From seafood delicacies straight from the ocean to Japan’s most sought-after marbled beef, Ise-Shima on the southern coast of Mie Prefecture offers some of the most unforgettable dining experiences in Japan. To help plan your next trip to Japan, we’ve found three of the best dining delights you can only find in Ise-Shima along the Kintetsu Railway line. 

1.    Discover local delicacies onboard the Shimakaze Limited Express

Connecting Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya with Ise-Shima, the Sightseeing Limited Express ‘Shimakaze’ will instantly transport you to a place of coastal serenity. The train was designed to provide a new level of rail travel, offering premium seating, Japanese-style and Western-style private rooms, and a two-level café car.

Onboard the Shimakaze Limited Express, travellers can have their first taste of Ise-Shima and experience rail dining at its finest. The train’s café sells dishes and famous products from along the Kintetsu line, including a seafood pilaf and Matsusaka beef curry. The café also stocks local beer, sake and juices as well as sweets that can only be enjoyed in Ise-Shima.

2.    Experience traditional Ama divers and indulge in local seafood

Ise-Shima is known for its fresh seafood caught right in Ise Bay and is home to the largest number of traditional Ama divers in Japan. The ‘Ama’ are female divers who make a living by freediving for things like abalone, scallops and seaweed. The occupation dates back more than 3000 years in Japan.

From May to September travellers can join an ‘Ama Hut’, for a first-hand experience of the ancient tradition. Taking a break between dives and collecting the bounties that lie below the pristine waters of Ise Bay, travellers can enjoy the morning’s catch, which can include famous local delicacies like spiny lobster (Ise-ebi) and fresh abalone (awabi). The unique experience allows travellers to hang out with the divers over lunch, hear about their unique culture and lifestyle and even enjoy a traditional folk dance. 

3.    Fall in love with one of Japan’s most prestigious types of Wagyu:  Matsusaka Beef

Matsusaka Beef is a brand of Wagyu that comes from a specific region in Mie Prefecture, and is famed for being heavily marbled and tender. Only beef which meets strict grading criteria can be marketed and labelled as Matsusaka beef. Quality control and brand protection of Matsusaka Beef is so important that a searchable unique ID is created for each cow that meets the mark, assuring diners that they will be eating the real deal.

To produce Matsusaka Beef, the cows are fed a special diet for 900 days, with some farmers also feeding their cattle beer or giving them liquor massages to support correct fat formation and circulation.

Matsusaka Beef boasts melt-in-your-mouth perfection and is enjoyed in shabu-shabu, sukiyaki or as a simple but phenomenal steak. You can find a list of approved Matsusaka Beef sellers and restaurants in Mie Prefecture here.

About the Kintetsu Rail Pass

• The Kintetsu Rail Pass gives travellers unlimited rides on all Kintetsu Railway lines for 5 days.
• Available for visitors from overseas at a discounted price of 3,700yen, pre-purchase your passes online or buy at any Kintetsu Station in Japan. 

For information on the pass, please visit: https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/index.html

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About Kintetsu Railway

Founded in 1910, Kintetsu Railway was originally an electric tram system operating between Nara and Osaka. Over the past 110 years, the company has become one of Japan’s largest operating railway networks that connects major cities in the Kansai region including Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu, Ise and Yoshino. For more information, visit: www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ 

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