Travel Newsletter tourismmiejapan.com vol.5 2011

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MAP MAP 1 Ise Grand Shrine 6 World Heritage Site Kumano Kodo “Shishi Iwa”

◆『Ise Grand Shrine Naiku Winter Solstice Celebration』：December 22 On the winter solstice, the morning sun rises between the pillars of the gates at either end of Uji Bridge, the bridge that leads to Naiku (the inner shrine). Sunrise begins around 7 and is most spectacular around 7:30. The Kumano Kodo routes in the southern Kii Peninsula that connect Kumano to Ise, Osaka, Wakayama, Kouya, Yoshino were ◆『Ise Grand Shrine』 registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004. These routes also connect Ise to the Kumano Hayatama Taisha Shrine and Officially known simply as "Jingu" or "The Grand Shrine", Ise Grand Shrine is the most revered Shinto shrine in all of pass through the rugged coastline of Kumano. This coastline has many cliffs and caves that were caused by powerful wind and Japan. The shrine complex is centered around Naiku (the inner shrine) and Geku (the outer shrine) and contains 125 wave erosion. These caves were believed to be hideouts for demons, and were thus named Onigajo (Castle of Demon). Within the individual shrines. Every 20 years, important buildings at Naiku, Geku and other shrines in the Ise Grand Shrine Onigajo are many large cliff faces. One in particular contains a large rock with a height of 25m and a circumference of 210m that complex are rebuilt at sites adjacent to their original position. The 62nd reconstruction of Ise Grand Shrine is scheduled resembles a lion roaring as it faces the sea. This rock is called the Shishi Iwa, and, along with the Onigajo, both are national for 2013. www.isejingu.or.jp/shosai/english/ monuments and registered as world heritage sites. ◆Access ◆Access 15 minutes bus ride from Ujiyamada Station or on the Kintetsu Line, look for the buses bound for Naiku 7 min walk from JR Kumano-shi station

MAP MAP 2 Nabana Village “Winter Illuminations” 2 Jazz Dream Nagashima Discount Tickets! ◆ Nabana Village “Winter Illuminations” : November 3～March 11 ◆Jazz Dream Nagashima～Come to Japan's largest outlet The Nabana Village Winter Illuminations mall ： even bigger as of September 21st! will run from the middle of November to the middle of March. Flowers, vegetation Nagashima Resort's Mitsui O ut l e t P a r k, J az z D r e am and food are all brought together to create Nagashima has expanded from a paradise in Nabana Village. The 196 stores to 240. It now has the "Beauty of Winter Exhibition" Illumination largest number of stores at an will bring a poetic touch to winter once This ticket includes: outlet mall in Japan. Using the again this year. This illumination, the same theme as Nagashima Spa - ticket from the airport to largest in the country, will light up Nabana Land, the theme park next door, - Unlimited ride on the Kintetsu line, Iga Railway, Mie Kotsu Buses Village's winter wonderland with an array the mall is designed as a 'resort' of beautiful colors. and Toba Municipal Bus (sea gull bus) - vaild for 5 days and houses the Garden Terrace, - 3 vouchers for Kintetsu limited express ◆ 『 Nabana Village 』 an all-weather relaxation spot - discount coupons to sightseeing facilities At Nabana Village, you can appreciate the flowers of all four seasons in turn, from with seating for 200 people. the plums and cherry blossoms in the spring, to the tulip, rose, hydrangea and ◆『 Nagashima Resort 』 Japanese Iris that bloom in the summer, followed by the autumnal Cosmos and Nagashima Spa Land offers some of the best attractions in Japan, including the Dahlia. There is also the year round begonia garden, eight different Japanese and largest natural outdoor bath in Japan at Yuami Island. Nagashima Spa Land is a Western style restaurants, local beer and natural hot springs to visit. This dream- large resort area with the largest outlet mall in Japan, with 240 stores located at like village on the banks of the Nagara River also boasts the largest winter the Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima. www.31op.com/nagashima/foreign/index_en illuminations in the entire country. ◆ Access ◆ Access www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/file/resortguide_e2.pdf 20 minutes by bus from Kuwana Station on the JR or Kintetsu Lines 10 minutes by bus from Kuwana Station on the JR or Kintetsu Lines This ticket includes: - Unlimited ride on the Kintetsu Railway and Iga Railway - vaild for 5 MAP MAP 3 4 O-hinasan（Tsu City Daimon, Futami） days - 3 vouchers for Kintetsu limited express

