Iga / Nabari

Top Things to do

• Ninja Museum of Igaryu

  4.0

  346 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Uenomarunouchi 117

  This ninja museum in Iga Ueno Castle's Ueno Park boasts the best ninja collection in the world. Composed of the Ninja House, Ninja Experience Hall, and Ninja Tradition Hall, they showcase real ninjas with a concept of bringing ninjutsu into the present. The Ninja House itself was built by a local Iga clan, and under the guidance of a kunoichi (female ninja), you can check out its contrivances like trap doors, escape routes, and revolving walls. The Azura ninja group's breathtaking shows and the shuriken throwing program are also popular. So is the shop selling ninja related items.

• Ueno Park

  Mie Pref. Igashi Uenomarunouchi 122-1

  This castle ruin park stretches in front of the Iga Line's Uenoshi Station. A characteristic of the symbolic Iga Ueno Castle is the high stone wall built by Todo Takatora, a military commander in the Warring States period. It is also called Hakuho Castle (white firebird castle) because of the beauty of the white, three-tiered castle. There are an array of facilities in the park overflowing with history such as the Iga-ryu Ninja Yashiki (Iga style ninja mansion) with surprise twists and secret doors, the Haiseiden (Matsuo Basho Memorial) that is modeled after Basho's traditional Japanese travel outfit, and the Basho Memorial Museum. Especially at the ninja mansion, they demonstrate Iga-style ninja techniques, and everyone from history fans to children can enjoy themselves. In addition, there are many different flowers that bloom throughout the year, and it is especially famous as a place to view cherry blossoms. It is visited by many cherry blossom viewers in April.

• Japan Salamander Center

  3.5

  56 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Nabarishi Akamechou Nagasaka

  Japan Salamander Center is a breeding and exhibition facility, one of the few of its kind in Japan, located 10 minutes by bus from Akameguchi Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line at the entrance to the 48 Falls of Akame. Called a living fossil, the giant salamander is a National Special Natural Monument that has survived in almost unchanged form for more than 30 million years. Visitors can carefully observe the unique forms and biology of giant salamanders and clouded salamanders born in the Akame area. They may also see sword-tail newts and other newts or axolotl walking fish.

• Roadside Station Iga

  3.5

  35 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Tsugemachi 6187-1

  A roadside station located close to the Iga Interchange on the Meihan Expressway in Iga City, Mie Prefecture. The station's distinctive octagonal building is modeled after a famous haiku by the great Matsuo Basho. The station's specialty products market sells locally grown vegetables and Iga specialty products, while the station's restaurant serves Iga beef croquettes, Matsusaka beef yakiniku barbecue set meals, and other dishes made with local ingredients. The station also has a free dog park and a convenience store open 24 hours a day.

• Kanaya Main Restaurant

  4.0

  30 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Uenonouninmachi 434

  This veteran restaurant on the Iga Highway in Ueno-nonin-machi, Iga City, Mie Prefecture specializes in meat dishes. They offer the finest grade of carefully inspected Iga beef from a superlative pedigree of Iga cattle. They use only the best sukiyaki meat for their local favorite Kotobuki-yaki, thin slices of beef cooked with vegetables at the table in a cast-iron pan. They don't use any seasoning to let the savory goodness of their superb ingredients shine through. Another amazing dish is the local favorite Butter Yaki, tender loin topped with butter and grated daikon radish and served with condiments.

• Roadside Station Ayama

  3.5

  30 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Kawai Yakuo 3370-29

  A roadside station located in Oaza Kawai Yakeo, Iga City. The station's restaurant, Sasayuri, serves Iga beef udon noodles and set meals which include sides made with seasonal local vegetables. The Tortarosso bread shop offers a variety of seasonal breads. The farm fresh shop sells local specialty vegetables and fish, while the Glass Bin Shop sells glass products by NSK. The station offers soba noodle making workshops on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and during the two hour classes attendees will make their own soba noodles from scratch.

• Iga no Sato Mokumoku Tezukuri Farm

  4.5

  21 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Nishiyubune 3609

  A farm and tourist-oriented facility which only creates additive-free and low additive products based on the theme of combining healthiness and deliciousness. The farm’s spacious grounds are host to a brewery, café, hot spring bathhouse, and more. At the Ham & Weiner Senmonkan, you can watch ham and sausages being made through a glass window. Visitors can learn about food and farming through a variety of classes on hand making foods. At the educational farm area, children can milk cows and ride ponies. There’s also a restaurant which serves fresh vegetables and pork raised on-site.

• Noten Mokumoku no Yu

  4.0

  19 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Nishiyubune 3609

  An eight-minute drive from the Mibuno Interchange on the Meihan Expressway. This day trip hot spring bathhouse adjoins Iga no Sato Mokumoku Tezukuri Farm. Built on a nature rich mountain slope with the trees and other growth left in place as much as possible, the bathhouse has a beautifully rustic atmosphere and bathers can enjoy facilities such as a hideaway outdoor bath carved out of a huge natural boulder and surrounded by trees. In another of the bathhouse' outdoor baths, bathers can take in the surrounding wilderness as they are caressed by breezes blowing through the trees and soothed by the song of wild birds. The bathhouse makes use of a sodium chloride spring (isotonic/mildly alkaline/low temperature). A free footbath is located on the outside of the bathhouse.

• Iga Kumihimo Kumi no Sato

  4.0

  17 Reviews

  Mie Pref. Igashi Uenomarunouchi 116-2

  This store of traditional Iga braid-making is located on the eastern side of Iga Ueno Park. You can experience kumihimo braiding first-hand at the facility. If you make a reservation, it is possible to make either a key holder or bracelet. Using a marudai (round stand frame for making kumihimo), you will be able to make your own Iga kumihimo in about 20 to 30 minutes. On the second floor, there are historical materials that introduce traditional crafts that represent Mie Prefecture such as Iga-yaki ware and Ise-katagami (type of paper stencil for dyeing textiles). In addition, they also exhibit and sell original kumihimo goods including sashes for kimono, scarves, and dolls made from kumihimo.