Is There Anything to Do in Mie?

Is There Anything to Do in Mie? 三重県でやることなんてあるの?

Yes, there is! Who wouldn't want to see the scenery in that photo, the "wedded rocks" 夫婦岩 (meotoiwa) in Futami 二見? In this post, I've collected links to English information (some official, some not) about a few things you can see and do here in Mie (jump to the bottom for more about me and why I made this post).

Photo Credit: Ministry of the Environment 環境省
 

MIE (Overview)

• “Discover Mie” brochure (PDF) : a 20-page brochure packed with information and maps.
• Japan Travel, Mie : beautiful photography and clear, succinct explanations of famous sites.
• place where the Iga-ryu Ninja clan originated."
• Kintetsu Rail Pass : Convenient to have if you are traveling in this part of Japan — it will also connect you to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. If you are residing in Mie, I recommend setting up an account using the mobile application to purchase limited express tickets. You may also want to purchase an electronic rail pass like "PitaPa."
• Mie Barrier Free Website : Unfortunately, this is not in English, but they would probably be able to provide information if contacted.
• Mie Guidebook : a wiki site put together by ex-pats living in Mie. It has some useful information, but I am afraid it may give a rather dull impression, and it doesn't seem to get updated much.
• Mie Kotsu Buses : There may be helpful information here about cheaper fares if you travel by bus. 
• Mie Prefectural Government's Site
• Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation : they've made several high-quality PDF materials available on their site.
• Ise-Shima Japan (PDF)
• Ise-Shima Activity Guide Map (PDF)
• Ise Suzuka no Seki (Seki Juku) on the old Tokaido Road (PDF)
• Kumano City Guide Map (PDF)
• Kumano Kodo Iseji Route Access Guide Map (PDF)
• Matsusaka Walking Map (PDF)
• Odai Map (PDF)
• The Ise branch of the old pilgrimage network of Kumano (PDF)
• Yokkaichi Walking Map (PDF)
• Mie “Tour Guide” (PDF) : a compact PDF pamphlet that gives a quick overview of Mie.
• Mie Travel Guide : easy to navigate and quite informative. The site introduces Mie's cultural, historical, and natural appeal this way: 
• "Located in central Japan, Mie has abundant natural scenery, from colorful fall foliage to a beautiful, deeply indented coastline and mountains where you can enjoy mountain climbing and skiing. Mie also features some of Japan’s best amusement attractions. Mie is famous for its seafood, including Ise spiny lobster, abalone and oyster, and is the breeding area of Matsuzaka cattle, famed for their high-class marbled wagyu beef. Extremely important sites from Japanese spiritual history can be found in Mie, including the long-cherished Ise Jingu and the World Heritage-listed Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. Mie is also the birthplace of Haiku master Matsuo Basho and great scholar Motoori Norinaga, as well as being the 
• Traveler’s Map of Mie  (PDF): It has several maps stuffed into a two-page PDF with lots of information about sites in Mie — highly recommended. 

NORTHERN MIE

• NHK World special on Kameyama (archive)
• Kuwana Sightseeing Pamphlet : a nice, glossy pamphlet with much more useful information about culture and history than you generally find in tourist literature.
• Japan Travel, Yokkaichi

CENTRAL MIE

• Sightseeing in Suzuka
• Japan Travel, Tsu

WESTERN MIE

• East Nara Nabari Tourism (ENN)
• Japan Travel, Iga Ueno (Basho)

EASTERN MIE (Overview)

• Ise-Shima Travel Guide, Shima City’s Site
• Ise-Shima Guide
• Journeys in Japan Video, Ise-Shima (YouTube)
• Ise-Shima Promotional Video (YouTube)
• National Parks Foundation, Ise Shima
• Ise-Shima Park Instagram Account
• Ministry of the Environment, Ise-Shima Park
• Japan National Tourist Organization, Ise-Shima Practical Guide : A handy PDF with practical information about the sites and how to get around when you visit.
• Bicycle Tour, Ise-Shima : I don’t know if they are still doing the tours, but this is a lovely place to ride a bike.
• NHK World special on Ise Shima (archive)

