鳥羽湾

As well as the Mikimoto Pearl Museum, the Minatomachi Museum and the town's oyster bars, Toba offers a popular boat trip in the Toba Bay out to Iruka Island to a see a dolphin and seal show.




The recent movie The Cove, filmed down the coast in Taiji, raised rather serious questions about the dolphins in Japan's dolphin shows. Watching a dolphin show can never really be the same again with the knowledge that most of the dolphins on display are the lucky survivors of dolphin hunts which end in the bloody slaughter of their fellow creatures.



Ornamental Chinese style boats chug in a circle between the pier near Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba Aquarium and Irukashima (Dolphin Island). Get on and off any boat on the course.

Prices are 1500 yen for adults; 750 yen for children including the prices of the shows

Tel: 0599 25 3145 Boats run every 30 minutes from 9am-4pm with earlier and later sailings in August.




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Toba Mie Dolphins

津エアポートライン

High speed boats run from Nagashi Machi near Tsu to Chubu International Airport (Centrair), south of Nagoya. The area where the boats dock has become known for the beauty of its sunrises and sunsets.



There are 15 boats a day beginning at 6am from Tsu with the last boat at 9pm. The fare is 2,400 yen and the journey takes 40 minutes.

There are also 5 boats a day from Matsusaka to Centrair with the first boat at 6.20am and the last boat at 8.50pm. The fare is 2,700 yen and the journey takes 50 minutes.



Reservations: Tel: 059 213 4111

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御在所

Mount Gozaisho (1212m) in Mie Prefecture is a perfect place to combine autumn leaf-viewing with a hot soak in an onsen.



At the base of Mount Gozaisho is the hot spring resort of Yunoyama with a number of Japanese-style inns or ryokan, where you can spend the night or just pop in during the day to take a bath.



The Hotel du Marrionier (Tel: 059 392 3210), a short walk from the cable car station, is a large onsen hotel with day entry to the baths for 1000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children. Free towels are provided. There is a lovely rotemburo (outdoor bath) with views of the cable cars going up and down the mountainside.





Here are a list of some other onsen options:

Kuranosuke (059 392 2509) 800 yen for adults; 400 yen for children

Hotel Yunoki (059 392 2141) 800 yen for adults; 400 yen for children

Shikanoyu (059 392 2141) 1000 yen for adults; 3-500 yen for children

Irodorikoyo (059 392 3135) 525 yen for adults

Bath charges range from around 500 yen to 1,000 yen for entry to the baths at the various hotels in Yunoyama Onsen, many of which have rotemburo or outdoor pools.



Access

Yunoyama Onsen can be reached in just over an hour from Nagoya Station by Kintetsu Railway (830 yen). Change at Yokkaichi and take the Yunoyama Line to Yunoyama Station. From there, there is an infrequent bus up to the spa (260 yen), taxi (over 1000 yen) or a 30 minute walk uphill.
Alternatively, there are direct Mie Kotsu buses from Nagoya Station (1280 yen) to the resort. Buses leave Nagoya at 7.52am (Weekends), 8.28am, 9.12am & 10.34am. The last bus back to Nagoya is 5.15pm. Other bus times back from Yunoyama are 2.15pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Gozaisho.co.jp
Tel: 059 392 2261
The ropeway costs 1200 yen one-way or 2100 yen return.

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鈴鹿サーキット

The Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka Circuit on Sunday with championship leader Jenson Button from Britain hoping to clinch his first ever overall title.

Practice was disrupted by rain on Friday with more bad weather in the Nagoya area forecast (wrongly!) for Saturday, though race day on Sunday should be clear and dry.




The 5.8km Suzuka circuit is a classic figure of 8 track with an overpass and has seen some classic races in the past. Suzuka will host the 2010 and 2011 races after Fuji Speedway dropped out of the F1 calendar after hosting the Japanese Grand Prix in 2007 and 2008.

Suzuka hosts other motor sport events and the Suzuka Street Car Festival.

Suzuka is in Mie Prefecture not far from Nagoya city by public transport. Take a Kintetsu or JR train from Nagoya Station or Osaka Station. Shiroko Station has shuttle buses to the track. Alternatively change at Yokkaichi and take an infrequent Ise Tetsudo Line train to Suzuka Circuit Ino. Then a 20 minute walk.

If driving from Nagoya or Tokyo take the Tomei Expressway and exit at the Suzuka IC. From Osaka take the Shin Meishin Expressway and exit at the Kameyama IC.

Suzuka Circuit
Tel: 059 378 1111
Tickets 11,000 Yen -72,000 Yen

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伊勢志摩ライナー

One of Japan's most luxurious trains is the Kintetsu Ise Shima Liner which runs from Nagoya and Osaka Namba stations to Kashikojima on the Ise Shima Peninsula in Mie Prefecture.



The train has a European-style "saloon" carriage, a "deluxe" carriage and a trolley service for refreshments.

The train usually stops in Tsu, Uji Yamada, Toba and Kashikojima from Nagoya Station.

Journey time from Namba Station in Osaka to Toba is around 2 hours. From Nagoya the time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. A special "weekday four" ticket cuts the price to 2,980 yen per adult from Osaka or 2,500 yen from Nagoya if you travel as a group of four people.

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御在所

Mount Gozaisho (1212m) in Mie Prefecture is an easy day trip from Nagoya. Mount Gozaisho is a strenuous hike up the central Nakamichi path now that the easier Uramichi path has been washed away by floods last autumn.



Allow about 2 or 3 hours if you are not in good shape. Parts of the trail are almost vertical and there are ropes, chains and bamboo ladders to help you up in places. Some of the drops are sheer and care should be taken when clambering over the sharp rocks. The route over the rocks is marked with red, painted circles.



