[Beautiful Mie Bicycle Route Note: HigashiKishu Edition] Ride along Shichirimihama Beach and enjoy the delicious food of Kumano!
掲載日：2019.02.14
Mie Prefecture is full of attractions, including historical heritage sites such as IseJingu and Kumano Kodo, as well as rich nature. If you visit by bicycle, you can double the fun by turning your transportation into a journey or exercise! This time, we enjoyed world heritage sites and spectacular views in KumanoCity, MihamaTown, and KihoTown!
Bicycle writer Masanori Asano, born and raised in Mie Prefecture, will introduce you to the charms of Mie Prefecture while cycling!
■Traveler bicycle writer Masanori Asano
I have been cycling for about 20 years. I love cycling as much as I love three meals and snacks. Because of his love for bicycles, he became a freelance bicycle writer. He rides his bicycle for work, and also enjoys racing and long rides in his private life.
■Travel companion Murakami (Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation)
I'm a beginner road bike rider who only started cycling for half a year. She secretly calls her beloved Bianchi road bike "Sora Mame-chan." Because of his job, he is knowledgeable about sightseeing spots and gourmet food in Mie Prefecture, and has an eye for delicious food.
The HigashiKishu region in the southern part of Mie Prefecture is home to the world heritage Kumano Kodo Iseji Route, the seascape symbolized by the Kumanonada Sea, the mountain scenery symbolized by the Daitakayama Mountain Range, and the seafood delicacies nurtured by the rich nature. It is packed with the blessings and charm of the mountains.
Last time we ran through the streets of Matsusaka.
In response to Murakami's request, who is in charge of this series, ``Next time, I'd like to run on a course that's a little more rewarding and where you can enjoy nature to the fullest!'' Writer Asano, the navigator, will guide you to a course that runs through the seaside area of HigashiKishu.
What kind of journey will it be this time?
Course: KumanoCity-MihamaTown-KihoTown (round trip)
Mileage: 44.6km
Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
HigashiKishu we will be traveling to this time, especially the Kinan area south of Kumano, is approximately 150km from Tsu, the prefectural capital.
It used to take 4 hours one way to get there from Tsu.
Personally, when I think of Kumano, it is a special place even though it is located in Mie Prefecture, and it stimulates my desire to travel.
What's more, the day of the interview was calm and sunny, making it the perfect day for cycling.
I'm excited even before I leave♪
Today's start and goal is Michi-no-eki Hana-no-Iwaya.
There is also a facility called Otsuna Chaya, which is lined with buildings that look like old folk houses, and you can enjoy gourmet food made with ancient rice, but let's save that for last.
■Hananoiwaya-jinjaShrine
Before you depart, visit Michi-no-eki Hana-no-Iwaya Hananoiwaya-jinjaShrine throw from Kumano Hana-no-kutsu, a roadside station, and pray for safety on your journey.
Hananoiwaya-jinjaShrine is said to be the tomb of Izanami no Mikoto, the mother of the gods, and is the oldest shrine in Japan, appearing in the Nihon Shoki. That's one.
A rope hangs over the shrine, and the rope is changed twice a year during the rope-hanging ritual.
This ritual has been designated as a Mie Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
``It's too big to capture on camera!'' This power cannot be conveyed in photos, so be sure to see it with your own eyes.
Hananoiwaya-jinjaShrine
0597-89-0100
can be
4 minutes by bus from JR KumanoCity Station to Shingu Station and get off at "Hana-no-Iwaya"
Approximately 10 minutes from Kumano Odomari IC
After visiting Hananoiwaya-jinjaShrine, we headed for Shishiiwa to warm up.
It is a strangely shaped rock that looks like a lion howling towards Shichirimihama, and is one of Kumano's most iconic attractions.
Shishiiwa is also a registered asset of the World Heritage site, a sacred place and a pilgrimage route in the Kii Mountains.
It is no exaggeration to say that Kumano is a treasure trove of world heritage sites! I have been to Kumano many times, but this was my first time to see Shishiiwa up close.
