A trip to "MinamiiseTown" surrounded by the great nature of the sea and mountains! Delicious with “Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Summer”! fun! Great value for 1 night and 2 days!

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IseJingu Town is located south of IseCity, where MinamiiseTown is located.
The charm of this town is above all the rich nature of the sea and mountains.
The ``Oinaisa Campaign'' is held every year to help you enjoy this town with its outstanding location at a great value. This time, we took advantage of the "Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Summer" and went on a one-night, two-day trip to fully enjoy the charms of MinamiiseTown!

[MinamiiseTown Oinaisa Campaign Summer 2018]
Period: July 1, 2018 (Sunday) - September 30, 2018 (Sunday)
Price: 7,500 yen for 1 night and 2 meals, 6,500 yen for elementary school students (excluding tax/same price on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

*Reservations can be made for 2 or more adults (junior high school students and above). Those who stay at the participating accommodation facilities (8 hotels) in the campaign will receive one "Oinaisa gift certificate" (worth 1,000 yen) per guest. It can be used at 52 stores in MinamiiseTown. For more information, please see the information on MinamiiseTown Tourism Association website.

〇Oinaisa Campaign Summer 2018 has ended.
We are currently running the Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Autumn/Winter!
For more information, please see this report article.
→ A one-night, two-day trip to MinamiiseTown where you can enjoy beautiful nature and exquisite gourmet food. Enjoy a luxurious time with the great value “Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Autumn/Winter”!

We arrived in MinamiiseTown just in time for lunch. I'm looking for a store in the central area of Gokashoura.
Discover a restaurant where you can eat delicious food! I decided on "Maruo Shokudo".

The inside of the store has a homely atmosphere.
It's spacious and you can relax here.

I ordered the signature menu item, the ``Yakimono Set Meal'' (1,300 yen/tax included).
A menu where you can enjoy lots of fresh seafood at once, including tuna sashimi and sea urchin. I immediately felt happy.

[Maruo Restaurant]

Address 2818-5 Funakoshi, MinamiiseTown Watarai-gun

Phone number 0599-66-1222

Business hours 10:30-20:00

Closed on Wednesdays, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (open on public holidays)

Access: Approximately 30 minutes from Tamaki IC on the Ise Expressway

Maruo Shokudo Official URL

Next, there is an art museum nearby, so let's go there! I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of museum it is.

About 5 minutes by car from Maruo Shokudo, we arrived at Ise Museum of Contemporary Art.
It is a popular spot for its uniquely curated exhibitions and superb location.
There are also art works in the garden overlooking the sea!
Each one is unique.

The ``cafe'' on the first floor of the main building has a very stylish atmosphere.
After viewing the art, why not take a breather while admiring the view of the sea and garden?

Go to the annex "Sculpture Museum Uku", which is a short walk from the main building.
In addition to the exhibition, the garden where you can see permanent works with the forest in the background is also worth seeing!
It was a space where beautiful nature and modern art were fused, and it was very relaxing.

[Ise Museum of Contemporary Art]

Address 102-8 Gokashourawanba, MinamiiseTown Watarai-gun

Phone number 0599-66-1138

Business hours 10:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)

Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (open on public holidays, closed on the following weekday)

Admission: General 700 yen, students (high school and junior high school) 500 yen, free for elementary school students and younger

Access: Approximately 19km from Tamaki IC on the Ise Expressway

Ise Museum of Contemporary Art Official URL

Next, we will head to a spot where you can experience nature, which is one of the pleasures of this trip. I would like to enjoy "sea kayaking" and "snorkeling"!

I went to "Sunny Coast Kayaks", which I had booked through the MinamiiseTown Tourism Association.
First, let's start the sea kayaking experience!
The staff carefully taught us how to ride and row. You will be wearing a life jacket, so even beginners can feel safe.

Let's finally leave for the sea!
I was quite nervous at first, but I quickly got used to it and have been hooked ever since. The view of nature from the sea was amazing!

This is a snorkeling experience.
Thanks to the friendly local divers, we were able to enjoy it in a peaceful atmosphere. The waves are calm, which is great for beginners!

The sea of Minamiise is full of living creatures such as fish and shellfish. It was so much fun that 2 hours passed in the blink of an eye!

When I'm tired from playing, I head to my hotel for the day. It is said to be an inn where you can enjoy a spectacular view.
My heart is pounding in some way.

We arrived at Toyoya Kanbei, an inn built on a hill facing Gokasho Bay.
This place, surrounded by nature, will help you soothe your tiredness after playing so much today.

The view from near the entrance of the inn is truly spectacular!
It is a landscape that encapsulates the charm of MinamiiseTown, where fishing villages and farming villages coexist, with a rich natural environment of the sea and mountains.

There are both Japanese and Western style rooms, but this time we booked a Japanese style room.
One of the selling points of this inn is that all rooms have an ocean view.
It's great to be able to enjoy the spectacular view from your room! I also like the spacious and spacious structure.

A bath where you can enjoy a spectacular view from the large windows.
More than 40 types of minerals created from the natural mineral "Maifan stone" will heal you. Spending time here is "true healing"!

After refreshing yourself in the bath, it's time for your long-awaited dinner.
This is a special menu for "Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Summer".
You can enjoy locally sourced ingredients such as sashimi and tempura, all of which are exquisite!

From the "Abalone? Tuna? Options" of the "Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Summer", I chose "MinamiiseTown (2 servings)" *Additional charges apply for optional dishes.

It was very fresh, had a mild taste, and I ate it all in one go.

