In Tsu and Matsusaka, there are many tourist attractions such as the Louvre Sculpture Museum, Mie Prefectural Museum, Sakakibara Onsen, Matsuzaka Castle, Gojoban Yashiki, Matsuzaka Agricultural Park Bell Farm, Kazahaya no Sato, and the ruins of Matsuzaka Castle.
Also recommended are local delicacies such as Matsusaka beef, curry omelet, and Tsu gyoza.
Senshūji Temple, also known as Takada-san Senshūji, is a historic Buddhist temple founded in 1465 in Ichishinden, Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. Its Mieidō Hall is the largest wooden building in the prefecture, and many of the temple’s structures have been designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, reflecting its outstanding historical and architectural significance. The temple...»
A Remarkable Temple Centered on a Golden Buddhist Statue Hojuzan Daikannonji Temple, located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, is known as a spiritual destination where visitors come to pray for good fortune and happiness. The temple has earned a reputation among worshippers who believe that their wishes can be fulfilled through prayer. At the heart of the temple is the Pure Gold Kaiun Hojyu Daikanno...»
A Unique Museum Bringing World Art to Japan Located within the grounds of Hojuzan Daikannonji Temple in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, the Louvre Sculpture Museum offers visitors a remarkable opportunity to encounter reproductions of celebrated works from the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is a distinctive museum where visitors can appreciate famous works of art without traveling to Europe. The reproduct...»
History and Features of Tsu Castle Tsu Castle once stood in what is now Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. The city was formerly known as Anotsu, so the castle was also called Anotsu Castle. It developed into an important political and economic center of Ise Province during Japan's medieval period. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the castle was laid out in a concentric design, with the main enclosure ...»
A Rare Surviving Samurai Residential Complex Gojo-ban Yashiki is a group of samurai residences built in the late Edo period (1603–1868). These long, connected houses were home to samurai assigned to guard Matsusaka Castle. The interior of one residence at the northern end of the western building is open to the public, offering visitors a glimpse into the daily lives of warriors and their families...»
A Historic Castle Surrounded by Seasonal Beauty The ruins of Matsusaka Castle stand on elevated ground about 1 km west of Matsusaka Station, on a hill once known as Shiomori. The castle was built in 1588 by Gamo Ujisato and was once a formidable fortress with a three-tiered main keep and moats stretching approximately 2 km in total. After Gamo Ujisato was transferred to Aizu, the castle was succ...»
A Spacious Agricultural Park Celebrating Nature and Food Matsusaka Agricultural Park Bell Farm is a spacious agricultural park covering approximately 23 hectares. Built around the concepts of food education, environmental education, and healthy living, the park features open lawns, ponds, farmland, and beautiful gardens where visitors can enjoy the natural surroundings of Matsusaka. One of its m...»
Step Back into Japan's Heian Period At the Itsukinomiya Historical Experience Hall, visitors can discover what life was like for aristocrats during the Heian period (794–1185), when the Saiku complex reached its height. The facility offers a variety of hands-on activities, including trying on traditional court attire such as the elaborate twelve-layered kimono known as jūnihitoe, playing historic...»
A Museum Dedicated to the Ancient Saiku Site The Saiku Historical Museum stands within the Saiku archaeological site, which is designated as a National Historic Site of Japan. This specialist museum explores the history and culture of Saiku through permanent exhibitions, special exhibitions, and audiovisual presentations. Saiku was the palace complex where the Saio, an unmarried female member of...»
Recreating the Ancient Saiku Complex Saiku Heian no Mori is a historical site within the designated Saiku Historic Site in Mie Prefecture. Three buildings from the Saiku administrative complex, known as the Saiku-ryo, have been reconstructed to recreate the atmosphere of the area during the Heian period (794–1185). The buildings are believed to have been used for official ceremonies and banquets...»
