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Discover Taiki: A Picturesque Town Connecting Ise and Kumano

Taiki Town, Mie

Local stories

The Kumano Kodo Iseji route, which connects Ise Jingu—one of Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrines—to the three grand shrines of Kumano, runs right through the town of Taiki in Mie. The town is also home to the Tsuzurato Pass and the Nisaka Pass, both of which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides the main trail, the Kumano Kodo Iseji route also features two alternative trails or side roads, one of which runs along the mountainside and the other along the coast. Taiki is the only town crossed by all three trails. Since ancient times, timber for Ise Jingu’s Shikinen Sengu ritual, a periodic renewal of the shrine conducted every 20 years, has been harvested from sacred groves in the area and carried down the Miyagawa River and its tributaries, which flow along the main trail.

The wild ayu sweetfish caught in these Miyagawa River Basin have also been used as sacred offerings at Ise Jingu and Takiharanomiya, one of its associated shrines, for over 2,000 years. At Mitonokami Jinja, another Shinto shrine near Takiharanomiya, live ayu are used to predict the year’s harvest during the Onbe Festival, which has been held since the Nara period (710–794). Ayu is thus a cherished ingredient with deep roots in the region.

Meanwhile, the mountainside trail passes through an area where Special Grade Matsusaka Beef cattle are fattened, and the coastal trail provides access to Nishiki Fishing Port, whose catch of yellowtail is the largest in Mie. Together, these three trails of the Kumano Kodo Iseji route are home to a wealth of delicacies from the mountains, rivers, and sea. Embark on a gastronomic journey and experience the area’s unique food culture and dishes showcasing such ingredients at local guest houses.

Local culinary delights

Embark on this gastronomic journey and taste delicacies from the mountains, rivers, and sea at guest houses that offer immersive experiences. At Sawa Furusatomura, pair sukiyaki featuring premium Special Grade Matsusaka Beef with rice cooked on a traditional cookstove. At Izuho, savor various local dishes made with wild ayu sweetfish, such as salt-grilled ayu, somen noodles with ayu broth, and rice cooked with ayu in a pot. At Tensei, you can try buri shabu hot pot and marinated bekko-zushi sushi rice, two local dishes made from yellowtail.

Recommended model course

Kumano Kodo Iseji: A gastronomic journey connecting the sacred sites of Ise and Kumano

Example itinerary

Embark on a gastronomic journey along a spiritual pilgrimage route that cleanses your body and soul, with a focus on three elements: pilgrimage, food culture, and unique local experiences. Enjoy heavenly Matsusaka beef and the fresh bounties of nature, including shiitake mushrooms from the mountains, yellowtail from the sea, and ayu sweetfish from the rivers, all prepared using traditional methods. This priceless three-day trip allows you to savor local cuisine and walk along a pilgrimage route while wearing a handmade costume.

Schedule

Day One

Meet at Iseshi StationVisit Ise Jingu’s Geku, its main outer shrine dedicated to Toyouke no Omikami, a deity who presides over food, agriculture, and various industriesVisit Ise Jingu’s Naiku, its main inner shrineTour Okage YokochoTravel to Taiki via taxi vanVisit TakiharanomiyaHave Special Grade Matsusaka Beef sukiyaki for dinner & Stays at Sawa Furusatomura, an experiential guest house

Sawa Furusatomura is situated along the Kumano Kodo Iseji route’s mountainside trail. Here you can harvest agrochemical-free vegetables and shiitake mushrooms, cook rice on a traditional cookstove, and enjoy sukiyaki made with premium Special Grade Matsusaka Beef. The area is home to many master cattle farmers specializing in Special Grade Matsusaka Beef cattle, some of whom have impressive achievements under their belt, such as winning the top prize at the Matsusaka Beef Festival for five consecutive years.

Day Two

Depart from your accommodationsExperience making a pilgrimage costume, including a white oizuru garment and a wooden Kodo walking stick amulet

In this workshop, you can make your own pilgrimage costume. First, make an oizuru, a white garment worn by pilgrims walking the Kumano Kodo Iseji route, then laser-engrave your own design onto a wooden amulet used to decorate Kodo walking sticks made from Higashi-Kishu cedar. Finally, put on the full costume, including a sedge-woven hat, and walk through the mountain passes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as an honorary pilgrim.

