Mie Travel Guide Steeped in History and Culture

Set on the jagged coast, Meoto Iwa (Married Couple Rocks), is said to be the most sacred of very few power spots in all of Japan. Upon the large rock sits a small shrine. Then there is a rope that stretches across joining the two rocks that weighs over a ton, and is replaced serval times a year. Inland from there is the Ise Grand Shrine. There are two locations that make up this one shrine, an inner (Naiku), and an outer (Gaku), which are located within two kilometers of each other, linked by the original path taken by pilgrims, lined with souvenir shops with Edo period designed exteriors. Also at the inner shrine you will discover a lovely stream that temple staff and visitors use to cleanse themselves before entering. No photography is allowed inside the shrine, so be prepared to soak it in.

As mentioned, the Tsu Castle is a fantastic spot to go and see lovely views of the capital and mountains surrounding it. There, you are also welcome to try on a traditional kimono, and have your photos taken.

Azuchi Momoyama Cultural Village is themed around the great ninjas of the local area. Mie prefecture is the birthplace of the Japanese ninja. And it celebrates it with a museum, that is a great place for the kids and young at heart. There you can dress as a ninja and watch live interactive demonstrations.

For the motor sports lovers, Suzuka circuit in Mie is the home of Japanese motor sports. Here you can watch a race or adjacent to the track is Motopia amusement park. The park has go karts, that with a small driving test, if you don’t have a Japanese license, you can race the karts around a designated track. This park is also perfect for the kids, with many children's rides that will keep them entertained for hours.

A trip to Mie wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Mikimoto Pearl Island. This is birthplace of the first cultivated pearls. There is a beautiful interactive display and museum for you to explore and discover the history of pearls. You can even watch the divers in action from the comfort of a viewing room on the docks.    
 

There are festivals all throughout the year, so know matter when your travel you'll be able to see the rich culture and history of the the area, but there are some you won’t want to miss. The Geita Festival is the first festival of the year, held on the 1st of January in Kamijima-town. Then there is the Kagura Festival. This is held twice a year during the spring and autumn equinox. Over three days, a dance called Jingu (shrine) Dance is performed, and offered to the gods. Beginning in March, and running through to April, there is a Ninja festival every Sunday in the Ueno Cultural Center in Ueno city. And to round up our hand picked selection of a multitude of festivals and events in the area, we’ll leave you with Nabana no Sato. This place is an amusement park on the island of Nagashima, dedicated to flowers. The floral displays change seasonally, and during winter they have a beautiful illumination on display that shouldn't be missed.

Knowing what to buy as a gift the represents a prefecture can be a little difficult, but one of the most popular places to buy a that gift on that occasion is from one of the stores outside the Ise Grand Shrine. Some of the common gifts are, red bean paste or other Japanese sweets, Japanese pottery, pearl jewelry, tea, and of course locally brewed sake. Or maybe something from the Ninja museum or Suzuka race track would suit the recipient better.