Exploring Mie: Iga Region

三重を知ろう: 伊賀

2013/07/24 Wednesday Exploring Mie

regiao iga de Mie

Birthplace of the Ninja

Surrounded by mountains, Iga formerly prospered as a castle town and is famous as the home of ninja spies. It is also the birthplace of the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho. There are several historical places and vestiges of the past around the area, some of which still have the mystery and grandeur of bygone days. The mountainous areas in the southern and eastern parts of Iga are set aside as national parks and offer several opportunties to enjoy nature during all four seasons.

 

1- Ueno Castle (Iga City)
2- Iga-ryu Ninja Museum (Iga City)

Ueno Castle

This castle has the highest stone walls in Japan, approximately 30 meters.  This is a landmark of Ueno City, the central city of the Iga area.  You will command a panoramic view of Ueno City from the third floor of the castle tower.  Ueno Castle and the surrounding area are well known as major cherry blossom viewing spots.

  • 5-minute walk from Ueno-shi Station on the Iga Line

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

The ninja were spies who worked their trade 400 years ago during Japan’s many years of civil war. Shrouded in mystery and surrounded by legend, the ninja were reputed to be masters of disguise and sundry other skills, including the ability to walk on water and to disappear in the blink of an eye.

Inside the museum ninja residence a female ninja guide provides an introduction to the ninja dwelling and its special features. In the “Ninja Experience” Museum and “Ninja Legend” Museum, visitors can try their hands at using various ninja weapons and learn the truth about ninja and ninjutsu.

  • 5-minute walk from Ueno-shi Station on the Iga Line
3- Iga-ryu Ninja Show (Iga City)
4- Haiseiden – Basho Museum (Haiku Sanctuary) (Iga City)

Iga-ryu Ninja Show

The popular Iga ninja show offers visitors a display of Iga ninja unique skills and techniques. In this show, a ninja group Ashura will perform exciting ninja movements using authentic ninja weapons.

  • 5-minute walk from Ueno-shi Station on the Iga Line

Haiseiden - Basho Museum

Ueno is the birthplace of Japan’s most famous haiku poet, Matsuo Basho (1644-1694). Haiseiden, a memorial to Basho, is an elegant building built in the shape of the poets’ travelling attire in which a statue of the poet is enshrined.

  • 5-minute walk from Ueno-shi Station on the Iga Line
5- Menard Aoyama Resort (Iga City) 6- The Forty-eight Falls of Akame (Nabari City)

Menard Aoyama Resort

Located in the beautiful Aoyama Plateau, this resort offers lodging and sports facilities including a golf course and tennis courts. It also features aromatherapy sessions for relaxation, which incorporate natural fragrances from flowers, trees, and a lavender and herb garden.

  • 30-minute ride on a courtesy bus from Iga-Kambe Station on the Kintetsu Line (reservations necessary)

The Forty-eight Falls of Akame

A series of waterfalls, both graceful and spectacular, cascade through this narrow four-kilometer valley. The area was chosen as one of the best 100 forests in Japan and includes what is considered one of the best 100 water falls in the country. The valley is also home to the Japanese Salamander Center, which has a collection of giant salamanders from around the world.

  • 10-minute ride to the Akamedaki bus stop from Akame-Guchi Station on the Kintetsu Line

7- Shorenji Lake (Nabari City) 8- Old Nabari Town (Nabari City)

Shorenji Lake

Created by a dam in 1970, this lake is surrounded by deep green mountains and features beautiful scenery throughout the year. Along the lakeside are farms and vineyards where visitors can pick strawberries (March 1 to May 30) or harvest grapes (July 20 to October 31).

  • 10-minute ride to the Shorenjiko-mae bus stop from Nabari station on the Kintetsu Line

Old Nabari Town

Nabari is located on the other side the mountain from Yamato, which was the location of the imperial court of ancient Japan.  Influenced by the culture of Yamato, Nabari has prospered as a key junction between east and west in Japan.  As a result, Nabari has many key historical sites; the Mihata Burial Grounds are an especially important cultural asset, of which Nabari is deservedly proud.

  • para chegar ao local, basta uma curta caminhada a partir da estação de Nabari da linha Kintetsu.
9- Cânion de Kaochi-dani / Kaochi-dani Canyon (Cidade de Nabari) 10- Iga-no-Sato Moku-Moku Tezukuri Farm (Iga City)

Kaochi-dani Canyon

This steep valley is famous for its kerrias and azaleas in the spring and crimson leaves in the fall. A river cuts through steep rock cliffs for eight kilometers, creating a spectacular gorge.

  •  25-minute ride to the Momiji-dani bus stop from Nabari Station on the Kintetsu Line

Iga-no-Sato Moku-Moku

Moku Moku is a group of private farms open to public viewing. The produce, beer, and ham made by the farms are regarded highly world-wide. Visitors can enjoy the Barbecue Beer House and mini pig show as well as the wiener and pasta-making workshops.