Watch out for some rare mountain flowers on the way. Monkey sightings are frequent at the foot of the mountain and you will be serenaded by nightingales at this time of year. There are spectacular views from the top and from the ropeway. The trail is popular with usually older people mainly walking down.

At the top is a restaurant, viewing platforms and a ski slope.

At the foot of Mount Gozaisho is the hot spring resort of Yunoyama with a number of Japanese-style inns or ryokan, where you can spend the night or just pop in during the day to take the waters.



Bath charges range from around 500 yen to 1,000 yen for entry to the baths at the various hotels, many of which have rotemburo or outdoor pools.

Here are a list of some of the options:

Kuranosuke (059 392 2509) 800 yen for adults; 400 yen for children

Otel do Maronie (059 392 3210) 1000 yen for adults; 500 yen for children

Hotel Yunoki (059 392 2141) 800 yen for adults; 400 yen for children

Shikanoyu (059 392 2141) 1000 yen for adults; 3-500 yen for children

Irodorikoyo (059 392 3135) 525 yen for adults



Access

Yunoyama Onsen can be reached in just over an hour from Nagoya Station by Kintetsu Railway (830 yen). Change at Yokkaichi and take the Yunoyama Line to Yunoyama Station. From there, there is an infrequent bus up to the spa (260 yen), taxi (over 1000 yen) or a 30 minute walk uphill.
Alternatively, there are direct Mie Kotsu buses from Nagoya Station (1280 yen) to the resort. Buses leave Nagoya at 7.52am (Weekends), 8.28am, 9.12am & 10.34am. The last bus back to Nagoya is 5.15pm. Other bus times back from Yunoyama are 2.15pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Gozaisho.co.jp
Tel: 059 392 2261
The ropeway costs 1200 yen one-way or 2100 yen return.



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二見、夫婦岩

Very much on the tour bus trail from Ise Jingu are the twin rocks of Meoto-iwa, off the coast of Ise Shima in Futami, Mie Prefecture.



The two rocks in the sea are held as being male and female (one is much larger than the other) and are joined in Shinto matrimony by heavy holy ropes made of rice straw (shimenawa). The rocks can also be considered as representations of Izanagi and Izanami, the two gods who created Japan, according to the mythology.



The ropes are replaced with new ones in an annual festival on January 5th and at other times during the year if necessary. The twin crags are a popular place to watch the sunrise, with summer being the best time of year to do so.

On shore, the Okitama Shrine is dedicated to a Japanese goddess of food, Miketsu. The shrine is surrounded by stone and metal statues of frogs, some worn smooth where people have rubbed them for luck.



The area around Meoto-iwa has been developed into a long arcade - Futami Sea Paradise - with souvenir stores, restaurants and shops selling the local seafood. Next to the arcade is an aquarium with a trio of large sealions in a small pool in the car park outside.
It's 21st century tack on a large scale.

The nearest station is JR Futaminoura which is about a mile (1.5km) from the rocks. Alternatively there is a bus from Ise Grand Shrine (Naiku).

The Taiko-ji Youth Hostel (Tel: 0596 43 2283) is nearby, along with a number of ryokan and minshuku (guesthouses), such as the Yamato Bread & Breakfast with fine sea views.

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鳥羽

If you are visiting Toba in Mie Prefecture to see the Mikimoto Pearl Museum or the Aquarium, find time to drop in to one of the small oyster bars serving up fresh shellfish in the JR Station Shotengai.



The row of shops is near the inland entrance to Toba station away from the sea, not the main seaside entrance near the coast where the tourist office is....on the other side. Turn right as you come up from the platforms.

Usually run by a middle-aged woman who dispenses local news along with the beers, the shops serve up delicious shellfish. Ask the kindly matron which type is "in season." The shellfish are kept in water tanks at the front of the shops and you just need to point: abalone, clams, mussels, lobsters, oysters, periwinkles, scallops, sea urchins, sazae (turban shell), whelks.



My favorite place is Mizunuma Sasaeten (水沼さざえ店) run by Mrs. Nakamura, who will be encouraging you in to her small shop as you pass by.

Mizunuma Sasaeten
Tel: 0599 25 2511

There are Kinstetsu trains to Toba from Osaka and Nagoya (1 hour, 35 mins) and there are overnight highway buses from Ikebukuro via Kuwana and Tsu to Toba.

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パルケエスパーニャ

Japan has a fascination with theme parks that recreate the "life and culture" in other countries. Probably the most famous example is Huis Ten Bosch, the "Dutch" theme park in Nagasaki in Kyushu.



Parque Espana (Shima Spain Village) in Mie Prefecture on the southern coast near the Ago Bay is part amusement park, part recreated Spain. Various facets of Spanish architecture are here: Andalusian houses, a castle, a statue of Colombus and Spanish-style plazas. There's als a Santa Claus Street, Carmen Street as well as Fiesta and Columbus Squares to get you in the Latin mood.

Visitors often come by bus as part of a package tour and stay overnight at one of the resort's hotels. There are also guided tours for elementary school children to introduce them to "Spanish culture."

There are parades by costumed characters, street performances, an onsen, restaurants and cafes and lots of activities for the kids.



The amusement park has three spectacular rides: Bullfight Roller Coaster, Gran Montserrat and the Pyrenees.

Access

Parque Espana (Shima Spain Mura)
Sakazaki, Isobe-cho
Shima
Mie
Tel: 0599 57 3333
Admission: 2,800 yen for adults; children 12-17 1,800 yen; children 4-11 1,200 yen.

English website

From Osaka Namba Station the journey by Kintetsu train and shuttle bus (360 yen) to the park from Ugata Station is about 2 hours, 40 minutes.
From Nagoya Station the journey by Kintetsu and bus to the park from Ugata Station is 2 hours, 13 minutes.

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