Matsusaka beef松阪牛
One of Japan's most famous wagyu, from Matsusaka in Mie.
Where to try it: Gojo-machi Samurai Residence Street, Matsusaka
Kansai
Mie Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
A long coastal prefecture south of Nagoya, home to Ise Jingu, Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine. Also known for the ninja town of Iga, the pearl coast around Toba and Ago Bay, and Matsusaka beef.
Open Mie on the map41 places on the map · 18 local favourites
Local tips
- TipKintetsu trains run direct to Ise from both Nagoya and Osaka, and are usually the easiest way in.
- DoFollow the custom of visiting the Outer Shrine (Geku) before the Inner Shrine (Naiku) at Ise.
- TipOharai-machi and Okage Yokocho, the old streets by the Inner Shrine, are the place for Ise snacks and lunch.
- Heads upIse Jingu is extremely crowded over New Year; go early in the morning or pick another time.
- TipFor a quieter side of Mie, walk a section of the Kumano Kodo Iseji pilgrimage route in the south.
What to eat
Ise udon伊勢うどん
Very soft, thick udon coated in a dark, sweet soy sauce, eaten around Ise Jingu.
Tekone-zushiてこね寿司
Soy-marinated slices of bonito or tuna over vinegared rice, a fishermen’s dish from the Shima coast.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Yunokuchi Onsen
湯ノ口温泉 Hot SpringsExperiencesA remote hot spring in Kumano reached by a small mine train through a tunnel. A charming local secret.
● Mostly localsMaruyama Senmaida
丸山千枚田 Nature & SceneryTerraced rice fields covering a hillside in Kumano, among the largest in Japan. The seasonal torch event lights the terraces with fire.
● Mostly localsOwase Otto Fish Market
おわせお魚いちば おとと Local FoodShoppingA fish market in the port town of Owase selling fresh local catch, with a restaurant serving seafood bowls. A great lunch stop on the Kumano coast.
● Mostly localsKumihimo Kumisho no Sato
伊賀くみひも組匠の里 ExperiencesA craft centre in Iga where you can try kumihimo, traditional silk braiding, and make a small keepsake.
● Mostly localsToba Sea-Folk Museum
海の博物館 Sights & HistoryA museum about Ise-Shima's fishing culture and the ama divers, with a large collection of wooden fishing boats in striking black timber halls.
● Mostly localsAkame 48 Falls
Nature & SceneryA waterfall-hiking trail near Nabari with dozens of named falls along a forested gorge trail, historically tied to ninja training legends — a real hike, not a…
● Mostly localsGojo-machi Samurai Residence Street, Matsusaka
Nature & SceneryShoppingA preserved row of low-ranking samurai residences in Matsusaka, the city better known nationally for its wagyu beef — this street is the quieter, less commercialized…
● Mostly localsRairaiken Tonteki
来来憲 Local FoodThe Yokkaichi shop associated with tonteki, a thick pork steak in a dark garlicky sauce. A hearty local favourite.
● Mostly localsHana no Iwaya Shrine
花の窟神社 Temples & GoshuinchoOne of Japan's oldest shrines, where the object of worship is a huge rock face. A long rope is strung from its top in a seasonal ceremony.
● Mostly localsShishi-iwa
獅子岩 Nature & SceneryA tall coastal rock in Kumano shaped like a roaring lion facing the sea. A short stop on a Kumano coast drive.
● Mostly localsMagose Pass, Kumano Kodo
馬越峠 Nature & SceneryA stretch of the Kumano Kodo Iseji route with mossy stone paving through a cypress forest. A beautiful half-day hike near Owase.
● Mostly localsOsatsu Ama Hut Hachiman Kamado
相差 海女小屋 はちまんかまど ExperiencesLocal FoodA hut where ama women divers grill fresh seafood for you and share stories of their work. A genuine cultural encounter in Toba.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Ise Jingu (Naiku)
Temples & GoshuinchoLocal FoodJapan's most sacred Shinto shrine and a major national pilgrimage and tourist destination.
Okage Yokocho
おかげ横丁 Local FoodShoppingA recreated Edo-era street next to Ise Jingu Naiku with local food stalls and shops. Try Ise udon, tekone-zushi and grilled seafood.
Nabana no Sato
Nature & SceneryShoppingFlower park famous for its large-scale winter light displays — one of the region's most heavily visited seasonal attractions.
Akafuku Honten
赤福 本店 Local FoodThe main shop of Ise's famous sweet, soft rice cake covered in smooth red bean paste, served with green tea by the Isuzu River.
Toba Aquarium
Nature & SceneryLarge aquarium on Ise Bay, a popular family stop paired with Ise Jingu visits.
Hananoiwaya Shrine
Nature & SceneryTemples & GoshuinchoHananoiwaya Shrine in Mie Prefecture is one of Japan's oldest shrines, enshrining a massive sacred rock formation as its deity. The site is particularly renowned for…
Ise Grand Shrine
Temples & GoshuinchoNature & SceneryOne of Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines, Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu) is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and draws pilgrims and visitors from across the…
Ise Jingu
Temples & GoshuinchoNature & SceneryOne of Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine complexes, Ise Jingu enshrines the sun goddess Amaterasu and draws millions of pilgrims and visitors each year. The grand inner…