From Wagyu to Local Sushi! 10 Must-Try Regional Dishes from Mie

This region is filled with attractions like the Nabana no Sato garden and theme park. The area's Yotsukaichi City is the home of tonteki, a filling dish of pork sauteed in garlic and a sweet-and-spicy sauce (generally 1,000 JPY). Tebasaki Taro's main branch, located 3 minutes from Yotsukaichi Station, is a recommended location.

【Facility name】 Tebasaki Taro Main Branch
【Opening hours】 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
【Days Closed】 Monday
【Price】 Average price: [Lunch] 1,000 JPY / [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
【URL】
Official Homepage (Japanese only)
The KANSAI Guide
【Street address】 9-2 Suwasakae-machi, Yotsukaichi-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

Then there's the hamaguri ("common orient clam") of Kuwana City, another local delicacy. These can be enjoyed grilled or fried tempura-style (a course meal usually goes for 4,000 JPY). One recommended spot is Kai-zamurai, located in the shopping center by Kuwana Station.

【Facility name】 Kai-zamurai
【Opening hours】 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (closes at 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday)
【Days Closed】 Wednesday
【Price】 Average price: 4,000 JPY
【URL】
Official Homepage (Japanese only)
The KANSAI Guide
【Street address】 Sunfare South Building 1F, 1-1 Soeicho, Kuwana-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

This region features the popular Sakakibara Onsen (hot spring). The primary culinary attraction of the area is certainly Matsusaka beef, which can be enjoyed in various forms, including as a steak or as sukiyaki (meat and vegetables simmered at the table; one portion goes for about 8,000 JPY). One recommended spot is Mimasu in the main commercial district of Matsusaka City.

【Facility name】 Mimasu
【Opening hours】 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
【Days Closed】 Sunday
【Price】 Average price: 5,000 JPY
【URL】
Official Homepage (Japanese only)
The KANSAI Guide
【Street address】 2-13-9 Atago-machi, Matsusaka-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

Additionally, head to the prefectural capital of Tsu and enjoy the local unagi (eel) cuisine: one dish is una-don, consisting of cut unagi lathered in a sweet and spicy sauce, grilled, and served over a bed of white rice (about 2,000 JPY). Try Hashiya, in Tsu, where lines often form outside!

【Facility name】 Hashiya
【Opening hours】 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm
【Days Closed】 Monday (some Tuesdays)
【Price】 Average price: 2,000 JPY
【URL】 Official Homepage (Japanese only)
【Street address】 4-10 Daimon, Tsu-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

The region includes Iga City, thought to be the hometown of the ninja. Here you can find katayaki, thought to be the ninja's portable snack of choice. Made with flour, sugar, and sesame seeds, it is said to be Japan's hardest baked sweet (average price: 400 JPY for a set of 3)! A recommended location is Iga Kaan Yamamoto, where you can break apart the crackers with a hammer, as is tradition.

【Facility name】 Iga Ka-an Yamamoto
【Opening hours】 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
【Days Closed】 Monday
【Price】 Average price: 500 JPY
【URL】 Official Homepage (Japanese only)
【Street address】 2887-2 Ueno-uomachi, Iga-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

Another traditional dish is the tofu-dengaku, consisting of tofu dressed in a miso sauce and grilled (average price: 700 JPY per plate). One recommendation is Dengaku-za Wakaya, which has been open for 200 years.

【Facility name】 Dengaku-za Wakaya
【Opening hours】 11:00 am - 2:00 pm、5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
【Days Closed】 Monday (open on National Holidays)
【Price】 Average price: [Lunch] 1,500 JPY / [Dinner] 2,000 JPY
【URL】 Official Homepage (Japanese only)
【Street address】 3591 Ueno Nishiote-cho, Iga-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

This region contains the Ise Grand Shrine, one of the most recognizable in Japan. As the area borders the sea, seafood is bountiful. A particularly famous specialty is Ise-ebi (spiny lobster), a high-class delicacy that can be enjoyed grilled or as sashimi (average price: about 5,000 JPY for each). One recommendation is Kagetsu in Toba City, which is famous for its steamed Ise-ebi.

【Facility name】 Kagetsu
【Opening hours】 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
【Days Closed】 Irregular
【Price】 Average price: 5,000 JPY
【URL】
Official Homepage (Japanese only)
The KANSAI Guide
【Street address】 16-3 Oaki Higashi-machi, Toba-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

Another local specialty is Tekone-sushi, consisting of tuna sashimi seeped in soy sauce and served over a bed of rice (1,300 JPY on average). A recommendation is the Tekonejaya main branch, close to the Ise Grand Shrine's Inner Shrine.

【Facility name】 Tekonejaya Main Branch
【Opening hours】 Monday - Friday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm, Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
【Days Closed】 None
【Price】 Average price: 1,200 JPY
【URL】
Official Homepage (Japanese only))
The KANSAI Guide
【Street address】1-4-22 Uji-urata, Ise-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

The region provides close contact with Mother Nature, including in the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, a World Heritage Site. Two simple sushi dishes are regional favorites: sanma-sushi consists of sliced sanma (mackerel pike) pickled in a sweet vinegar (600 JPY on average),

while mehari-sushi consists of katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) mixed into white rice and wrapped in a pickled leaf vegetable. A recommendation for both dishes is Kiraku, an eatery within walking distance of Kumanoshi Station!
【Facility name】 Kiraku
【Opening hours】 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
【Days Closed】 The 7th, 17th, and 27th of each month (or, if a Sunday or National Holiday, then the following day)
【Price】 Average price: 1,000 JPY
【URL】
Mie Prefecture Tourism Federation Official Homepage (Japanese only)
【Street address】 653-14 Idocho, Kumano-shi, Mie
【Google Map URL】 GoogleMap

Please visit Mie, a prefecture with a rich food culture, and enjoy the specialties yourself!