The Sights and Flavors of Mie and Yamanashi
I’ll never forget my recent trip to the magnificent Ise Jingu. On this trip, I boarded the Sightseeing Limited Express Shimakaze from Nagoya to Mie, which provided a whole new rail travel experience. Passengers get to enjoy a comfortable journey with an extensive food menu, Wi-Fi, and video service. Imagine enjoying a cup of coffee while looking out at the beautiful scenery from the café car. Fabulous!
Upon arrival at Ise Jingu, I was stunned by its sheer scale. More than 1,500 rituals at 125 jinja (Shinto shrine) are conducted here yearly for world peace, prosperity of the Imperial Family, and a bountiful harvest.
After that, I made my way to Okage Yokocho, a small district nearby, which recreates a townscape between the Edo and early Meiji periods. In Japanese, “okage'' simply means thankfulness and “yokocho” means side street. You can feel gratitude for the beautiful surroundings and appreciation for all living things in this small town of shops and restaurants in Oharai.
After shopping, I hunted for Matsusaka beef, famed for its soft texture and rich, evenly marbled high-ratio fat distribution. I can still remember its melt-in-the-mouth consistency and wonderful natural flavor. Additionally, I got to taste the delicious Ise Ebi (Japanese spiny lobster). With its bright red body, splendid beard, and appetizing white flesh, Ise Ebi is definitely a dish you won’t forget.
Since I had been stuffing my face, I decided to burn off some calories and take a walk at Oishi Park located on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi. The park features a 350-meter walking path with different flowers planted along the side. The contrast between the flowers and Mt. Fuji is spectacular!
I heard from some locals that fruit picking in Yamanashi is popular among the Japanese, so I visited a fruit garden nearby. It was peach and cherry season, and I was so excited to see big and round fruits hanging from the trees. The freshly picked fruits were so sweet and juicy–the memory of them is making me drool again.
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