January is a wonderful time to visit Ise in Mie-Prefecture and Ise's biggest attraction, Ise Jingu. The Ise Grand Shrine is a complex of 125 Shinto shrines, centered around the two main shrines, Naiku and Geku. The New Year's crowds at Naiku and Geku create an almost festival-like atmosphere, but there are also many serene places to visit among the myriad of shrines.