outside Japan, when people hear Kansai, the first prefectures that come to mind are Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. They are the holy trinity of Kansai tourism. and it’s not difficult at all to see why. The trio offers a perfect blend of modernity, heritage, and entertainment.
But Kansai is more than just these tourism powerhouses. The region is made up seven amazing prefectures, each with something unique and fascinating to offer to curious travelers. one of them is Mie.
Mie Prefecture occupies the eastern coast of the Kansai region and shares western borders with Shiga, Nara, and Wakayama. because of its proximity to Gifu and Aichi prefectures, Mie’s culture has some influences from these neighbors too. In fact, Mie is also considered part of Shoryudo Region, an area that also comprises central Japan prefectures. Mie enjoys a booming domestic tourism, but in many other countries, it is typically unheard of. allow us to give you some of the reasons why you should add Mie to your next Japan itinerary!
But before that, let me first introduce to you something that you might want to consider in order to save a lot as you explore around Mie and the rest of Kansai: the Kintetsu Rail Pass.
Vad behandlas i den här guiden?
Kintetsu Rail Pass
Places to check out in MieIga Ninja City
Nabana no Sato
Oharaimachi and Okage-yokocho
Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu)
Hachiman Kamado (Ama Hut Experience)
Sample Overnight Mie itinerary with budget Breakdown
Var de ska bo
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Kintetsu Rail Pass
The Kintetsu Rail Pass is a ticket that will give you unlimited access to the Kintetsu railway network, which spans much of the Kansai region and reaches even as far as Nagoya. There are four types:
KINTETSU RAIL PASS (regular), which is valid for 5 days for Kintetsu train lines. Cost: ¥3600.
KINTETSU RAIL PASS plus (emphasis on the plus), which is valid for 5 days for Kintetsu trains as well as buses in Nara and Mie areas. Cost: ¥4800.
KINTETSU RAIL PASS 1-Day, valid for Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto only. Cost: ¥1500.
KINTETSU RAIL PASS 2-Day, valid for Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto only. Cost: ¥2500.
The KINTETSU RAIL PASS also gives you special deals and discounts at various attractions and stores in Kansai and Nagoya including BIC camera stores and Nabana no Sato. For the complete list of participating establishments, check out this page.
As you might have noticed, you can only use the 1-Day and 2-Day passes when traveling in Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. Hence, since we’re going to Mie, we’re using the KINTETSU RAIL PASS plus so Kintetsu train lines and some bus routes are covered.
Because the KINTETSU RAIL PASS is valid for five days, the itinerary below is best added to your Nagoya or Nara itinerary. This way, you can really maximize the pass.
PURCHASE A PASS HERE!
Note that while the Kintetsu Rail Pass is accepted at limited express trains, it only covers the basic fare. An additional fee for the limited express ticket (which guarantees a reserved seat) is required.
Redo? Låt oss börja!
Places to check out in Mie
Mie is easily accessible from Osaka. The first stop in the itinerary below is Iga Ninja City, where the Ninja museum of Iga-ryu is located. The nearest station is Uenoshi. To get there, you need to travel to Uenoshi Station.
If you’re coming from Osaka-Namba Station, the first step is to reach Igakambe Station. Here’s how to get there using Kintetsu Rail Pass:
OPTION A: regular TRAIN. At Osaka-Namba Station, take the Kintetsu Nara Line to either Tsuruhashi or Fuse Station. then transfer to Kintetsu Osaka Line to Igakambe.
Travel time: 85 to 95 minutes
Fare: ¥1140 without the pass, free with the pass.
OPTION B: limited express TRAIN. At Osaka-Namba Station, take the Kintetsu limited express straight to Igakambe.
Travel time: 59 minutes
Fare: ¥1140 without the pass, free with the pass.
Additional Fee: ¥900
At Igakambe Station, switch to Iga railway to Uenoshi Station. now this is an interesting leg because Iga railway is typically called Ninja Train. thanks to the images of kunoichi (female ninja) painted on the exterior of its trains. It’s super amazing because even the interior pieces like handles are ninja-inspired!
Travel time: 26 minutes.
Fare: ¥360 without the pass, free with the pass.
Iga Ninja City
Most of us are very familiar with ninja! We’ve seen it in movies, anime series, and many other forms of entertainment. but for the longest time here in Iga City’s Ueno area, ninjutsu is a way of life.
Iga City is widely regarded as the origin of Iga-ryu, one of the two ninja traditions that became well-known in Japan. (The other one is kouka-ryu which has roots in Shiga prefecture.) Unlike the samurai, who is typically a celebrated warrior, a ninja has to stay low profile. Ninjas are spies. Although they are also trained to fight, it is not their primary duty. Their main role was to guard or steal confidential information and other items.
