Spectacular views of Owase! A trip around Kuki Town. Introducing the unexplored area of Ojai, photogenic spots, and guesthouses.

Article creation: Fugamaru-chan & Chamu #Mie Travel Camera Club
Mie photographer ``Fugamaru-chan'' and his partner ``Cham'' bring you information that will make you love Mie even more.

​The birthplace of the Kuki navy, which was also known as the strongest navy in the Sengoku period. It is a port town with a population of less than 500 people, and a nostalgic fishing village spreads out on the ria coast.

Many of the quaint fishing village streets still remain in OwaseCity. Among them, Kuki Town has the most beautiful sea.

​Kuki Town was introduced in the June issue of Tokai Jalan (released on May 1, 2021) as a hidden gem with a spectacular view. It may be a place that is attracting a lot of attention in the Tokai region right now.

Introducing carefully selected photo-worthy places in Kuki Town. When you go there, please be sure to read the following guidelines for photography.

Kuki Town is not a tourist destination, but a town where people live. Be sure to be aware of this and try not to act in a manner that lacks morals.

In the morning, fishermen and delivery vehicles come and go along the embankment. Never park on the street or act in a way that blocks the road in large groups or obstructs traffic.

A number of boats are moored along the embankment just beyond the Kuki Community Center. If you want to take pictures of ships and the sea, this is recommended.

At various points along the embankment, there are stairs leading down to the ship. If you take a picture from here with the camera at a low angle just below the surface of the water...

I was able to take a photo looking up at the ship. You can only take photos like this in Kuki Town.

Ababa is the only cafe in Kuki Town. From April 2021, it became a cafe.

A shop with a small window that looks like a submarine. When you walk in front of the store, you will be able to take pictures of a scene that will make you feel like you have traveled back in time.

The food and drink menu includes curry, pasta, and coffee. Please see the official Facebook page for detailed business information.

There are maze-like alleys all over Kuki Town.

The road is not wide enough for cars to pass, so you can often see bicycles parked at the entrance.

A shrine on a hill. There is a red torii gate on the approach, and there is a large camphor tree that is said to be over 300 years old.

From the precincts, you can see the Kuki townscape and the sea. To avoid getting lost in the maze-like alleyways, we will explain how to get to the shrine below.

Turn left at the corner past the tile-covered building "Kuki Fishing Port Cooperative"​

After going a little further, you will see a road that splits into two, so go to the left.

This time you will see a staircase that splits into two.

On the left are the stairs to Shinganji Temple, and on the right are the stairs leading to Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine.

Arrived at the red torii gate. The tree in the center back is a large camphor tree that is said to be over 300 years old.

Arrived at the shrine. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the buildings surrounding the sea.

The sea and the townscape with tiled roofs. The atmosphere is reminiscent of Onomichi in Hiroshima.

Shinganji is the only temple in Kuki Town. It is located next to the Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine mentioned above.

My favorite viewing point is the gate of the temple grounds. The composition of the gate, stairs, and townscape is very picturesque.

Kuki Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. Within the precincts, there is a lush forest of trees such as camphor trees, holton trees, tabuno trees, sudajii trees, and ogatamano trees, which have been designated as natural monuments.

The precincts, which are densely packed with trees designated as natural monuments, were a power spot filled with vitality.

Kuki Shrine is located just a short distance from the village, and there is a torii gate on the approach just beyond the Kuki fishing port.

The view when you climb the stairs to the approach and look back is absolutely beautiful!

 

 

 

 

 

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[Official] Post shared by Mie Tourism (Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation) (@kankomie)

*I haven't been able to take any photos yet, so I've introduced some reposted photos from Kanko Mie Instagram.

Photographed around the entrance of Kuki fishing port. There are often no boats anchored here, so you can get great shots of the crystal clear sea.

*Please do not enter the Kuki fishing port, as only those involved are allowed to enter.

Ojai is a hidden gem surrounded by steep cliffs. Located deep in the mountains of Kuki Town, you can see the emerald blue sea.

Ojai isa hidden gem that can be reached by hiking for 1 to 1.5 hours one way. There is a well-maintained mountain trail, but you need to prepare well in advance and pay close attention to your pacing. Below are some tips for climbing Ojai.

[Things to keep in mind when climbing]

Climbing involves dealing with nature, so there is a good chance that uncertainties and unexpected situations will occur. Be prepared, plan well, and have fun.

① When climbing, give yourself plenty of time and choose a mountain that suits your experience and physical strength.
② Make a climbing plan in advance and submit a climbing report to the nearest police station or mountain climbing post by the day of the hike. Don't forget your map and compass on the day.
③ There is a possibility of encountering dangerous wild animals such as bears and hornets. Bring along equipment to deal with them, such as a bear bell.
④ Check the weather information beforehand. The climate in the mountains is subject to rapid changes. Be sure to prepare clothing that can handle sudden changes in temperature, including rain gear.
⑤ Bring water and portable food, take precautions against heat stroke, and take adequate breaks.
⑥ When climbing the mountain in winter, be sure to bring snowy mountain climbing equipment such as crampons. Even if there is no snow at the foot of the mountain, there may still be snow and ice near the top of the mountain.

