When I first created this Mie travel guide, I was unsure that anyone would even search for it. Mie-ken, after all, is the least-visited prefecture of Japan’s Kansai region, and one of the most obscure in Japan overall.
And yet over the years, people have been surprisingly receptive to my guide, whether they wanted to say a prayer at the iconic Ise Jingu shrine, eat melt-in-your-mouth wa-gyū in Matsusaka or see Toba’s legendary ama pearl divers with their own eyes. It’s been wonderful to watch others fall so deeply in love with this special corner of Japan.
No matter what has made you curious about Mie, Japan, I’m happy you’re here. I have a feeling you’ll soon be following in my footsteps!
How to Get to Mie from Anywhere in Japan
Before you begin executing your Mie itinerary, you actually need to get to Mie. The good news is that it’s pretty well-connected to the rest of Japan. Specifically, you’ll want to ride a Shinkansen (ideally a Nozomi) to Nagoya Station, where frequent Limited Express trains (operated by both JR and Meitetsu, which operates from a station just a short walk north of the JR station) travel directly to Mie-ken stations like Tsu, Matsusaka, Iseshi and Toba.
Obviously, if you don’t intend to stay overnight here, you can see the city on a series of day trips from Nagoya (or from Kyoto, from which Kintetsu Limited Express trains run directly to Mie, albeit with a longer one-way travel time), organized based on Mie prefecture things to do. If not, then I suggest choosing a single base (probably Ise, since it has more—and better—hotels than anywhere else in Mie) and using local trains or a rental car to work through the rest of your list.
The Best Things to Do in Mie Prefecture
Say a prayer at Ise Jingu, Japan’s most important shrine
Now, I’ll admit that in spite of how much time I’ve spent in Japan over the past decade-plus, I’m not extraordinarily knowledgeable about Shinto, Japan’s national region. Still, when you visit the Ise Grand Shrine (the most important shrine in all of Japan), it’s impossible not to feel the gravity of the place. Or places, I should say—there are two shrines here: The larger (and more distant) Nai-ku or “inner shrine”; and the smaller Ge-ku “outer shrine,” which is literally walking distance from Iseshi Station.
TIP: For a less heady but even more scenic shrine visit, ride a JR or Kintetsu train westward from Iseshi to Futamino-ura Station, which is walking distance from the seaside Meoto Iwa “wedded rocks.”
Eat beef and explore a Samurai district in Matsusaka
Next up on my list of what to do in Mie is Matsusaka, a city far too many travelers miss, instead opting for the prefectural capital of Tsu (which is “larger,” ostensibly, but which offers very little of interest to tourists). Matsusaka offers two main draws. First is the Matsusaka Merchant District, a Samurai-era street that’s especially impressive when seen from the Matsusaka Castle Ruins. Secondly, many restaurants in town serve a local variant of wa-gyū beef, which some Japanese regard as superior to Kobe’s.
Get up-close and personal with Toba’s pearl divers
If you want to see Mie’s famous ama pearl divers, you have two realistic options. The “easy” option is to visit Mikimoto Pearl Island, which is walking distance from Toba Station, and where real-life ama do demonstration dives several times per day. The other option? Book a private tour, which will allow you not only an audience with real divers much further off the beaten path than Toba, but to enjoy a fresh-grilled seafood lunch cooked by them.
BONUS: Speaking of fresh-grilled seafood, you needn’t book a private tour to enjoy it. Many quick-service restaurants between Toba Station and the Pearl Island serve oysters; you can eat delectable Ise-ebi (a locally-famous type of lobster) at several spots in Ise.
Drive the scenic Ise-Shima Skyline
If you are open to renting a car during your trip, then the scope of things to do in Mie drastically expands. From Toba, for example, you can drive up onto the Ise-Shima Skyline, the most scenic road in the prefecture. This actually leads to many of the tiny ama huts where the aforementioned private tours take place; my favorite spot, however is the Yokoyama Viewpoint.
Come in March for Japan’s prettiest plum blossoms
Another advantage of having a car? You can easily reach two incredible destinations for ume, or plum blossoms, which reach full bloom in Mie in early-to-mid March. These spots, in order, are Inabe City Bairin Koen (which benefits from beautiful snow-capped mountains rising behind it) and Suzuka Forest Garden, which is famous for dozens of “weeping” plum trees.
How Long Should You Stay in Mie?
Mie is bigger than it looks; it’s a prefecture which, on account of its accessibility from Nagoya, is a place you can discover piecemeal on day trips. Some travelers, for example, literally just want to have lunch in Matsusaka or spend an afternoon at Mikimoto Pearl Island; in this case, you don’t even need a full 24 hours in Mie in order to successfully complete your bucket list.
On the other hand, if you aim to tackle most of the things to do in Mie prefecture that I’ve laid out here, I suggest hunkering down in a hotel in Ise (both the steps-from-the-station Comfort Hotel Era and further away but more much scenic Nipponia Hotel are good choices) and spending between 3-5 days in Mie. This allows you to take a truly comprehensive trip, particularly if you rent a car to be able to see plum blossoms, or to drive along the Ise-Shima Skyline.
Other FAQ About Visiting Mie, Japan
Is Mie, Japan worth visiting?
Mie, Japan is absolutely worth visiting, even if you come for just one of its singular experiences. Many Japanese travelers, for example, travel all the way to Ise simply to visit the Ise Grand Shrine; foreign tourists make day trips to Matsusaka (to lunch on some of Japan’s best beef) or Toba, in order to see Japan’s ama pearl divers. No matter how long you’re able to stay, Mie is one of Japan’s most fulfilling prefectures.
How many days do I need in Mie, Japan?
As you can see if you read this guide, the list of what to do in Mie, Japan is long and deep. If you want to “see everything” in Mie, you really need a minimum of 3-5 days in Mie. On the other hand, if you’re willing to pick and choose destinations of experiences, you may be able to come to Mie on a day trip from Nagoya and get what you need.
How do I get from Tokyo to Mie?
Mie doesn’t currently have an airport, so the best way to travel from Tokyo to Mie prefecture is to ride a Shinkansen Nozomi from Tokyo or Shinagawa Stations to Nagoya Station. Here, you can either transfer to a JR Limited Express train, or walk a few minutes north to Meitetsu-Nagoya Station and board a Limited Express train there. Either can quickly take you to convenient stations in Mie prefecture such as Tsu, Matsusaka, Iseshi and Toba.
The Bottom Line
I first created this Mie travel guide more than half a decade ago, when Mie-ken was even more obscure (if you can believe it) than it is now. While I won’t take credit for the fact that Mie prefecture is generally becoming ever-so-slightly more popular, I’m happy that so many travelers have turned to me to help them craft a Mie itinerary. Even if you’re simply here to compare your list of things to do in Mie with mine, I hope you’ve found your time on this page useful. I invite you to consider hiring me to plan your Japan trip. When you do, I leverage my decade-plus of Japan travel experience, providing personalized daily recommendations for activities, meals and accommodation, plus detailed transportation advice throughout.
