Exploring Ise Jingu: Japan’s Most Sacred Shinto Shrine

Ise in the heart of Japan is home to Ise Jingu, a Shinto shrine so revered, it is known as the spiritual home of the Japanese people. It is a place where both myth and history live side by side. Ise Jingu is where Japan's highest-ranked deity, the...

Ahhh Summer in Japan!　at Jyonohama Swimming Beach & Pool

I’ve been having this love and hate relationship with summer in Japan for the past 23 years. As the whole world knows, Japan is an island with the Sea of Japan to one side, and the North Pacific Ocean to the other, however, just like I had no clu...

Discover Japanese Food and Learn All About Japanese Food Culture at WA-VISON

VISON in Taki Town, just outside of Matsusaka City, is a 54-hectare commercial resort that offers a unique experience by showcasing the best of Mie Prefecture and Japan in one location. This hidden gem is set amidst the picturesque mountains of ce...

[2023] The Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix will once again be held at Suzuka Circuit! We will provide information on tickets and events.

The 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship series will once again hold the Japanese Grand Prix race at Suzuka Circuit! We will provide information on the schedule, ticket details, spotlighted drivers, and exciting events on the race day. Additional...

1-Day Itinerary: Experience Samurai Culture and Japanese Food [Mie Pref. Central Area]

Matsusaka, a historic city in central Mie Prefecture, is an enchanting destination that makes an unforgettable day trip. Located within a few hours’ reach of Nagoya and Kyoto, it entices travelers with its delectable offerings of Japanese cuisine....

Visit Mie: what to do and see in the hidden gems

Mie is a prefecture lesser known to foreign tourists, yet it is a region that has much to offer for the nature lovers and slow-paced tourists Long been a perfect getaway spot located between Osaka and Tokyo, Mie is a region that has retained a st...

The ama: a community of female divers in Mie. Sustainable significance of ama fishing.

For more than 2,000 years, they have been free diving for shellfish, sea cucumbers, seaweed and crustaceans. They are known as the ama, a community of women with an infectious laugh. Ama simply means woman of the sea and refers to these Japanese w...

Mie traditions: Young artisans keep the flame burning

A group of young artisans are at work in Mie. They are studying traditional techniques to share the beauty of Mie's many traditional arts with the world, and ensure that the creative spark of culture is never extinguished. The group’s name is “Tok...

Evolving to stay the same Shikinen Sengu, Ise Jingu’s Largest Ritual

For many people, when it comes to Mie Prefecture, Ise Jingu　would come to mind. As such, a wide variety of more than 1,500 rituals and ceremonies are held on this sacred ground every year. Yet among these, the biggest one of all is “Shikinen Seng...

Walk the Mochi Kaido road like a traveler of old for a taste of Mie’s confectionery culture Part 2

The rice cakes known as “mochi” are one of the most prized delicacies in the food culture of Mie Prefecture, where various kinds of traditional mochi sweets are found. The roots of the rice cake’s popularity in Mie likely originated from being ser...

Walk the Mochi Kaido road like a traveler of old for a taste of Mie’s confectionery culture Part 1

Ise Jingu is the shining star of any trip to Mie Prefecture. The pilgrimage to this sacred shrine, known as “Oise mairi,” became popular among common people in the Edo period (17C-19C), and the region welcomed countless travelers from all over the...

Experience a deeper Japan through rural tourism

Located in the western mountainous area of Tsu City, the capital of Mie Prefecture, Misugi-cho is a small town bordering Nara Prefecture. A part of the area is designated as a Quasi-National Park, and abundant nature remains. This time, I went the...

Immerse into the wonderful Ama Culture in Toba

Recently I've finally been able to visit one of the locations on my bucket list, so as to be able to experience the “ama” culture. Immersing into the ama culture, the wonderful world of Japan’s Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties, it was...

One-day cycling through the Japanese countryside at Inabe City

Located in northern part of Mie Prefecture, Inabe City is beside the majestic Suzuka Mountains and offers traditional landscapes of "inaka", the Japanese countryside. The area is scattered with stylish cafes that make the most of local p...

IGA-WARE: Pottery in the Ninja City

Iga City is known as the “city of Ninjas.” Because of its international popularity, ninja images can be seen wherever you turn your head in the city. The city of Iga, however, is a lot more than that… On this visit, I drove my car to Iga’s pott...

Exploring the Beautiful Toba City, Home of Incredible Ama-san and Splendid Pearls

Toba city was our destination of the day! Toba city, as most people know, is famous for oysters and pearl cultivation. Toba was the first city to cultivate pearl in Japan and is also home to the country’s first pearl museum. This time, we experie...

Spending the Night in a House Built During Meiji Era in Taiki Town

Taiki is a beautiful countryside town with gorgeous landscape, home to kind and loving people. Here you won’t find fancy restaurants or famous hotels, instead, you will be able to immerse yourself in the simple life and learn how little you need t...

Gourmet Day at Beautiful Odai Town

Our day was going to be a little different from what we have been experiencing lately, we were going to have a gourmet day in a beautiful town, Odaicho. I had thought that Odaicho is surrounded by rivers and mountains and that summer activities we...

【AD】What is Saiku and the Saio? Introducing a tour of museums, hands-on facilities, and historic sites!

Have you ever heard about the Saio who served the Ise Jingu for generations in place of the Emperor? Enjoy learning about the history and culture of the Saio period through a visit to historical sites, museums, and hands-on facilities in Meiwa, wh...

SENJUJI TEMPLE: One of the Largest Temples of Mie Prefecture

Tsu City, the capital of Mie Prefecture, is home to one of the most important temples of Japan. Senjuji Temple, a veritable storehouse of numerous cultural properties, is the head temple of the Takada school of Shinshu Buddhism, which has over 600...