A golden carpet that colors the mountain surface! Let's go to Misugi-cho, TsuCity to see the Mitsumata flowers that herald spring.

Article production / Mie Travel Ambassador Mio Ieda

▼Table of contents

• What kind of flower is Mitsumata?
• Why is there a colony of Mitsumata in Misugi Town?
• A golden mountain surface that suddenly appears!
• Access information to Mitsumata colony
• Misugi Town in spring is full of attractions.
• Business information and access to the Mitsumata colony in Misugi-cho TsuCity

My name is Mio Ieda and I am Mie Travel Ambassador.

I usually travel around Mie Prefecture as a freelance writer and photographer.

In this article, we will introduce the Mitsumata colony in Misugi-cho, Tsu TsuCity, which will soon be at its best.

Be sure to visit this spring to see the fantastic scenery where the entire slope of the mountain is softly colored with Mitsumata flowers.

What kind of flower is Mitsumata?

Let me introduce a little bit of the plant ``Mitsumata'', which is not generally familiar to the public.

Mitsumata is a deciduous tree that grows wild in the fields and mountains, and its bark has been used as a raw material for Japanese paper since ancient times.

As the name ``Mitsumata'' suggests, it is characterized by its branches that grow in three parts, and in spring, fluffy flowers that resemble pom-poms appear at the tips of the branches.

The flowers are yellow at first, but as time passes, they change to a whitish color, so you can enjoy watching this change.

By the way, in the Mitsumata colony in Misugi Town, you can enjoy yellow flowers from mid-March to late March, and then whitish flowers until mid-April.

It prefers well-drained, fertile soil and blooms best in sunny locations.

Why is there a colony of Mitsumata in Misugi Town?

There is a colony of Mitsumata in TsuCity, Misugi-cho, Tsu TsuCity City and close to the prefectural border with Nara Prefecture.

In Misugi Town, where forestry has been active for a long time, Mitsumata was planted around 1955 for multipurpose use of the forest.

In fiscal 2012, we carried out more intensive thinning than usual, and as a result, Mitsumata, which had previously only been seen in small areas, now spread out all over the area.

The area where the trees grow in clusters is approximately 1.5 ha (15,000 m2), which is about one size larger than Koshien Stadium, and the forest is approximately 70 years old.

Misugi Town is usually quiet, but when the Mitsumata and subsequent cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it becomes crowded with visitors.

A golden mountain surface that suddenly appears!

The Mitsumata colony is located in the mountains, so you will have to walk uphill on the way, but when you turn a certain curve and enter the mountain forest, you will suddenly encounter a landscape where the surrounding mountains are colored in golden yellow!

This golden color is the flower of Mitsumata.

The mountain forest is usually filled with cypress trees, but when I visited for the first time, I couldn't help but be amazed by the special scenery that only spreads during the time when the mitsumata flowers are in bloom.

Somehow, the sweet scent of mitsumata is floating all over the place.

After walking along the paved road, we arrived at the observation deck.

It is a valuable place where you can see the spreading Mitsumata from a high perspective, so be sure to experience the view from here!

There are also many unpaved trails running through the Mitsumata forest, so we recommend taking a walk while being surrounded by Mitsumata.

Walking through the Mitsumata trees that are taller than you, it feels like you have wandered into a tunnel of Mitsumata trees.

Access information to Mitsumata colony

In recent years, many visitors have been visiting the Mitsumata colony area, and the local community is also making preparations to welcome them.

If you are visiting by car or motorcycle, please use the parking lot at TsuCity Iseji Branch Office (free of charge).

If you go on weekdays, the staff will give you sightseeing pamphlets and maps, so please take them with you as you walk around town.

* Click here for a map around the Mitsumata colony area published by TsuCity Tourism Association.

Don't worry, you can use the toilet outside the gymnasium next to the Iseji branch even on holidays.

When you exit the parking lot onto the road, there is a sign board posted on the wire mesh that directs you to the Mitsumata colony, so be sure to check it out.

There are many plates along the route that indicate the distance and direction to the Mitsumata colony, so you won't get lost.

It is approximately 1.3 km from the Iseji branch office to the Mitsumata colony, which is about a 20 minute walk. Please enjoy strolling along the peaceful path surrounded by rice fields and tea plantations.

If using public transportation, get off at Ise-Okutsu Station, the last stop on the JR Meimatsu Line.

Either walk the approximately 2.1km distance (approximately 30 minutes) or rent an electric-assist bicycle at Hidamari, a tourist information and exchange facility in front of TsuCity Ise-Okutsu Station, which is adjacent to the station.

On Wednesdays, when Hidamari is closed, you can rent it at the neighboring TsuCity Yahata branch office.

Also, here's some information.

During the flowering season of Mitsumata and cherry blossoms, community buses run extra on weekends and holidays.

This year, for five days, March 16th (Saturday), 17th (Sunday), 20th (Wednesday/holiday), 23rd (Saturday), and 24th (Sunday), we will run from Ise-Okutsu Station to Shikitsu (Michi-no-eki Ise). Operates up to Honkaido (Mitsune). Get off at the Shimogakigai stop and walk to the colony area.

​Click here for the temporary bus timetable.

Every weekend from April 6th (Saturday) to April 21st (Sunday), buses will be operating for people going to the famous cherry blossom viewing spot, Mitaki Cherry Blossoms. To get to Mitaki no Sakura, get off at the Sugihira stop and walk.

Misugi Town in spring is full of attractions.

Mitsumata is also said to be a flower that heralds spring.

This year, the flowers have begun to bloom here and there since early March, and local volunteers have been frequently posting updates on the blooming status here, so please take a look.

Some people may have seen them because they are used as garden trees, but there are few places where you can easily go and see them growing in such spectacular numbers, so it is truly something to see.

Also, the cherry blossoms will bloom after the Mitsumata flowers.

The Mitaki Cherry Blossoms, a famous spot for wild cherry blossoms that was selected as one of the ``100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots,'' are also nearby, so please enjoy Misugi Town to the fullest in spring, which is full of flower viewing spots!

Bonus: Hidamari, a tourist information and exchange facility in front of TsuCity Ise-Okutsu Station, not only provides tourist information about Misugi Town, but also sells local products. As a souvenir, I received Japanese black tea made with tea leaves from Misugi. Recommended for its easy-to-drink black tea.

Business information and access to the Mitsumata colony in Misugi-cho TsuCity

[Address] Ishinahara, Misugi-cho TsuCity

[Telephone number] 059-272-8080 (TsuCity Misugi General Branch Regional Promotion Division)

[Access by public transportation]

・About 30 minutes walk from JR “Ise-Okutsu Station”

[Access by car]

・About 45 minutes by car from Ise Expressway "Isshi Ureshino IC"

[Parking] Available (Iseji branch office/free)

[Price] Free viewing

[URL] Click here for the official website