SPIRITUAL ROUTE CYCLING & MATSUSAKA BEEF BBQ - Visit One of Japan’s Most Significant Shrines and Taste World Famous Beef

Takihara Grand Shrine (“Takiharagu” in Japanese) is one of the most sacred places in all of Japan. It is an associated shrine (“betsugu” in Japanese) to Ise Jingu, one of Mie Prefecture’s most famous sites. Matsusaka beef comes from Japanese Black cattle raised under very specific conditions in Mie Prefecture. It is considered to be one of the top three kinds of Japanese beef. The Spiritual Route Cycling and Matsusaka Beef BBQ experience offers participants an amazing combination of outdoor activity, Japanese culture and some of the world’s best beef. The price for this incredible 5-hour package is ¥13,000 per person (+¥2,000 for a guide) and it is an unforgettable way to enjoy some of the best activities Taiki Town has to offer.

Caption: The entrance to the cave was atight fit, but inside there was plenty of headspace.

Inside the cave, it was like entering another world. The cave was bigger than I expected and the largest space was at least five meters high. It had been many years since my last experience in a cave and I had forgotten the strange cool feeling of being deep inside stone. There was a pool covering half of the floor area inside and the water was amazingly clear. I was slightly startled when a bat flew across the top of the cave, but quickly became accustomed to them dropping in and out of the recesses above us.

Caption: The interior of the cave was quiet and refreshingly cool.

After our quick visit to the cave, we crossed over the road and went for a short hike into the forest next to a mountain stream. The lush foliage of the forest was incredible and there was every shade of green imaginable covering the trees, stones and ground.

Caption: The mountain spring fed stream pouring through the forest.

After walking about 10 minutes, we came to the spring that fed the short mountain stream. The point where the stream appeared at the base of some rocks looked so refreshing, I almost wanted to jump in and take a swim. Unfortunately, I wasn’t dressed for it and that wasn’t the point of today’s tour, so we hiked back down to our bikes got ready for the next leg of our journey.

Caption: This giant boulder had held its place for centuries in this stream.

We continued our cycle journey and it was a great opportunity to see the local area and some more of the town on our way to the traditional guesthouse, Tousakujuku, for lunch. I was definitely ready to eat when we arrived around noon. I was especially excited about the opportunity to taste the delicious Matsusaka Beef that had been raised in Taiki Town. The beef produced in Taiki Town is considered to be some of the highest-ranking Matsusaka Beef and one of the best kinds of beef in all of Japan. It is well known for practically melting in your mouth due to its high fat-to-meat ratio.

Caption: The BBQ lunch was hosted at the traditional Tousakujuku Guesthouse.

The BBQ lunch did not disappoint. The beef was incredibly delicious and my hosts were friendly and gracious. It was a perfect opportunity to refuel, relax and enjoy some famous Japanese hospitality before cycling back to Takiharagu.

Caption: The Matsusaka Beef was even better than I had expected it to be.

On the ride back to the shrine, I was able to completely relax and just enjoy cruising along. One of the elements of this package that I enjoyed so much was that it all happened at an easy pace. There was never any pressure to hurry or get to the next spot. When I wanted to linger on the hike, it was no problem. If I wanted to ride a little slower and soak in the atmosphere of Taiki Town, I could. The BBQ lunch had the vibe of eating with friends, even though we had just met each other.

Caption: It was a great day with my cycling guide, Taka-san.

I was visiting Taiki Town in the fall and the weather was perfect for cycling. It also helped that the Tour included an E-bike, so I could enjoy the ride and not burn myself out between stopping points. Riding back to the shrine and then on to my guesthouse was wonderful. It had been an amazing day and the mix of culture, food and outdoor activity was the perfect blend for me to call it a great Japanese experience.

For anyone looking to experience the beauty and a calm of one of Japan’s most sacred spots, I highly recommend a visit to Takiharagu. If you can combine that visit what an invigorating cycle tour that includes special stops along the way and a delicious meal of some of the worlds best beef, even better.

SPIRITUALROUTE CYCLING & MATSUSAKA BEEF BBQ

https://miescape.jp/en/plan/877/

Taiki Town Regional Activation Council

http://taiki-okuise.jp/language/en/

TEL:+81-598-74-2277

Contact form: http://taiki-okuise.jp/language/en/contact/

All seasons

5 hours (10:00 AM~15:00 PM)

- 1 hour at Takiharagu

- 2 hours at Tousakujuku for lunch

- 2 hours of cycling (E-bike)

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