⭐ HIGHLIGHTS
Mie highlights
Experiences the Wherebest team recommends — don't miss these on a first trip
Ise Grand Shrine, the holiest site in Shinto; the rope-joined Meoto Iwa wedded rocks; the lively old street of Okage Yokocho; and the pearl town of Toba with its ama divers — Mie is a seaside prefecture between Nagoya and Osaka that brings together a sacred shrine, pearls and top-grade wagyu beef.
Honestly, if you want to pay respects at Japan's holiest shrine while also enjoying the sea and top-grade wagyu, Mie is the answer — Ise Grand Shrine is the place most Japanese hope to visit once in their lives. Stroll the old Okage Yokocho street for snacks, head to the coast for the Meoto Iwa wedded rocks and the pearl town of Toba with its ama divers, see the Nabana no Sato illumination in the north and the ninja town of Iga in the west, and finish with Matsusaka beef — all just over an hour from Nagoya.
Experiences the Wherebest team recommends — don't miss these on a first trip
The holiest shrine in Shinto, dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu; it has an inner shrine (Naiku) and outer shrine (Geku) about 6 km apart, and the main halls are rebuilt every 20 years in the Shikinen Sengu tradition. The walk through the sacred forest is deeply calm.
🆓 FreeTwo rocks, large and small, in the sea at Futami, joined by a sacred shimenawa rope as husband and wife; in summer the sun rises between them. A small frog shrine sits nearby.
🆓 Free to viewA retro pedestrian street at the entrance to the Naiku, lined with sweet shops, local food such as Ise udon and akafuku, and souvenirs — it feels like stepping back into the Edo period.
🆓 Free to wanderA bayside town, birthplace of Mikimoto cultured pearls, with a pearl island showing how pearls are farmed and demonstrations by ama divers who gather shellfish by hand; the Toba Aquarium is nearby.
🎫 Pearl Island feeA large flower park in Kuwana, famous for seasonal flower fields and one of Japan's biggest and finest winter illuminations, with a long tunnel of lights to walk through.
🎫 AdmissionIga is the home of the Iga ninja, with the high-walled Ueno Castle and a ninja museum that demonstrates throwing stars and a trick house — fun for kids and adults alike.
🎫 AdmissionMain areas and cities that cover a trip — pick the base that fits your plan
Three sample stays · Luxury · Mid · Budget · compare 3 sites instantly
Mie (三重) is a coastal prefecture on the eastern edge of the Kansai region, next to Nagoya, with Tsu as its capital — but its best-known destination is Ise, home to Ise Grand Shrine, considered the holiest shrine in Shinto and dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu.
It's easy from Nagoya: a Kintetsu limited express reaches Ise in about 1 hour 20 minutes, or about 1 hour 45 minutes from Osaka. From Ise it is only minutes to the pearl town of Toba and to Futami with its Meoto Iwa wedded rocks; to the north are Nabana no Sato and Nagashima Spa Land, to the west the ninja town of Iga, and Matsusaka, home of the famous wagyu.
This page gathers stays by area, standout food such as Matsusaka beef and Ise udon, the main sights and a 3-day Mie plan, with one-click hotel price comparisons across Agoda, Booking and Trip.com. Information is current for 2026, but please re-check prices, opening hours and transport schedules before you travel.
Find Mie hotels in the right area · compare 3 sites instantly
Other prefectures in Kansai · every prefecture in Japan with a full prep guide
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