Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

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Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

If you drive for about 40 to 50 minutes from Matsusaka city in Mie prefecture, you will reach the nature-rich Iitaka/Iinan area. We will introduce you to some spots you should stop by when you come to Matsusaka. Why not enjoy delicious food while enjoying nature? It is also recommended for driving.

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Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture is located almost in the center of Japan, where you can enjoy world-class gourmet Matsusaka beef, rich history and culture, and beautiful nature. During the Edo period, Matsusaka was the final post town for pilgrimages to Ise-mairi (a pilgrimage to Japan's highest-ranking shrine). These merchants succeeded in trading Matsusaka cotton in Edo and brought prosperity to Matsusaka.

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1. Relax at the cafe "Deep Green Cafe"

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

About 40 minutes by car from Matsusaka Station, or about 30 minutes from the Matsusaka Interchange on the Ise Expressway towards Iinan on National Route 166, you will find Fukiryoku Sabo in an area surrounded by mountains and rich in nature. It is a tea shop run directly by a tea farmer, and is also recommended as a stop-off spot during a drive.

There is a cafe where you can buy tea and take a break, where you can enjoy freshly brewed tea, handmade Japanese sweets, shaved ice in the summer, and popular Japanese parfaits.

The chic interior of the store

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

Wooden boxes filled with tea leaves are neatly lined up on the shelves at the front of the store, sweets made with tea are displayed in the display cases, and packaged tea leaves and tea utensils are sold at the back.

The cafe space is a relaxing space, and the tatami room in the back offers a view of the well-maintained garden.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

If you come to Shinryoku Sabo, you should definitely try the "deep-steamed sencha." The Iinan region of Matsusaka is blessed with favorable climatic conditions, such as the large temperature difference between morning and evening, and the occurrence of river mist from the Kushida River that flows into Ise Bay, which allows thick, high-quality tea leaves to grow. It is said that these tea leaves are best suited for deep steaming.

Learn how to enjoy tea

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

Our recommended deep-steamed sencha tea , "Senju," shines golden and has the depth of aged tea's flavor, with a mellow, rich taste .

Pour in hot water heated to 60 degrees all at once, put the lid on and measure the time with an hourglass. 90 seconds after the sand has fallen, pour into a teacup. The first brew has a mellow tea flavor, while the second brew has a bitter taste, so it is best enjoyed with some sweets for a good balance.

The staff will support you so that you can brew delicious tea yourself, and they will also teach you how to enjoy tea.

A set of our signature Japanese sweets that you'll want to order

The most popular item to order with tea is Chacha Daifuku. Soft and fluffy mochi rice cake filled with mellow fragrant green tea paste and sweet fresh cream. The combination of Japanese and Western flavors that will enhance your sense of happiness and the texture that melts in your mouth are irresistible.

The Japanese parfait, which is voluminous and uses a generous amount of tea, is also popular! The soft serve ice cream is smooth and not too bitter, with a subtle tea aroma. It comes with a variety of toppings, such as red bean paste, Japanese chestnuts, black beans, and shiratama, so you'll have fun thinking about what combination to try next. It's surprisingly voluminous, so we recommend sharing it.

Why not enjoy a leisurely cup of tea in a space that allows you to relax your body and mind while feeling the nature?

Mie Prefecture is the third largest tea producer in Japan! For more information about Matsusaka tea, click here▼

2. "Roadside Station Iitaka Station" where you can find Matsusaka's specialties

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

If you come to Iitaka, you can't miss the roadside station. Iitaka Station Roadside Station is the first roadside station registered in Mie Prefecture. It was established in July 1990 as a sales outlet for local specialties, and in November 2004, a restaurant and the day-trip natural hot spring "Kahadakyo Onsen Iitaka no Yu" were opened. It is a spot where you can enjoy the whole day.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

Local agricultural products are lined up in a tightly packed space, and you can enjoy shopping while picking up many Iitaka specialties, including vegetables, processed foods, bento boxes, and Japanese and Western sweets.

Among the agricultural products, shiitake mushrooms, tea, sweetfish, and other fragrant local specialties are famous, and are the origin of the name of the valley "Kahadakyo" in Iitaka. There is a wide variety of products, so you will find yourself wanting to try them all.

The most popular! Spicy "Tottokiyaki Negi Jimiso"

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

Among the many options, the most popular at the roadside station is the Tottori Yaki Negi Jimiso! It has a slightly spicy and addictive taste, and many customers buy it again and again as a souvenir. It can be put on top of rice or cold tofu, and is also recommended for changing the flavor of gyoza and ramen.

By the way, "Totoki" means "special item" in the local language. It also refers to "sharing" as it is a long-standing culture of giving away large amounts of produce to neighbors. "We made a lot, so we're keeping it special!" You can almost hear the locals saying this.

In addition, "Iitaka's Tottoki Miso," which is the base of Tottoki Yaki Negi Jimiso, is also used in the wild boar hotpot and miso soup served at the roadside station restaurant. If you like the meal, we recommend purchasing the set as a souvenir.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture
Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

The "Tottoki" product also includes mochi rice cakes. "Tottokimochi" comes in a wide variety of flavors, including shiitake mushrooms, mugwort, pumpkin, and brown sugar. No additives such as preservatives or colorings are used, so you can enjoy the natural flavor.

Matsusaka is also famous for a man named Otani Kahei who played a key role in popularizing tea. Tea cultivation is thriving in this area. The recommended product is deep-steamed sencha. They also have teabags, so it's a great product for people who want to enjoy tea easily.

In addition to selling agricultural products, there is also a soba noodle making experience, an observation deck, and a grassy park with playground equipment, so children can have a lot of fun. Why not come and visit Iitaka Station Roadside Station?

