伊勢路 鳥羽－Iseji, Toba City, the kingdom of pearls(Mar.2019-No.11）
伊勢参り 鳥羽－pilgrimage to the Ise Grand Shrine, Toba City, the kingdom of pearls
Ise province is old name of Mie prefecture in the 7th century. The name of old Ise is more usually used than Mie even today. It is located relatively near Kyoto, and southwest of Tokyo. If you go by railway from Tokyo to Ise, you take Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya, and change train at Nagoya for Ise City or Kashikojima Island of Kintetsu Line. It takes about 4 hours from Tokyo to Ise City by Shinkansen and limited express train of Kintetsu Line. Ise has many famous sightseeing spots such as Ise Grand Shrine, Kashikojima Island where 42nd G7 summit was held in May.2016, Ise Shima National Park and cultivation of pearls in small bays. Moreover delicious foods gathered from the mountains and the sea are also famous including Ise-Ebi(a spiny lobster) and Matsusaka-Ushi(marbled beef). They are relatively expensive ingredients, but they are worth eating, even if you are not gourmet. Ise-Ebi is usually eaten as Sashimi (sliced raw fish) called Otsukuri, and Matsusaka-Ushi as Sukiyaki. Sashimi and Sukiyaki are two most famous Japanese dishes.
If you stay Ise area for sightseeing, I recommend to lodge in Toba or Kasikojima Island. They boast of the beauty of coastline, many small islands, coves and rafts for cultivation of pearls. You can also enjoy delicious fresh seafoods. Toba especially has many sightseeing spots such as Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba Aquarium, and Meotoiwa-Rocks. Meoto mean a husband and a wife, a big rock and a small rock snuggle just like a husband and a wife linked with a sacred straw rope called Shimenawa.
Mikimoto Pearl Island is famous for the Pearl Museum, pearl shops and Ama, professional female divers. Many items about pearls are exhibited, and high class pearls are sold in the shops. Many non Japanese visit there to buy very expensive pearls. Unfortunately it is casting pearls before swine for me. And Toba Aquarium boasts of most kinds of marine life exhibited in Japan.
Mt. Fuji from Shinkansen in Shizuoka prefecture
Sukiyaki with Matsusaka beef, very delicious and tasty
Meotoiwa-Rocks, you can see a sacred straw rope called Shimenawa and Torii Gate on the top of the bigger rock. Why is a crow?
Mikimoto Pearl Island, the demonstration of Ama, professional female divers.
the sunset of Toba Bay, rafts for cultivation of oysters
