In Iga Castle Town, it is ALL about the Ninja

Ninja were a covert agent mysterious class of martial artists, spys and secret messengers in feudal and samurai era Japan, they prided themselves on being invisible and hiding in plain site, but in the castle town of Iga, in Mie prefecture you can...

Experience the deep history and culture of Iga on a ninja-themed tour of fun activities

One of the most popular historical characters in Japan is the mysterious ninja. Many foreign visitors have a strong desire to seek out experiences that can offer a glimpse into the secretive world of the famous spies of feudal Japan. A trip to Iga...

Looking Way Up at Hana no Iwaya, Japan’s Oldest Shrine which appears in mythology

In Kumano City, a small city on the coast of Mie Prefecture with a bustling fishing industry, tourists and worshippers can visit Hana no Iwaya Shrine, which is so revered that it appears in Shinto mythology. It is Japan’s oldest Shinto Shrine and...

Let's relive this shimmering and illusory age of Japan, 1000 years ago.

Through excavation and research starting 50 years ago, we've finally started to understand this unique past of Japan. Come see history and culture as it was here in Meiwa-cho of Mie Prefecture.

AMA DIVING EXPERIENCE AND SEAFOOD BBQ - Have an Underwater Adventure with a Female Ama Diver and Feast on Fresh Seafood

The all-female Ama divers of Mie Prefecture are famous throughout Japan. Their traditional practice of free diving to collect shellfish and seaweed from the bountiful sea around Shima and Toba has continued for thousands of years. The Ama Diving E...

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...

JAPANESE TRADITIONAL LIVING AND FARM EXPERIENCE - Live the Traditional Farm Life and Enjoy Fresh Mie Cuisine

Taiki Town is home to around 20 welcoming guesthouses that offer a diverse range of traditional experiences for individual travelers and families. Depending on the season, the Japanese Traditional Living and Farm Experience packages together activ...

Gourmet Mie Day 1 – Abalone feast at exotic Shima Peninsula（Article created by Cheeserland）

I’m sure you already knew about my #47PrefectureMission and that I have completed this life mission early June this year. I visited Mie in 2016 for two things: 1.Ise Jingu Shrine 2. Matsusaka Beef The two things that Mie is probably most f...

Tokaido Seki-Juku Festival in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture

Step into Seki-Juku and back in time and a whole bunch of excitement as you wander up and down this traditional rest stop on the old Tokaido. Experience delicious snacks and food while enjoying the beautiful floats, costumes and buildings. Seki-...

Eating Great Food on Okage Yokocho, and Enjoying Authentic Shopping Street in Japan.

Along Okage Yokocho, you’ll find a plethora of unique Japanese dishes not found anywhere else. Not to mention, a very fun and lively atmosphere that’s sure to be unforgettable. You can create your own memorable experiences along Okage Yokocho.

Experience the original ninja arts at the Ninja Museum of Igaryu! Go and meet up the energetic Ninjas!

If you are thinking of meeting true, real ninja, you should never miss Ninja Museum of Igaryu! There you can visit real ninja houses with detailed explanation from our ninja staff, see the well-preserved and well-arranged historical ninja exhibits...

Making Delicious Mehari-zushi: Traditional Japan in Your Hands

Mehari-zushi is a unique, local delicacy from Kumano City. You can make (and eat!) your own at the charming Kumano Kodo - Omotenashi-kan, a place that will make you feel as if you’ve stepped back into traditional Japan.

Ninja Training in the Ninja Forest of Akame 48 Waterfalls in Mie Prefecture

After visiting the ninja city of Iga in Mie Prefecture to learn all about the shadow warriors that are ninja, I was dying to become a ninja myself. Luckily, I found the perfect place, Akame 48 Waterfalls in Nabari, just up the road from Iga. This ...

Discover the Secret Power Spots Around Ise Jingu with a Rickshaw Ride

One of the best ways to get off the beaten track and learn more about the places that you visit in Japan is to take a rickshaw ride. I was lucky during my recent visit to Ise Jingu to experience this first-hand with a ride around the sacred shrine...

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...

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...

【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...

Iga,The city where almost everything is inspired by ninja

Our family enjoyed a day trip to Iga City. We put on a ninja costume and visited various museums to learn about ninja and Iga culture. However, I heard that there are many shops related to ninja in the town of Iga, and you can walk around the town...

Family Having a Blast Being Ninjas for the Day at Iga City

Today’s destination was Iga City, also known as the city of Ninjas. When I was asked if we would be willing to wear a ninja costume in this daytrip to Iga, I did not hesitate, or consult my husband and son, I said “Yes, of course!” right away. B...

A mother & daughter travelogue: Nourishing body and soul with a “Retreat Stay” at Shima Kanko Hotel

Since opening in 1951, the prestigious Shima Kanko Hotel has welcomed many celebrities over the years, including the Imperial Family. In 2016, it also hosted the G7 Ise-Shima Summit. Set in the grounds of Ise-Shima National Park overlooking Ago Ba...