OWASE POST TOWN PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE - Participate in Unique Drum-based Prayers and Sample Local Delicacies

Owase is a lively Edo-period town that was a post station (“Shukuba” in Japanese) on one of the traditional travel routes in ancient Japan. The post towns served as rest stops, providing accommodation, shops and more for travelers on their journeys. Owase Shrine is home to an ancient pair of camphor trees, one of which is over 1,000 years old. This quaint coastal town also has rich food traditions that are best enjoyed while doing a walking tour that will take you to all of the best spots.

For those who appreciate unique cultural activities and the chance to sample some amazing food, the Owase Post Town Pilgrimage Experience is the perfect blend of both. This year-round experience starts at 2:00 PM and lasts about three hours. The cost is ¥7,000 per person and includes interactive Owase Shrine drum prayers, an informative guided walking tour in English, stops at local shops/markets and four delicious food/snack items.

Caption: Hanging my ema with my prayer outside of the shrine.

With the amazing drum-based prayer ceremony finished, we headed back outside where we discovered that the rain had stopped. I took the prayer I had written earlier on the ema and I hung it up with the other prayers on the grounds of the shrine. I was ready to start our walking tour of Owase and sample some of the delicious local food specialties.

Caption: A pair of massive camphor trees at Owase Shrine.

As we left the shrine, we stopped for a moment to appreciate the absolutely incredible pair of camphor trees near the entrance. One of the trees is over 1000 years old and it is considered by many to be sacred. It is also believed that the tree can bring good luck and children to worshippers.

Caption: My first treat for the day was mitarashi (skewered grilled mochi).

The second half of the tour was a walk around Owase with stops along the way to try some of the local delicacies. Our first stop was a cute little shop run by a kind lady whose specialty is grilled rice dumpling (“mochi” in Japanese) on a skewer with a sweet soy sauce glaze. This is one of my favorite Japanese treats and hers were some of the best I’ve ever had.

Caption: Yoko showing off the 2020-21 Owase food on a stick promotion.

Yoko explained that one of Owase’s specialties was food on a stick and that there was a promotion running for visitors to sample many of the options. I thanked the sweet shop owner for the delicious mochi and we were off to the next spot.

Caption: A market offering a wide array oflocal foods.

The next stop on our local food tour was a busy little traditional market. As soon as I stepped inside, I knew whatever I ate was going to be delicious. It was bustling inside with staff preparing food and customers snapping up their favorites.

Caption: I couldn't decide, so I had all three.

As we were browsing the selection, the staff brought out some plates of freshly prepared konjaku, minced fish meatballs and deep-fried mushrooms. I’m huge fan of all three, so I decided not to limit myself. All three dishes were unbelievably good and I had to resist the urge for a second round because I knew we had one more stop.

Caption: A local fishmonger with an incredible selection of seafood.

We had a nice leisurely stroll for about 10 minutes before arriving at our next stop. It was a fresh fish shop that was packed with a wide range of seafood. We were there to pick up some fresh boiled sazae (“turbo cornutus” in English), a popular Japanese delicacy.

Caption: The rest house was a beautiful old Japanese house.

To enjoy your final snack and to refresh, we stopped at traditional house that had been converted into a rest stop for travelers. The dark wood, tatami mats and sliding doors created a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere inside. We sat and enjoyed the sazae, some hot tea and fresh mochi as we chatted about the day’s experiences.

Caption: Our final snack of sazae, mochi and tea was delicious.

Caption: Outside the rest house with Yoko.

It had been a perfect day of fun experiences and great tasting food in Owase. I thanked my helpful guides for all of their hospitality during the day. These are the kind of days you dream of when traveling around Japan. The combination of experiencing a unique cultural activity and then eating fresh incredible food is what travel is all about. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a special day when visiting Mie Prefecture.

OWASE POST TOWN PILGRIMAGE EXPERIENCE

https://wwwtb.mlit.go.jp/chubu//kankou/chiiki/glocon/kumano/kumano2.pdf

Owase Tourism Products Association

https://owasekankou.com/

TEL: +81-597-23-8261

email: info@owasekankou.com

About 3 hours

- Starts at 2:00 PM

- Duration and start time can beadjusted upon request

All year round

<Price>

¥7,000