I first made the acquaintance of Matsusaka on a wet day in March of 2021, once I was one of many fortunate few foreigners allowed in Japan—I used to be learning Japanese in Kyoto, which allowed me to bypass the nation’s near-total entry ban. It was an odd day in Mie prefecture—typhoon-forced wins blew the heavy rain each which method—and Matsusaka felt particularly odd.
I don’t imply this can be a dangerous method. From the Samurai-coded streets of the jokamachi beneath the ruins of Matsusaka Fort, to the heat of the restaurant the place I ate lunch, Matsusaka ended up embodying all the pieces I wanted that afternoon.
And so whereas I’m blissful to be right here to put out a succinct checklist of issues to do in Matsusaka, I’ve a higher-order suggestion past them. Let Matsusaka wash over you—hopefully solely in a figurative sense, after all!
The place to Keep in Matsusaka
I’ll be frank: Matsusaka lodges go away quite a bit to be desired. Whereas the town is dwelling to somewhat primary properties (Simply Inn Matsusaka Station and Toyoko Inn Matsusaka Ekimae are doubtless your finest choices, relying upon availability), the truth is that Matsusaka is significantly better as a day journey vacation spot than someplace you keep in a single day. The query then turns into the place precisely your day journey to Matsusaka ought to originate from.
When you plan to discover Mie prefecture extra in-depth, it’s doubtless that you’ll both keep east of Matsusaka in Ise, which is essentially the most handy and wise hub for vacationers. You might additionally keep in Tsu, the prefectural capital and its largest metropolis, although there isn’t a complete lot to do there. Lastly, Matsusaka is fairly straightforward as a day journey from Nagoya, which clearly gives essentially the most by way of lodging and different creature comforts.
What to Do in Matsusaka
Go to the ruins of Matsusaka Fort
The primary cease in your Matsusaka itinerary, in my view, must be the ruins of Matsusaka Fort. Whereas I’m not often a fan of visiting ruins, given what number of superb intact castles there are in Japan, Matsusaka’s is perched excessive up, and gives a improbable view of the town (and all the opposite stuff you’re going to do there).
Discover the Service provider District
Descending from the castles, you’ll discover the town’s jokamachi (fortress city), which focuses primarily on the primary avenue of the Matsusaka Service provider District. A part of why this makes Matsusaka value visiting is that it’s so understated—it hasn’t been restored for max industrial enchantment, however as a substitute to be genuine.
Eat Matsusaka beef
Probably the most scrumptious of issues to do in Matsusaka is clearly a meal of beef. Whilst you’ll ideally want some Japanese to sit down down at most eating places right here, you possibly can often head to a restaurant that makes a speciality of marbled, scrumptious Matsu-saka no wa-gyu and rely on the truth that they’ll know why you’re there.
Proceed onward to Ise and Toba
Even for those who don’t discover Matsusaka value visiting by itself, the remainder of Mie prefecture will assist to stability the equation. Some vacationers favor non secular points of interest like Ise Grand Shrine and the coastal Meoto Iwa “wedded rocks,” whereas others are extra desirous about observing the Ama pearl diver custom in Toba and Shima.
TIP: When you go to in early March, I extremely advocate stopping at Taguchi Bairin Koen, a small however beautiful backyard the place season ume, or plum blossoms shall be on show.
Or all the way in which to Wakayama
When you’ve completed having fun with Matsusaka issues to do, you would possibly head additional off Japan’s overwhelmed path, somewhat than returning to the vacationer path. In some instances, this may increasingly contain staying close to the coast in Shingu or Katsuura. In different situations, chances are you’ll wander a bit inland to Nachi Taisha, or far inland to trek the Kumano Kodo.
How Many Days Do You Want in Matsusaka?
Matsusaka is small—you possibly can see most of what there’s within the metropolis in a full day. Consequently, for those who plan to guide one of many Matsusaka lodges I’ve listed off above, you would possibly solely must spend a single night time there. However herein lies a possible complication: Most vacationers don’t need to spend hours on a practice after which solely take pleasure in one sleep of their vacation spot. Consequently, I’ve give you a few potential options.
One is that you just keep 2-3 nights in Matsusaka and use it as a base to discover the remainder of what there’s to do in Mie, whether or not it’s consuming seafood with Ama pearl divers in Toba or Shima, heading to the ocean to marvel on the Meoto Iwa “wedded rocks” or visiting Ise Grand Shrine in Ise-shi. The opposite method you’re positive to seek out Matsusaka value visiting? Merely come on a day journey—ideally, an extended day journey—from some other place.
Different FAQ About Visiting Matsusaka
How do you get to Matsusaka?
Matsusaka is accessible by each the JR and Kintetsu Strains. Whereas it’s a straight shot southward from Nagoya or northward from Wakayama prefecture’s Shingu and Katsuura cities, chances are you’ll want to vary trains for those who come from Kyoto or Osaka.
Is Matsusaka higher than Kobe?
For my part, each Matsusaka and Kobe wa-gyu are a number of the finest beef varieties accessible on this planet—I wouldn’t say no to both. To connoisseurs, nonetheless, Matsusaka cows (that are virgin females with extra fats and, subsequently, extra taste) gives a singular edge over these produced in Kobe, so it’s actually down to non-public choice.
What’s the that means of Matsusaka?
In Japanese, the phrase Matsu-saka (松阪) actually means “pine slope,” which makes good sense when you think about the town’s topography and the types of foliage that predominate there. And so far as what Matsusaka is understood for? Properly, I believe you recognize the reply to that by now for those who made it this far.
The Backside Line
In a tangible sense, there are sufficient superb issues to do in Matsusaka to maintain you busy for the afternoon, and even all day. I personally love climbing as much as the ruins of Matsusaka Fort, wanting down on the Samurai-era Service provider District earlier than sitting down for a lunch of scrumptious beef. After all, in case you have a number of days in Mie, you may simply save different locations and experiences within the prefecture (reminiscent of Ise Grand Shrine, or the ama pearl divers of Toba) for later, and focus a complete day on Matsusaka. Want personalised assist planning your journey to Matsusaka (and past)? Fee a customized Japan itinerary at present!