I first made the acquaintance of Matsusaka on a rainy day in March of 2021, when I was one of the lucky few foreigners allowed in Japan—I was studying Japanese in Kyoto, which allowed me to bypass the country’s near-total entry ban. It was a strange day in Mie prefecture—typhoon-forced wins blew the heavy rain every which way—and Matsusaka felt especially odd.
I don’t mean this is a bad way. From the Samurai-coded streets of the jokamachi beneath the ruins of Matsusaka Castle, to the warmth of the restaurant where I ate lunch, Matsusaka ended up embodying everything I needed that afternoon.
And so while I’m happy to be here to lay out a succinct list of things to do in Matsusaka, I have a higher-order suggestion beyond them. Let Matsusaka wash over you—hopefully only in a figurative sense, of course!
Where to Stay in Matsusaka
I’ll be frank: Matsusaka hotels leave a lot to be desired. While the city is home to rather basic properties (Just Inn Matsusaka Station and Toyoko Inn Matsusaka Ekimae are likely your best options, depending upon availability), the reality is that Matsusaka is much better as a day trip destination than somewhere you stay overnight. The question then becomes where exactly your day trip to Matsusaka should originate from.
If you plan to explore Mie prefecture more in-depth, it’s likely that you will either stay east of Matsusaka in Ise, which is the most convenient and sensible hub for tourists. You could also stay in Tsu, the prefectural capital and its largest city, though there isn’t a whole lot to do there. Finally, Matsusaka is reasonably easy as a day trip from Nagoya, which obviously offers the most in terms of accommodation and other creature comforts.
What to Do in Matsusaka
Visit the ruins of Matsusaka Castle
The first stop on your Matsusaka itinerary, in my opinion, should be the ruins of Matsusaka Castle. While I’m not usually a fan of visiting ruins, given how many amazing intact castles there are in Japan, Matsusaka’s is perched high up, and offers a fantastic view of the city (and all the other stuff you’re going to do there).
Explore the Merchant District
Descending from the castles, you’ll explore the city’s jokamachi (castle town), which focuses mainly on the main street of the Matsusaka Merchant District. Part of why this makes Matsusaka worth visiting is that it’s so understated—it hasn’t been restored for maximum commercial appeal, but instead to be authentic.
Eat Matsusaka beef
The most delicious of things to do in Matsusaka is obviously a meal of beef. While you’ll ideally need some Japanese to sit down at most restaurants here, you can usually head to a restaurant that specializes in marbled, delicious Matsu-saka no wa-gyu and count on the fact that they’ll know why you’re there.
Continue onward to Ise and Toba
Even if you don’t find Matsusaka worth visiting on its own, the rest of Mie prefecture will help to balance the equation. Some travelers prefer spiritual attractions like Ise Grand Shrine and the coastal Meoto Iwa “wedded rocks,” while others are more interested in observing the Ama pearl diver tradition in Toba and Shima.
TIP: If you visit in early March, I highly recommend stopping at Taguchi Bairin Koen, a small but gorgeous garden where season ume, or plum blossoms will be on display.
Or all the way to Wakayama
Once you’ve finished enjoying Matsusaka things to do, you might head further off Japan’s beaten path, rather than returning to the tourist trail. In some cases, this may involve staying near the coast in Shingu or Katsuura. In other instances, you may wander a bit inland to Nachi Taisha, or far inland to trek the Kumano Kodo.
How Many Days Do You Need in Matsusaka?
Matsusaka is small—you can see most of what there is in the city in a full day. As a result, if you plan to book one of the Matsusaka hotels I’ve listed off above, you might only need to spend a single night there. But herein lies a potential complication: Most travelers don’t want to spend hours on a train and then only enjoy one sleep in their destination. As a result, I’ve come up with a couple of possible solutions.
One is that you stay 2-3 nights in Matsusaka and use it as a base to explore the rest of what there is to do in Mie, whether it’s eating seafood with Ama pearl divers in Toba or Shima, heading to the sea to marvel at the Meoto Iwa “wedded rocks” or visiting Ise Grand Shrine in Ise-shi. The other way you’re sure to find Matsusaka worth visiting? Simply come on a day trip—ideally, a long day trip—from somewhere else.
Other FAQ About Visiting Matsusaka
How do you get to Matsusaka?
Matsusaka is accessible by both the JR and Kintetsu Lines. While it’s a straight shot southward from Nagoya or northward from Wakayama prefecture’s Shingu and Katsuura cities, you may need to change trains if you come from Kyoto or Osaka.
Is Matsusaka better than Kobe?
In my opinion, both Matsusaka and Kobe wa-gyu are some of the best beef varieties available in the world—I wouldn’t say no to either. To connoisseurs, however, Matsusaka cows (which are virgin females with more fat and, therefore, more flavor) offers a unique edge over those produced in Kobe, so it’s really down to personal preference.
What is the meaning of Matsusaka?
In Japanese, the word Matsu-saka (松阪) literally means “pine slope,” which makes perfect sense when you consider the city’s topography and the sorts of foliage that predominate there. And as far as what Matsusaka is known for? Well, I think you know the answer to that by now if you made it this far.
The Bottom Line
In a tangible sense, there are enough amazing things to do in Matsusaka to keep you busy for the afternoon, or even all day. I personally love climbing up to the ruins of Matsusaka Castle, looking down on the Samurai-era Merchant District before sitting down for a lunch of delicious beef. Of course, if you have multiple days in Mie, you could easily save other destinations and experiences in the prefecture (such as Ise Grand Shrine, or the ama pearl divers of Toba) for later, and focus an entire day on Matsusaka. Need personalized help planning your trip to Matsusaka (and beyond)? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
