A model course where you can feel the culture of Iga♪ Enjoy ninjas, kumihimo, kamado-san, and more on a day trip!

The Iga area has long been known as the hometown of ninjas and is visited by many tourists from overseas.
This area flourished as a castle town for the Todo family during the Edo period, and is blessed with traditional crafts such as Iga kumihimo and Iga-Yaki, as well as specialty products such as Iga beef and Iga rice.
Today, I would like to enjoy the Iga area to the fullest!

Approximately 10 minutes from the Ueno Higashi IC on the Meihan National Highway.
First, head to the Iga Ueno Tourist Information Center.
The elegant exterior that resembles a storehouse is wonderful♪

Inside the center is the ``Iga Ueno Local Products Shopping Shop,'' which is filled with Iga's specialty products.
Perfect for choosing souvenirs♪

The staff taught me the latest tourist information in the Iga area, and I was fully prepared for today.

[Iga Ueno Tourist Information Center]
Address: Inside Danjiri Kaikan, 122-4 Ueno Marunouchi IgaCity
TEL: 0595-26-7788
Business hours: 8:30-17:15
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC
Closed: December 29th - January 1st
HP: http://www.igaueno.net/?page_id=2235

Across the road from the Iga Ueno Tourist Information Center is the Iga Traditional Tradition Museum Iga Kumihimo Kumihimo no Sato.
The building we moved into in April 2017 is very beautiful! I would like to try the "braiding experience" here.

A store lined with handmade Iga Kumihimo goods.
Just looking at the colorful Japanese goods makes you feel happy.

Let's try the "Kumihimo experience" right away!
I was nervous to see if I could do it well, but Masahiro Hiraoka of the Mie Prefecture Kumihimo Cooperative Association gave me detailed instructions, so I was able to make it smoothly.
At first, it was a little awkward as I had to mix up the threads in the wrong order, but as I got used to it, I gradually got faster!
Before I knew it, I had been mindlessly tying the thread together. I'm addicted to this!

During the experience, you can make one type of bracelet, key chain, or strap.
All of them are so cute that I can't decide which one to choose ♪

Click here for the interview report on Iga Kumihimo making!

On the second floor of the building, there is a gallery of local traditional crafts such as Iga kumihimo and Iga-Yaki.
Anyone can enter for free, so it might be a good idea to take your time and experience Iga's traditions.

[Iga Traditional Tradition Museum Iga Kumihimo Kumiko no Sato]
Address: 116-2 Ueno Marunouchi IgaCity
Phone number: 0595-23-8038
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 *Reception for trial classes is 9:00-16:00
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC
Closed: Mondays excluding holidays, December 29th to January 3rd
HP: http://www.kumihimo.or.jp/

I'm getting hungry now, so let's have lunch.
We have arrived at ``Japanese Italian Restaurant Albergo Yaoshin'', a popular restaurant where you can enjoy creative dishes made with Iga-produced ingredients. Let's go through the noren and go inside.

The interior of the restaurant, which was created by renovating a traditional Japanese inn, is clean, modern, and has a mature atmosphere.
I visited here today for lunch, but it has an atmosphere that I would definitely like to visit for dinner as well.

I ordered the restaurant's recommended pasta, ``Iga Beef Shigure-ni.''
The light-tasting pasta brings out the flavor of the Iga beef, making it very delicious!
The accents of white onions and hawk claws are just right, and it's irresistible.
The ``Gokozuke'' from ``Yokonzuke Miyazakiya'' that comes with the set further whets the appetite♪ My hands kept eating it, and I finished it in no time. Thanks for the meal!

[Japanese-style Italian Albergo Yaoshin]
Address: 2988 Ueno Nakamachi, IgaCity
Phone number: 0595-21-6849
Business hours: 11:00-23:00
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC
Closed: 3rd Wednesday of the month
HP: http://www.yaoshin-iga.com/

About 1 minute walk from "Japanese Style Italian Albergo Yaoshin". We arrived at the long-established teahouse “Murai Bankouen”!
Here you can enjoy ninja sweets inspired by ninjas... Expectations are high.