Mr. Toyoki Hane, the owner of "Toyoya Kanbei", whom we took care of this time.
A nice person with a soft demeanor and always smiling. It was an inn full of charm, with a spectacular view, delicious food, and a bath.
thank you very much!

Lastly, those who stayed under the "Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Summer" accommodation plan received an "Oinaisa gift certificate" (worth 1,000 yen/one coupon per guest)! There are many stores where gift certificates can be used, so you can enjoy this town at a great value.

[Toyoya Kanbei]

Address: 153 Rekiura, MinamiiseTown

Phone number 0599-64-2038

Access: Approximately 50 minutes from Tamaki IC on the Ise Expressway

Toyoya Kanbei Official URL

On the second day, the first place we visited was ``Heart Cove'' (UguraPark Enchi), which is recognized as a sacred place for lovers.
When you arrive at the Mieshima Observation Deck, the first thing that catches your eye is a cute heart-shaped monument.
It is said to express the inclusiveness of men and the kindness of women.

The view from here is also amazing!
Kasaragi Pond, also known as the ``Heart Cove,'' is truly heart-shaped.
It's a truly photogenic place! It's sure to look great on Instagram!
The contrast between the green of the forest and the blue of the sea is very beautiful.

Another fun thing about this spot is that you can attach a heart-shaped key called ``Ai Kagi'' to the key stand. It will be a great souvenir if you come here with your loved ones. *Please see the website of MinamiiseTown Tourism Association for information on where to buy the love key.

[Heart's Cove]

Address: michiyukugama, MinamiiseTown Watarai-gun (as it is an enclave, the navigation is set as “Nayaura”)

Phone number 0599-66-1717 (MinamiiseTown Tourism Association)

Fee: Free

Parking lot for about 8 cars

Access: Approximately 25 minutes from Kisei Expressway "Kisei ouchiyama" IC

I was getting hungry, so it was lunch time.
At Arisue, you can once again enjoy the gourmet food unique to MinamiiseTown!

This restaurant has the atmosphere of an "old-fashioned diner."
There is also tatami seating, so families can feel at ease.

I ordered the popular menu ``Kamisakidon'' (1,500 yen).
You can enjoy MinamiiseTown 's specialty ``Ise tuna'' in a variety of flavors such as pickled, green onion tuna, and yukhoe.
Another attractive point is that it is reasonably priced.

"Tai Ramen" (900 yen/tax included) is also one of the restaurant's specialties.
Contains MinamiiseTown 's three major seafoods: sea bream, appagai, and aosa, and not only are the ingredients delicious, but the light soup is also delicious!
To finish off your meal, you can also enjoy ``Soboro Chazuke'' with ramen soup.

The new menu item ``Tuna Kashira-don'' is made using rare parts of Ise tuna and is already very popular.
The parts such as cheek meat, throat meat, and tripe were easier to eat and delicious than I expected!
It's a luxurious bowl full of tuna! *Reservation required by the day before

Mr. and Mrs. Arisue run the shop together.
We were very close, and I thought, ``I want to be a couple like this!''
Thank you for the delicious food!

[Alice]

Address 973 Murayama, MinamiiseTown-gun

Business hours 11:30-14:30, 16:30-21:00 (LO20:30)

Closed on Mondays

Phone number 0596-76-1593

Access: Approximately 20 minutes from Kisei Expressway "Kise ouchiyama" IC


Next, we headed to the nature experience spot on the second day. I would like to enjoy my first "boat fishing experience"!

``Boat fishing experience'' can also be booked through MinamiiseTown Tourism Association.
The sea in MinamiiseTown is a popular spot among fishing enthusiasts, and you can catch many kinds of fish.
There are beginner courses and half-day courses that you can easily enjoy. The moment I caught it was a great feeling!
You can take the fish you catch home with you.

Location Gokasho Bay

Reservation from MinamiiseTown Tourism Association website experience application form​

After the experience, "I want to eat sweets too!"
So, we headed to a shop where you can enjoy sweets unique to MinamiiseTown.
Mandarin oranges, grown in the warm climate, are one of the local specialties. I visited Tsumiki, which sells many products related to mandarin oranges.

The original product “Kijuku Gokasho Kotsubu Mikan Straight Juice” (180ml, 500 yen/tax included) won the 2018 Monde Selection Gold Award.
This is a masterpiece where you can enjoy the sweetness and refreshing acidity of Gokasho mandarin oranges, which are made by squeezing approximately 8 tree-ripened mandarin oranges grown in a limited field at our own farm.
I used the ``Oinaisa gift certificate (worth 1,000 yen)'' here. I'm glad it's a good deal!

"Mikan Soft" (350 yen/tax included) is by far the most popular product during the summer season.
Made with plenty of juice from several types of mandarin oranges, it has a refreshing sweetness.
It is loved by everyone from children to adults.

The store manager, Chiemi Mizoguchi, struck a cute pose with an illustration that looked great on social media. Thank you to all the staff, including the store manager, for your kind support!

[Tsumiki]

Address 3958 Gokashoura, MinamiiseTown Watarai-gun

Business hours (store business hours) 9:00-17:00
(Software store business hours) 9:00-16:00

Closed Wednesdays (stores/software stores) *Temporary summer holidays (September) Tuesdays and Thursdays

Phone number 0596-66-1201

Access: Approximately 25 minutes from Tamaki IC on the Ise Expressway


This concludes my trip to MinamiiseTown using the "Oinaisa Campaign 2018 Summer".
I was able to fully enjoy the charms of MinamiiseTown, such as the natural beauty of the sea and mountains, the gourmet food unique to this town, and the warm personality of the local people.
There are still many attractive spots, so I definitely want to come back!
It was a fun two days that flew by!