A model course to enjoy IgaCity to its fullest♪ We took a day trip to popular recommended spots!

IgaCity is known as the home of the ninja and the birthplace of MatsuoBasho. While the remnants of a castle town remain, the number of restaurants and shops popular with young people has increased, and in recent years it has attracted attention as a town with a unique atmosphere that blends old and new.

Your journey to discover Iga's diverse charms starts at "Iga Drive-in"!

Food corner near the entrance.
There is a wide variety of Japanese cuisine including udon and soba. I saw many men eating heartily.

“Iga Fuku” (618 yen/tax included for 8 pieces) is a popular item that can only be purchased at “Iga Drive-in”.
Made with adzuki beans from Hokkaido, it's not too sweet.

Let's go to "Ninjakan" which just opened in May 2018! There is a karakuri house where you can try out shuriken and trompe l'oeil art.

Let's try the shuriken experience now!
It was difficult because the target was quite far away, but I couldn't help but get hooked.


[Iga Drive-in]
Address: 5704-1 Tsugecho IgaCity
Phone number 0595-45-6810
Official URL http://www.kakisen.co.jp/igadora/
Business hours Weekdays 8:00-19:30, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 8:00-20:00 *Varies depending on season and corner.
Closed: Open all year round
Access: Red building just outside the Iga IC on the Meihan National Highway

Approximately 20 minutes by car from Iga Drive-in. Arrived at the parking lot of Iga Ueno Castle, a representative tourist attraction in IgaCity.
The tree-lined road on the way to the castle tower is so beautiful with the sunlight filtering through the trees!

After walking for about 10 minutes from the parking lot, you will see Iga Ueno Castle. It is also called ``Hakuho Castle'' due to its elegant appearance, and the scenery that blends with the surrounding nature is beautiful!

The interior of the castle tower, which consists of three levels, retains the atmosphere of the Warring States period. Local materials from IgaCity are also on display, including weapons, armor, and the belongings of the Todo family, who built the castle.

The view from the castle tower is outstanding!
As you take a closer look around, you will become more and more interested in this town.

The area around Iga Ueno Castle is a park, and within its grounds are NinjaMUSEUMofIgaryu, which is very popular with tourists from overseas, and the Basho Old Man Memorial Hall, where you can learn more about MatsuoBasho. There is so much to see!

Click here for NinjaMUSEUMofIgaryu coverage article!
Experience real ninjutsu at NinjaMUSEUMofIgaryu! Let's go meet the dynamic ninjas!

[Iga Ueno Castle]
Address: 106 Ueno Marunouchi IgaCity (inside Ueno Park)
Phone number 0595-21-3148 (Iga Cultural Industry Association)
Official URL http://igaueno-castle.jp
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last entry is 16:45)
Closed: 12/29-12/31
Price: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for children
Access: Approximately 7 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC

[NinjaMUSEUMofIgaryu]
Address: 117 Ueno Marunouchi IgaCity (inside Ueno Park)
Phone number 0595-23-0311
Official URL http://www.iganinja.jp
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Closed: 12/29~1/1
Price: 756 yen for adults, 432 yen for children
Access: Approximately 7 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC

Meanwhile, it's lunch time.
Head to Hytopia Iga, a commercial complex located right next to Iga Railway's Ueno City Station.

We decided to have lunch at Steak House Grazie, a restaurant specializing in Iga Kuroge Wagyu beef on the second floor.
Expectations are high for its stylish appearance.

The subdued lighting inside the store creates a space where you can relax. It's the perfect restaurant to eat when you're tired from traveling.

I ordered the "Iga Beef Takatora Lunch" (1,890 yen/tax included).
I'm happy to be able to enjoy Iga beef steak and hamburgers at a reasonable price! The juicy meat juice is full of flavor and is irresistible.

I was happy to be able to enjoy my long-awaited “Iga beef”♪

Another feature of this restaurant is that there is a ``teppanyaki counter'' where the meat is grilled right in front of you (only available during dinner time).
In addition, since the main store is a ``butcher shop'', it has gained popularity because it provides raw food such as yukhoe with permission from the public health center. Check it out!

