KuwanaShichiri no Watashi
The only sea crossing on the Tokaido began here. The first torii of Ise Province stands at the landing.
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Mie
From sacred paths to blue seas.
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KuwanaAbasaa · Public domain ↗
IseFutami Okitama Jinja
Known for the Wedded Rocks. It was the custom to purify yourself here before going on to Ise.
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TaikiTakihara no Miya
An auxiliary shrine of the Inner Shrine, called the distant shrine. Deep forest surrounds it.
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SuzukaTsubaki Okami Yashiro
The head shrine of Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who opens the way. As a god who opens roads, he draws prayers for road safety and at turning points in life.
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FEATUREMie now (autumn)Autumn colors surround Akame's waterfalls and the Kumano Kodo.See the feature Koda6029 · CC BY-SA 4.0Recommended information
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Regional culture, tradition, food, sightseeing, nature and people. A directory that delivers the appeal of each to the whole world.
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THINGS TO DO / 6
Things to do in this prefecture
Choose from what you can only do here.
01Visit Ise JinguVisit the forested Inner and Outer Shrines of Japan's foremost Shinto sanctuary.See related entries →Ocdp · CC002Stroll Oharai-machiSample local food and browse traditional shops along the historic approach.See related entries →Ocdp · CC0
03Hike the Kumano KodoHike a World Heritage pilgrimage trail through cedar forests and stone paths.See related entries →CC BY-SA 2.004Meet the Ama DiversLearn about the free-diving women who preserve a centuries-old maritime tradition.See related entries →Ocdp · CC0
05View Ago BaySee pearl rafts and forested islands from a lookout or sightseeing cruise.See related entries →Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 4.006Discover Iga NinjaExplore ninja history through a trick house, exhibits and demonstrations.See related entries →Ocdp · CC0NEED TO KNOW
At a glance
- AirportNearest: Chubu Centrair International Airport (Aichi)
- ShinkansenNone (nearest: Nagoya Station)
- From TokyoAbout 2 hours 40 minutes to Tsu Station by shinkansen and Kintetsu limited express
- Best seasonMarch–May and October–November
- Local specialtiesIse udon · Matsusaka beef · Japanese spiny lobster
- Typical temperatureSummer: around 28°C / Winter: around 6°C
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
What each season brings
z tanuki · CC BY 3.0Spring
MAR–MAYMild weather makes spring ideal for walking the Ise routes and coast.
See recommendations for this season →.jpg){kind=link}
Kenichi_Inagaki · CC BY 4.0Summer
JUN–AUGExplore islands and enjoy seaside activities along the Shima coast.
See recommendations for this season →
Koda6029 · CC BY-SA 4.0Autumn
SEP–NOVAutumn colors surround Akame's waterfalls and the Kumano Kodo.
See recommendations for this season →
carloshonda · CC BY 3.0Winter
DEC–FEBSpiny lobster, oysters and other seafood reach their seasonal best.
See recommendations for this season →
LOCAL FOOD / 12
Local food
What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.
Ise udon
Thick udon boiled until soft and coated with a dark, rich sauce made by cooking down tamari soy sauce with sugar and mirin and combining it with a dashi of kombu and mixed dried fish flakes.
Area：Ise-Shima food culture area (Ise, Toba)
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Tekone zushi
Red-fleshed fish such as bonito or tuna marinated in a sauce of soy sauce and mirin, mixed by hand into sushi rice, and served with shiso, ginger and nori.
Area：Ise-Shima food culture area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Sanmazushi
Pacific saury split open along the back, sprinkled with salt, cured in vinegar with the juice of daidai or other citrus, boned, and laid on top of sushi rice to form a whole-fish sushi.
Area：Higashi-Kishu food culture area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Arame maki
Sardines or Pacific saury with the head and innards removed are wrapped in arame seaweed that has been rehydrated in water, then simmered for about twenty minutes in sugar, soy sauce, sake and mirin.
Area：Ise-Shima food culture area (Toba area), Hokusei food culture area, Higashi-Kishu food culture area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Chagayu
Rice porridge cooked uncovered in water brewed from bancha or hojicha tea placed in a tea bag, using washed rice. It is stirred from time to time to skim off the scum.
