A model course to enjoy osatsu Town to its fullest ♪ We visited popular spots on a day trip ♪

On this trip, I would like to visit Osatsu osatsu TobaCity, ``the town with the most Ama divers in Japan,'' and explore the charms of TobaCity with a focus on this town.

First, let's go to the osatsu Ama Culture Museum.

There are many tourist pamphlets for Ise-Shima-Toba in the building. There are many photos of famous people who visited the place for TV and magazine coverage, so you can't help but stare at them.

In the exhibition space in the back, various materials are introduced about the history of osatsu, the life of Ama divers, Ama fishing, and more.
The “life-sized Ama doll” in the center is quite realistic!

[osatsu Ama Cultural Museum]
Address: 1238 osatsu TobaCity
Phone number 0599-33-7453
公式URL　http://www.toba.or.jp/amabunka/amabunka.htm
Business hours 9:00-17:00
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays
Fee: Free
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Daini Ise Road “Toba Minami/Shiraki” IC

A gentle slope right next to osatsu Ama Cultural Museum. You can feel the atmosphere just by walking along this road.
Ahead of this is Ishigami-san, who has been believed by Ama divers since ancient times to be able to make one of a woman's wishes come true.

About 5 minutes walk from osatsu Ama Cultural Museum. Arrived at the torii gate of Shinmei-JinjaShrine. "Ishigami-san" is located on the approach to this shrine.

The correct etiquette for visiting is to approach from the ``main shrine,'' which is located at the innermost part of the shrine grounds.
It is the guardian deity of osatsu and is enshrined as the presiding deity of Amaterasu Omikami. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude!

Next to the main shrine is the ``House of Longevity''. Visitors can touch the camphor kounogi enshrined there, and is said to be blessed with longevity.
The majestic tree looks like it will bring good luck, so stroke it gently.

And finally, let's move on to Ishigami-san. Before that, write one wish that you have decided on in your heart on the ``prayer paper''.

After ringing the bell, put the prayer paper in the wish box. I prayed with all my heart, praying twice and clapping once!
Even though it was a weekday, many women, both young and old, came to worship.

The `` Ishigami-san san amulet'' is popular among worshipers. The one on the left is a linen amulet (800 yen/tax included) that resembles an ama diving suit, and the one on the right is a strap amulet (1,000 yen/tax included).
On the back of each one is a ``talismanic mark'' of a star (Seman) and a grid (Dorman). Let's keep this carefully.

There are a lot of votive tablets on the “Thank you votive tablet”! ! This proves the power of "Ishigami-san". I decided that I would definitely come to pay my respects.

[Ishigami-san (Shinmei-JinjaShrine)]
Address: 1385 osatsu TobaCity
Phone number 0599-33-7453 (osatsu Ama Cultural Museum)
Official URL http://www.oosatsu.net/midokoro/ishigami/
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Daini Ise Road “Toba Minami/Shiraki” IC

As I was walking down the approach to the shrine on my way home, I went to a shop I had been interested in going to.
Ama no Ie Gozaya is a shop and cafe located in a renovated old folk house.

The first floor is a shop with a wide range of products, including goods related to the Ama divers of osatsu and local specialties.
I also feel the attention to detail on that display!

We have collected popular products from “Gozaya”! "Front left" is the most popular "Gaze Hankachi" (380 yen/tax included). "Front right" is the original product "Doman Seman Kanaeka" (925 yen/tax included). ``Oku left'' is ``Scented Stone Ikari'' (1,545 yen/tax included).

All of them are stylish items that you'll want to take as souvenirs.

The cafe space on the second floor has a relaxing atmosphere. We also recommend sitting by the window and enjoying the view outside.

I ordered the popular menu item "Tokoroten" (300 yen/tax included).
In osatsu Town, it is said to be eaten with kinako. I tried this combination for the first time and it goes really well!

You can also get a 100 yen discount on coffee (300 yen/tax included) by showing your passport. This discount is very nice when traveling to a destination where you tend to spend a lot of money!

