Mie Prefecture technically sits between the Kansai and Chubu Regions. It is famous for being the base for Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrines. One of these is the Ise Grand Shrine – a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. This sacred place is widely known as the most significant Shinto shrine in Japan.

Nabana no Sato

Amongst the fun activities to do in Nara is attending Nabana no Sato: one of Japan’s best winter light shows. Click the article Nabana no Sato to learn more about this effervescent event!

Toba Aquarium

For those interested in marine life, the Toba Aquarium in Mie Prefecture is easily accessible by train: located at Nakanogo Station on the Kitetsu Shima Line. Our Toba Aquarium article has more information on this exciting facility.  

Nagashima Spa Land

A visit to Nagashima Spa Land is a great idea for anyone stopping through Mie. This large amusement park is the 18th most visited amusement park in the world. Near here is also a hot spring complex, an outlet mall, and the Nabana no Sato flower park!

Ago Bay & Mikimoto Pearls

Ago Bay, located on the southeast coast of Mie, is a beautiful bay encapsulating 50 little islands. This bay is known for producing the pearls used for Mikimoto Pearl Company. Divers free dive into the bay catching some of the world’s rarest and most quality pearls. Nearby are the Yokoyama and Tomoyama Observatories – both of which offer spectacular views of the bay. These observatories are accessible only via car.

Mikimoto Pearl Island is a museum about pearl cultivation and care. This venue also hosts hourly pearl diving performances, where female divers dive and harvest oysters from the ocean floor. The museum is accessible by JR and Kintetsu trains at Toba Station!

Meoto Iwa

Meoto Iwa are Mie’s famous Married Couple Rocks. Two rocks in the ocean are joined together with a heavy rope and considered sacred to worshippers of the nearby Futami Okitama Shrine. The rocks represent the union of the creators of the kami (Japanese gods). A special  ceremony is held several times a year during which the marriage rope is replaced. The rocks are most beautiful at dawn or dusk in the summer.

Famous for its seafood, amusement parks, and most of all its vast expanse of nature, Mie is a diverse prefecture with lots to explore!