A workday where you can experience the traditional Ise pilgrimage! Enjoy a 1-night, 2-day trip to Ise-Shima with plenty of work and play♫

What is Ise-Shima National Park?

Ise-Shima National Park, located in eastern Mie Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading marine national parks, with a distinctive ria coastline. The complex coastline, dotted with small coves and headlands, is not only a fishing ground for abundant seafood. The calm waves make it ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and other sea activities.

The Ise/Toba area in the northern part of the park is home to popular facilities such as IseJingu and TobaAquarium. In Shima and Minamiise in the south, there are many photogenic spots such as Yokoyama Observatory, marine sports, fishing spots, etc., making it an area that everyone can enjoy.

It's also great to have fun learning about how local people have lived in the midst of nature, such as the ama culture and pearl farming.

Explanation of the areas covered in this course

Shown on the map are the spots you will visit on this course. (Total 10 locations)

Experience the traditional way of visiting Ise and increase your motivation at work! On the second day, let's enjoy the sea and culture of this area, focusing on TobaCity ♪

Model course on the first day

• Learn from the ancient IseJingu visit and start your Ise visit from "Futamiokitama-JinjaShirine"!
• Let's express our gratitude for our daily meals by visiting IseJingu Geku
• Stroll around Oharai-Machi Yokocho in Okage-yokocho ♬ Enjoy lunch and choose souvenirs
• Dessert time after dinner at Isuzugawa Cafe ♬
• Visit IseJingu Naiku in the evening to avoid the hustle and bustle. Refresh your mind and body on the quiet approach!
• Check in to "Ancient Inn Iku" near Naiku! Enjoy the food and hot springs of Mie♬

Model course on the second day

• Start the second day with an “early morning visit” right after Naiku open!
• After visiting the temple early in the morning, enjoy the blessings of Ise-Shima ♬ Work hard until checkout
• Cruise around Toba Bay on a boat that looks like Ryugu Castle! Land on "Dolphin Island" and interact with cute animals ♫
• Enjoy the famous Champon at "KUBOKURI" where there is a co-working space ♫
• Learn the history of pearl farming and learn about the culture of the area at MikimotoPearlIsland

Learn from the ancient IseJingu visit and start your Ise visit from "Futamiokitama-JinjaShirine"!

Futamiokitama-JinjaShirine is a shrine that enshrines Sarutahiko Okami as its enshrined deity, and is said to bring blessings for marriage, marital harmony, and traffic safety.

Nowadays, many people visit IseJingu directly, but in ancient times, the traditional way to visit Ise was to enter FutamiuraBeach area, perform a ``misogi'' to purify the mind and body, and then visit IseJingu 's Geku and then Naiku. There was a custom of visiting shrines.

Currently, after visiting Futamiokitama-JinjaShirine, it is considered a short form of purification to wear ``Mukushiokusa'' collected from the Okitama Jinseki (*).

This time, we will start our visit to Ise from Futamiokitama-JinjaShirine, learning from this ancient method of worship! At the shrine office, I received a piece of solid salt grass (it's palm-sized, so I put it in my breast pocket), and I would like to wear it when I visit the shrine.

(*) Okitama Shinseki is a sacred stone associated with this shrine, and is located about 700 meters offshore from Meotoiwa(rocksofthemarriedcouple), which can be seen from the approach.

There are many Futami frogs that are said to be used by the enshrined deity in the precincts, and they are said to have the meaning of ``changing your money safely'' and ``changing your money''.

Let's pray for the baby to hatch safely from this trip, and then head to Geku of IseJingu.

Let's express our gratitude for our daily meals by visiting IseJingu Geku

IseJingu, which has long been known as the `` hometown of the Japanese people''​, is the general name for the 125 shrines and shrines centered around Naiku and Geku, and is officially called ``Jingu.''

This Geku enshrines Toyouke no Omikami, the guardian deity of food, clothing, and shelter, and is the god who controls Amaterasu-Omikami Omikami's meals.

First, cross the Hiyokebashi Bridge, which is the entrance to Geku. This bridge spanning the Horikawa River was built for fire prevention purposes, and has been designed to protect the sacred area from fires.

In the middle of the approach, traffic is on the left at Geku, and on the right at Naiku.

Crossing the fire bridge leads to the approach surrounded by large trees, creating a quiet atmosphere that is different from the outside world.

As you head towards the chozubya, you will see a large tree across the street.

This is a camphor tree called ``Kiyomorigusu,'' and there is a legend that when Taira no Kiyomori visited the tree as an imperial envoy, he had the branch that touched his crown cut off.

After cleansing your hands at the chozuya, it's time to head to the main shrine. I finish my visit to Geku by expressing my gratitude for being able to eat every day.

If you would like to enjoy a deeper visit to Geku, please refer to Geku 30-minute course and Geku 60-minute course on the official website of the shrine.

Stroll around Oharai-Machi Yokocho in Okage-yokocho ♬ Enjoy lunch and choose souvenirs

After visiting Geku, the next step is to visit Naiku of IseJingu!

This time, I would like to visit the shrine in the evening just before the gate closes (around 5:00 p.m.), so I will spend the time in Oharai-Machi until that time.

