Toyouke Daijingu (Ise Jingu Outer Shrine)

Located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture, this is the main shrine of the Ise Jingu complex, enshrining Toyouke-no-Ookami, the guardian deity of food, clothing, shelter, and industry. According to the 'Toshinuki-gu Gishiki-chou' (Ritual Manual of Toshinuki Shrine), in the 22nd year of Emperor Yuryaku (478 CE), Amaterasu-Omikami appeared in a dream to Emperor Yuryaku and instructed him to bring the deity Toshiyuki-no-Ookami from the province of Tango (present-day northern Kyoto Prefecture) closer to the inner shrine. Consequently, the deity was enshrined here. Toyouke-no-Ookami serves as the Mikenotsukami (deity of food offerings), providing morning and evening meals to Amaterasu-Omikami, who is enshrined in the Inner Shrine. Therefore, it is customary to visit the Outer Shrine before the Inner Shrine, a practice known as 'Soto-gu Sen-sai' (prior worship at the Outer Shrine). The Shikinen Sengu (ritual rebuilding of the shrine every 20 years) is conducted with the same solemnity as at the Inner Shrine.