The store manager, Mr. Sugimoto, loves osatsu Town. By building a stylish shop on Ishigami-san 's approach to the shrine, he is playing a role in revitalizing the local area.

Just like the store manager, Mr. Sugimoto, if you take a photo of yourself holding the Seiman/Doman signboard in front of the store and post the photo on SNS, you can receive this badge.

[Ama's House Gozaya]
Address: 1406 Shinmei-JinjaShrine Sando, osatsu, TobaCity
Phone number 0599-33-6770
Official URL http://www.oosatsu.net/midokoro/amanoie/
Business hours 9:00-17:00 (LO 16:30)
Irregular holidays
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Daini Ise Road “Toba Minami/Shiraki” IC

A little late lunch time here.
The highlight of this trip was the `` AmaHut（Amagoya）Hachiman-kamado'' where you can interact with active Ama divers.

Inside the hut, there are two ``Kamado'' (hearths).
It is said that you can have your fish grilled by the divers here. fun~!

I had made a reservation for the `` AmaHut（Amagoya）Experience Celebrity Course'' (for 4 or more people, 6,000 yen per person (excluding tax); the photo is for 1 person).
You will be overwhelmed by the power of fresh seafood such as abalone.

The seafood is grilled by the active ama divers themselves.
This is an experience that is more luxurious than the food itself. Conversations with Ama divers are also fun!

While I was talking with the divers, the abalone and turban shells were grilled in no time! It's so great to be able to eat this freshly baked food!

A luxurious menu that includes piping hot seafood, sea bream sashimi, and spiny lobster soup. All of them were fresh and delicious.

We enjoyed "luxury like no other."

What doesn't end there is the amazing AmaHut（Amagoya）experience at Hachiman-kamado.
Ama divers will explain their ``job'' using actual tools.

At the end of the experience, the Ama divers will perform "osatsu Ondo". Watching this dance made me feel happy!

Thank you very much for your time!

Click here for a detailed interview report on “AmaHut（Amagoya）Hachiman-kamado”!

[AmaHut（Amagoya）Hachiman-kamado]
Address: 819 osatsu, TobaCity
Phone number 0599-33-1023 (Hyoyoshiya)
Official URL http://amakoya.com
Business hours 10:30-17:00 *Reservation required, please see website for details
Closed days: 1/1~5, 8/13~15, 12/30~31, irregular holidays
access
Approximately 15 minutes from Daini Ise Road "Toba Minami/Shiraki" IC.
Free shuttle service "Ama Bus" from JR/Kintetsu "Toba" Station (about 25 minutes)

The last stop on our trip was the Toba main store of ``Ise Shima Souvenir Center Osho'', a shop with a big ship that makes a big impression.

Originally a manufacturing wholesaler, they have a wide selection of live seafood. The large catch flags displayed on the walls also brighten the atmosphere of the store.

This store is unique in that it has a wide selection of dried fish and delicacies from Ise-Shima. You're sure to find something you like.

The store manager's favorite is the original product "Osho Konbu." A limited quantity of homemade tsukudani made by hand using traditional Ise soy sauce.
It has an elegant and gentle taste that will make you addicted once you put it in your mouth!

The female staff member recommends ``Enoe'' (1,200 yen/tax included), a rice cracker made with plenty of spiny lobster caught in Ise Bay.
It's also nice to have so many sweets that are unique to this area.

Click here for detailed coverage of Ise Shima Souvenir Center Osho Toba Main Store!

[Ise Shima Souvenir Center Osho Toba Main Store]
Address: 15-1 Matsuo-cho TobaCity
Phone number 0599-26-3100
Official URL http://www.ousho.co.jp
Business hours 8:30-17:30
Regular holidays: Open all year round
Access: Approximately 10 minutes by car from JR/Kintetsu “Toba” Station

Throughout my travels so far, I have had a lot of interaction with local people, and I have once again experienced the fun and joy of meeting people while traveling. It was a very valuable experience to be able to talk with active ama divers.
It was a very meaningful trip and I learned anew the depth of Mie's history and culture!

*Information as of July 2018. Dates, prices, etc. may have changed, so please check with your contact information before going out.