Walk the Kumano Kodo’s Nisaka Pass or Tsuzurato Pass, both of which are part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a storyteller (lunch is included)

You can listen to Kumano Kodo Iseji tales told by a storyteller. English- and Chinese-speaking guides can also be arranged. As you walk through the majestic natural beauty of the Kumano Kodo Iseji route, listen to stories about prayer along the way. This is a place of nature worship that fuses nature and culture, where people once traversed steep mountain passes and crossed rivers in search of salvation and a fresh start.

Have all kinds of local dishes made using wild ayu for dinner at Minpaku Izuho

Minpaku Izuho is situated along the Kumano Kodo Iseji route’s main trail. With a sunken hearth and a traditional cookstove, it offers a glimpse into life in Japan once upon a time. You can try a variety of dishes featuring ayu that have been enjoyed in the region for generations, including salt-grilled ayu, somen noodles with ayu broth, rice cooked with ayu in a pot, and ayu simmered in a savory, sweet sauce. At night, soak in the traditional cauldron-like bathtub and let the fatigue of travel melt away.

Day Three

Explore a fishing community in Taiki’s Nishiki area along the coast of the Kumano SeaHave buri shabu and bekko-zushi, local dishes made with yellowtail, for lunch at Minpaku Tensei.

Mikuniya is situated along the Kumano Kodo Iseji route’s coastal trail, in front of a fishing port in Taiki, which is famous for its yellowtail. The lodging facility serves fresh yellowtail caught at the port and prepares dishes using traditional methods passed down locally for generations. Enjoy local dishes unique to this fishing community, such as buri shabu (yellowtail hot pot), yellowtail sashimi, and bekko-zushi (a sushi rice dish topped with yellowtail marinated in a special soy sauce blend).

Part ways at Iseshi Station or Matsusaka Station

Access

From Osaka Namba Station to Takihara Station on the Kintetsu Limited Express, JR Kisei Main Line, etc. (2 hours and 30 minutes)
From Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Takihara Station on the Kintetsu Limited Express, JR Kisei Main Line, etc. (2 hours and 10 minutes)
From Takihara Station to Aso Station (4 minutes), Ise-Kashiwazaki Station (11 minutes), Kawazoe Station (13 minutes), Ouchiyama Station (25 minutes), or Taki Station (36 minutes) on the JR Kisei Main Line
From Nagoya (Meitetsu Bus Center) to Takiharanomiya-mae by Mie Kotsu Highway Bus (2 hour)

Contact

Taiki Town Tourism Association

Recommended Accommodation

Minpaku Izuho

This rustic inn, set in untouched woodland along the historic Kumano Kaido highway, features traditional amenities, such as a sunken hearth hut and a round metal Goemon bath, allowing guests to get a taste of traditional Japanese life. The inn offers hands-on activities like harvesting home-grown pesticide-free vegetables, dressing in kimono, and cooking rice in a ceramic kamado pot. With a policy of accommodating only one group per day, guests are ensured a truly unique and special experience.

  • Address :

    342-3 Ouchiyama, Taiki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)598-86-7077 (Taiki Town Tourism Association)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese, English

  • Access :

    25-minute walk from JR Ouchiyama Station (shuttle service available)

  • Check-in :

    From 3:00 p.m.

  • Check-out :

    10:00 a.m.

  • Rates :

    From ¥13,200 per person per night with 2 meals

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    None

  • Bedroom :

    Two private rooms available for up to 4 persons, no key, Japanese futons

  • Bathroom :

    Lockable bathroom available, bathtub available (from check-in until 10:00 p.m.)

  • Toilet :

    Western style

  • Meals :

    Dinner, Breakfast

  • Wi-Fi :

    Available

Recommended Accommodation

Sawa Furusatomura

This guesthouse is a renovated old farmhouse nestled in a rural forest. It consists of two buildings: “Furumika Sawafurusato Village” and “Furusato Village Annex,” with the annex featuring a kitchen. Each building is available for exclusive rental by one group per day. Guests can enjoy harvesting vegetables and cooking rice in a ceramic kamado pot, or choose from a variety of add-on experiences to customize their own unique overnight stay.