The ways of the ninja are showcased at Iga-ryu Ninja Museum, which was modeled after a real ninja house. From the outside, the museum doesn’t look much. It appears just like an common one-story bungalow. but that’s the whole point. Ninja houses back in the day must not draw attention. but it’s full of surprises. Inside, you’ll discover all the tricks that will allow them to hide their assets and escape the house in case of an attack. There are secret doors and hidden rooms, as well as other mind-blowing inventions. The house also has three levels inside, with the top floor typically used as a place to produce gunpowder.
Beneath the surface is an underground tunnel that is turned into a museum. You’ll find truckloads of information about ninja here! They also stage ninja shows on some days!
Aside from the ninja museum, you can also drop by Ueno Castle, located just next to it. You’ll also find images of ninja everywhere: from lockers at the train station to random ninja statues!
Ninja museum of Iga-ryu
Hours open: 09:00am – 05:00pm
Closed: December 29 – January 31
Entrance fee: ¥756 without the pass, ¥594 with KINTETSU RAIL PASS.
Nabana no Sato
From Uenoshi, it’s time to make our way to Nagashima Resort. Här är hur:
Board the Iga railway back to Igakambe Station.
Travel time: 31 minutes.
Fare: ¥360 without the pass, free with the pass.
OPTION A. At Igakambe, take Kintetsu Osaka Line to Isenakagawa station then switch to Kintetsu Nagoya Line express to Kintetsu Nagashima Station.
Travel time: around 107 minutes.
Fare: ¥1320 without the pass, free with the pass.
OPTION B. At Igakambe, take Kintetsu limited express to Isenakagawa station then switch to another limited express train on Nagoya Line to Kuwana or Kintetsu-Yokkaichi. then transfer to a local train to Kintetsu-Nagashima Station.
Travel time: 65-80 minutes.
Fare: ¥1320 without the pass, free with the pass. additional Fee: ¥900 to ¥1320.
At Kintetsu-Nagashima Station, take the shuttle bus to Nabana no Sato. This bus route is operational only during the illumination months. outside this period, you can catch the bus at Kuwana Station.
Travel time from Kintetsu-Nagashima Station: 8 minutes,
Fare: ¥220 without the pass; free with the pass.
The Nagashima resort is perhaps Mie’s most popular vacation spot. located in Kuwana City, on the northeastern edge of the prefecture, it is typically mistaken to be in Nagoya by foreign tourists because of it is also easily accessible from the Aichi capital.
The home is composed of four major facilities — Nagashima Spaland, a theme park; Nagashima spa Yuami no Shima, a hot springs complex; Mitsui outlet Park Jazz dream Nagashima, a giant outlet mall; and Nabana no Sato, a flower park.
Thing is, Nabana no Sato isn’t just a flower park for me. It is perhaps the most stunning flower park I have seen in Japan. There are perennial flowers. The Begonia Garden, sheltered in a giant greenhouse, is captivating year-round. but the outdoor is covered mostly by annual flowers, fostering a different atmosphere according to the season. Yet, the most magical time to check out is October to May, when the park shimmers with enormous winter illumination displays!
The light tunnels and Mt. Fuji illumination show are total crowd-magnets because they’re just so breathtakingly beautiful.
Nabana no Sato official image
Nabana no Sato official image
Essential info about Nabana no Sato:
Hours open: Daily, 9:00am to 09:00pm (10:00pm on illumination). However, check the schedule before you go before there are irregular closing days.
Entrance Fee: ¥1600 in spring and autumn, ¥1000 in summer, ¥2300 in winter illumination months (October to May). fee is inclusive of a 1000 yen gift certificate that you can use inside the park.
If you have a KINTETSU RAIL PASS, you’ll get a special discount off the entrance fee. The discounted rates are: ¥1400 in spring and autumn, ¥800 in summer, ¥1800 in winter illumination months (October to May).
After visiting the park, you can check in to your hotel. You can stay in Kuwana City, but we recommend going straight to Nagoya! To get there, take the bus back to Kintetsu-Nagashima station (¥220). Then, take the Kintetsu Nagoya Line (Local) to Kintetsu Nagoya Station.
Travel time: 35 minutes.
Fare: ¥400 without the pass, free with the pass.
Oharaimachi and Okage-yokocho
On Day 2, we’re going to Ise City! If you’re coming from Nagoya, make your way to Kintetsu-Nagoya station and follow this:
Take the Kintetsu Nagoya Line express to Isenakagawa Station, then transfer to Kintetsu Yamada Line express to Uji Yamada Station.
Travel time: 105 minutes.
Fare: ¥1450 without the pass, free with the pass.