Area：Iga food culture area, Higashi-Kishu food culture area, Chunansei food culture area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Tofu Dengaku (Grilled Tofu Dressed With Sweet Miso Paste)
Drained firm tofu cut into rectangular sticks, skewered on bamboo sticks, grilled on both sides, then spread with dengaku miso made by working miso together with sugar and mirin, and toasted.
Area：Iga food culture area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Tako-meshi (Octopus Rice)
Octopus rubbed with salt to remove the slime, cut into chunks, marinated in a seasoning of soy sauce, sake and mirin, then cooked together with the rice.
Area：Ise-Shima food culture area (mainly Toba)
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Narezushi (lactic acid fermented sushi)
Sweetfish, Pacific saury, mackerel and other fish are packed in a large amount of salt, desalted, then layered in a tub with cooked rice, weighted down and fermented with lactic acid bacteria.
Area：Throughout Mie Prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kokera zushi
Pressed sushi in which sushi rice and five kinds of topping, cut into strips, such as carrot, dried shiitake, snow peas, vinegar-cured mackerel and thin omelet, are layered three or four times in a mold and pressed.
Area：Higashi-Kishu food culture area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Sakana no Jifu/Sakana no Sukiyaki (Fish Jifu/Fish Sukiyaki)
Blue-backed fish cut into bite-sized pieces and cooked sukiyaki-style in a broth of sake, sugar and soy sauce together with Chinese cabbage, green onion, grilled tofu, shredded konjac and mushrooms.
Area：Higashi-Kishu food culture area (mainly fishing villages on the Kumano-nada coast)
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kakimaze(Mixed Sushi)
Mixed sushi in which fish marinated in vinegar and simmered dried shiitake, fried tofu, freeze-dried tofu, burdock, carrot and green beans are stirred into sushi rice.
Area：Higashi-Kishu food culture area (around Kumano, Mihama and Kiho)
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kounago no Kugini
Sand lance added in several batches to a boiling mixture of coarse brown sugar, soy sauce, sake, mirin and ginger, then cooked down without stirring until the liquid is gone.
Area：Along the Ise Bay coast of the Hokusei, Chunansei and Ise-Shima (mainly Toba) food culture areas
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
MICHI-NO-EKI / 18
Michi-no-Eki roadside stations
RestInformationLocal links
Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.
- Kiho-cho Umigame KoenKiho, Minamimuro DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
- KomonoKomono, Mie DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
- Iitaka-ekiMatsusakaRegistered April 1993Official site
- Park Shichiri MihamaMihama, Minamimuro DistrictRegistered April 1994Official site
- MiyamaKihoku, Kitamuro DistrictRegistered August 1996Official site
- Okuise KitsutsukikanTaiki, Watarai DistrictRegistered April 1997Official site
- Kumano KinokuniKumanoRegistered October 1997Official site
- Chakura-ekiMatsusakaRegistered April 1998Official site
- Okuise OdaiOdai, Taki DistrictRegistered August 1999Official site
- MisugiTsuRegistered August 1999Official site
- Ise-ShimaShimaRegistered August 2000Official site
- SekijukuKameyamaRegistered August 2000Official site
There are 18 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).
LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 2
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CITIES & TOWNS / 18
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INTERESTS / 15
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Only the interests found in this prefecture.