“When you look at it this way, it really looks great. To put it in modern terms, it ‘stands out’.”
"That's right! If you come to Kumano, you have to stop by!"
So, unexpectedly, I also took a commemorative photo in front of Shishiiwa.
This place is recommended as a photo spot where you can take pictures with Shishiiwa in the background!
Shishiiwa
0597-89-4111
free
Open all year round
can be
Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Kisei Main Line "KumanoCity Station"
About 3 minutes by car from Kumano Owase Road Kumano Odomari IC along National Route 42 Shichirimihama toward Shingu.
Kumano doesn't have a lot of traffic even in the city, so I feel it's pretty easy to get around on a bicycle.
It seems that the lack of traffic is not the only reason for this. On the left side of the road, blue arrows are painted at regular intervals to indicate where bicycles are passing and in what direction they are traveling.This is a reminder to drivers to be careful and to drive in a way that is kind to cyclists. I felt like there were a lot of them.
This arrow feather signature mark has begun to be painted on highways nationwide.
On this day, I found it drawn on National Route 42!
I wish this system could spread throughout the prefecture and nationwide. As someone who loves bicycles, I honestly thought so.
Shichirimihama is a coastline of the Kumanonada Sea that stretches approximately 22km from KumanoCity to KihoTown, and is the longest gravel beach in Japan.
IseJingu /Iseji, the ancient road connecting Ise Grand Shrine and Kumano Sanzan, also ran along the coast of Shichirimihama, and this part was especially called the "Hama-kaido".
Due to this historical background, Shichirimihama Beach is also included in the World Heritage Sites of the Kii Mountains as a registered sacred site and pilgrimage route. While imagining what it was like to be a traveler in the past, we headed south along Shichirimihama beach, feeling like a sea breeze.
There are almost no ups and downs along Shichirimihama Beach, so even people who aren't confident in their physical strength can enjoy cycling, so even though I was thinking about it, I was congratulating myself on how well I had planned the course (lol).
Once you get through KumanoCity, you won't get caught at many traffic lights. It feels good to be able to cycle without getting caught at traffic lights.
In Mie Prefecture, there are many roads with few traffic lights that are suitable for cycling, as well as roads where you can enjoy spectacular views and feel good to ride, like here along Shichirimihama Beach!
ShichiriMihamaBeach
0597-89-0100
5 minutes walk from JR KumanoCity Station
Kumano Owase Road Kumano Odomari IC - National Route 42
(About 5 minutes from Kumano Odomari IC)
■Michi-no-eki KihochoUmigamePark
We continued on smoothly for about 15km from Shishiiwa without getting caught up in many traffic lights, passing through KumanoCity and MihamaTown before heading to KihoTown.
We arrived at our next destination, Michi-no-eki KihochoUmigamePark.
KihoTown, is known as a breeding ground for sea turtles, and this Michi-no-eki also has a sea turtle museum.
There is also a sea turtle monument at the entrance of Michi-no-eki.
"We have rice balls here made with local ingredients. I'm hungry, so let's have lunch!"
I put a wire lock on my bike and parked it, and when I headed to the store, there it was next to the cash register!
Handmade rice balls are lined up in rows.
The rice is Toisetsu rice from KihoTown, and the ingredients are mainly locally produced ingredients, such as Mie brand KumanoJidori(TheLocalBrandChicken) and Meyer lemon, whose skin is edible.
This is truly local production for local consumption!
On this day, there were 5 types of rice balls lined up. The reasonable price of 120 yen per piece is also attractive.
The rice balls are reasonably sized and individually packaged, making them perfect as on-the-go snacks while cycling, but since the purpose is to enjoy leisurely cycling, we recommend taking a lunch break.
Mr. Murakami had a rice ball with tempura and fried chicken, and I had a chicken rice ball with Mehari, a specialty of HigashiKishu, and grilled chicken.