◆『Tsu・DaimonO-hinasan』 : Middle February – Late March Tsu's Monzen-cho 「Daitate Shopping Arcade」 puts many Girls Festival Dolls and hand made decorations out on www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/index.html display to greet customers. 『O-hinasama in Futami』 : Early February – Late March 2 Ise's Futami Ward, known as the home of the wedded rocks "Meotoiwa," is also home to the "Futami O-Hinasama Tour". Visitors can take this elaborate tour around the town, which includes over 100 locations such as souvenir shops Gourmet Dishes and Japanese inns. The area featured on this walking tour is centered around the Hinjitsu Hall, a Cultural Heritage Centre and Learning Centre, where traditional dolls made from various materials and old dolls and decorations made 5 between the Edo period and the beginning of the the Showa era are put on display. During this season, restaurants in MAP 7 the area offer special menus that are only available for a limited time. Some even host events, such as opportunities for Akafuku Mochi 3 visitors to try on one of 20 different traditional costumes! ◆O-hinasama (The Empress) The Akafuku company was established in 1707 in The Dolls' Festival (Hinamatsuri) is an annual festival that takes place on March 3rd; dolls and sweets are displayed to pray for a female child's growth and prosperity. Special dolls and furnishings are displayed during the festival, and rice crackers specially made for Hinamatsuri, white sake, plums and flowers are given as offerings. Ise. With more than 300 years of history, Akafuku mochi is known across Japan as a representative ◆Access delicacy of Ise. Akafuku mochi begins with a soft Ｍｉｅ 4 [Daimon - Tsu City] 10 minutes by bus from Tsu Station on the JR or Kintetsu Lines piece of white mochi (a dough made of pounded 1 7 [Futami] JR Futaminoura Station glutinous rice), which represents the white pebbles of the Isuzu River riverbed. A generous helping of MAP sweet red bean paste is placed upon the mochi, 5 Moku Moku Farm evoking images of the Isuzu River as it winds through the grounds of Ise Grand Shrine. The 6 ◆『Strawberry Picking Workshop at Moku Moku Farm in Iga』：Early January～Late April original Akafuku storefront is situated near the The Strawberry Picking Worskshop at Moku Moku Farm gives participants the opportunity to learn more about entrance of Ise Grand Shrine and invites passersby strawberry farming while enjoying the sweet taste of fresh strawberries. Thesmell of ripe red strawberries fills the air as participants learn about the hard work of strawberry farmers and honey bees. Participants can also use strawberries to enter and enjoy the unique taste of Akafuku Mochi that they picked themselves to make their own strawberry daifuku, a Japanese sweet comprised up a strawberry while looking out upon the Isuzu river. surrounded by sweet red bean paste and glutinous rice dough. 6 ◆『 Moku Moku Farm in Iga 』 ◆Access Moku Moku is a farm built around the principles of ecology, homestyle food, and natural agricultural practices. The 15 minutes bus ride from Ujiyamada Station or farm not only produces a number of all natural products, including all natural ham, sausage, beer, Japanese sweets, Iseshi Station on the Kintetsu Line, look for the tofu, bread, and snacks, it also emphasizes the connection between these products and agriculture. The farm's ranch area also gives visitors the opportunity to try buses bound for Naiku horseback riding, cow milking and milk production and more, free of charge. ◆Access 15 minutes taxi ride from Tsuge Station on the JR Line