Japan Travel Guide "Daisuki Japan"
Mie prefecture (三重県 Mie-ken) is in the western Kansai region of the main Japanese island Honshu. Mie is known as a place where blessed with the bounties of its mountains and the sea. It is very rich in nature, history, culture and modern amusement facilities.
Official Website
Mie Prefecture can be divided for 5 areas which are
With Ise Bay to the east and the Suzuka Mountain Range to the west, this area is filled with abundant nature. The area has become famous due to the Suzuka Circuit where the F1 Japan Grand Prix is held, but it has many other appealing attractions, including temples, art galleries, museums, hot springs, etc. Yunoyama Hot spring, spread out at the foot of Mt. Gozaisho, is well-known as a beauty bath with a history of 1,200 years.
The main cities of Hokusei Area
Tsu, the seat of the Mie Prefectural government, is the central region for Mie Prefecture industry and culture. Matsusaka, with old town buildings such as Samurai District is also famous for the name-brand Japanese beef Matsuzaka Beef.
The main cities of Chunansei area
Known since ancient times as the land of ninja, Iga is also well-known as a town with a famous history, the birthplace of the famous Haiku poet Matsuo Basho. This area is encircled by full of nature, and literature tells that ninja did train very hard with those nature.
Main City of Iga Area
Ise City and the entire Shima peninsula are designated as Ise Shima National Park, with a beautiful complicated shoreline termed a rias-type coastline. The Ise Shrine is very important for Japanese Shinto. The area is famous for tourism, with many resort hotels and beaches awaiting people who come to visit the area. Ise-Shima is also famed for fresh seafood, particular oysters.
The main cities of Ise Shima Area
This are was called "Nanki" or "Kumano" in old time. The Kumano Shingon sect since ancient times, was designated a World Heritage site in 2004. Also, with the rich Kumano Sea, visitors can enjoy delicious seafood or have fun scuba diving, and the extremely appealing natural scenery of crags and caves carved by the erosion of waves are another attractions.
The main Cities of Higashi Kishu Area
By train
Mie is easier accesible from anywhere in central Japan using the Kintetsu or JR (Japan Rail) train lines. From other parts of Honshu, the shinkansen (bullet train) can quickly though rather expensively get you to Nagoya Station, where you can transfer to either the Kintetsu or JR line into Mie.
By ferry
Ferries leave hourly from Nagoya airport (NGO) to Tsu Nagisamachi port and a port in Matsusaka.