Explore myths, ninja and local seafood in Mie Prefecture

While Mie may not have the name recognition abroad of its famous neighbors, Osaka and Kyoto, the prefecture boasts plenty of historical, cultural and culinary experiences for your next vacation.

With access to the Pacific Ocean via Ise Bay, Mie benefits from an abundance of produce and seafood. It also has a moderate climate that arises from being sandwiched between the sea and the Suzuka Mountains and Nunobiki mountainous region. Add in the Iga area’s history as a center of ninja and the primacy of Ise Jingu in Japan’s spiritual landscape and you can begin to see the rich experiences Mie has to offer.

Getting to Mie is easy. Although the prefecture doesn’t have its own airport, Kansai International Airport (Osaka) and Chubu International Airport (Aichi) connect you to Mie’s biggest centers in an hour or two by train, bus or even ship.

Spiritual landscapes

Immerse yourself in the autumn foliage as you traverse Uji Bridge. Image: Denkei/Pixta

Along with Buddhism, Shintoism is one of Japan’s main religions. With a history stretching over 2,000 years, Shinto has long shaped Japanese history and culture from the imperial family structure to traditional holiday festivities. Shinto’s heart lies in Mie, home to its most revered site and other popular spiritual destinations.

Ise Jingu

Ise Jingu is considered the most important shrine in Japan. According to legend, Amaterasu, the sun goddess and principal deity in Shintoism, is enshrined in Naiku, the inner shrine and most important structure in the whole Ise Jingu complex. For centuries, the imperial family has identified Amaterasu as a mythical ancestor and, thus, makes regular pilgrimages throughout the year.

Take a contemplative walk across Uji Bridge as you cross from the mortal realm into the sacred one. If you think Naiku and Uji Bridge don’t look too worn given their long histories, that’s because they are both reconstructed every 20 years in a constant cycle of renewal and purification.

Ishigami-san

Ishigami-san is ready to grant women’s wishes. Image: k-hiro/Pixta

Over in eastern Mie at the southern tip of Toba City, a small shrine called Ishigami-san is said to grant a single wish to the women who visit it. The region and shrine are especially popular among ama, women who have been practicing a traditional form of diving for several millennia. Every spring, Ishigami-san hosts a festival honoring ama and wishing for plentiful bounties from the sea.

Meoto-Iwa

Meoto-Iwa stands united against the tide. Image: Spaceindy/Pixta

In Shintoism, the natural world from mountains to trees is believed to house divine spirits. Certain pairs of stones like Sakuragai Futamigaura in Itoshima, Fukuoka have been designated as Meoto-iwa (married rocks) and bound together with a shimenawa (thick rope made of hemp or rice straw used in Shinto purification rituals). These united rocks tend to symbolize fertility, marriage and the bond between Izanagi and Izanami, two Shinto creation gods.

Located about 700 meters off the coast of Ise City and within sight of Futami Okitama Shrine, Mie’s Meoto-iwa juts out of Ise Bay. On the larger of the two rocks, a small torii gate stands atop amidst the crashing waves. Visit Meoto-Iwa between May and July to watch the sunrise between the couple, while a trip from November to January rewards you with a full moon shining above their bond.

Historical adventures

What secrets await inside the Ninja Museum? Image: Yama/Pixta

Since the end of World War II, ninja have fascinated audiences around the world. James Bond took on ninja in his Japan-set adventure in the 1967 hit, You Only Live Twice. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and GI Joe's Snake Eyes inspired a generation of 80s kids to take up plastic arms. And Naruto’s band of ninja became a global phenomenon starting in the early 2000s. 

Located in Mie’s northwestern corner, the former Iga Province is known as one of the birthplaces of ninjutsu (techniques used by ninja). Explore Iga City and the surrounding area to learn about the history of ninja and separate fact from fiction.  

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

Although the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum is housed inside an unassuming dwelling, its interior conceals the history and techniques of ninja.

Using their stealth training, ninja were particularly active as intelligence gatherers and saboteurs from the Warring States era (15-16th centuries) to the Edo period. At the Ninja Museum, you’ll learn about the training that ninja received and be able to watch a reenactment of the shadowy agents sneaking into nearby Ueno Castle undetected. Check out the collection to see real tools that ninja once used to conduct espionage and carry out assassinations.

Ninja Training Village

Beauty abounds in the 48 Falls of Akame. Image: Akatsuking/iStock

If you’re feeling inspired to test out your own ninja skills, head south of Iga to the 48 Falls of Akame on the border of Nara and Mie Prefectures. At the Ninja Training Village, you can don a ninja costume and jump, climb and sneak your way through a forest obstacle course complete with raised platforms, zip lines and shuriken (ninja throwing stars) target practice. While you’re in the area, take some time to bask in the scenic beauty of gorgeous waterfalls, serene moss under a canopy of lush foliage and winding hiking trails.

Ueno Castle

The white walls of Ueno Castle glisten in the sun. Image: MasaoTaira/iStock

Constructed at the turn of the 17th century, Ueno Castle is characterized by its three-tiered main keep, white walls and distinctive layout. Along with many castles at the beginning of the Meiji period, Ueno Castle was dismantled in favor of modernizing Japanese society. But, since the 1930s, much of the castle has been restored. Today, visitors can enter the castle and learn about the region’s history via artifacts and artworks on display. From the top, you can look out onto the realm that Ueno Castle once governed.

Culinary delights

Mie, the third largest producer of tea in Japan. Image: Bull/Pixta

With the sea on its southern side and fertile fields nestled under mountains, it’s no surprise that Mie is great for foodies.

Green tea

While Kyoto and Shizuoka get a lot of attention as tea-producing regions, Mie is no stranger to Japan’s cups of green. Mie was one of the first places in Japan to begin cultivating tea in the late 12th century when tea plant seeds were introduced from China.

By the end of the 19th century, Mie became Japan’s largest tea producer, partly due to a growing demand for its Japanese black teas overseas. Today, the prefecture ranks as the third most productive in the country with the north growing more than 70% of the total output. Kabusecha, a type of green tea grown in the shade, is the most common variety cultivated in Mie and carries a hint of sweetness to balance its rich umami flavor.

Fresh seafood

Ise lobster is a catch you don’t want to miss. Image: Kuremo/iStock

Moving away from the inland tea fields and towards the eastern coast, you’ll come to Iseshima. Famous for Ise Jingu, the area is also well-known for the fresh seafood caught in Ise Bay. Japanese spiny lobster reigns as the most sought after catch, especially between October and January. Rich and sweet in flavor that melts in your mouth, it’s a dish not to miss.

While Ise lobster understandably steals the culinary spotlight, there’s more to enjoy in the Higashi-Kishu region facing the Kumano Nada Sea. In the port city of Owase, fishers will bring rare catches not found elsewhere in Japan to local markets. Sakana no jifu (fish sukiyaki) is Owase’s soul food and combines seasonal fish and vegetables in a light sukiyaki broth.

More to explore

Weeping plum blossoms are available for a limited time only at Suzuka Forest Garden. Image: genki/Pixta

We've already given you lots of ideas for your next Mie itinerary, but here are a few more to inspire you:

• Kumano Kodo Iseji
  Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail, this portion takes you from Ise Jingu to three revered Shinto shrines.
  
  
• Ise udon
  These extra thick udon noodles are served in a rich broth and have historically been eaten by pilgrims to Ise Jingu.
  
  
• Suzuka Forest Garden
  From mid-February to the end of March, this garden features over 200 weeping plum trees in the shadow of Mount Suzuka.