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Edited by: Declan Murphy Recommended: Suggested Itineraries Favorite Mie moments... Best ways to get there Mie Photogallery Newsgroups: fj.rec.travel.japan, Alt-FAQ Bulletin Boards: Fun/Clubs/Nightlife Accommodation/Discounts Practise your Kanji?

Ise Jingu

Despite having a bit of a reputation as a backwater, Mie is fairly prosperous, stands in the middle of Japan (and always has - the ancient Tokaido traverses it) and is great place to travel as it has maintained many of its traditions, a vast swathe of nature, and has many sites to visit that reflect the rich history of the region. It is easy to get to, easy to move around, has great mountain areas and nice beaches - so why apart from the Grand Shrines of Ise is Mie such a secret to foreign travellers?

Its a good question, and probably easily answered by the absence of a shinkansen line. Most tourists coming to Japan are visiting for 3 weeks or less, and miss the interesting destinations in Mie in their rush to cover Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima - and if you are interested in seeing a bit of tradition without a horde of tourists stomping in your footsteps then hopefully the situation will stay that way a litte longer.

If you wanted to sum up Mie, it would "mountains and sea". From the peaks of Gozaisho-dake to the white sands of Goza Beach, one of Mie's greatest attractions is its natural heritage. Combine nature with history and your schedule fills quickly. There are of course distractions - you can ride the world's highest roller coaster in the spectacular Nagashima Spa-land amusement park, enjoy the thrills and speed at the Suzuka Racing Circuit where the Formula 1 Grand Prix and other events see the world's most modern machines roar around the track (or enjoy go-karting, the "Mad Cobra" roller coaster or the vertical drop in the "Space Shot"), and disappear into walls or extract swords from under floorboards with a deft flick of the foot in a genuine Ninja residence to name a few.

Goza Shirahama

It is nature and the mild climate though that sets the scene. The surf beaches, quiet villages such as Goza, the Mikimoto Pearl beds in Toba and throughout Ago Bay, the spectacular mountain gorges such as Dorokyo (which is actually just inside Wakayama Prefecture but best accessed via Mie) and isolated mountain onsen hideaways are the true gems of Mie. Dining can be also be one of the many pleasures enjoyed - as the seafood in Mie (particularly in the cntral and southern areas) is simply superb. The small but historic city of Matsusaka offers many surprises, including a row of 19 houses below the castle walls from the Edo Period (1603-1868), including 6 that are still occupied by the descendants of their original samurai owners, as well as Matsusaka Gyu - the most famous beef in Japan (don't be caught extolling the merits of say Kobe beef or Omi beef when in Matsusaka!).

Highlights

North/Suzuka Region: Gozaisho-dake, Nagashima Spa-land, Suzuka Formula 1 Grand Prix Circuit, Seki, Ishiyama Kannon, Tokaido Road, Yunoyama Onsen

Iga/Nabari Region: Akame Shijyuhachi Waterfalls, Iga Ueno, Matsuo Basho, Ninja Yashiki, Ueno Castle, Iga Ueno Danjiri Musuem

Central/Ise Region: Ago Bay, Daiozaki, Futamigaura, Gojoban's Home, Gokasho Bay, Goza Beach and village, Ise Grand Shrines, Ise-Shima National Park, Matsusaka Castle, Mikimoto Pearl island, Motoori Museum and Suzunoya, Okage Yokocho, Okukahada Gorge, Osugi Valley, Osugi-dani to Odaigahara hiking route, Pearl Road scenic route, Route 12, Toba, Toba to Irago ferry

South Region: Dorokyo Gorge (Wakayama-ken), Maruyama Senmaida terraces, Onigajo/Shishiiwa, Shichirimihama Sea Turtles

Tours - The Japan Discovery Tours visit Mie.
Click here for more information regarding when Discovery visits this destination.

Ninja demonstration

Photographs and contributions

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Disclaimer and Request:

Opening hours, prices, booking procedures, schedules etc are subject to changes beyond our control. This site is just a guide, and we advise that you always check and confirm in advance. Suggestions, additions and correction of errors are always welcome. Please contact us.