"Mmm, it's the best! The sweetness comes out the more you chew the rice, and the fried chicken is juicy and delicious! The size is just right, and it's great that you can enjoy a variety of flavors."
I took my time to chew each bite and was very satisfied.
The restaurant at this Michi-no-eki also has terrace seating, so on mild days in spring and autumn, you can enjoy lunch while looking out at Shichirimihama Beach!
Michi-no-eki“ KihochoUmigamePark”
0735-33-0300
[Product Hall]
November to February 8:30 to 18:00
March-October 8:30-19:00
[1st floor Takoyaki] 10:00-16:00
[2nd floor snack corner] 10:30-14:00
[Sea Turtle House] 9:00-18:00
Open all year round
・46 regular cars
・5 large vehicles
・30 minutes by bus bound for Shingu Station from JR KumanoCity Station and get off at Ida Maiko stop.
Approximately 30 minutes from Kumano Odomari IC
“Mr. Murakami, have you ever crossed the prefectural border by bicycle?”
"Eh, there isn't."
"Then let's go now!"
Continue south on Prefectural Route 35 (formerly National Route 42).
Proceed along the coast at the junction with National Route 42 Kiho Bypass.
Since the bypass opened, traffic on the old road has decreased, making it easier to cycle.
As you walk west along the road, with the factory chimney on your left, you will see the Kumano River, which flows along the border between Mie and Wakayama prefectures, on your left.
On the other side is Wakayama Prefecture. Turn left at Narukawa, where the Kumano River once crossed, and cross the Kumano Ohashi Bridge.
This bridge has one-way traffic towards Shingu, and the heavy steel arches on both sides of the bridge are impressive.
This is the prefectural border.
"It's so refreshing to cross prefectural borders by bicycle!"
“Right?”
Immediately after entering Shingu City, there is Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine, one of the three Kumano Sanzan shrines, so I would really like to visit it, but I had to give up on my schedule this time.
I really just landed in Wakayama Prefecture for a short time and then returned to Mie Prefecture.
If you have the stamina, it would be nice to run along the hilly prefectural road 141 (commonly known as Orange Road) on the mountain side and through the tangerine fields, but this time I will be accompanying Mr. Murakami, who is a beginner, so I will try my best this time. Choose a flat course.
However, there are some slight ups and downs where the bridge is built.
It's okay to slow down on the way up, so I set a light gear to avoid putting too much strain on my legs, and on the way down, I set a heavy gear so that I could get up to speed easily. Masu.
After driving about 10km from the prefectural border, we arrived at a park lined with palm trees facing the Kumano Sea on the right. This corner feels like a southern island.
``This is a park called Shichirimihama Fureai Beach.Let's stop by for a bit,'' said Murakami.
The park also has a grassy area and benches facing the sea. I haven't taken a break for a while, so I'm going to take a short break here while taking pictures.
A stone's throw from Fureai Beach with its palm trees is Michi-no-eki Park Shichirimihama.
A large Michi-no-eki with a shopping center and restaurants attached.
MihamaTown is a famous mandarin orange producing town, known as a town where mandarin oranges can be harvested all year round.
This Michi-no-eki also sells juices and sweets made with local mandarin oranges.
We also recommend taking a break with tangerine sweets or tangerine juice.
Michi-no-eki “Park Shichirimihama”
05979-2-3600
9:00～17:30
Open all year round (shortened business hours on New Year's Day from 10:00 to 16:00)
Free parking available, 52 regular spaces, 14 large spaces
Approximately 1 minute walk from atawa Station on the JR Kisei Main Line
Approximately 20 minutes from Kumano Odomari IC
The distance traveled so far is over 40km.
Although the course was relatively flat, Mr. Murakami, who is a cycling beginner, seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed cycling.
For someone like me who doesn't often run 100km a day, it's still not far enough...
``Let's finish off with some special sweets at Otsuna Chaya at Michi-no-eki!'' said Murakami.
It's so appealing to have sweets to finish off your meal when you're feeling peckish.