Discover the Natural Beauty of Kahada Gorge Kahada Gorge stretches for approximately 40 km along the upper reaches of the Kushida River, beginning near Oishi-cho in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture. The name “Kahada” reflects the fragrant, high-quality local specialties associated with the area, including tea, shiitake mushrooms, and sweetfish (ayu). The gorge is part of Kahada Gorge Prefectural Natura...»
Matsusaka beef is a premium brand of Japanese Black cattle raised in and around Matsusaka City in Mie Prefecture. It is widely regarded as one of Japan’s three great wagyu brands, celebrated for its exceptional aroma, tender texture, and rich, savory flavor....»
Experience the Rich Flavor of Matsusaka Beef Matsusaka beef is one of Japan’s most celebrated wagyu brands, renowned for its rich, sweet flavor and deep umami. When heated, the beef releases an enticing aroma that enhances its appeal. Sukiyaki is an ideal way to appreciate these qualities, combining the delicate flavor of the beef with a savory-sweet broth and fresh vegetables....»
Discover Matsusaka’s Flavorful Grilled Offal Matsusaka Horumon is a popular local specialty from Matsusaka City in Mie Prefecture, offering a delicious and affordable way to enjoy the region’s celebrated beef culture. While Matsusaka is internationally renowned for its premium Matsusaka beef, grilled horumon—beef offal—is another local favorite well worth discovering. Matsusaka beef traditionall...»
The city of Tsu in Mie Prefecture is renowned for its passion for unagi, or freshwater eel. It has historically been known for having one of Japan’s highest concentrations of eel restaurants relative to its population, as well as exceptionally high per-capita eel consumption. Several stories explain how this local food culture developed. One widely cited theory dates back to the Edo period (1603–...»
A Uniquely Oversized Local Specialty Tsu Gyoza is a distinctive local dish from Tsu City in Mie Prefecture. These oversized dumplings are made by wrapping a savory filling in a wrapper at least 15 centimeters in diameter and deep-frying it until the outside becomes crisp and golden while the filling remains juicy. The dumplings were originally developed by the former Tsu City Board of Education ...»
Escargot is a classic ingredient in French cuisine, often served as an appetizer and traditionally prepared with garlic butter. However, like Japanese spiny lobster and sturgeon, escargot has historically been difficult to farm successfully. In France, decades of overharvesting have placed wild populations under serious pressure, leading to restrictions on collection. To make escargot more access...»
Amago trout are prized freshwater fish that depend on clean, well-oxygenated rivers and streams. Often called the “queen of freshwater fish” in Japan, they are appreciated for their delicate flavor and can be enjoyed grilled with salt, deep-fried, or simmered in a sweet soy-based sauce until tender....»
Ise imo is a distinctive traditional yam grown in Taki Town, Mie Prefecture. Cultivated since around the middle of the Edo period (1603–1868), it belongs to a group of Japanese yams known as tsukune-imo. It is listed among Mie Prefecture’s traditional vegetables and is now grown only in its place of origin, making it a particularly rare local specialty. In the past, this yam was also known by nam...»
Ichishi rice is a carefully cultivated local rice specialty produced in the lush, rural area of Hakusan Town in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture. Formerly part of Ichishi District, the area is known for its clay-rich soil, which is particularly well suited to rice cultivation. Thanks to its favorable natural environment and meticulous farming methods, Ichishi rice is sometimes described as a “phantom rice...»
Ichigo Daifuku, or strawberry daifuku, is a popular Japanese confection that combines a fresh strawberry, sweet bean paste, and soft mochi rice cake. Toraya Honke, a confectionery shop in Mie Prefecture, is said to be one of the pioneers of this distinctive sweet. According to the shop’s story, the idea originated when a craftsperson working at the store tried eating a strawberry together with a ...»
In the central and southern parts of Mie Prefecture, tea plantations spread across the countryside about an hour’s drive from downtown Matsusaka into the surrounding mountains. The area is home to many dedicated tea growers and producers who continually refine their cultivation and processing techniques. Thanks to their enthusiasm for research and commitment to quality, the region’s tea has steadi...»