At Uji Yamada Station, take the Mie Kotsu Bus and alight at Jingu Kaikan-mae stop.
Welcome to Oharaimachi! For most of its history, this small town is the approach to the Ise Grand Shrine and pilgrims make a stop here for a meal or for an overnight stay after a reflectivebesök. Men eftersom vi inte ätit frukost och vi var riktigt hungriga, valde vi att äta lunch först.
Den mest besökta delen av Oharaimachi är Okage-Yokocho, en nostalgisk kullerstensgata som återskapar atmosfären i en edo-period och Meiji-period stad. Det är fodrat med olika restauranger, matbås och souvenirbutiker. Det är också en fantastisk plats att ha din första måltid på dagen.
Hitta restaurangen som heter Sushi Kyu och beställ Tekone Sushi, en maträtt som består av Bonito Sashimi marinerad i Shoyu och serveras ovanpå vinäger blandat ris. Det är en mie delikatess, så njut av det medan du är här!
Efter en fantastisk måltid, ta en promenad runt Okage-Yokocho tills du når ISE Grand Shrine!
ISE Grand Shrine (ISE Jingu)
Ise Jingu är den heligaste och den heligaste platsen i Shinto -religionen. Det är ett komplex med över 120 byggnader, men dessa två är de viktigaste: en yttre helgedom som kallas Geku, tillägnad Toyouke-Omikami, gudinnan för mat, jordbruk och industri; och en inre helgedom som kallas Naiku, tillägnad amaterasu-omikami, soldinnan av solen och universum och den mest vördade Shinto-gudomen.
Helgens grunder är så stora; Det kan lätt äta upp en hel morgon. Det täcks också av otaliga forntida cypress- och cederträd. Du kommer att märka att den nedre delen av stammarna i dessa träd är släta. Det beror på att besökare fortsätter att röra och krama dem för de tros ge ett långt liv. Tillbringa några ögonblick för att beundra Uji -bron också, en träbro som sträcker sig över Isuzugawa -floden och inleder besökare till Naiku.
När du är redo att gå, spåra dina steg tillbaka till ingången så hittar du Naiku-Mae-busshållplatsen. Här går du tillbaka bussen tillbaka till Uji-Yamada Station. Denna resa täcks också av Kintetsu Rail Pass.
Hachiman Kamado (AMA Hut Experience)
På grund av dess stora storlek kan utforska ISE -helgedom vara trött. Men oroa dig inte om du arbetar med aptit eftersom vi snart kommer att fylla våra ansikten med läcker mat igen. Vårt nästa stopp är Hachiman Kamado, en dykare där du kan njuta av färsk grillad skaldjur. Så här kommer du dit.
På Uji-Yamada Station, ta Kintetsu Toba Line till Toba Station.
Resetid: 14-15 minuter
Pris: ¥ 300 utan passet, gratis med passet
På Toba Station kan du gå ombord på den gratis bussen som tillhandahålls av Hachiman Kamado. Bokning krävs.
Restiden är vanligtvis klockan 11:30, 13:00 och 14:30, men dubbelkontrollera alltid med dem innan du åker.
Bussbussen kommer att släppa dig framför dykarens koja.
Men först, låt mig ge dig lite bakgrund.
AMA är japanska kvinnor som dyker för att fånga skaldjur och samla pärlor utan användning av dykutrustning. Det är frigörande, traditionell japansk stil! Det är en 2000-årig praxis som nästan alltid är reserverad för kvinnor. Idag finns det bara 2000 AMA -dykare och en betydande del av dem är här i ISE, där traditionen fortfarande lever och sparkar. AMA har vanligtvis en koja där de vilar, äter och byter kläder.
Hachiman Kamado förvandlade en av AMA -kojorna till en restaurang, där AMA förberedde och serverade den vinst som de fångade sig själva. Men det är mer än bara en matplats. Här får du lära dig mer om AMA -kulturen och träffa några av dem, inklusive den fantastiska Reiko Nomura, 87 år gammal, den äldsta AMA -dykaren i Japan. Och skulle du tro att hon fortfarande kan dyka? Hon är också väldigt glad och varm!
Hachiman Kamado upplevs bäst som en del av en grupp. Det är också billigare. Priset på en måltid här beror på antalet personer i gruppen. En måltid består vanligtvis av skaldjur (ostron, kammusslor, havssniglar, musslor, beroende på säsong), sashimi, tång, krabbsoppa och inlagda grönsaker. De dyrare har mer glamorösa föremål som abalon och hummer. Den konventionella lunchuppsättningen kostar 3780 ¥ per person om du är en grupp på 4 eller fler och 5400 ¥ om du är en fest på tre eller färre.
Efter måltiden kommer AMA -dykarna att utföra en folkdans och du