the city of Minamiise, visitors can expect a labyrinth of off-road routes that are waiting to be discovered.

a culinary experience in Ise-Shima

isse-shima is also known for its abundance of seafood. In ancient times, the region was referred to as Miketsukuni, which means that its seafood, such as LaGustel and Abalone, was collected for the imperial family of Japan. Today you can find seafood from Ise-Shima in first-class restaurants in all of Japan. In the restaurant Ran, which is located in the Oyado the Earth Hotel, the chef Mototsugu Yamakawa serves a delicious selection of regional specialties and combines them with breathtaking views on the Pacific.

journey to Ise-Shima

To visit ISE-Shima, a detour from the popular tourist destinations is necessary. There are about three hours of ride or train ride from Kansai International Airport in Osaka. But that is exactly what makes this place so special. Travelers are rewarded with another side of Japan - one of adventures, old traditions and infinite beauty.