Ise-Shima National Park A Story of Harmony Between People, the Sea, and Ise Jingu's Ancient Tradition.

The Shima Peninsula is located in the central part of Mie Prefecture, and Ise-Shima National Park encompasses the peninsula and the surrounding area. It covers a vast expanse of approximately 60,000 hectares, spanning the cities of Ise, Toba, and Shima, as well as the town of Minamiise.

Ise-Shima National Park is broadly divided into two areas. One is an inland zone centered on Ise Jingu and the lush, natural forests that lie behind it. The other is a coastal zone characterized by a *rias* coastline—featuring complex topography and geology, along with countless small inlets and headlands. Compared to other national parks, this park has an exceptionally high proportion of privately owned land (over 96%) and a large resident population. This unique characteristic allows visitors to deeply experience the lives, history, culture, and customs of the local people; it is a park that boasts beautiful scenery while offering a tangible sense of the relationship between humanity and nature.

The Ise-Shima region retains many shrines and temples closely linked to the lives of the people. The natural environments that embrace this daily life, history, and culture remain vibrant today as *satoyama* (managed woodlands and countryside) and *satoumi* (productive coastal waters), existing in close harmony with the local community.