• There are no restrooms along the way, and the round trip takes about 3 hours. It is best to use the toilet beforehand.
• ​Red tape on guide signs and tree branches will mark your destination, so be sure not to miss it.
• Let's descend the mountain before sunset. The aim is to start from 8:00 to 10:00 and descend the mountain by 15:00.
• Be sure to bring insect repellent spray in the middle of summer. You may be stalked by horseflies *Experiences
• The trail is well-maintained, so comfortable shoes such as sneakers are recommended.
• Be sure to bring enough water for the round trip. There are many slopes, so if you sweat a lot, we recommend 2 liters.

I would like to introduce OwaseCity website that I used as reference.

TEKUTEKU OWASE Journey - Ojai Edition -

The locations of spots ① to ⑧ introduced so far have been published on Google Maps. When you click on the red camera mark pin, the name and photo of that location will appear in a speech bubble.

Kuki Town is home to Enba Seijira, a lodging facility that offers some of the cheapest lodging in OwaseCity.

The accommodation fee for one person is 3,000 yen on weekdays and 3,500 yen on holidays, which is extremely low!

I covered Enba Seijira, so I will explain it on the next page.

A guest house that pursues the idea of ``inn in the countryside x comfort.'' You can stay at an exceptional price of 3,000 yen per night on weekdays and 3,500 yen per night on weekends and days before holidays. *Meals are not provided as this is only a room-only plan.

I received permission for an interview from the owner of Enba Seijira @nonhoi_bucho, who I had been in contact with on Twitter for some time, and took photos inside the building. This is a wonderful guest house full of nostalgia.

The first floor is a common space, and guests can come and go freely.

There is a kitchen space, equipped with two gas stoves. You can buy ingredients at the nearest supermarket or convenience store and cook them here.

*The nearest supermarket is Shufu no Central Market, and the convenience store is Owase Minami Inter Store, so be sure to finish your shopping before entering Kuki Town.

You can stretch your legs and relax in the large hall.

The great thing about guesthouses is that you can interact with a variety of people in the shared space. I have stayed in guest houses many times, but this was the first time I had stayed in a place where the common space on the first floor was so spacious and relaxing.

Enba Seijira not only operates a guest house, but also offers massage services (relaxation).

The treatment fee is 3,000 yen for a 60-minute full body massage course.

I was surprised at how cheap 3,000 yen for 60 minutes was! Being able to interact with cats and receive massages while staying at a guesthouse is the best way to heal...

There are three double rooms and one quadruple room on the second floor, all of which are Japanese-style rooms. *The photo shows a double room.

A room with tatami mats is very relaxing. It's like visiting grandma's house.

The bath and toilet are located in a shared space on the first floor and are shared by guests.

For those who want to soak in a natural hot spring, we also recommend Yumekodo Owase in Mukai OwaseCity.

• Accommodation fee: 3,000 yen per person per night, 3,500 yen on weekends and days before holidays
• Accommodation fee for infants: 500 yen (no futon) *0 to under 3 years old
• Accommodation fee for children: 1,500 yen without futon, 2,000 yen with futon *3 years old to elementary school student
• Use of bath and kitchen during the day: 1,000 yen *Fees for using the shared space between 10:00 and 15:00 without staying overnight
• Check-in: 15:00-22:00
• Check-out: 10:00 (leave room) *You can use the common space on the 1st floor even after check-out
• Address: 36 Kukicho, OwaseCity City, Mie Prefecture 519-3701

There is a temporary parking lot for tourists behind the platform of Kuki Station on the JR Kisei Main Line, and it can accommodate about 10 cars.

If you are climbing up to Ojai or sightseeing in Kuki Town, please use this parking lot.

Click here for parking map *Opens Google Maps

If you are staying at Guest House Enba Seijira, please contact Guest House Enba Seijira directly (080-2080-3080) for the parking location.

Public toilets are located just outside Kuki Station. Otherwise, you can rent one at the Kuki Community Center, although it is a little far from the station.

Fugamaru-chan (left side)
Active on Twitter and Instagram as a photographer who takes pictures of Mie. He started photographing his hometown of Mie in 2017, and in 2018 self-published his book ``Mie's Etoko Photo Collection''. Operates Mie Photo Gallery, which distributes photos of Mie Prefecture for free. We also operate a website called Mie no Etoko Meguri, which mainly covers restaurants in Mie. The cameras I own are EOS 6D and EOS RP.

Cham (right side)
Fugamaru-chan's partner. Specializing in low-angle photography, he captures landscapes with a unique worldview. She has been working with Fugamaru-chan since 2020 as a photography assistant, and has been working as a model for landscape photography. We are sending information about Mie on Twitter and Instagram. My camera is α7iii.

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