Saiō (斎王) or itsuki no miko was the title of the unmarried female members of the Japanese Imperial Family, sent to serve at Ise Grand Shrine from the late 7th century to the 14th century. The saiō's residence, Saikū (斎宮), was about 10 km (6.2 mi) north-west of the shrine. The remains of Saikū are situated in the town of Meiwa, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

The Grand Shrine of Ise , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as Jingū (神宮), Ise Jingū is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, Naikū (内宮) and Gekū (外宮).