  • Address :

    974-2 Kanawa, Taiki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)598-87-1500

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    Pick-up service available from JR Kawazoe Station, Taki Station, etc.

  • Check-in :

    From 3:00 p.m.

  • Check-out :

    10:00 a.m.

  • Rates :

    ¥13,200 per person per night with 2 meals

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    None

  • Bedroom :

    3 buildings for a maximum of 10 persons. Each building has a lock, Western beds and Japanese futons.

  • Bathroom :

    Lockable bathroom available, bathtub available (from check-in until check-out)

  • Toilet :

    Western style

  • Meals :

    Dinner, Breakfast

  • Wi-Fi :

    Available

Recommended Restaurant

Cuisine Inn Kiseiso

This traditional Japanese inn, located along the historic Kumano Kaido highway, offers authentic kaiseki cuisine featuring local seasonal produce in a charming retro 19th-century building. Visitors can enjoy meals in a private room, with prices starting at ¥1,650 for a bento lunch and ¥3,300 for a kaiseki dinner. The restaurant is also a favorite among foreign tourists walking the Kumano Kodo trail.

  • Address :

    276-1 Saki, Taiki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)598-74-1133

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese, English

  • Access :

    5-minute walk from JR Ise-Kashiwazaki Station

  • Opening Hours :

    Confirm at the time of reservation (advance reservation required)

  • Closed :

    No holidays

  • Cuisine :

    Japanese cuisine, Kaiseki cuisine

  • Foreign Language Menu :

    Not available

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    None

Recommended Restaurant

Kinari

This Japanese cuisine and handmade soba noodle restaurant is located along the historic Kumano Kaido highway. Dishes are prepared using only the finest seasonal ingredients from Mie Prefecture and are served in exquisite three-tiered Ise Shunkei lacquerware boxes. The owner grinds his own soba on a stone mortar and handmakes the noodles daily. Reservations are required for groups of up to 6 people, with meals priced at ¥4,500 per person.

  • Address :

    2280-2 Aso, Taiki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)598-86-2453

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    5-minute walk from JR Aso Station

  • Opening Hours :

    11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (reservations required)

  • Closed :

    Sundays

  • Cuisine :

    Japanese cuisine

  • Foreign Language Menu :

    Not available

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    None

Recommended Experience

Farm-to-Table Matsusaka Beef Sukiyaki at a Farmer's Inn

The town of Taiki is a key rearing area for Matsuzaka beef, a rare and highly prized variety of wagyu. At a welcoming farmer's inn in the area, visitors can enjoy making Matsusaka beef sukiyaki hot pot from scratch. To start, you will head out into the fields with the farmer to harvest fresh vegetables and mushrooms. Next, try your hand at chopping firewood to use to cook rice in a traditional ceramic kamado pot. Finally, savor the delicious fruits of your labor with the freshest and tastiest sukiyaki you’ve ever tasted! This fun dining experience uniquely combines agriculture and cooking.

  • Address :

    Varies by farmhouse

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)598-86-7077 (Taiki Town Tourism Association)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese, English

  • Access :

    Varies by farmhouse

  • Duration :

    Approximately 2 hours

  • Fee :

    ¥12,000

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese, English

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

Recommended Experience

Taiki E-bike Tour

Enjoy cycling on an e-bike to the trailhead of the Tsuzurato-toge Pass on the World Heritage Site Kumano Kodo trail. Once there, get off your bike and enjoy a guided trekking tour. From the summit, which serves as the border between Ise and Kii provinces, take in the spectacular view of the Kumano Sea.

  • Address :

    Sankai-no-Sato Kisei, 2154-1 Saki, Taiki-cho, Watarai-gun, Mie Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)598-86-7077 (Taiki Town Tourism Association)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese, English

  • Access :

    5-minute walk from JR Ise-Kashiwazaki Station

  • Duration :

    4 hours

  • Fee :

    ¥10,000

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese, English

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

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