Oharai-Machi is an approximately 800m street that stretches from UjibashiBridge, the gateway to Naiku, and is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants.

The exterior of the building is unified in the gable/gable style that is unique to this region, giving it an elegant feel.

It was around noon when we arrived at Oharai-Machi, so we decided to have lunch here ♬

Out of the many restaurants out there, I chose Okadaya, where you can enjoy exquisite Ise-Udon.

Ise-Udon udon is a local dish of Ise where thick, soft noodles are eaten with a rich dashi sauce.

The flavor of the soup stock, the softness of the noodles, and the toppings vary depending on the restaurant, and Okada-ya's Ise-Udon is characterized by its thick, thick soup stock! The soup went perfectly with the soft noodles, and it was addictingly delicious ♬

The fact that it's located in a tourist area and costs just 500 yen is also appealing.

After lunch, choose a souvenir ♬

I found something called “Ise Shima Fisherman Arare” at “Zeniya” in Okage-yokocho! It is made with carefully selected seafood, and is said to be very popular among locals for its deliciousness.

There are three flavors: squid, shrimp, and seaweed, and this time we chose seaweed! In fact, this green lettuce is a special product of Mie Prefecture, and about 60% of the production in Japan is produced in Mie Prefecture!

Dessert time after dinner at Isuzugawa Cafe ♬

After enjoying lunch and choosing souvenirs, it's time for dessert at "Isuzugawa Cafe" in Oharai-Machi!

This shop is very popular for its carefully selected coffee and sweets, and is located along the clear stream "Isuzu River" that flows through Naiku.

Of course, you can see the Isuzu River from the terrace seats, which is soothing. While enjoying authentic flannel drip style coffee and roll cakes, take​ ​this time to complete light work such as checking emails and answering the phone.

Visit IseJingu Naiku in the evening to avoid the hustle and bustle. Refresh your mind and body on the quiet approach!

After enjoying Oharai-Machi and Okage-yokocho until evening, it was time to visit Naiku!

Naiku is where Amaterasu-Omikami, the great ancestor of the Japanese people, is enshrined, and has a history of over 2,000 years.

Visiting the shrine in the evening is a time when there is a different kind of tranquility than during the day, making it the perfect time to purify your mind. Cross UjibashiBridge, the entrance to Naiku, and walk along the approach lined with large trees to reach the main shrine.

Since the main shrine is a place where public prayers are held in the form of festivals, it is a long-standing custom to convey your feelings of gratitude to Amaterasu-Omikami. We finished the evening by conveying our daily gratitude and joy of living.

Check in to "Anishie no Yado Iku" which is right near Naiku! Enjoy the food and hot springs of Mie♬

After finishing up for the evening, I checked in to Inishie no Yado Iku, a 15-minute walk from UjibashiBridge.

As it is located close to Naiku, it is a perfect inn for those who want to visit the shrine in the evening or early in the morning.

After dropping off my luggage in my room, I headed out for dinner.

​We are proud of our kaiseki cuisine, where you can enjoy Mie's specialty products, Ise lobster and Matsusaka beef, and we are happy to have a monthly menu that allows you to enjoy seasonal ingredients ♬

Furthermore, there is also a menu where you can choose the ingredients and cooking method according to your preference, and this time we chose ``Tekone Sushi'', a local dish of Ise, from among ``Ise Ise-Udon, Tekone Sushi, and Fugu Nyu Noodles''. !

I was eating Ise-Udon for lunch, so I'm grateful to be able to choose like this ♬

Once your stomach is full, head to the public bath to relieve the fatigue of the day.

There is ``Yashiro-no-Yu,'' which is filled with the warmth of wood, and ``Mori-no-Yu,'' which is a rock bath.The hot water used is ``Choju-no-Yu'' from Shinmisato Onsen. The spring quality is characterized by its smooth texture, making your skin smooth and smooth after taking a bath, and has an excellent heat-retaining effect! It seems to be extremely popular with women.

​In addition to the large public bath, there are four private baths, and you can use them as many times as you like as long as you check the information signboard to see if there are vacancies. Moreover, all rooms in the inn have open-air baths, so you can enjoy the hot springs to your heart's content whenever you like.

Now that you've been healed by the exquisite cuisine and relaxing hot springs, it's time to get back to work.

Looking back on the feelings of gratitude I expressed at the shrine, I also changed my mind about work! If you change your mind, the thoughts that come to mind will probably change as well.

I was able to relax and concentrate on work in a spacious room with Wi-Fi!

Tomorrow we will have an early morning visit starting at 5am, so we will go to bed early today to end the first day.

Start the second day with an “early morning visit” right after Naiku open!

I woke up before 5 a.m. in order to perform the "early morning pilgrimage" right after Naiku opened. (Naiku are usually open from 5 a.m.)

There is a walking path at ``Anishie no Yado Iku'' that leads to Naiku area, so let's take this path for an early morning visit.

About a 3-minute walk from the inn, you will pass the bridge next to "Akafukumochi Store".

