SCROLL

MIE三重
27℃
Few non-Japanese are familiar with Mie Prefecture. However, they may have heard of a place named Ise. Mie Prefecture is home to Ise Shrine, the head shrine and spiritual cornerstone of the Japanese Shinto faith since ancient times. Ise is a sort of homeland of the spirit for the Japanese; an old saying insists that every Japanese person should visit Ise Shrine once in his or her lifetime.
Along its north/south axis, Mie Prefecture has a collection of unique areas. Mie’s northernmost region of Kuwana, easily accessible from Nagoya, is a modern area that has come to flourish in recent years. Heading south from there, you will come across the castle towns of Iga Ueno and Matsusaka. Further down again, you will arrive at the Ise-Shima area and Ise Shrine. And traveling down to Mie’s southernmost edge, you will reach the cobbled streets of Kumano, nestled within a deeply forested area.
In short, the further south you go, the more you’ll start to feel that Mie is a sacred province of Japanese faith and the world of the gods. Traveling to Mie after first visiting Nara and Kyoto makes the charms of this area all the more clear. In addition, few regions of Japan can boast such an array of quality food, including ise-ebi spiny lobster and Matsusaka beef. Take a relaxing trip and enjoy the food, and you will be sure to encounter some of the deepest aspects of Japanese culture.
-
-
- Spring 10°C –25°C
- Watari oyster, the cherry trees of Miyagawa Tsutsumi, the spring Kagura Festival, the Akame valley of 48 waterfalls
-
- Summer 27°C–34°C
- Rock oysters, sea urchins, abalone, Ise-Jingu National Fireworks Display, the Great Kumano Grand Fireworks Display, Maruyama Senmaida rice paddies, the Shirongo Festival
-
- Autumn 10°C–25°C
- Bonito, ise-ebi spiny lobster, tekone sushi, Matsusaka beef festival, autumn leaves along the Isuzugawa River, the Ujisato Festival
-
- Winter 3°C–10°C
- Squid, saury, yellowtail, anorifugu puffer fish, the Nabana no Sato illuminations, the snowy landscape of Mt. Gozaisho
-
-
-
- Ise-Shima
- Centered on Ise Shrine, this region is Mie Prefecture’s classic sightseeing area. Along the beautiful ria-style coastline are many inlets. Top-quality marine seafood, such as ise-ebi lobster and abalone, is also abundant.
-
- Iga Ueno
- There are several historic towns here, including the castle town extending from the base of Iga Ueno Castle, as well as Nabari, once a post station town. Enjoy the serene inland atmosphere. Also known as the birthplace of the Iga-ryu ninja clan.
-
- Matsusaka
- A castle town that flourished in the Edo period. Old-fashioned houses still remain here. For the Japanese, the town is well known as one of Japan's top three beef producing areas, home of Matsusaka beef. It's a great spot to enjoy some excellent beef dishes, such as sukiyaki.
-
- Kumano
- Extending across southern Mie Prefecture, the area is full of dynamic nature to enjoy. Take the Kumano Kodo path, which turns from cobblestones to a forest path, and get a sense of what travel in Japan must have been like several hundred years ago.
-
- Kuwana
- Offers easy access from Nagoya and has many popular spots such as Nagashima Spa Land and Suzuka Circuit. Head towards the Yunoyama Onsen hot spring district to encounter a wealth of nature.
-
-
-
- Car
- Highways connect from Aichi Prefecture to the near side of Kumano. Used well, a car can shorten travel time considerably by cutting across different areas.
-
- Bus
- Mie Prefecture is quite long on the north/south axis. Although buses are quite handy for moving within specific areas, traveling from area to area by bus will require you to leave some time in your schedule.
-
- Train
- JR trains run along the coast, while Kintetsu line trains run inland. They don’t run very often, so you’ll have to check schedules in advance if you want to use them efficiently.
-
- Air
- There is no airport in Mie itself. The nearest airport is Chubu Centrair International Airport, located in adjacent Aichi Prefecture. Since this airport is located on the opposite shore of Ise Bay, using the Airport Line lets you access central Mie Prefecture in an hour or so.
-
-
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 100-minute flight from Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport.
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 75-minute flight from Sendai Airport.
- Chubu Centrair International Airport is a 65-minute flight from Matsuyama Airport.
- 75 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport via the Tsu Airport Line bound for Matsusaka Port
- 45 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport via the Tsu Airport Line bound for Tsu Nagisamachi Port
-
Ise-ebi spiny lobster Toba city, Shima city, Ise city
-
AQUA×IGNIS (Yunoyama Onsen) Mie-gun district
-
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum Iga city
-
Ise Shrine Ise city
-
Kumano Kodo Ise city, Owase city, Kumano city
-
Mikimoto Pearl Island Toba city
-
Suzuka Circuit Suzuka city
-
Festivals Kuwana city, Kumano city, Toba city
-
Okageyokocho Lane Ise city