13 observation decks in Mie Prefecture! Perfect for dates and drives♪

Article creation: Fugamaru-chan & Chamu #Mie Travel Camera Club
Mie photographer ``Fugamaru-chan'' and his partner ``Cham'' bring you information that will make you love Mie even more.

Toba Observation Deck offers a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. It is located on Pearl Road, which is lined with oyster shacks, and is also a popular motorcycle touring spot.

The sea in Toba is characterized by the bluest and most beautiful sea in Mie! TobaObservatory offers a panoramic view of the Toba sea. In winter, you can even see Mt. Fuji!

Pearl Road is a 23.8km driveway that connects Shima and Toba. Not only can you see the ocean from the car, but there are many observation decks along the way.

We also recommend getting off the train and taking a closer look at the sea.

• 40 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Ise IC
• 3-3 Otake, TobaCity kuzakicho Mie 517-0031
• 250 free parking spaces available
• There is a toilet

Yokoyama Observation Deck is an observation deck where you can see Ago Bay on the Rias Coast. A new cafe terrace was built in 2019, where you can enjoy both the spectacular view and gourmet food.

There are ria coasts all over Japan, but I think Ago Bay is one of the most beautiful.

It was relatively empty in the evening, so I felt like I had the scenery all to myself.

• 40 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Ise Nishi IC
• 875-20 ShimaCity cho, Shima-shi 517-0501
• Free parking available. The mountaintop parking lot has 28 spaces, and the Sozo no Mori parking lot has 36 spaces.
• There is a toilet

UguraPark has four observation decks where you can see the intrusive topography of MinamiiseTown (Rias Coast), and one of them, Mieshima Observation Deck, has a heart-shaped view. You can see a cove.

Inside the park, there are heart-shaped objects and a place where you can lock a padlock that promises success in love, so it's also recommended for dates.

Miejima Observation Deck at UguraPark is a romantic place where you can see a starry sky. I was impressed that you could see so many stars with the naked eye.

Miejima Observation Deck is one of the best spots in Mie Prefecture to see the stars. There are few city lights and the only thing beyond the observation deck is the ocean, so it's pitch black at night!

If you want to see the Milky Way in April, it's around 3am. Please give it a try.

• 50 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Tamaki IC
• 516-1303 Dogyogama, Minamiise-cho, michiyukugama MinamiiseTown
• Free parking available. 10 units
• There is a toilet *Newly built in 2021

An observation deck that overlooks Gokasho Bay in MinamiiseTown. It is approximately 150m above sea level and has a 360 degree observatory, so you can get a wide view of MinamiiseTown.

The sea in Minamiise is so blue and beautiful! A place where you can feel. It's a 30 minute drive from the aforementioned UguraPark, so why not stop by both?

Nankai Observatory Park is a 10-minute walk up the stairs from the parking lot, but the view from the stairs is also spectacular. It's like a stairway to the sky!

• 40 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Tamaki IC
• Rekiura, Minamiise Town, Watarai District, MinamiiseTown 516-0118
• Free parking available. About 4 units.
• There are toilets near the parking lot

Shiohamasanson Hiroba is a park located in TaikiTown, Taiki Town. Located on top of a hill, you can see the beautiful blue Kumano Sea from the observation deck.

An ocean view spot known only to those in the know. As of March 2021, it is an unexplored region that does not come up even if you search for the place name on Google Maps.

From Shiohama Yamamura Square, you can see not only the sea but also the townscape. The sight of boats moored along the road is unique to a fishing town.

• 20 minutes by car from Kise ouchiyama IC
• 519-2911 Nishiki, Taiki-cho TaikiTown
• Free parking available. About 5 units.
• No toilet

I will explain how to get to Shiohama Yamamura Square.

Shiohama Yamamura Square can be reached by car up the mountain road. Enter this mountain road from the point indicated by the red pin on the map below.If you look at the bottom of the aerial photo, you can see a hairpin curve in the mountain. This is the mountain road, but Google Maps cannot provide route guidance because it is not recognized as a road. If you are going to the site, please follow the red pin on the map.

Above is the parking lot of Shiohama Yamamura Hiroba. As you approach the building (arbor) with a triangular roof, you will see a sign that says Shiohama Promenade.

You can see the Kumano Sea from here.

A 16.3km sky driveway connecting Ise and Toba. Passing through Mt.Asama, which has an altitude of 555m, there is a footbath and The Post in the sky at the observation deck at the top of the mountain.

There are entrances on the Ise side and Toba side, so why not try sightseeing together with IseJingu and TobaAquarium?

As you climb up the Ise-Shima Skyline, you will arrive at Mt.Asama Plaza. There are souvenir shops and footbaths here, but the most popular is The Post in the sky.

The sight of a retro mailbox against the blue sky is picturesque!

It would be a waste to leave Mt.Asama Plaza only looking at The Post in the sky!

Near the souvenir shop, there is a place with a sign saying ``Sanpo Michi''.

If you walk here for about 10 minutes...