  • 15-minutes by car from Tsuge Station on the JR Line -25-minutes by car from Ueno-shi Station on the Iga Line

Iga Area Map

mapa - regiao Iga de mie

Exploring Mie: Northern Area

2013/07/24 Wednesday Exploring Mie

三重を知ろう:北勢

 

regiao norte de MieStations Along the Historic Tokaido Road

The Northern Area is bounded by the Yoro Mountains to the north and the towering Suzuka Range to the west. During the Edo Period this area was the location of part of the Tokaido Road, the most important trade route from eastern to western Japan, and was crowded with travelers.
This is a place where history abounds, the landscape changes from season to season, and you can follow in the footsteps of travelers of long ago.

 

1- Tado-Taisha Shrine (Kuwana City)
2- Sekijuku (Kameyama City)

tado-taisha shrine

This shrine was written about in an ancient poem, “If you travel to Ise (Ise Jingu), you must visit Tado, too.”  The full lineage of Japanese emperors have revered this shrine as a home for the god of industry and business.  You can enjoy viewing important national cultural treasures maintained here.  The Tado Festival, well known as the Horseback Climbing Ceremony, is held on May 4th and 5th every year.

  • 5-minute bus ride to the Tado-Taisha Mae bus stop from Tado Station on the Kintetsu Line

seijuku

During the Edo Period this district of inns on the historical Tokaido Road was a popular rest place, both for feudal processions and for pilgrims journeying to Ise. Now restored, the old part of town includes two hundred historical buildings. As the only remaining historical inn district on the Tokaido, it has been designated a national historical district.

  • 10-minute walk from Seki Station on the JR Line
3 – Ruins of Kameyama Castle (Kameyama City) 4- Suzuka Circuit (Suzuka City)

ruins-ofkameyama

The ruins, a designated prefectural historic site, include the fifteen-meter-high stone walls constructed during the 16th century Azuchi Momoyama Period and fortifications from the Edo Period.

  • 10-minute walk from Kameyama Station on the JR Line

suzuka-circuit

Located here is a comprehensive leisure complex with an international racing course, an amusement park, and a hotel.  Demonstrations of the famous two-legged robot ASIMO are held here.  You can enjoy hot spring bathing in the hotel. This has started since 1987 F1 Grand Prix.

  • 15-minute bus ride to the Suzuka Circuit bus stop from Shiroko Station on the Kintetsu Line
5- Nagashima Spa Land /   Yuami-no-shima / Jazz Dream Nagashima (Kuwana City)
6- Mt.Gozaisho / Yunoyama Spa (Komono Town)

nagashima-spa01

Nagashima Spa Land is an amusement park full of thrill rides.  Its Jumbo Seawater swimming pool is very popular during the summer.  Yuami-no-shima is a spa facility where you can enjoy various kinds of spas, including an open-air spa.  A huge outlet shopping mall, Jazz Dream Nagashima, is located next to Nagashima Spa Land.

  • 15-minute ride to the Nagashima Onsen bus stop from Kuwana Station on the JR or Kintetsu lines

gozaisho

Mt. Gozaisho is the highest peak in the Suzuka Range.  An aerial ropeway allows visitors to climb to the peak from Yunoyama hot springs, at the foot of the mountain.  Mt. Gozaisho is also noted for its splendid autumn colors.  The top area of Mt. Gozaisho is a natural park and Ise Bay may be viewed from the observation tower.  Yunoyama hot springs are at the mountain’s foot, to ease and relax your body and soul.

  • 10-minute walk from the Yunoyama Onsen bus stop, after a bus ride from Yunoyama- onsen Station on the Kintetsu Line
7- Banko Pottery Center (Yokkaichi City) 8- Night View of Yokkaichi Industrial Zone (Yokkaichi City)

Banko Pottery Center

Banko pottery, said to grow in luster and beauty the longer it is used, is a traditional product with a proud history of over 250 years. The pottery center has displays of Banko ware and items for sale.

  • 5-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station on the Kintetsu Line

Night View of Yokkaichi

Yokkaichi Industrial Zone is famous for its petrochemical complex, one of the biggest in Japan. Recently this area is drawing more attention as a tourist destination. The night view of Yokkaichi industrial zone is amazing, and it’s attracting many tourists for sightseeing tours.

  • 20-minute walk from Yokkaichi Station on the JR Line
9- Rokkaen (Kuwana City)
10- Suzuka City Traditional Industries Museum (Suzuka City)

Rokkaen

Rokkaen was designed by the architect who also designed the Rokumeikan. It is a Western-style mansion with a 4-storey tower, Japanese-style structures, and a circuit path garden having a central pond.  It has been designated as an important national cultural treasure.  The mansion is fantastically illuminated until 10:00 p.m.

  • 20-minute walk from Kuwana Station on the JR or Kintetsu lines

Suzuka City Traditional

This museum was built to carry on traditional craftsmanship, of which Suzuka City is quite proud, including Suzuka ink which developed into the second-largest ink-producing industrial region following Nara, and Ise pattern paper that is mainly used for dying Japanese kimonos, yuzen and komon.  Here you can experience the craftsmanship of Ise pattern paper.

  • 10-minute walk from Tsuzumigaura Station on the Kintetsu Line

Map of Northern Area

map-norte