What to do in Mie Prefecture of Japan?
Mie Prefecture is an area with a great deal of history and something to offer for just about everyone. Located in Honshu, Mie is a very popular tourist destination.
There are a lot of coastlines here, offering spectacular views and beautiful beaches. The region is known for its agricultural produce, including mandarin oranges.
Here are ten of the best things to do in Mie Prefecture:
1. Ise Shrine (Ise Jingu)
Located fittingly in Ise city, this shrine is deeply sacred in the Shinto faith. The shrine is primarily dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu.
The shrine’s architecture is unique, as its original construction predates the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. Ise Shrine consists of the Inner and Outer Shrine. Both of these are rebuilt every 20 years following an ancient tradition.
A visit to Ise Shrine starts at Uji Bridge (Ujibashi Bridge), which crosses the Isuzugawa River and passes under two large tori gates. Beyond the bridge, the grounds have an elegant and deep simplicity, featuring gravel walkways and wooden shrines surrounded by quiet forest.
There are opportunities to cleanse oneself further in and you can also get amulets and charms. You can reach Ise Shrine by bus from Iseshi Station, Ujiyamada Station, and Isuzugawa Station.
2. Ama
Ama are female divers who have sought seaweed and shellfish for generations. While in many places more modern techniques have largely replaced these specialists, in Mie Prefecture, you can see them at work in Shima and Toba cities.
While there are men who dive, most of the divers are women, as they retain body heat better in the cold waters. These skilled divers swim out to the place where they seek to dive, then go under, spending up to a minute underwater as they search for a catch.
This is dangerous work and the weather conditions have to be just right to dive like this safely. Today, you can visit the amagoya, the huts where ama recover after their dives, and enjoy fresh seafood they’ve just caught while talking with these incredible women.
On Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba area, we highly recommend you to pay a visit to the Pearl Museum and the Kokichi Mikimoto Memorial Hall, as well as Pearl Plaza where pearls are sold.
In addition, you can visit the Toba Sea Folk Museum in Toba City to learn about the history and customs of the Ama, including many interesting exhibits related to the fishing traditions in the area.
3. Nabana no Sato
This flower garden is known for being lovely in every season. This 230,000 square meter park contains several well-tended themed gardens. 12,000 flowers of many varieties bloom here all year.
Besides the flowers, enjoy a spa as well as a beer garden. There are many cafes for visitors to enjoy, as well. Enjoy a great view at the park’s observatory. For the brave, you can also enjoy the view from a slanted tower sitting 45 meters above the ground.
From October to May, the garden is illuminated at night. You can reach Naban no Sato on the Nagashima Resort, which it is a part of. There are regular buses to the flower park from Nagoya as well as Chubu International Airport.
4. Akame 48 Waterfalls
This incredible valley offers an opportunity for visitors of all sorts to enjoy its unique beauty. While there are not quite 48 waterfalls, there are very many, from serene drips to roaring rushes, making this an incredible area to visit in every one of Japan’s unique seasons.
Be sure to visit the Japanese Salamander museum and enjoy some fun encounters with these odd amphibians. You can also start a pleasant and easy hike around the valley from here. This trail is four kilometers long and should take about three hours to complete.
You’ll find teahouses and restrooms along the way. For those who want to try something more active, try the Akame Ninja Training School. You can purchase a 90-minute session where you practice throwing ninja stars and stealth skills in classical ninja gear.
There must be at least two people in your party to participate in this training and advance reservations are needed (only an hour in advance is required).
To reach Akame 48 Waterfalls by train, take the Kintetsu line to Akameguchi Station. Once there, take the local bus going towards Akametaki for a short 10-minute ride to the Ametaki bus stop.
5. Toba Aquarium
Get wet and wild with more than 30,000 sea creatures at Toba Aquarium! You can see 1200 different species here, including saltwater and freshwater animals.
This not only includes fish, sea lions, and walruses but also animals you don’t often see in an aquarium, like the capybara, the largest rodent in the world.
A visit to Toba Aquarium is a unique place to visit, offering shows and some truly amazing exhibit, like the Forest of Miracle, where you can see waterfalls and cross a suspension bridge as if you are in remote, forested regions of Japan.
6. Iga Ninja Museum (Iga-ryu Ninja Museum)
This small museum details everything you ever wanted to know about these shadowy warriors of feudal Japan.
You can see numerous exhibits of equipment as well as tour a ninja residence full of trap doors and hidden compartments. There are also regular ninja shows demonstrating their specialized skills.
While small, the museum is a fun way to spend a day for visitors of all ages. The Iga Ninja museum is located in Ueno Park, a short walk from Uenoshi Station.
7. Oharaimachi
This is the traditional approach to Ise Shrine. This has made it a popular area for pilgrims and tourists and the kilometer-long stretch is lined with traditional-style buildings.
Here, visitors can enjoy many shops and restaurants. Enjoy regional specialties like akafuku, a sweet made from mochi rice paste and red bean paste, and Ise Udon, a noodle dish in a thick sauce.
Many of these businesses have been serving pilgrims for centuries. About halfway down Oharai-machi is a small district the recreates the time from the Edo Period to the early Meiji Period, called Okage Yokocho.
You will find more shops and eateries here, accompanied by a historical atmosphere. You can reach the area a few kilometres outside the center of Ise.
8. Shichiri Mihama Beach
This is Japan’s longest beach, stretching for 22 kilometres. It is a gravelly beach and home to many different kinds of wildlife.
You are not allowed to swim here due to powerful currents and large waves, but you can stroll along the shore. The views are incredible.
Photographers love the long stretches of beach, especially if they head up to Matsumoto Pass that overlooks the area. Between the start of May and the end of September, loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach, something not seen in very many places.
On August 17, the Kumano Fireworks Festival is held on the beach every year.
The best way to reach any part of the beach is via a rented car, but you can also walk there from Kumanoshi Station.
9. Kumano Kudo Magose Pass
This lush green rails had been a pilgrimage route for centuries. Pilgrims would take it up to sacred mountains of Wakayama from all over Japan.
Walking this trail feels like walking back in time. It is a serene journey, with a spectacular view from Magose pass and the summit of Mt. Tengura. In cherry blossoms season, you’ll see cherry trees in bloom at Magose Park near Magose Pass.
You can reach the trail from Owase or Aiga Stations. Take a bus from either of these stations, take a bus to Washige stop and walk about 10 minutes to the start of the trail.’
10. Nagashima Resort
Located just outside of Nagoya, there is something for everyone at Nagashima resort. You can visit the flower park mentioned above, as well as the Nagashima Spaland amusement park, a large complex of hot spring baths, and an outlet shopping mall.
The amusement park is considered on the best roller coaster park in Japan and is the big draw of the resort. There is also a waterpark on the grounds. The spa complex offers a more relaxing experience for after your thrills.
The outlet mall offers more than 300 stores, including local boutiques as well as major worldwide retailers. You can reach Nagashima Resort by taking a bus from Nagoya Station or Kuwana Station.
