Exploring Mie: Higashi-Kishu Area

三重を知ろう: 東紀州

2013/07/23 Tuesday Exploring Mie

regiaoHigashi Kishu de Mie

World Heritage Kumano Old Road and brilliant Kuroshio (the Black Sea Current)

Kumano Old Road has been designated as a World Heritage Site. The black currents of the Pacific Ocean reveals the natural beauty of a dynamic sea on the eastern coast of Kishu Peninsula, Higashi-Kishu.

The southern area of Mie is a majestic, natural gallery that has been created by eons of time and the Pacific Ocean.
The breeze and sunlight remind you of the exotic atmosphere of southern tropical islands and give you a relaxed feeling.

1 – Onigajo / Shishiiwa (LionRock) (Kumano City) 2 – Tategasaki (Kumano City)

Onigajo-Shishiiwa

The rugged one-kilometer coastline facing the Kumano Sea was created by earthquakes and powerful wave erosion. According to legends, an oni (a Japanese falktales monster) lived in the rugged cliff-face now called Onigajo, and the various caves that look out to sea still seem to offer a perfect dwelling place for demons. The cliff also features a huge rock 25 meters high known as “Shishi-iwa” that resembles a lion looking out to sea.

  • 5-minute ride to the Onigajo Higashiguchi bus stop from Kumano-shi Station on the JR Line

Tategasaki

Tategasaki is a huge wall of rock jutting into the entrance of Nigishima Bay and offers spectacular views of waves advancing into the Kumano Sea.

  • 90-minute walk from Nigishima Station on the JR Line
3 – Shichiri Mihama (Kumano City) 4 – Tanemaki Gonbei-no-Sato (Kihoku Town)

Shichiri Mihama

This gorgeous stretch of curving coastline extends twenty-five kilometers from Kumano to Shingu, covered with the beautiful stone known as “Mihama pebbles.” The drive along the national coastal highway offers good views of the spectacular scenery.

  • A short walk from Atawa Station on the JR Line

tanemaki-gonbei-no-sato

This facility was constructed based on Gonbei- san, who actually lived here and is a character in a famous folk song: “When Gonbei plants his seeds, crows will begin picking one out of every three….” A Japanese garden and items associated with Gonbei-san are exhibited here.

  • 7 minutes by car from Aiga Station on the JR Line
5 – Doro Gorge (Kumano City) 6 – World Heritage Kumano Old Road(Owase City, Kumano City, etc.)

Doro Gorge

Water reflecting the fresh greenery of summer and autumn leaves in the fall, and cliffs covered by virgin forests, create the mysterious beauty of nature. You may also enjoy a cruise on a jet boat. Doro Gorge is noted for Rhododendron indicum in May.

  • Take the Nanki-Koiki bus, Kumano Kodo–Seiryuso Line to the Doro Ohashi bus stop, from Kumano-shi Station on the JR Line

World Heritage Kumano

Kumano Old Road has been designated as a World Heritage Site. Formerly a route for pilgrims journeying between shrines on Kumano Sanzan Mountain, regarded as the home of the gods Hongu, Shingu, and Nachi, the Kumano Old Road is now used as a hiking trail. The cobblestone road, blanketed with moss, winds through a cypress forest, and occasionally historical ruins and guideposts are visible along it.

  • (Magose course) 10-minute ride to the Washige bus stop from Aiga Station on the JR Line
7 – Michi-no-Eki Kiho Town Sea Turtle Park (Kiho Town) 8 – Maruyama Senmaida Paddy Fields (Kumano City)

Michi-no-Eki Kiho Town

This is a park located in Kiho Town where sea turtles are a protected species. You can very closely observe sea turtle families. Products with sea turtle character images can be purchased here.

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

Maruyama Senmaida

Here, Japan’s lost rural landscape can be seen as it formaly was. Over 1300 rice paddies terraced into the mountainside create a beautiful landscape that varies with the seasons.

  • Take the Nanki-Koiki bus, Kumano Kodo–Seiryuso Line to the Senmaida•Tori-toge Iriguchi bus stop, from Kumano-shi Station on the JR Line

Higashi-Kishu Area Map

mapa - regiao higashi kumano owase

Oshiraishi-mochi Ceremony Park and Ride Bus Information

2013/07/23 Tuesday Exploring Mie

臨時駐車場とシャトルバス(無料)を利用しましょう

Heavy traffic is expected on the roads and at parking lots for the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu for the Oshiraishi-mochi Ceremony over the coming weeks. To cope with the increased demand for parking and transport, the overflow carparks around Sun Arena will be available for parking, and there will also be a shuttle bus service running to the Uji Car Park. The shuttle bus car parks and riding the bus will be free of charge.

The overflow car park close to the Inner Shrine will cost 1,000yen per vehicle. (There are no buses to the Outer Shrine.)

Dates:             27th and 28th of July 2013   and     3rd, 10th and 11th of August 2013

Time: 11:00am to 3:30pm

(Last bus to the Inner Shrine from Sun Arena: 15:30)

(Last bus to Sun Arena from Inner Shrine: 18:30)