3. Yasohachiya: A specialty onigiri shop

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

In Kahada Yokocho, adjacent to the roadside station Iitaka, you can find restaurants serving taiyaki, bakery items, rice bowls, set meals, noodles, and more, as well as the rice ball specialty shop Yasohachiya.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture
Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

Run by Nagai Rice Living Farm, rice is grown using underground water from the Kahada Gorge. Aiming for a rich, fragrant rice when cooked, they currently produce a total of eight varieties of rice: Akitakomachi, Koshihikari, Milky Queen, Kinuhikari, Hitomebore, Ikuhikari, Kinumusume, and Hinohikari.

Exquisite rice balls made by hand one by one

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

In the store's kitchen, the onigiri are hand-formed one by one. They use rice that is a blend of Kinumusume and Hinohikari rice that has been polished, resulting in a glossy white rice ball with moderate stickiness and good graininess. After much trial and error, they arrived at the best blend to create these carefully crafted onigiri.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

From the wide variety of menu items, we chose Matsusaka beef shigure and Totokiyaki Negi Jinmiso onigiri. The Matsusaka beef is packed with chunks of meat, and the sweet and spicy seasoning goes perfectly with rice! The Totokiyaki Negi Jinmiso is spicy and addictively delicious. Both are the perfect combination with onigiri.

The seaweed is easy to bite into, and it's convenient to carry around as it's wrapped in a special sheet. If you order a large number, they'll put them in a cute box, so it's also recommended to eat them at the roadside station in Shiba Park.

4. Stay in an old-fashioned house at Oku Matsusaka: Lodging, Dining, and Cafe

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

Oku Matsusaka opened in January 2023 as a restaurant, cafe, and accommodation facility. It is located about a two-minute drive from Iitaka Roadside Station and a 45-minute drive from Matsusaka Station, along the old Wakayama Kaido road that once connected Nara and Wakayama, in a mountainous area rich in nature, including the legendary Mezurashi Pass associated with Amaterasu Omikami and Kahadakyo Prefectural Natural Park.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

The restaurant is a renovated old house, with a veranda and a large roasted sweet potato maker, creating a tasteful atmosphere. The shop curtain with its tasteful logo and the stylish English signboard are impressive. We are excited to see what the interior of the restaurant will be like.

The colorful Eames chairs are eye-catching in the store

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

The interior of the store is full of style, with colorful Eames chairs catching your eye. The store has a modern atmosphere while retaining elements of old houses such as beams and wall panels. It is a popular spot, attracting many young people and foreign visitors these days.

While working as a design office, doing graphic design, web design, photography, etc., the owner opened Oku Matsusaka as a place to express their products. The owner moved to Matsusaka from Nagoya about three years ago as a member of the local revitalization cooperation team. Utilizing the many experiences he gained as a volunteer, Oku Matsusaka aims to become a place for local people to interact, a place to connect the city and mountainous areas, and to revitalize depopulated areas.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

After taking off your shoes, you enter the tatami-mat seating area, where the lighting is dimmed and spotlights are focused on the table, a nice touch. The subdued lighting allows you to relax and enjoy the delicious food while still enjoying the view.

The most luxurious hamburger in Japan

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

The weekly lunch special is a demi-glace hamburger steak made from 100% Matsusaka beef! It comes with a variety of side dishes, including glacéed daikon and carrots cooked in bouillon until soft, pickled vegetables, and salad. The soup is yacon potage. Yacon is also known as the "pear of the field," and the refreshing, light potage has a gentle, comforting taste. Sweet potato fritters are the perfect dessert after the meal.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

The 100% Matsusaka beef hamburger steak topped with demi-glace sauce is thick and the more you chew it, the more delicious it becomes. The meat is 200g, so it's very filling! Some of the vegetables are home-grown, and the rice cooked with lemongrass is also a highlight. The slight lemon scent is pleasant and refreshing, making it a very light meal.

Other standard menu items include Asian dishes such as Lu Rou Fan and Ai Yu Zi (Lovely Yum), so there is a wide variety of delicious dishes to enjoy no matter when you visit.

Enjoy nature and gourmet food! 4 recommended spots in the Iitaka and Iinan areas of Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

The store sells coffee, shampoo, and other everyday items, as well as tableware, so you can enjoy a little shopping. The owner, who holds a secondhand goods license, personally purchases tasteful tableware, and the items on display are suitable for modern dining tables. It's a great place to find your favorite items to take home as mementos of your trip.

Furthermore, there are plans to add more accommodation facilities in a separate building, so Oku Matsusaka continues to evolve. The fresh countryside air and comfortable space will free your body and mind, and you're sure to enjoy interacting with the local people. How about spending a relaxing night here?

Enjoy the Iitaka and Iinan areas

The Iitaka and Iinan areas are surrounded by mountains and are rich in nature. They are just a comfortable drive from Matsusaka city, making them a great place to spend some time relaxing. Enjoying the clear air and nature of the area while eating delicious local cuisine is sure to be an unforgettable memory of your trip. Please do visit.

For more gourmet spots in Matsusaka, be sure to check out this article:

We will also introduce various other Matsusaka specialties and local products! ▼

We are currently publishing other articles related to Matsusaka! Check them out! ▼

Other information on Matsusaka can be found here

Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture is located almost in the center of Japan, where you can enjoy world-class gourmet Matsusaka beef, rich history and culture, and beautiful nature. During the Edo period, Matsusaka was the final post town for pilgrimages to Ise-mairi (a pilgrimage to Japan's highest-ranking shrine). These merchants succeeded in trading Matsusaka cotton in Edo and brought prosperity to Matsusaka.

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