[Steak House Grazie]
Address: 2F Hytopia Iga, 500 Ueno Marunouchi IgaCity
Phone number 0595-51-0783
Official URL http://www.okuda-igaushi.com/grazie
/Business hours 11:00-21:30
Closed on Tuesdays
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno Higashi” IC

After filling your stomach, take a walk around Ueno City Station. As I was walking around thinking, ``I want to buy some souvenirs unique to Iga,'' I came across a stately and elegant building.

The name of the shop is "Youkanzuke Miyazaki-ya."

I wondered what "Yokitsuzuke" was, so I went inside the store.
There are various products lined up, but I still don't know what they are, so I will ask the store staff.

``Yokatsuzuke'' is a pickle made by removing the core from Iga's specialty ``white melon'' and stuffing it with finely chopped shiso, ginger, radish, etc., and aging it for two years in a secret tamari soy sauce. About.

There are still some foods that I don't know about. Its unique richness and flavor go well not only with alcohol, but also with rice!

There are ``1-year aged preparation'' (243 yen/tax included per 100g) and ``2-year aged preparation'' (270 yen/tax included per 100g) of Yokizuke (sold by weight only at the main store).

It is said that the regular two-year aged wine has a deeper flavor.
If it's your first time, it might be a good idea to try the two flavors and compare.

For the younger generation who are not familiar with pickled foods, we recommend the "Yokitsuzuke Dressing" (685 yen/tax included).
This is a special dish made with pickled liver liver flavored with rapeseed oil from Iga, and is perfect for both vegetables and meat dishes.

When you line up two of them, you'll create a pattern called "Unpan," which symbolizes Miyazakiya.

"Tamari soy sauce ice cream". The richness of tamari soy sauce is effective, and the taste is unlike anything I've ever encountered before.
It seems that many people are addicted to this flavor.

The person in charge of sales, Haruna Miyazaki, kindly told us about the appeal of Yokitsuzuke. In order to spread the word about liver pickles to a wide range of people, we are actively working on new initiatives using ideas unique to young women.

One of the new products that Haruna devised is this ``bagel that can only be made at Miyazakiya'' (250 yen/tax included).
This is a novel product made by kneading liver liver pickles and cream cheese into the dough and baking it (limited quantity sale only on the 8th of every month).
At this restaurant, I was able to discover food that I would like to recommend to others!

[Yokizuke Miyazakiya]
Address: 3017 Uenonakamachi IgaCity
Phone number 0595-21-5544
Official URL http:// http://www.ict.ne.jp/~myzky 
Business hours 8:30-18:30
Closed 1/1
Access: Approximately 5 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno” IC

One of Iga's specialties that you shouldn't forget is Iga sake.
This town is blessed with high-quality water and natural conditions, and is also a producer of Japanese sake. There are multiple sake breweries, each brewing sake with a unique taste.
We stopped by Kikuno Shoten, a shop that stocks Iga sake!

The only liquor retailer that deals directly with all 11 breweries in Iga and Nabari.
Even just looking at the label, it is full of personality.

``Hanzo Junmai Daiginjo (Iga Yamada Nishiki, Polished 40)'' was used as a toast at the working dinner of the G7 IseShimaSummit!

The restaurant's most recent recommendation is ``STYLE WINERY'' (limited quantity), a wine made at Mie Prefecture's only winery in Iga.
It uses wild grapes and is characterized by its strong acidity and astringency. Goes well with meat dishes such as Iga beef!

The company president, Yoshihisa Kikuno, had a kind smile on his face and brought me a glass of Basho Daiginjo, a precious sake from Iga.
He also serves as the vice chairman of the Iga Ueno Tourism Association, and his love for Iga sake is recognized by everyone.

Also popular is the ``Petit Brewery Tour'' (for 4 people or more. Charges apply. Reservations required) where you can enjoy a video explanation of the brewery and a tasting of Iga sake by Mr. Kikuno.

[Kikuno Shoten]
Address 459 Ueno Nojincho IgaCity
Phone number 0595-21-0510
Official URL http://www.kikuno-co-ltd.jp
Business hours 9:00-20:00
Regular holidays Irregular holidays
Access: Approximately 10 minutes from Meihan National Highway “Ueno” IC

This concludes our fulfilling "Iga day trip".
Gourmet food, alcohol, history and culture... Thanks to the warm personality of the local people, I was able to fully enjoy the various charms of Iga. It was a town that felt the best of both worlds: ``good old tradition'' and ``innovative newness.''

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