The Itsukinomiya Hall for Historical Experience in Mie prefecture is a museum focusing on the ancient Saiku village. This is where unmarried Japanese princesses, up until the 1400s, would have resided except when participating in religious rituals at the nearby Ise Jingu Shrine. Dubbed the Saio princess, generations of Japanese princesses would've resided in the small village. Visitors to Itsukinomiya Hall will have opportunities to learn about the lifestyle of these isolated princesses, who spent much of their days collecting shells and writing poetry. In the main hall, try on the extravagant multi-layered clothing that the nobility would have worn or play ancient Japanese games the princesses might have played such as sugaroku or kaioi. Even if you don't come to Itsukinomiya Hall in time for the annual Saio Festival, you will still have ample opportunity to see snippets of the royal lifestyle from the Saiku Historical Museum or the Saiku Heian-no-mori Park.

Photograph provided by ”Visit ISESHIMA” Bureau