Inside the store, the walls are lined with ninja goods and Iga tea products. It has a nostalgic atmosphere.
I couldn't help but feel warm when I saw the locals gathered together and having a friendly chat.

I heard that I could try my hand at petit shuriken, so I decided to try it right away!
I managed to hit everything, but it was quite difficult to hit the target...! I was able to feel like a child again and have fun playing.

After playing with shuriken, enjoy some ninja sweets!
The ``Ninja Parfait'' is characterized by a shuriken-shaped hard-roasted rice cracker stuck into it. It's so cold and sweet♪ My stomach is full and I feel happy.

This is also one of the ninja sweets, "Ninja Zenzai".
It's interesting that the soft serve ice cream looks like it's floating in the bowl♪

Hey, what about this cat...? The store's mascot is the ninja cat "Chacha"♪
The red hood is so cute!
It seems like he goes out a lot, so it's a lucky day to meet him!

Before heading to the final destination of this trip, the owner, Motoharu Murai, brought me a giant matcha soft serve ice cream and we took a photo!
I was energized by Mr. Murai's smart talk and his friendly and bright personality. Thanks for a great time!

[Murai Mankoen]
Address: 3130 Ueno Kodamacho IgaCity
Phone number: 0595-21-1173
Business hours: 9:00-19:00
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC
Closed: Irregular holidays only on Thursdays
HP: http://www.igaportal.co.jp/store/?p=1864

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

It takes about 30 minutes by car from Murai Mankoen and along the mountain road.
At the end of our trip, we visited Nagatanien, a workshop that continues to pass on the tradition and techniques of Iga-Yaki Iga-Yaki to the present day.
It has been featured in numerous media such as TV and is currently attracting attention as a hot tourist spot!

When you enter the main store's first exhibition room, you'll be greeted by Iga-Yaki products such as earthenware pots and utensils. Which souvenir should I get?

The store's most popular item is the earthenware pot, ``Kamado-san.''
The double lid doubles as a pressure cooker, so you don't have to adjust the heat and you don't have to worry about it boiling over. As a representative product of Iga, it has been certified as an "Iga brand."
Word of mouth has spread its reputation, and it has become a huge hit with over 750,000 units sold!

When I finished shopping and went outside, I saw a number of pots lined up across the road.
This is the ``Old Nobori-gama'', which has been designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property.
The sight of the 16-cell kettle, which was in operation from the Edo period to the 1960s, is a sight to behold.

The Taishokan building, which stands right next to the Old Nobori-gama, is also one of the buildings designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property.
The space retains its original features and gives you a sense of Taisho romance.
Currently, it is used as a resting place to soothe the souls of those who visit.

For some reason, there is a vending machine in a corner of Taishokan, which has such a retro atmosphere.
In fact, when you buy coffee from this vending machine, you can take home one of Iga-Yaki cups next to it!
This service was started out of gratitude for the customers who came to the store through the mountain roads. I'm glad that the staff at the shop are so kind ♪ (The design of the cup changes depending on the season)

[Iga-Yaki town Hasenen]
Address: 569 Marubashira, IgaCity
Phone number: 0595-44-1511
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
Access: Approximately 15 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Mibuno” IC
Closed: Obon, year-end and New Year holidays
HP: http://www.igamono.co.jp/

Time passes quickly when you're having fun. It's already evening in no time!
I'm sorry to leave you behind, but I have to go home soon...
Finally, go shopping at the Iga service area "Iga Hyaksaikan". We had a lot of fun and made some good memories.

[Iga service area up line Iga Hyaksaikan]
Address: 6427-1 Tsugecho, IgaCity
Phone number: 0595-45-3511
Business hours: 9:00-20:00
Access: Approximately 6 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Mibuno” IC
Closed: Open all year round
HP: http://www.anzen-kameyama.jp/original.html

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