Emperor, Empress to Visit Ise Jingu in April before Abdication

November 21, 2018

Tokyo--Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Ise Jingu, a Shinto shrine in the city of Ise in the central prefecture of Mie, in April next year, ahead of the Emperor's abdication at the end of the month, the Imperial Household Agency said Tuesday.

The plan was decided at the day's meeting of the agency's committee to prepare for the Emperor's abdication on April 30, 2019, and Crown Prince Naruhito's accession to the throne the following day.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit the tomb of Emperor Jimmu, who is believed to be the first emperor of Japan, in the city of Kashihara in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, in March.

This is the first time in some 200 years for the agency to create abdication-related new activities for the Imperial Family.

In April, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will also visit the tomb in Hachioji, Tokyo, of Emperor Showa, the father of the current Emperor and posthumously known as Emperor Showa. Jiji Press