Mie Prefecture: Shrines, Coasts and Pilgrimage Routes

Ise Jingu comprises 125 Shinto shrines; at the same time, Mie Prefecture offers coastal landscapes, pilgrimage routes and motorsports for a range of travel interests. If you’re looking for a hotel in Mie, it can help to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: Ise Jingu, the Shima Peninsula, the Kumano Kodo and Suzuka offer very different experiences.

Ise Jingu and Religious History

Kotaijingu (Naiku) and Toyo'uke-daijingu (Geku) are the defining shrines of Ise Jingu. Naiku is dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, who was worshipped there about 2,000 years ago. More than 1,500 rituals are held at Ise Jingu every year. To understand the site, it is important to consider both its two principal shrines and the scale of the shrine complex: the number of 125 shrines makes clear that Ise Jingu extends beyond a single sanctuary.

The Shima Peninsula and Coastal Landscapes

Ise-Shima National Park encompasses most of the Shima Peninsula in Mie Prefecture. At 555 m, Mount Asama is the park’s highest peak. At Ago Bay, you can experience the landscape from the water by kayak or aboard a cruise ship. These two options offer different experiences: you can explore the bay either by kayak or on a cruise ship. Along the Kumanonada Sea, Onigajo stretches for more than 1 km as a cliff formed by geological uplift, erosion and weathering. The mountain, bay and cliff-lined coast thus offer different nature-focused themes for planning your trip.

Pilgrimage Routes, World Heritage and Walking Trails

The Kumano Kodo is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.” The site was inscribed on July 7, 2004, and is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site of this kind in Mie Prefecture. The Kumano Kodo Iseji runs along the eastern side of the Kii Peninsula and connects Ise Jingu with the three Kumano Sanzan shrines: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha. At Onigajo, a walking trail connects the Kumano Kodo with Matsumoto-toge; Onigajo itself is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kinki Nature Trail also passes beaches where loggerhead turtles nest. Nature and cultural experiences thus range from a named pilgrimage route to trails along the coast and cliffs.

Shrines and Visitor Experiences

The Meotoiwa Rocks belong to Futamiokitama Shrine and are connected by a sacred rope. At the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in Iga City, a ninja or kunoichi guides visitors through the Karakuri House. These two places offer experiences distinct from the trails along the Kumano Kodo: here, the focus is on a shrine and a guided experience centered on the Karakuri House.

Suzuka: Motorsport and Driving Experiences

SUZUKA CIRCUIT was built as Japan’s first full-size race track and hosts major races such as Formula 1 and the Suzuka 8 Hours. SUZUKA CIRCUIT PARK has attractions that visitors aged three and up can operate themselves. With Circuit Challenger, you can drive an electric kart on the eastern half of the actual Suzuka Circuit Racing Course. The race track’s history, major races and an electric-kart drive are different reasons to include Suzuka in your travel plans.

Regional Specialty and Getting Around

Matsusaka beef is a well-known type of Wagyu beef from Mie. It is known for its exceptional marbling, tenderness and rich flavor. The Shima Peninsula has a transport network of buses, trains and boats serving most major attractions. If you’re considering staying there, this network can help you get around. For specific travel plans, it’s a good idea to check the latest timetables.

Discover more destinations: Kumano, Odai, Owase, Ise, Suzuka, Toba, Shima, Tsu, Mie District, Nabari, Yokkaichi, Kameyama, Iga.

For the overview of destinations: Japan.