A one-day model course where you can learn about Yokkaichi's history and industry♪ We visited popular spots in one day!

The starting point for this trip is Yosomi Chaya, a resting place at the Yokkaichi Tourist Information Center, located on the first floor of Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station. Get information about the Hokusei area here!

The information center has tourist maps and pamphlets about nearby facilities, as well as a tasting service for kabusetea from the Mizusawa district, which is famous for its tea production.

The can badge of YokkaichiCity 's mascot character ``Konyudo-kun'' is a rare item that can only be purchased here. Get excited when you get what you're looking for with the gacha gacha, which costs 100 yen each!

[Yokkaichi Tourist Information Center Rest Area Yosomi Chaya]
Address YokkaichiCity Bussan Kanko Hall, 1-1-56 Yasujima, Yokkaichi City
TEL 059-357-0381
Opening hours 10:00-19:00
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays
HP　http://kanko-yokkaichi.com

The first restaurant I visited was Shisui-an, which is about a 5-minute walk from Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station. This tea room was created as a place where you can get familiar with the ancient Japanese tea ceremony. The exterior has an elegant atmosphere, but I was a little nervous to enter.

When you enter the premises, what you will see in the foreground is the ``Ryureiseki''. I heard that this is a tea ceremony where you can casually enjoy sweets and matcha, so I went in with some excitement.

Time passes at a leisurely pace that makes you forget the hustle and bustle outside. You can feel the attention to detail in every part, including the alcove.

Teachers who belong to the Yokkaichi Tea Ceremony Professors Federation take turns in charge of tea ceremony every day. On this day, we were hosted by Yayoko Hoshino of Omotesenke.

The mellow taste and rich aroma of matcha (with sweets) will soothe you. I was surprised to find such a spot where you can enjoy Japanese culture in the area around Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station, which has an urban image.

[YokkaichiCity Tea Room Shusuian Rireiseki]
Address: 1-13-17 Unomori, Yokkaichi YokkaichiCity, Unomori Park
TEL 059-352-4960
Opening hours: 10:00-16:00 (Reception until 15:40)
Closed: Every Monday (in the case of a holiday, the following weekday)

Next, we headed to Soranpo Yokkaichi. It is the collective name for the building that houses YokkaichiMunicipalMuseum /Planetarium and the Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Future Museum, and is easily accessible, about a 3-minute walk from Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

The white-based atrium has an open feel and is attractive. It makes me feel like I'm going to have a fun time.

First, go to the museum's permanent exhibition "Space-Time Highway" on the third floor. Let's learn about the history of Yokkaichi that you may not know about.

Here, the pit dwellings of the Yayoi period, the Yokkaichi market of the Muromachi period, and the Yokkaichi-juku of the Edo period are all recreated in full size. The pursuit of realism makes you feel close to what life was like back then.

After finishing the 3rd floor museum ``Jikoku Kaido'' area, proceed along Junro Street and arrive at ``Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Future Museum'' on the 2nd floor. It provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the development of Yokkaichi Port since the Meiji era, the development of industrial complexes in Yokkaichi after the war, and the process that led to the occurrence of pollution.

An exhibition room introducing ``environmental improvement efforts'' promoted by citizens, businesses, and the government as one. There were many things I learned for the first time about the steps taken to clear the national environmental standards for the entire city, and it was a good opportunity to relearn about Yokkaichi Pollution, which was one of the four major pollution trials that I learned about in elementary school. .

Use the elevator to go to the "planetarium" on the 5th floor. The space, named "GINGA PORT401", has a futuristic atmosphere that resembles a spaceship. Just seeing the specially designed spacesuit (replica) displayed at the entrance will get you excited!

The "Cosmic Gallery" set up in the passageway shows various images of the Earth obtained through satellite observations, as well as introductions to how to travel through space, from the solar system to the galaxy. The interior and lighting are cool and look like a spaceship!

This is the entrance to "Cosmic Cruiser (Planetarium Dome)". I'm so excited to see what kind of space is on the other side of the door!

The dome surrounded by blue lighting is truly another world. With the latest planetarium system, it is a space with a beautiful starry sky, all-sky digital images, and a space with great attention to sound. The comfort of the chair is also great!

The latest optical planetarium projector "CHIRON401".
Approximately 140 million stars can be projected from the projector body, which is only 48cm in diameter, and has been recognized in the Guinness World Records. It made for a luxurious time.

