Mie Hidden Gems
Home of Ise Grand Shrine, Shinto's most sacred site, plus pearl farming bays and a coastline of ama free-divers.
7 spots
Climate & Best Season
Warm and rainy, especially in the southern Kii mountains; mild winters. Spring and autumn are best for the pilgrimage routes.
Famous For (Food)
- Matsusaka beef
- Ise udon
- Tekone-zushi
- Oysters & spiny lobster
Signature Sights
- Ise Jingu
- Meoto Iwa wedded rocks
- Toba pearl islands
- Kumano Kodo trails
Oharai-machi & Okage-yokocho — Ise's Edo-Period Shopping Streets
Oharai-machi (おはらい町) is an 800-meter pedestrian street lined with Edo-period style wooden buildings, connecting Ise Jing…
Matsusaka Beef — Japan's Most Luxurious Wagyu
Matsusaka beef doesn't just melt in your mouth—the phrase gets overused, but here it's literally accurate. At proper ser…
Ama Divers of Ise-Shima — Women Freedivers of the Sea
Ama divers work the water the way their mothers and grandmothers did—no tanks, no wetsuits thick enough to matter, just…
Ise Shrimp (Ise-Ebi) — Japan's Finest Spiny Lobster
Ise-ebi (伊勢海老, 'Ise lobster') is a spiny lobster species native to Japan's Pacific coast, with Ise Bay producing the hig…
Kuwana Clam (Hamaguri) — Sweet Grilled Shellfish
Kuwana hamaguri (桑名のはまぐり) are large clams harvested from the Ibi River estuary where freshwater meets Ise Bay, creating…
Toba Oyster (Toba Kaki) — Grilled Seaside Delicacy
Toba oysters (鳥羽牡蠣, Toba kaki) are cultivated in the nutrient-rich waters of Toba Bay and Matoya Bay, producing large, p…
Toba Marine Terminal — Fresh Seafood Market & Bay Views
Toba Marine Terminal (鳥羽マリンターミナル) is a waterfront complex combining a fresh seafood market, restaurants, ferry terminal,…