I'll order it right away. Mitarashi is grilled to order, so you can enjoy it piping hot.
The grilled mitarashi is covered in sauce and the steam is rising, making it look delicious!
It looks so delicious!
“Ah, the dango covered in sweet and spicy sauce permeates all five organs...”
Since it was after cycling, the mitarashi dango was even more delicious.
In addition to sweets, Otsuna Chaya also has a food menu such as rice balls made with Izanami rice and udon noodles made with Izanami rice.
I wasn't able to eat it this time as it was outside lunch time, but as a foodie myself, I would like to come back to Kumano again soon and try out the food menu.
I was impressed that I could charge the battery while I was eating...
"Oh, there's a panel that shows your face!" Murakami said.
"Let's take a photo for the article's close-up of the author!"
It's a bit embarrassing to see a panel showing an adult's face, but it's a good idea...
This time I introduced Kumano's seaside area, but I regret not being able to introduce the charm of Kumano's mountain area.
This time, I'm writer Asano, who would like to introduce a mountain course that is very rewarding to run.
[This route]
Article creation / Masanori Asano
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◎ Bicycle writer goes! Beautiful country of Mie: Bicycle route notes
・ [Matsuzaka Edition] Relaxing cycling to enjoy Matsusaka beef gourmet food!
・ [Shima Edition] Cycling along the seaside, visiting lucky charms and gourmet food!
・ [TsuCity Misugi Edition] Cross the fresh green hills and visit the post station on Ise Honkaido Road
・ [Eastern Iga Edition] Hill climb and gourmet food in a hilly mountain village
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Related spots
Shishiiwa
HigashiKishu
KumanoCityA 25m tall strange rock shaped like a giant lion roaring towards the sea. Shishiiwa is a World Heritage Site, a natural monument, and a place of scenic beauty. Along with the neighboring Shinsen Cave, it is a guardian dog of Ouma Shrine, which is enshrined upstream of the Ido River that flows nearby.
Michi-no-eki “Park Shichirimihama”
HigashiKishu
Mihama MihamaTownIn addition to farmers' markets and souvenir shops, there are supermarkets, restaurants, and a tangerine juice factory. The shop sells 100% tangerine juice, Nanko plum pickled plums, and many Kishu souvenirs. The restaurant on the 3rd floor offers a panoramic view of the Kumano Sea. [Recommended Specialty] - Mikan Juice...A dish unique to MihamaTown, where mandarin oranges can be grown all year round.
Michi-no-eki“ KihochoUmigamePark”
HigashiKishu
KihoTown"KihochoUmigamePark" Sea Turtle Fureai Park breeds and researches sea turtles, and you can observe real sea turtles swimming from above the pool and from the underwater window. Also popular are the saltwater fish tank that swims in the Kumano Sea and the touching pool where you can interact with seaside creatures. We also hold events where you can actually touch sea turtles (admission is free). The product sales corner sells many locally grown agricultural products. Furthermore, at the snack corner, you can enjoy meals made with local ingredients at reasonable prices while looking out at the beautiful Kumanonada Sea. [Recommended Specialty] ・Meyer Lemon Mousse…A sweet made with Meyer lemons from KihoTown
ShichiriMihamaBeach
HigashiKishu
KumanoCityIt is the longest gravel beach in Japan, stretching approximately 22 km from KumanoCity to KihoTown, and has been selected along with other kachiji across the country as one of Japan's ``100 Best Beaches in Japan'' and ``100 Best Natures to Preserve in the 21st Century.'' It is. This beach, which gently receives the turbulent Kuroshio current, is paved with pebbles that have been polished by the rough waves of the Kumano Sea, which runs from the upper reaches of the Kumano River through Shingu. Colorful pebbles called ``Mihama pebbles'' are picked up by ``pickers'' and used for accessories. It is also known as a landing site for loggerhead sea turtles. View this post on Instagram [Official] Post shared by Mie Tourism (Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation) (@kankomie) - May 3, 2019 10:40pm PDT