Where locals eat!1 entries
To the listIse Jingu · Ocdp · CC0Shrines & Temples34 entries
Ise Jingu ／ Futami Okitama Jinja
To the listAgo Bay · Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 4.0Nature & Scenery46 entries
Ago Bay ／ Meoto Iwa
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Mount Gozaisho · Alpsdake · CC BY-SA 4.0Hot Springs5 entries
Mount Gozaisho ／ Suzuka Skyline
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Okage Yokocho · Miyuki Meinaka · CC BY-SA 4.0Historic Districts16 entries
Okage Yokocho ／ Matsusaka Beef
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Nabana no Sato · panoramiokobax · CC BY 3.0Gardens1 entries
Nabana no Sato
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Kawasaki Merchant District, Ise · 伊勢志摩日和 · Public domainArchitecture16 entries
Kawasaki Merchant District, Ise ／ Rokkaen
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Iga Ninja Museum · John Gillespie · CC BY-SA 2.0Museums14 entries
Iga Ninja Museum ／ Mie Prefectural Museum
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Mie Prefectural Art Museum · 663highland · CC BY 2.5Art & Crafts38 entries
Mie Prefectural Art Museum ／ Sekisui Museum
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Onigajo · 玄史生 · CC BY-SA 3.0Contemporary Art4 entries
Onigajo ／ Meoto Iwa
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Ise Kaido · Bakkai · CC BY 3.0Craft Experiences50 entries
Ise Kaido ／ Suzuka Circuit
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Shima Spain Village Parque Espana · Yanajin33 · CC BY-SA 3.0Culture & History14 entries
Shima Spain Village Parque Espana ／ Kanbodai-ji Temple (Shogatsu-do)
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Kumano Fireworks · Yard · CC BY-SA 3.0Festivals1 entries
Kumano Fireworks
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Imuraya Group Head Office Factory · Corpse Reviver · CC BY-SA 3.0Food & Markets19 entries
Imuraya Group Head Office Factory ／ Mie Prefecture Industrial Research Institute
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Toba Aquarium · Motokoka · CC BY-SA 4.0Experiences5 entries
Toba Aquarium ／ Oyatsu Town
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Shima Mediterranean Village · Miyuki Meinaka · CC BY-SA 4.0Stays8 entries
Shima Mediterranean Village ／ Aqua Ignis
To the listHIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of this prefecture
From entries with clearly licensed photos.
Shrines & TemplesIse
Ise Jingu
The collective name for 125 shrines, the Inner and Outer Shrines among them. The rebuilding every twenty years is a method of preservation aimed not at the building but at the skill of building it, and its root is the same as the passing on of crafts we have followed through this series.
Contemporary ArtKumano
Onigajo
A great rock wall cut by the waves. Part of the Kumano Kodo World Heritage site.
Historic DistrictsIse
Okage Yokocho
Before the gate of the Inner Shrine. The streets of the Edo and Meiji eras have been recreated.
Nature & SceneryShima
Ago Bay
Pearl rafts float on a rias coast. This is the sea where Mikimoto Kokichi first succeeded in culturing pearls.
GardensKuwana
Nabana no Sato
One of the largest illumination displays in Japan, with a begonia garden alongside.
MuseumsIga
Iga Ninja Museum
A ninja house with revolving walls and hidden doors, moved here and rebuilt.
SMILE NEWS / 136
Smile news from Japan and the world
Stories that lift your spirits a little, collected with their sources.
Suzuka ink and Ise stencil artisans honored for traditional crafts
Two people from Mie Prefecture have been chosen for this year's national awards for contributions to traditional crafts. Harunobu Ito of Suzuka ink receives the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry award, and Masaaki Okoshi of Ise stencil paper receives the Chubu Bureau Director award.
source: MieWomen rangers return Darwin's rheas to the wild in Chile
In Chile's Patagonia National Park, a women-led ranger team returned 13 Darwin's rheas to the wild in April 2026. Working with the Rewilding Chile Foundation, they care for the birds around the clock; surveys once estimated only about 11 to 15 remained.
source: MongabayNew 210-million-year-old dinosaur species named from Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba shore
A new dinosaur species, Musango matusadonaensis, has been described from rocks about 210 million years old in Matusadona National Park on the shore of Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. The bipedal, not-yet-adult animal was about 4.5 metres long, and the find suggests Zimbabwe's dinosaur fauna differed from South Africa's.
source: Phys.org (The Conversation)INSTAGRAM / SHRINES & TEMPLES / 1
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SEASONS & EVENTS
Seasons & events
Kumano Grand Fireworks Festival
2026-08-17 ～ 2026-08-17
Tsu Festival
2026-10-09 ～ 2026-10-11
Ueno Tenjin Festival
2026-10-23 ～ 2026-10-25
BEFORE YOU GO
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