Meoto Iwa

Located off the shores of Futami city in Mie and just 10km away from Ise Grand Shrine, Meoto Iwa (also known as the Married Couple Rocks), are a couple of small rocks sitting peacefully.

According to the Shinto Futami Okitama Jinja (二見興玉神社), the rocks represent the union of the creators of Izanagi-no-Okami (God), represented by the larger rock and Izanami-no-Mikoto (Goddess), by the smaller and more delicate rock. Link together by a rope, these two rocks symbolize the union in marriage between a man and a woman.

It is also interesting to note that the rope linking both rocks can weigh up to a ton and need to be replaced several times a year during a dedicated ceremony organized by the Futami Okitama Jinja. Finally if you plan to visit Meoto Iwa it is, according to the locals, advisable to come in summer and early in the morning to fully enjoy the sun rising between the two rocks.

Also note that the video above was taken on the same day, first at 6am during high tide, and then at 2pm during low tide.