Ninja Experience, Wagyu Beef & Sake: A Perfect Day Trip to Iga from Osaka

• Table of Contents
• What kind of place is Iga?
• "Ninja experience in Ninja town"
• Taste the "Iga brand beef (Iga beef)" that only a few in the know know about
• Drinking delicious Iga sake
• Enjoy a stroll and food tour of the historic town of Iga
• The Kintetsu Railway is a convenient and economical way to get to Iga.
• Ride the "Ninja Train" that can only be seen here

What kind of place is Iga?

Iga is a transportation hub on the road connecting Kyoto, Nara and Ise Grand Shrine, and flourished as a castle town and a post town for pilgrims to Ise Grand Shrine. The castle town, where samurai once lived, still retains its historical architecture and traditional streetscape. It is also the home of ninjas, known for the Iga style. Ninjutsu developed in this area, and Iga ninjas were active throughout Japan.

Learn more about "Iga"

"Ninja experience in Ninja town"

Iga is a mecca for ninjas, so try on a ninja costume at the "Ninja Transformation Place" and go on a tour of the town. At the "Iga-ryu Ninja Museum," you can see a ninja house with hidden tricks, including plot twists, as well as weapons and ninja books used by ninjas at the time. The impressive ninja demonstration shows are also popular.

Visit the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum website

Taste the "Iga brand beef (Iga beef)" that only a few in the know know about

"Matsusaka beef" is famous in Mie, but the history of "Iga beef" is older than "Matsusaka beef". It is just as delicious as Matsusaka beef, but the production volume is overwhelmingly small, and it is only distributed in Iga and the surrounding areas, so it is also called "phantom beef".

If you want to try Iga beef, we recommend the "Ganso Iga Niku Kanaya Main Branch," which has been in business for over 100 years. The highest quality Iga beef dishes, served in original recipes such as sukiyaki and butter-grilled, are highly praised by gourmets both in Japan and abroad.

Drinking delicious Iga sake

Iga is a region famous for its sake. The three important conditions for sake brewing - rice, water, and climate - are all present, and many sake breweries have been producing unique sake varieties for a long time. Kikuno Shoten is the only store that deals directly with all the breweries in the Iga region. There is also a space in the store where you can sample sake that catches your eye for a fee.

Enjoy a stroll and food tour of the historic town of Iga

When you arrive in Iga, the first thing to do is head to Iga Ueno Castle. You can see the castle town of Iga.

Learn more about Iga Ueno Castle

We also recommend enjoying the original gelato and Japanese sweets from the milk shop before strolling through the castle town. Enjoy the traditional shops and charming streetscapes as you walk.

The Kintetsu Railway is a convenient and economical way to get to Iga.

The station in the center of Iga is "Uenoshi Station". We recommend using the Kintetsu Railway from Osaka Namba, Kyoto, or Nagoya. You can transfer to the "Iga Railway" at Iga-Kobe Station and go to your final destination, "Uenoshi Station". It is only about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Osaka Namba, so it is very close.

Get the great value Kintetsu Rail Pass here (for tourists outside Japan only)

Ride the "Ninja Train" that can only be seen here

The Iga Railway operates a Ninja Train, a train decorated with designs by manga artist Reiji Matsumoto, which can only be seen in Iga City. You can travel to Iga on this special train that can only be seen here.

See the Iga Railway website