Seeking Matsusaka Beef and Akafuku — A Mie Gourmet Journey

Mie Prefecture is a treasury of Japan's finest food, from Matsusaka beef to Ise lobster, Matoya oysters, and Akafuku mochi. Matsusaka beef in particular is one of the three great wagyu brands of Japan, alongside Kobe and Omi beef. Its fine marbling, sweet melt-in-the-mouth fat, and rich aroma are in a class of their own, earning it the nickname the art of meat. It is a coveted brand that food lovers long to try in its home region.

Highlights

Matsusaka City, the home of Matsusaka beef, is lined with renowned long-established restaurants.

• Sukiyaki and steak: Savour genuine marbled beef at venerable Matsusaka establishments such as Wadakin and Gyugin Honten (founded in 1902). Sukiyaki, with its warishita sauce and raw egg, brings out the natural sweetness of the meat.
• Revolving yakiniku: Isshobin is known for its revolving grilled-meat style, a popular spot where Matsusaka beef can be enjoyed relatively casually.
• Street snacks: Beef croquettes and beef skewers are among the local snacks perfect for eating as you stroll.

Ise's Famous Akafuku

The specialty of Oharai-machi and Okage Yokocho, the town before Ise Jingu, is the mochi sweet Akafuku. Soft rice cakes wrapped in smooth koshian bean paste offer a refined sweetness that is inseparable from a pilgrimage to Ise. Said to have been founded in 1707, it is Ise's signature confection, loved for more than three centuries. At the main shop you can enjoy a freshly made serving on the spot. Akafuku shaved ice in summer and Akafuku zenzai in winter are also popular.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Matsusaka beef is available year-round, and the Matsusaka Beef Festival held each autumn around November offers chances to taste high-grade beef at reasonable prices. Ise lobster, in season from autumn, is served as fresh sashimi at Ise-Shima guesthouses. Matoya oysters raised in Matoya Bay are famous as a winter delicacy from around November to March. To combine food with a visit to Ise Jingu, the mild seasons of spring and autumn are especially pleasant.

Access & Essentials

• To the town of Matsusaka beef: Matsusaka Station on the JR and Kintetsu lines is the gateway. It is about one hour by Kintetsu limited express from Kintetsu Nagoya Station. Many popular restaurants are within walking distance of the station or a few minutes by car.
• To Ise Jingu: Kintetsu Iseshi and Ujiyamada stations are convenient.
• The correct spelling of the city is Matsusaka. Popular restaurants require reservations, so book in advance.

Practical Travel Notes

Meals at leading Matsusaka beef restaurants centre on sukiyaki and steak courses from the low thousands of yen upward, and choosing a yakiniku restaurant is an option to suit your budget. Popular restaurants fill up at lunchtime and on weekends, so a reservation is reassuring. Akafuku can sell out in the morning at its main Okage Yokocho shop, so stop by early. Matsusaka and Ise are linked by the Kintetsu line, making it easy to enjoy beef in Matsusaka and Akafuku and seafood in Ise over a comfortable two-day trip.

A Word of Advice

Sukiyaki at high-end restaurants is a luxury of quality over quantity. Even small parties can note their preferences when reserving to make things go smoothly. Touring Oharai-machi in the morning to avoid crowds lets you enjoy the local snacks at a relaxed pace. Because Matsusaka beef is richly marbled, following it with light Akafuku as a palate cleanser makes for the well-paced eating that is the joy of a Mie food journey.

📚 Sources

Gourmet information published by the Matsusaka City and Ise City tourism associations, public information from regional bodies such as the Matsusaka Beef Council, and the official information of long-established shops including Akafuku are helpful. Events such as the Matsusaka Beef Festival can be checked through the organizers.

Business days and reservation policies of popular restaurants and festival dates can change. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: About one to two hours for a meal; a gourmet trip enjoying beef in Matsusaka and Akafuku and seafood in Ise fits comfortably into a two-day, one-night itinerary.
• What to bring: Popular restaurants crowd at lunchtime and on weekends, so reservations are reassuring; some shops take cash only, so carry small bills and coins.
• Suggested route: Enjoy Matsusaka beef sukiyaki or yakiniku near Matsusaka Station, then take the Kintetsu line to Ise for Akafuku along Oharai-machi and Okage Yokocho.