When traveling abroad, your stomach is just as precious as your time. There are only so many meals in a day so you'll want to fill it with only the most delicious local delicacies you can't get anywhere else.

Before diving into Mie Prefecture's local cuisine, it's worth noting a few highlights. Thanks to its coastal location, Mie boasts an abundance of fresh, delicious seafood. The region is particularly famous for its "King of Shrimp" – the Japanese spiny lobster. Other local specialties include Akafuku mochi and Ise udon, often enjoyed by visitors to the Ise Grand Shrine, and Matsusaka beef – one of Japan's top three wagyu varieties.

For this article, Centrip Japan has handpicked restaurants near popular tourist spots in Mie Prefecture. Each offers not just authentic local flavors, but also a uniquely Mie experience that goes beyond just the food.

Satoumian Ama Hut Experience: Fresh Seafood Grilled by Ama Divers

Ama divers are part of a 2,000-year-old Japanese tradition. These women dive without oxygen tanks to collect seafood and seaweed from the ocean floor. Mie Prefecture, with its long coastline, has historically been a hub for Ama diving and currently boasts the highest number of Ama divers in Japan.

While the number of Ama divers is declining due to an aging population, Mie Prefecture is working hard to preserve and promote this unique culture. They offer tourists opportunities to interact directly with Ama divers. If you're interested in hearing these women's fascinating stories firsthand, don't miss the Satoumian Ama Hut Experience Facility on the Shima coast.

An Ama hut is where Ama divers warm themselves by a fire after returning from the sea. At Satoumian, you can experience a recreated hut while listening to captivating tales from current and former Ama divers. The best part? You get to savor delicious seafood grilled right before your eyes over charcoal by the Ama divers.

The freshly grilled seafood receives rave reviews from everyone who tries it. You can choose from a variety of options including scallops, squid, abalone, and whole grilled spiny lobster. The ability to order individually at your own pace is another plus.

Feel free to chat with the Ama divers and ask them questions. They're happy to answer queries like "Why are most Ama divers women?" or "Is it cold diving in winter?" The divers are always eager to share their experiences.

Satoumian is right by the sea, offering stunning ocean views from its windows. You can even try on Ama diving costumes for free and take a stroll in the outfit on the beach, or snap a photo with the divers for a memorable souvenir.

Maruzen Oyster Farm: Limited-Time All-You-Can-Eat Grilled Oysters on a Floating Restaurant

The Toba area of Mie Prefecture is renowned for its oysters. Every winter during oyster season, all-you-can-eat grilled oyster events draw oyster lovers from far and wide. The sweet, fresh oysters available here at lower prices than in the cities attract many Japanese visitors who drive from other prefectures just for a taste.

While there are several all-you-can-eat oyster restaurants in Toba City, Maruzen Oyster Farm stands out. It's one of the few places where you can dine on a floating boathouse on the sea. The panoramic ocean views, gentle swaying of the boat, and the sound of lapping waves create an unparalleled dining experience.

The 80-minute all-you-can-eat oyster course costs ¥3,000 for adults and ¥1,500 for children. In addition to grilled oysters, you can choose either fried oysters or an oyster rice bowl, plus oyster miso soup and simmered oysters in a sweet soy sauce. It's a feast that's sure to satisfy.

※Prices are as of the time of writing. Please confirm before you visit.

The restaurant provides all the tools needed for grilling oysters, including instructions and a timer. Follow their guidance, and you'll end up with juicy, flavorful oysters. A dash of sauce or lemon juice enhances their tender deliciousness. If you still have room, you can add raw oysters to try various preparations.

Maruzen Oyster Farm's all-you-can-eat oyster offer is typically available from November to early May each year. As it tends to book up quickly, advance online reservations are recommended.

Reservations (English)

Okage Yokocho: Edo-style Gourmet Street near Ise Grand Shrine

Ise Grand Shrine, a place many Japanese hope to visit at least once in their lifetime, attracts visitors year-round. This has led to the development of streets lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, one of which is Okage Yokocho.

Located just a 5-minute walk from the Inner Shrine, Okage Yokocho features buildings styled after the Edo period, creating a nostalgic atmosphere. The street is dotted with hidden maneki-neko (beckoning cat) figurines, making it a great spot for photos. With over 50 shops selling local foods, souvenirs, and crafts, it's the perfect place to sample various regional specialties all in one area.