Eastern Mie: Ise

• Ise Overview
• Ise City Tourism : it has many resources, including a few PDF brochures in English.
• Ise - -the Origin of Japan -- (PDF)
• Ise Anchoko (PDF) : information in a Q+A format. 
• Map of Ise (PDF)
• Map of Ise (older version with different information)(PDF)
• Tourist Guide for Ise City(PDF)
• Rakuraku Ise Moude : Travel information from Ise City.
• Ise Shrine
  • Ise Shrine : Ise Shrine’s official site. 
  • Precinct Map: Geku (the "Outer" shrine) (PDF)
  • Precinct Map: Naiku (the "Inner" shrine) (PDF)
  • Ise Shrine Video /Interview (YouTube)
  • Ise Shrine (Jinja Honchō; Association of Shinto Shrines)
  • GaijinPot, Ise Shrine
  • Japan Pics : A blog with some photos from a trip to Ise Shrine that the author took before the ritual rebuilding of the shrine in 2013.
  • Sengūkan Museum : the English may not display properly.
• Kawasaki
  • Japan Travel, Kawasaki
  • Museum of Ise Kawasaki Merchants, Map (PDF) : A great map with English explanations of a “living historical town” within Ise — close to the stations and a great way to see how people today maintain and live in a town with hundreds of years of history.
  • The Kawasaki Merchant’s House
  • Japan Timeline, Kawasaki : Some photos.
• Theme Parks / Museums / Entertainment
  • Shima Spain Village
  • Ise Azuchi Momoyama Cultural Village : I haven’t been yet, but it looks like a great place to take kids.
  • Futami Sea Paradise Aquarium : A popular destination for my son.
  • Sengūkan Museum
  • Ise Shrine Museums
  • The Museum of Shinto and Japanese Culture, Kogakkan University
  • The Kawasaki Merchant’s House

Eastern Mie: Toba

• Eco Tourism
• Toba Promotional Videos (YouTube)

SOUTHERN MIE

• Owase
  • Owase Tourism Site
  • Kumano Kodō Center : I used to be on the board of directors for this facility, which coordinates activities connected with the Old Road of Kumano World Heritage Site — my opinion might be biased, but I think this is definitely worth a visit!
• Kumano
  • Is Japan Cool? Kumano Kodo (ANA site) : All Nippon Airways has this “cool” site that introduces people, places, food, and Japanese culture.
  • Kumano City Tourist Association
  • Kumano Kodo site : PDFs, videos, and other detailed information on the World Heritage Site.
  • Japan Guide, Kumano
  • “Old Road of Kumano” (Kumano Kodo) Video by NHK World (YouTube)
  • Hana no Iwaya Shrine

SHINTO RESOURCES (Bibliographies, Guides, etc.) 

• Jinja Honchō 神社本庁 (Association of Shinto Shrines): ""Jinja Honcho was formed with the consensus of 80,000 Shinto shrines throughout the Japanese archipelago in 1946. Since then, respecting the Grand Shrine of Ise as the most prominent shrine in Japan, Jinja Honcho has worked to encourage Shinto rituals, to promote the prosperity of Shinto shrines, and to support the continuity of Japanese culture and traditions."
• Irei, the Spirituality of the Japanese (PDF)
• Jinja, Heart of Japan (PDF)
• Soul of Japan (PDF)  this booklet covers all the basics and gives a good idea of what Shinto is from the perspective of its largest organization.
• To Nurture A Noble Spirit - The Power of the Imperial Rescript on Education -
• Rosemarie Bernard (Shinto and Ecology Bibliography) : also conveniently available as a downloadable document.
• John Breen and Mark Teeuwen (A Shinto Bibliography in English) (PDF)
• Kokugakuin University's Shinto Portal 
• Articles in Translation
• Encyclopedia of Shinto

Has Mie Been in the News Recently?

Probably. The region has been a major tourist destination for centuries (one of the country’s most sacred sites is here). However, a large amount of activity has been happening here lately. Last year, we had the G7 Summit in Mie and the 70th anniversary of the Ise-Shima National Park. This year, Ise hosted the 27th National Confectionary Exhibition 第27回全国菓子大博覧会. Much effort has been put into making the region even more accessible and welcoming to visitors from other countries, so this would be a great time to visit if you are headed to Japan.

Why This Page?

I am a historian and a professor teaching at two universities in the region, so I have a personal and professional interest in Mie. 

From 2014 to 2024, I have been a faculty member in the Communication Department コミュニケーション学科 at Kōgakkan University 皇學館大学 in Ise City 伊勢市. As the leader of the “Ise” and Japan Study Program 「伊勢」と日本スタディプログラム, I have collaborated with Ise City to host researchers from abroad to participate in an intensive study program at the university. In creating this page, I hope that the Internet resources will be useful for them.

In 2024, I will begin a new position in the Intercultural Studies Department 国際文化学科 at Nagoya Gakuin University 名古屋学院大学. However, I have been invited to continue teaching some classes at Kōgakkan University (Foreign Affairs 海外事情, English and Japanese Phonetics 英語音声学, “Japanese Culture and History” 日本の歴史・文化, and “Shinto English” 神道英語), so I am looking forward to enjoying time each week in the Ise-Shima region.

Also, as a member of the community in Mie, I have tried to contribute to the maintenance and development of historical and cultural sites. I held a position as a regent at a center connected with the “Old Road of Kumano” World Heritage Site 熊野古道センター until 2023. I have also been an advisor for some activities to help improve the Ise-Shima National Park 伊勢志摩国立公園 — part of Japan’s “Step Up” program that aims to “support the future of Japan through tourism.”

Naturally, the subject of tourism often comes up in discussions about the park, and it occurred to me that there’s a lot of English information out there these days. Still, it’s not easy to wade through, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Hopefully, visitors and residents will find this information helpful.

※ Last updated February, 2024.