Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine has been rebuilt every 20 yearsEvery 20 years, Japan's Ise Jingu shrine is entirely rebuilt using sacred cypress trees in a 1,300-year-old ritual. This spiritual renewal blends tradition, craftsmanship, and Shinto belief, symbolizing continuity, reverence for nature, and connection across generationsBy AP Published Date - 23 September 2025, 12:35 PMHandmade Shinto shrine alters are seen at Miyachu factory, which crafts miniature replicas of the Ise Jingu shrine, in Tamaki, central Japan. The ritualistic harvesting of this sacred timber is part of a remarkable process that has happened every two decades for the last 1,300 years at Ise Jingu, Japan’s most revered Shinto shrine. Thousands gather to see the rebuilding ceremonies, part of about 7 million pilgrims a year who converge on the shrine, which has long been the polestar for Shinto devotees. Japan’s indigenous Shinto faith, which also acts as a cultural connection for family and community, is largely rooted in animism.