Village & Hotel Shima Chichukaimura, a resort in Shima, Mie Prefecture, will launch a long-run stay campaign called CAMINO SHIMA (Camino Shima) on August 1, 2026, ahead of the 63rd Jingu Shikinen Sengu.
The campaign invites visitors to extend their trip to Shima before or after paying respects at Ise Jingu, spending one more night to enjoy the food of Miketsukuni Shima, the scenery of Ago Bay, and the resort's Mediterranean-style streets. Through limited menus, books, crafts, and mini talks held within the village, guests can encounter stories connecting two pilgrimages: the Ise pilgrimage and Spain's Camino de Santiago.
Two Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys Meet in Shima
With interest in Ise-Shima rising ahead of the 63rd Jingu Shikinen Sengu, planned for 2033, Shima Chichukaimura wanted to propose a trip that lets visitors extend their stay in Shima after visiting Ise Jingu and unwind at a slower pace.
The journey to Ise, long cherished as a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage that people have admired for generations, is echoed by another journey: the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, a sacred site in northwestern Spain.
The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage along routes that stretch across Europe, walked over days, weeks, or sometimes months. Pilgrims from around the world make their way toward the cathedral at the journey's end, encountering different landscapes, local cultures, and people along the way. Beyond its religious roots, it continues to draw many people today as a journey of self-reflection and a way to experience regional food and culture.
Though they differ in country and culture, the Ise pilgrimage and the Camino de Santiago share a common thread: following a path toward a sacred destination while enjoying the food, culture, and encounters found along the way. CAMINO SHIMA is Shima Chichukaimura's own way of connecting the stories of these two pilgrimages, set against the backdrop of Miketsukuni Shima — the land that has long provided food offerings to Ise Jingu — through food, books, crafts, and talks.
Five Ways to Wander Along the Way: Read, Taste, Wish, Listen, Create
Guests can take a leisurely detour during their stay through five experiences connecting the culture and stories of Ise, Shima, and Spain.
1. Road's Bookshelf
Books and reading material themed around Ise Jingu, the Shikinen Sengu, the Okihiki sacred-timber ceremony, Izawanomiya, the Ise pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago, and Miketsukuni Shima are available. Guests can pick up a book between activities to learn more about the places they are about to visit or the scenery they encountered on their trip.
Location: Front lobby, Golden Salon (overnight guests only), and other spots
2. Road's Table
The resort's two restaurants, Rias by Kokotxa and Taberna Azul, serve dishes made with ingredients from Miketsukuni Shima alongside sweets and drinks inspired by the food culture of Spain's Galicia region and the Camino de Santiago. Guests can enjoy the connected stories of Ise-Shima and Spain through food. Cafe Amigo also occasionally opens as a night bar with a distinctly Spanish evening atmosphere.
Octopus, Galician style
Marinated bonito, tekone-zushi style
Tarta de Santiago
Ise-Shima x Spain collaboration cocktail
See the special website for additional menu items.
3. Road's Markers
Items inspired by the scallop shell, a symbol of the Camino de Santiago, are available alongside ema votive plaques and goods themed around the 63rd Jingu Shikinen Sengu and the Okihiki ceremony. These make for a trip memento or a gift for someone special.
Location: Shop Amapola (scallop-shell ema plaques are also sold at the Tower of Love)
4. Wayside Talks on the Journey
Mini talks for overnight guests cover themes such as "My First Ise Pilgrimage" and "The Shikinen Sengu and the Okihiki." They offer a relaxed way to learn more and deepen the trip before or after a visit to the shrine.
Location: Held at カハリブレ on weekends and holidays
5. Road's Craft
At the Camino de Santiago's final destination, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the Botafumeiro — a large incense burner that swings dramatically through the cathedral's solemn space — is one of the pilgrimage's most iconic sights. At the craft workshop, guests can shape their travel memories into keepsakes, including making a lamp inspired by the Botafumeiro.
Location: Craft workshop (fee required)
Deepening the Ise Pilgrimage by One More Night
CAMINO SHIMA will continue to be updated after its August 1, 2026 launch, with content that changes alongside seasonal ingredients and events tied to the Shikinen Sengu. Rather than treating a visit to Ise Jingu as the end of the trip, the campaign aims to create an opportunity to discover the sea, food, and culture of Shima beyond it — proposing a new way to travel: "If you come to Ise, stay in Shima."
Shima Chichukaimura is also planning future pilgrimage tours to Izawanomiya, a subsidiary shrine of Ise Jingu located within Shima.
Campaign Overview
- Name: CAMINO SHIMA (Camino Shima)
- Start date: August 1, 2026
- Venue: Village & Hotel Shima Chichukaimura (三重県志摩市浜島町迫子2619-1)
- Eligibility: Overnight guests and same-day visitors *Some activities are limited to overnight guests or require advance reservation.
- Main content: Bookshelf corner, limited menus, shop merchandise, scallop-shell ema plaques, craft experiences, mini talks for overnight guests, and more
- Duration: Content will be updated in step with the seasons and related events leading up to the 63rd Jingu Shikinen Sengu, planned for autumn 2033.
About Village & Hotel Shima Chichukaimura
Shima Chichukaimura is a resort surrounded by the rich nature of Ago Bay and its beautiful rias coastline, welcoming visitors into a Mediterranean-style townscape. Designed to evoke the coasts of Spain, Italy, and Greece, the village is lined with white-walled, red-tiled buildings that create the feel of a trip abroad.
Within the village, guests can enjoy a range of craft experiences, gourmet dishes made with local ingredients, and accommodations designed for relaxation — a resort experience found only here, blending the charm of Japan and the Mediterranean.