You will arrive at a hill overlooking the Ise cityscape and Ise Bay. This is a hidden gem that is not introduced in tourist magazines or on TV.

The sunset time is also the most beautiful ♪ It feels like you are in a movie.

Ise-Shima Skyline's closing times vary depending on the season. Please note that if the sunset time is close to the closing time, you won't be able to take a good look at the sunset.

Kishiokayama Green Park with a view of the ocean is a park located within Hibarigaoka Danchi in Kishioka SuzukaCity. There is a day camp facility where you can have a barbecue, play equipment for children, and an observation deck with a view of the ocean.

From the observation deck, you can see Ise Bay and the Aichi area, and you may even see planes arriving and departing from Centrair.

If you zoom in on the Yokkaichi area from the observatory with a lens with a focal length of 270mm or more, you will see oil tankers and industrial complexes visible on the other side of the sea. This is a scenery unique to the Hokusei area of Mie.

• 40 minutes by car from Ise Dotsu IC or Ise Expressway Suzuka IC
• 〒510-0226 Kishioka-cho, SuzukaCity Mie Prefecture
• Free parking lot 44 spaces available
• There is a toilet

An observation deck located in Takasu-cho, MatsusakaCity City, Mie Prefecture. It is located near the Matsunase Coast, a famous spot for clam-gathering, and offers a panoramic view of the ocean from a close distance.

The location of the breakwater and the sea makes for a great photo shoot as well. The recommended time is sunset.

Even if you search for "observation deck on the sea" on Google, there are only a few people who use it as a photo spot. This is a place that I hope will become more and more famous in the future.

• 20 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Matsusaka IC
• Takasu Town, MatsusakaCity Mie Prefecture 515-0104
• Free parking available. About 4 units.
• No toilet

Tokaido Sekijuku flourished as the 47th post town on the 53 stations Tokaido. The scenery from the Edo to Meiji eras is still preserved, and there are souvenirs, restaurants, and accommodations such as guest houses.

This photo was taken from a building called Chokan-tei in Sekijuku Tokaido. It is a place where you can view the elegant townscape from about the second floor height.

A signboard reading ``Choukan-tei'' is erected on the whitewashed building. You can go up to the second floor from here.

The second floor is an outdoor space and is at a height that can be viewed from the roof.

Umiterasu 14 is an observation exhibition room on the 14th floor of the Yokkaichi Port Building. It offers a panoramic view of the Yokkaichi cityscape, and is a popular spot for viewing the night view of factories.

Chakura Michi-no-eki is Michi-no-eki located along National Route 166, connecting Matsusaka and Nara. From the viewing platform, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside, river, and tea plantations.

There is an observation deck right next to Michi-no-eki, and you can reach it by climbing a few stairs.

AoyamaPlateau is a driveway at an altitude of 800m. There is wind power generation equipment on the mountain pass road, and the number of wind turbines is 91, making it one of the largest in Japan.

There are many observation decks on AoyamaPlateau, and the number of windmills you can see varies depending on the location. I will tell you about two highly recommended observation decks.

Sankakuten is an observation deck that overlooks almost all of the windmills on AoyamaPlateau. If the weather is nice, you can see the entire townscape of Tsu and the sea.

There is a coffee shop called ``CAFE WINDY HILL'' right next to the triangulation point, where you can enjoy desserts such as soft serve ice cream and pudding, as well as curry and Neapolitan dishes. Perfect for a toilet break.

• 50 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Hisai IC
• kachiji, Iga City IgaCity 518-0203
• Free parking available. About 10 cars
• There is a toilet (near the parking lot)

It's a good idea to set "AoyamaPlateau Triangle Point" as your destination in your car's navigation system.

From the triangulation point, drive for about 5 minutes in the direction of the Self-Defense Forces base, and you will find a viewing spot beyond parking lot 5.

There is no name for the spot, and since it is on the border between TsuCity and Iga, I arbitrarily named it `` TsuCity and Iga Border''.

The sight of windmills spreading out on the horizon is extremely fantastic. This photo actually won the grand prize at the 54th Mie Tourism Photo Contest.

• 60 minutes by car from Ise Expressway Hisai IC
• kachiji, Iga City IgaCity 518-0203
• Park at AoyamaPlateau parking lot and walk for 6 minutes.
• Restroom available (near AoyamaPlateau parking lot)

*We recommend parking at AoyamaPlateau Parking Lot, which is a little beyond the red pin.

Gratitude Hill is an observation deck at Aizu Pass on the border between Iinan-cho and OdaiTown MatsusakaCity. You can get a panoramic view of the townscape of OdaiTown.

In spring, it is an observation deck that offers a panoramic view of wild cherry blossoms. You can admire the beautiful mountain cherry blossoms from the mountain pass along the way.

• 15 minutes from Kisei Expressway Odai Omiya IC
• Odai Town, Taki District OdaiTown 519-2404
• Free parking available. About 3 cars
• No toilet. Michi-no-eki Okuise Odai is the nearest toilet

This is the Aizu Pass walking map that I created. Parking lots and photo spots are listed on the map.