From here you can access Oharai-Machi → Naiku, but Akafukumochi store is also usually​ ​open from 5am, so it's a good idea to stop by before or after your early morning visit.

We started our early morning pilgrimage through UjibashiBridge.

The morning sunlight filters through the trees on the approach to the shrine, which is full of greenery, and a completely different time passes between daytime andlate evening. With every step you take, the sound of gravel echoes in your ears, and you can hear the chirping of birds that you didn't notice in the hustle and bustle.

Visiting the shrine in the crisp early morning air made me feel purified ♬

After visiting the temple early in the morning, enjoy the blessings of Ise-Shima ♬ Work hard until checkout

​After completing the early morning visit in about an hour, it was a good time for breakfast. Breakfast at Inishie no Yado Iku starts at 7 a.m., so it's the perfect time to dine after finishing your early morning pilgrimage.

​For breakfast, you can choose between a Japanese meal or a Western meal, and this time we chose the Japanese meal.

I was able to enjoy a luxurious breakfast typical of Ise-Shima, such as dashi-wrapped eggs with seaweed and miso soup with spiny lobster.

After breakfast, I go back to my room and work until I check out.

​The Jingu Forest stretches out outside the balcony, and you can even take a phone call while enjoying the pleasant sunlight filtering through the trees and the clear air.

Cruise around Toba Bay on a boat that looks like Ryugu Castle! Land on "Dolphin Island" and interact with cute animals ♫

After checking out of the inn, head to Toba Marine Terminal, which is approximately 20 minutes away by car. Enjoy a boat trip around Toba Bay ♪

There are several types of ships in operation, and it will be fun to see which ship you will be riding on ♫

On this day, I was able to board a ship that looked like Ryugu Castle! Operating hours vary depending on the season, so please check the operating calendar on the official website for details.

After enjoying an elegant boat trip for about 15 minutes, we arrived at our destination, Dolphin Island!

It is a small island with a circumference of about 2 km floating in Toba Bay, and it was named this way because its shape resembles a dolphin.

The shape of the island is not the only thing that makes it look like a dolphin. On the island, you can enjoy impressive dolphin shows, hands-on events, and even meet-and-greets with sea lions and otters!

Please enjoy a fulfilling leisure time on a remote island surrounded by 360° ocean and rich in nature.

Enjoy the famous Champon at "KUBOKURI" where there is a co-working space ♫

After enjoying your boat trip in Toba Bay, it's time to work at ``KUBOKURI'', which has a co-working space. This facility is a renovated building that used to be a cleaning shop called Kubo Cleaning Shop, and the name KUBOKURI comes from the remains of that building.

It was a coworking space with a spacious counter table and a calm atmosphere, making it a very comfortable working environment. The operating hours are from 10:00 to 16:00, and the low price of 500 yen per person per day is also attractive ♫

After concentrating on work until around noon, I started to get hungry.

For lunch, order the famous "Toba Champon" at "Kitchen Hanashimizu" which is directly connected to the coworking space! The rich toppings, noodles, and soup have a perfect balance and are addictingly delicious ♫

As part of town development in Toba, where KUBOKURI is located, various efforts are being made to increase the number of immigrants, and ``Kitchen Hanashimizu'' is actually​ ​run by a couple who immigrated from Osaka. .

Also, freelancers and others are staying in the shared office on the second floor, so you might be able to come up with new ideas by being in the same place.

KUBOKURI is not only a place to work, but also a place where you can meet a variety of people and discover new values.

Learn the history of pearl farming and learn about the culture of the area at MikimotoPearlIsland

After finishing work in the afternoon, the second day of enjoying Toba is finally coming to an end. Next, we will learn​ ​about pearl farming at MikimotoPearlIsland to learn about the culture that is rooted in this area.



​At the museum, you can learn about the types and structures of pearls and the history of pearl farming.

Pearl farming began in 1893 when KokichiMikimoto invented a method of culturing pearls using Akoya oysters. Since then, pearl farming has developed mainly in Toba and Ago Bay.

At the time, natural and cultured pearls were sometimes perceived as different, but through steady efforts, the company has now become a pearl brand admired by women all over the world.

After taking a close look at the exhibition, go inside the store.teethThere are benches where you can take a leisurely break, so enjoy the view of Toba Bay that stretches out in front of you.

Of course,​ ​you can also buy​ ​Mikimoto's pearl jewelry at the pearl shop inside the building ♫

How about one​ ​as a memento of your trip, a reward for yourself, or a gift for a loved one?

What did you think

In this article, we have introduced a workcation course to enjoy the ancient Ise Shrine and Toba. Purifying your mind by visiting the shrine early in the morning and in the evening will definitely improve your motivation at work! In addition, by visiting Toba Bay, where the beautiful ocean stretches out, I think you can have a one-night, two-day work trip that is full of both play and work.

Mie Kanko introduces other model courses for enjoying Ise-Shima National Park. If you are interested, please take a look at the Ise-Shima National Park special website.

Additionally, the special website for Mie Prefecture National Quasi-National Park introduces four national and quasi-national parks within Mie Prefecture. Each area has its own natural charms, so please take a look at them as well.

Click here for my map showing the spots I visited this time ↓