Mie Travel Guide
Mie is home to Ise Grand Shrine, coastal seafood, pilgrimage routes, ninja history nearby, family resorts, and Kumano Kodo access.
Quick facts
- Best for: Ise Shrine, seafood, pilgrimage, resorts
- Recommended stay: 1 to 3 days
- Best season: Spring and autumn
- Main bases: Ise, Toba, Kuwana
Why visit Mie
Mie is where Japan’s oldest continuous religious tradition sits beside its most modern theme park, and both are worth the trip. Ise Jingu is the country’s most significant Shinto site, made up of an Inner Shrine and an Outer Shrine among others, and its buildings are rebuilt on adjacent ground in a cycle repeated for centuries. Just outside the Inner Shrine, Okage Yokocho recreates the old pilgrim approach with food stalls and shops. To the south, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes cross the mountains, and on the northern edge Nagashima Resort has one of Japan’s biggest amusement parks.
Getting to Mie
Ise is reached most easily by Kintetsu limited express from Nagoya, Osaka or Kyoto rather than by JR, which is worth knowing before you plan around a rail pass. The two main shrines are several kilometres apart and tradition is to visit the Outer Shrine first, so allow the better part of a day. The Kumano Kodo continues into Wakayama and is a walking trip in its own right rather than a stop. See Getting Around Japan for how private lines like Kintetsu fit alongside JR.
Top Attractions in Mie
Ise Grand Shrine
Plan Ise Jingu as a two-sanctuary visit: begin at Geku (Outer Shrine), then continue to Naiku (Inner Shrine), allowing time for the forest approaches, seasonal visiting hours and the transfer between them.
Price Free to enter; worship at both Geku and Naiku has no general admission ticketTime needed Allow at least 30 minutes at Geku and 60 minutes at Naiku, plus the transfer between them
Okage Yokocho
Okage Yokocho is a compact recreated street from the Edo to early Meiji periods, sitting right beside Ise Grand Shrine's Naiku entrance, with local food stalls, souvenir shops, and traditional wooden buildings.
Price Free to walk around. Individual food and souvenir purchases vary, typically yen 300 to yen 1,500 per itemTime needed 1 to 2 hours, more if you plan to eat at several food stalls
Kumano Kodo
Kumano Kodo is a network of ancient pilgrimage trails across the Kii Peninsula, registered by UNESCO as part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range; its Iseji route crosses Mie and historically linked pilgrims to Ise Grand Shrine.
Price Free to walk. Some sections require transport or lodging costs if attempting a multi-day hikeTime needed A short stone-paved section can be walked in 1 to 2 hours; full multi-day treks along the Iseji or other…
Nagashima Resort
Nagashima Resort is a large leisure complex in northern Mie combining the Nagashima Spa Land amusement park, a water park, hot spring baths, an outlet mall, and the Nabana no Sato flower park, making it an easy full-day trip from Nagoya.
Price Paid. Spa Land admission plus unlimited rides starts around yen 5,800 for adults; admission only is around…Time needed Half a day to a full day, depending on how many of the resort's facilities you visit
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Where to stay
| Area | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ise | best for shrine visits and Okage Yokocho. |
| Toba or Shima | best for seafood and coastal stays. |
| Kuwana | useful for Nagashima Resort. |
Sample itinerary
- Day 1: Ise Grand Shrine and Okage Yokocho.
- Day 2: Toba, Shima, seafood, or coastal viewpoints.
- Day 3: Kumano Kodo route or Nagashima Resort.
Food to try
- Ise udon
- Matsusaka beef
- Ise-ebi lobster and oysters
Common questions
Which line goes to Ise?
Kintetsu limited express from Nagoya, Osaka or Kyoto rather than JR, which is worth knowing before you plan around a rail pass.
In which order should you visit the Ise shrines?
Tradition is to visit the Outer Shrine first. The two main shrines are several kilometres apart, so allow the better part of a day.
What makes Ise Jingu unusual?
Its buildings are rebuilt on adjacent ground in a cycle repeated for centuries.
Is the Kumano Kodo a day trip?
No. The pilgrimage routes are a walking trip in their own right and continue south into Wakayama.
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