At Ise Grand Shrine, the Shinto ceremony of rebuilding the main shrine buildings every 20 years is called shikinen sengū.
During this renewal, a new set of shrine buildings is constructed beside the existing ones, following traditional designs and techniques. The sacred objects associated with the enshrined kami are then transferred to the new buildings in a series of ceremonies. The process preserves architectural forms while allowing craftsmen to pass skills to new generations.
Ise Grand Shrine, formally Ise Jingū, consists principally of the Inner Shrine, Naikū, dedicated to Amaterasu, and the Outer Shrine, Gekū, dedicated to Toyouke. The rebuilding tradition is strongly associated with Ise, although the exact schedule and scope have varied historically.
The ceremony is not simply an annual festival or ordinary repair project. It expresses renewal, continuity, ritual purity, and the transmission of craftsmanship. The 62nd cycle was completed in 2013.