Explore the distinctive charm of Mie, Japan

11 October 2024

Within the Kansai region of Japan’s main island Honshu, Mie Prefecture is a vast protected area and includes 1,000km of Pacific coastline. This place offers both one-of-a-kind experiences and lots of scope for a luxury holiday, with some high-end places to stay and exclusive activities to try your hand at. We’ve curated a list of some of the must-see attractions and experiences in Mie, including sacred nature hikes and bathing in private hot springs (onsens), alongside high-end accommodation and temple stays.

Explore the distinctive charm of Mie, Japan

Unveil the mystical charms of Ise

You’ll want to start off in Ise, the original spiritual hometown of Japan. Home to the Shinto Ise Shrine, one of the oldest and holiest sites in Japan, which is dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu, you’ll find it inside Ise-Shima National Park, a marine wilderness best known for its pearl diving and fishing. The sea here is also rich in seafood, including Ise-ebi lobster, abalone, and Anori puffer fish.

Shima’s Ama are female free divers who use traditional methods to collect pearls but also harvest shellfish and seaweed. You can try on traditional diving outfits, learn about their ancient customs, watch a traditional dance, and eat fresh seafood with some of them, as well as watching them dive and perhaps even joining them on a dive if you feel up to it. The average age of the 500 or so Ama who still work in the area is around 70, but some are well into their 80s. Supporting their families through diving, they are known for being strong, hardworking, and cheerful. When they dive, they use a special breathing technique that makes a unique whistling sound. You can learn more about pearl diving in the Pearl Museum.

Explore nature's splendour

Also in Ise-shima National Park is Yokoyama View Point, offering views of Ago Bay. You can cycle in the park and there are several observatories to visit, including Mount Asama, Toba, and Tomoyama, which are perfect for appreciating the clear night skies in this part of the world. Toba is known for its friendly fishermen, who will happily share their stories about life at sea if you go out on their boats with them to fish. Local seafood is a real treat here, but make sure you don’t miss sampling Matsusaka wagyu beef or Ise udon.

Enjoy a Fisherman’s After-Hours Tour, an exclusive adventure designed for those eager to delve into the heart of Japan’s rich fishing culture. As the sun sets over the serene coastline, join local fishermen as they share their time-honoured traditions and techniques, passed down through generations.

Journey through Higashi-kishu

Another area of Mie to add to your itinerary is Higashi-kishu, which encompasses the Kumano Kodo, a UNESCO World Heritage site and pilgrimage route in the Kii Peninsula mountain range. Here, on the Kumano River, you can take a trip in a traditional three-sail wooden boat called a sandanbo, enjoying the sounds of the birdlife as the boatmen share stories about the river's history. Sandanbo used to transport timber, charcoal, rice, and fish, as well as take pilgrims between the Kumano Hayatama shrine and the Kumano Hongu shrine.

Unparalleled luxury and tradition

High-end accommodation in Mie includes ryokans. These traditional Japanese inns allow for an authentic experience of local culture through features such as tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and traditional cuisine. Other top recommendations in Mie are Kisara-bettei Toki just outside Toba city. It overlooks Toba Bay and its remote islands, with rooms named after the different shades of blue that you can see according to the sunlight, day, and season.

Then there’s Amanemu, a luxury ryokan-inspired onsen resort in forested hills overlooking Ago Bay; Oyado The Earth which sits within a primeval forest along cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean; and Shima Kanko Hotel, a resort surrounded by lush mountains along Ago Bay, renowned for its unique seafood cuisine. Temple stays are a great option when visiting Mie as they offer travellers a unique opportunity to connect with the area's spiritual significance, providing a deeper cultural immersion.

To book your Japan holiday visiting the Mie Prefecture, call your Travel Counsellor today.

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