Here are some recommended dishes and shops in Okage Yokocho:

Tekone-zushi is a traditional Ise dish said to have originated with fishermen roughly mixing freshly caught fish with their hands (hence the name "tekone," meaning "mixed by hand" in Japanese). It consists of soy-marinated bonito slices atop vinegared rice. The vibrant red of the bonito is a sight to behold. For tekone-zushi, head to the restaurant Sushikyu, which has been operating since the Edo period while maintaining its historical ambiance.

Akafuku-gori and Akafuku zenzai are local specialties. Akafuku mochi, a famous sweet from around Ise Grand Shrine, consists of red bean paste atop a white mochi cake. This treat has inspired other desserts like the summer-only Akafuku-gori (shaved ice with green tea syrup, revealing red bean paste and mochi as you dig in) and the winter-only Akafuku zenzai (sweet red bean soup topped with freshly grilled mochi and a sprinkle of salted kelp for added flavor). Try these Akafuku sweets at the retro-style restaurant Dangoro Chaya, which also serves soba noodles and Matsusaka beef skewers.

The 100-year-old Ise kamaboko (fish cake) shop Wakamatsuya is another must-visit.

Their kamaboko and cheese sticks, made with fresh fish paste using traditional methods, are packed with ingredients and free from synthetic preservatives – delicious and healthy.

Matsusaka Maruyoshi: A 60-Year-Old Matsusaka Beef Institution

Beef lovers are surely familiar with Matsusaka beef, one of Japan's top three wagyu varieties. Its delicate marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture have won over countless food enthusiasts. Matsusaka refers to Matsusaka City in Mie Prefecture, and you simply can't visit without trying the authentic local beef.

About a 10-minute walk from Matsusaka Station, you'll find Matsusaka Maruyoshi Kamada Main Store, a Matsusaka beef restaurant and butcher shop with over 60 years of history. Popular with both locals and tourists, it offers a wide range of beef products and souvenirs.

The menu is enough to make your mouth water, featuring an extensive selection of Matsusaka beef dishes. While you can enjoy yakiniku, sukiyaki, steak, and shabu-shabu, there are also more affordable options like hamburger steak and beef bowls. Their specialties are bifuteki (steak) and sukiyaki. For steak, you can choose from various cuts, and it's carefully grilled to your request. The meat is juicy, sweet, and melts in your mouth with a delicate texture.

The sukiyaki is prepared simply with soy sauce, kelp dashi, and raw cane sugar to enhance the beef's natural sweetness. Dipping the meat into a raw egg creates an even smoother texture.

Matsusaka Maruyoshi also has a branch near the Ise Inner Shrine, called the Ise Oharai-machi Store. This location offers some different menu items, such as Matsusaka Beef Hitsumabushi (served in three ways: plain, with condiments, and as ochazuke with dashi broth). You can choose based on the dishes you want to try or whichever location is closer to your sightseeing plans.

Restaurant Nature: A Mountaintop Restaurant with Breathtaking Views

Imagine dining at a restaurant perched 1,200 meters above sea level, surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery. That's exactly what you'll experience at Restaurant Nature, located at the summit of Mt. Gozaisho and accessible by ropeway.

On clear days, you can enjoy panoramic views of Ise Bay. When it's cloudy, you might find yourself dining above a sea of clouds. In autumn, the mountain is ablaze with fall colors, while winter brings a pristine snowscape.

The restaurant's signature dish is Gozaisho Curry Udon, a unique take on Ise udon, one of Mie Prefecture's representative dishes. Unlike typical chewy udon, Ise udon has a softer texture. At Nature, the Ise udon is served with a rich curry sauce and tender braised pork. When mixed, the curry coats each noodle, creating a smooth, slurp-worthy dish.

Don't miss out on dessert, either. The White Tower Soft Serve is a charming treat featuring vanilla ice cream sandwiched between biscuits shaped like the Gozaisho Ropeway's iconic white tower. Many visitors enjoy taking photos of their ice cream with the actual white tower in the background.

According to the staff, ingredients at the restaurant, Nature, are transported to the summit daily by ropeway to ensure the highest quality, freshest meals possible. The chefs have put considerable effort into developing and refining their recipes to create the best possible flavors, demonstrating their confidence in the menu.

Wrap-up

The Mie Prefecture gourmet experiences introduced here offer delicious local specialties and opportunities to immerse yourself in the region's culture and natural beauty. Each promises a satisfying and memorable dining adventure. We look forward to hearing about your experiences!