Okage Yokocho — Attraction in Ise

Okage Yokocho is a charming and lively district that perfectly captures the essence of traditional Japanese culture. Located near the famous Ise Grand Shrine, it's a must-visit for anyone exploring the Mie Prefecture.

The narrow streets are lined with beautifully preserved Edo-period buildings, housing a variety of shops, restaurants, and craft stores. It’s a great place to pick up unique souvenirs, from handmade crafts to specialty foods that you won’t find elsewhere.

One of the highlights here is indulging in the local delicacies. Don’t miss trying Akafuku, a sweet mochi treat topped with smooth red bean paste. Another must-try is Ise Udon, a hearty noodle dish served in a rich, dark soy sauce broth. Its simplicity and deep flavor are unforgettable.

Okage Yokocho also offers plenty of activities to enjoy, such as traditional street performances, demonstrations of crafts like candle-making, and exhibits about local history. The atmosphere is vibrant yet peaceful, making it a perfect spot for leisurely strolling, people-watching, and soaking in the culture.

Whether you're looking to eat, shop, or simply enjoy the historical ambiance, Okage Yokocho has something for everyone. I highly recommend setting aside a few hours to fully experience this gem during your...

This is a district you should stop by when you visit Ise Jingu.

Whenever we come here, the first thing we do is to take a break at "akafuku" to eat Akafuku which is a chewy mochi sweets coated with anko, the sweet bean paste. You can enjoy it with green tea.

There is also a delicious rice ball shop at the far end. We could have light lunch at a table outside, feeling the calm wind.

We also found an unique tea shop that sells traditional tea leaves that have been grown in this area for a long time. The taste is mellow and the price is reasonable, and I would like to go back to buy more.

I believe the most interesting place in Okage Yokocho is the "Mythical Hall" in the back. It's called "Shinwa noYakata" in Japanese. They have a course of scenes from Japanese mythology about how the country was created by gods with paper dolls and decorations, and the guide will take you on a mythological journey with explanations. There are some parts that are difficult to understand just from the explanations, so I recommend you to look it up before the visit. It is interesting to see how they are connected to the culture and customs...

Say no more: STREET FOOD!

A super popular Local Tourist / Family Day Outing kind of area. It is popular among young families and you would mainly see locals there. As a foreigner who doesn't speak much japanese, some things may be a tad difficult to communicate. But nothing Google translate can't help.

I recommend eating: Fish Cake Croquette Matsusaka Beef Skewer Zen zai (Red Bean soup with grilled mochi) Mochi Green tea Onigiri

There are even small carnival games, like shooting and fortune wheels. Many old school snacks are sold there too. I do not have photo of everything I ate there. But always a good place to chill by the river or soak in the atmosphere on a weekend. It is crowded but that's the fun in it.

Look out for storytelling performances and taiko drum performance around. Fantastic! I throughly enjoyed my Sunday there.

This place will then lead you to the shrine. That is the highlight!

Overly, you do need to take a bus from the station to this place. If you are driving be prepared to queue to get into the carpark on a weekend. It was...