For centuries, millions of Japanese pilgrims have made the journey to Mie Prefecture to worship at Ise Jingu — the holiest Shinto shrine in all of Japan. Today, foreign travelers are beginning to discover what the Japanese have always known: Mie Prefecture is a place of profound spiritual beauty, exceptional seafood, rugged coastline, and deeply authentic cultural experiences rarely found elsewhere in the country.
Located on the Kii Peninsula facing the Pacific Ocean, Mie offers a journey into Japan’s spiritual heart combined with some of the finest food the country has to offer. Here is your complete guide to this extraordinary prefecture.
Top 5 Must-See Attractions in Mie
1. Ise Jingu (Grand Shrine of Ise)
Ise Jingu is actually a complex of over 125 shrines, but the two main ones are the Naiku (Inner Shrine) and the Geku (Outer Shrine), located about 6 kilometers apart. The Naiku is the most sacred, enshrining Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and ancestor of the Imperial family. The shrines are rebuilt entirely every 20 years in an ancient ceremony (Shikinen Sengu) — preserving both the tradition and the architectural technique across millennia. The forested approach along the Uji Bridge and through ancient cedar groves is deeply moving. Dress respectfully and follow the clearly marked paths.
2. Okage Yokocho (Ise Old Town)
Adjacent to the Naiku is the beautifully preserved Edo-period shopping street of Okage Yokocho. This atmospheric lane is filled with traditional shops, restaurants serving Ise specialties, and craftspeople — all in a setting that feels authentically historical. It is the perfect place to try Ise-udon, akafuku mochi, and fresh seafood before or after your shrine visit.
3. Toba and the Ama Divers
Toba City is famous for the ama — female free-divers who have been harvesting abalone, sea urchin, and shellfish from the ocean floor for over 2,000 years. You can visit the Toba Sea-Folk Museum to learn about this ancient tradition, and eat fresh seafood grilled by ama women at hut restaurants along the coast of Shima. Nearby Mikimoto Pearl Island tells the story of Kokichi Mikimoto, who invented the cultured pearl industry here in the late 1800s.
4. Meoto Iwa (Wedded Rocks)
Near Futami town, two rocks rise from the sea connected by a sacred shimenawa rope that is ceremonially replaced three times a year. The Meoto Iwa are one of Japan’s most celebrated natural symbols of marriage and unity, and the view at sunrise with Mt. Fuji visible in the distant background on a clear day is extraordinary.
5. Ise-Shima National Park
The coastline of the Shima Peninsula is a stunning ria coast — a drowned river valley that creates hundreds of inlets, islands, and peninsulas. The national park protects this landscape and is best explored by sightseeing boat from Kashikojima or Ago Bay. The gentle, island-dotted blue bay scenery is unlike anything else in Japan, and the area’s pearl farms add an unusual element to the landscape.
Mie’s Food Specialties
- Ise Ebi (Spiny Lobster): Mie’s most prized seafood. Ise Bay produces some of Japan’s finest spiny lobsters, available at ryokan and seafood restaurants, especially in autumn and winter.
- Ise-Udon: Thick, soft, white udon noodles in a very dark, intensely savory soy-based broth. It is unique to Ise and unlike any other udon in Japan.
- Akafuku Mochi: Soft rice cakes topped with sweet red bean paste, sold fresh at Okage Yokocho since 1707. They must be eaten within the day.
- Matsusaka Beef: Mie is home to Matsusaka beef, considered by many Japanese connoisseurs to rival or even surpass Kobe beef. The cattle are raised with exceptional care in Matsusaka City.
- Fresh Oysters and Abalone: The clean waters of Ise Bay produce outstanding shellfish. Grilled oysters and abalone sashimi are must-tries.
Best Time to Visit Mie
Mie is beautiful year-round. Spring (March to May) is ideal for mild weather and cherry blossoms. Autumn (October to December) is peak season for spiny lobster and Matsusaka beef. The Ise Jingu is open year-round and is particularly atmospheric in early morning mist.
How to Get to Mie
From Nagoya: The Kintetsu Nagoya Line runs directly to Ise-Shi and Ujiyamada stations in about 90 minutes on the limited express. This is the most convenient route.
From Osaka/Kyoto: Kintetsu limited express from Kintetsu Namba (Osaka) takes about 2 hours to Ise-Shi. From Kyoto, the Kintetsu Kyoto Line connects via transfer at Yamato-Yagi.
Practical Tips: Budget and Accommodation
Accommodation in Ise and the Shima area ranges from simple business hotels (6,000 to 10,000 yen) to luxurious ryokan with exceptional kaiseki meals (25,000 to 60,000 yen per person including dinner and breakfast). Staying overnight in a ryokan in Toba or Kashikojima is highly recommended. The Ise Jingu itself has no admission fee — it is free to enter the shrine precincts.
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Final Thoughts on Mie
Mie Prefecture offers a travel experience that touches something deep — whether it is the spiritual weight of Ise Jingu, the ancient tradition of the ama divers, or the extraordinary flavors of Matsusaka beef and Ise lobster. If you want to understand the spiritual and cultural foundations of Japanese civilization, Mie is not optional — it is essential.