Ise Jingu has a history going back more than 2,000 years, and it is a sacred site for Japanese people. It has long been a center of worship for Japan’s ancient religion, Shinto.
It is also credited as being the first case of mass tourism in Japan. In the early Edo period (1603-1867), Oise Mairi (pilgrimages on foot to lse) from all points in Japan boomed. 
Today, Ise Jingu, the "soul of Japan," is a highly popular destination for foreign tourists as well. This is because it is a key location for understanding the culture, history, and thinking of Japan.

If you would like to know more about Ise Jingu, follow the link below to a collection of relevant articles.

The Shikinen Sengu ceremony dates back to 690 AD and began at the suggestion of the reigning Emperor of Japan. The ritual involves a complete rebuilding of Ise Jingu, including the divine palace, as well as the sacred apparel, furnishings and divine treasures to be placed in the new shrines. 

The last Shikinen Sengu in 2013 was the 62nd time it has taken place over more than 1,300 years. 

If you think the next ceremony is still a long way off, the following may surprise you.

Shikinen Sengu is not a typical festival that takes place over the course of a few days. Its ceremonies are carried out as part of one of the three rites below, over the course of nine years.　
・Goshinboku no Omatsuri, the ritual cutting and transportation of the first trees for the new divine palace 
・Shaden Kenchiku no Omatsuri, held upon the construction of the new divine palace 
・Kami Utsuri no Omatsuri, when divine objects are transported between shrines
The next Shikinen Sengu is scheduled to begin in 2025.

The Parthenon temple is built of stone, the Eiffel Tower is forged of iron, and all structures weather and change shape with the passage of time.
However, through the periodic rebuilding/regeneration of the Shikinen Sengu, Ise Jingu has remained timeless and absolute for over 1,300 years. 

In short, by "changing to remain unchanged," Ise Jingu has achieved a kind of permanence.

Regardless of how pleasant it must be for the gods, don't you feel it may be less than sustainable to "rebuild again and again"? 
But looking into the matter further, nothing could be more sustainable than Shikinen Sengu. Whether it is the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or recycling, this is a very thoughtful tradition. Long before the adoption of the SDGs in September 2015 (nearly 100 years before), a plan to reach the final goal of the Shikinen Sengu being fully self-sufficient in timber continues to this day, beginning with the initiative to grow the trees for the sacred cypress (hinoki) in local districts.
As such, this tradition is at the cutting edge of preserving the natural environment.
Moreover, the old shrine structures and torii gates are not simply disposed of. Rather, they are recycled time and again as they are moved to other shrines, with no timber going to waste.