[Soranpo Yokkaichi (YokkaichiMunicipalMuseum /Planetarium/Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Future Museum)]
Address 1-3-16 Yasujima YokkaichiCity
Phone number 059-355-2700 (YokkaichiMunicipalMuseum /Planetarium)
Business hours: 9:30-17:00 (Entry to the exhibition until 16:30)
Closed on Mondays (the following weekday if Monday is a holiday), year-end and New Year holidays, and maintenance closures
Price Permanent exhibition free
Planetarium: General 540 yen, High school and university students 380 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 210 yen, Infants free
Additional fees apply for special exhibitions and planned exhibitions.
HP　 http://www.city.yokkaichi.mie.jp/museum/

Next is shopping time, one of the fun parts of traveling! Let's go into Jibasan Mie, a splendid building next to Soranpo Yokkaichi.

"Jibasan Mie" has a collection of representative local products from the Hokusei area. It is a popular spot among locals as it carries a wide variety of products that are not commonly found in supermarkets.

The ``Yokkaichi Banko-Yaki'' section, which is known as a traditional industry in Yokkaichi, has a huge selection of products. I'm also happy that the price is reasonable!

Among the many rare products, this one made me look twice. A salty all-purpose seasoning with a unique name, ``Kono Flavor.'' It is a flavor that has been popular for over 60 years, mainly at popular udon restaurants. The real thrill of traveling is encountering things you've never seen before.

[Jibasan Mie Masterpiece Museum]
Address 1-3-18 Yasujima YokkaichiCity
TEL 059-353-8101
Opening hours: 10:00-19:00 (until 18:00 from October to April)
Closed: 2nd and 4th Wednesday (the following day if it is a public holiday), year-end and New Year holidays

After enjoying the area around Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station, it was time for lunch. Use your car to find restaurants that serve delicious food.

Since it's a hot and humid season, I feel like eating noodles that are easy to eat. I decided to go to the Yokkaichi Hazu branch of Japanese Noodles Restaurant Sagami, which is about 15 minutes by car from Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station.

Both chair and tatami seats are spacious, making this restaurant the perfect place to dine while on a trip. I think I can take a breather here.

I ordered the restaurant's recommended dish, ``Large Shrimp Tenku Negi Soba'' (1,340 yen + tax). Full of volume and has a great visual impact! ``Sagami'' noodles are made from carefully selected ``buckwheat'' seeds that are delivered to each store as is, finely ground using a stone mill in-store, and made twice a day, so you can enjoy the original flavor of soba. Yes.

[Sagami Yokkaichi Hazu store]
Address 3-2-26 Hatta YokkaichiCity
TEL 059-364-7220
Opening hours 11:00-1:00
No holidays

After filling up at Sagami Yokkaichi Hazu branch, we drove for about 5 minutes. I came to the 100m tall Yokkaichi Port Building, which was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Yokkaichi Port.

If you go up to the observation exhibition room "Umiterasu 14" on the 14th floor, you can get a panoramic view of the Yokkaichi Port industrial complex. When I see this scenery after learning about the history of Yokkaichi at the Yokkaichi Pollution and Environmental Future Museum, I am deeply moved.

By the way, this scenery looks like this at night. The night view of the factory is completely different from the daytime view, and it is very attractive. Umiterasu 14 is closed until 5pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends and holidays, so if you want to see the factory night view, we recommend visiting on weekends and holidays.

Click here for the interview report of the night view of the factory taken with "Umiterasu 14"
https://www.kankomie.or.jp/report/187.html

[Yokkaichi Port Building]
Address 2-1-1 Kasumi YokkaichiCity
TEL 059-366-7022 (Yokkaichi Port Management Association Promotion Division)
Opening hours 10:00-17:00 *Until 21:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (Last admission 30 minutes before opening)
Closed on Wednesdays (open on holidays), year-end and New Year holidays
Price: 300 yen for adults (high school students and above), free for junior high school students and below
HP　http://www.yokkaichi-port.or.jp

The last place we visited on our trip was Okakiya Kinfuku Honpo in KawagoeTown. This shop is located in a residential area and is known only to those in the know, and its landmark is the flag that says ``Okiya''.

What has been consistent since our establishment in 1960 is the creation of flavors that bring out the flavor of traditional sticky rice. The store has ``limited time'' and ``monthly'' items, as well as many items arranged in a modern style.

“Aosaokakaki from Ise Bay” won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award at the “Ise-san Confectionery Expo 2017”. With its strong flavor and the aroma of the ocean, it's no wonder it's received nationwide acclaim!

The mayonnaise flavored "Mie KawagoeTown Arare Nishiyoka" pictured is the most popular product. Each dish is made with carefully selected shrimp, seaweed, and sesame seeds, and once you try it, you won't be able to stop!

[Okakiya Kinfuku Honpo]
Address 402 Takamatsu, KawagoeTown
Phone number 059-365-3734
Business hours 9:30-17:00
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays

The day trip around the Hokusei area was a fulfilling day where we were able to experience the history, culture, and food unique to this area. I am very satisfied with the fact that I was able to use my time effectively!


*Information as of July 2017. Dates, prices, etc. may have changed, so please check with your contact information before going out.