Top 5 Photogenic Gourmet Foods & Souvenirs of Mie

From the sacred grounds of Ise Jingu to exquisite seafood, Mie Prefecture is packed with gourmet treats that captivate travelers chasing the perfect "photogenic" shot! This time we introduce five special picks you'll want to post on Instagram.

① Akafuku | Ise City, Okage Yokocho

The iconic confection of this more-than-300-year-old shop, Akafuku-mochi, is an exquisite treat with its beautifully wave-patterned red bean paste arranged on a white dish. Photographing the whole wooden box on a stone-paved alley backdrop is the standard Instagram move. The soft morning natural light streaming in is the ideal time to shoot. Including the stone path in a portrait orientation doubles the retro atmosphere!

Access: Take a bus bound for "Naiku" from Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station, JR Ise-shi Station, or Kintetsu Ise-shi Station — about 15 minutes — and alight at "Jingu Kaikan-mae."

② Ise Udon | Ise City, around Oharai-machi

Ise's local specialty features extra-thick, ultra-soft noodles — said to be three times the thickness of regular udon — coated in a pitch-black sauce based on tamari soy sauce. The contrast of white noodles, black sauce, and green spring onions is inherently photogenic. This bowl is said to trace its origins back to the Edo period — a straight top-down overhead shot capturing the noodles and spring onions filling the bowl is recommended.

Access: Widely served at restaurants throughout Ise City; shops also line the Oharai-machi area in front of the inner shrine.

③ Uramura Oysters | Toba City, along Pearl Road

"Uramura oysters" raised in Uramura-cho, Toba City, are a quintessential winter delicacy of Toba. The road connecting Toba and Shima — Pearl Road — is also known as the "Oyster Road," with oyster shacks and seafood restaurants lining the route. The boldly rustic visual of oysters steamed in their shells, heaped in a pile, is enormously photogenic. On overcast days with soft diffused light, you can capture the steam and the texture of the shells in all their richness.

Access: Uramura-cho, Toba City (along Pearl Road). All-you-can-eat oyster sessions are generally available as seasonal service from late October to late March, and reservations are required at many establishments.

④ Tekone Sushi | Shima City, Kashikojima Area

"Tekone Sushi" — abundantly marinated bonito (katsuo) arranged with colorful garnishes — is among the most vibrantly colored of Mie's local dishes. The dish served in a deep wooden tub is a work of art in itself. Shooting at a 45-degree angle using natural light from a window conveys the freshness of the ingredients. From autumn through winter, the lower angle of the light makes the dish even more photogenic.

Access: Served at restaurants near Kintetsu Kashikojima Station.

⑤ Matsusaka Beef Croquette | Matsusaka City, around Matsusaka Station

A freshly fried, crispy "Matsusaka Beef Croquette" — golden-brown on the outside — is the go-to street food! The steam rising from the cross-section when you bite into it is utterly mouthwatering. Photographing it in the warm orange light of the evening golden hour produces a shot as luxurious as a food magazine spread. Adding an old townscape in the background enhances the sense of being on a journey.

Access: Within walking distance of JR / Kintetsu Matsusaka Station.

Mie Prefecture is a gourmet paradise where history, sea, and mountains converge. Take your favorite shot and share the memories of your trip!

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours and closing days: The Akafuku main shop is open from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (hours may change in the busiest periods) and never closes. The oyster huts of Uramura differ from shop to shop in their season and hours, generally operating seasonally from late October to late March. The shops serving Ise udon, tekone-zushi and Matsusaka beef croquettes also have different closing days, so check in advance.
• Budget and price guide: Akafuku mochi is sold in wooden boxes of 8, 12 and 20 pieces, among others. Ise udon and tekone-zushi start at around 1,000 yen per serving, and all-you-can-eat oysters are priced individually by each shop.
• Access: To reach the Akafuku main shop (26 Uji Nakanokiri-cho, Ise City), take the bus bound for Naiku from Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station, JR Iseshi Station or Kintetsu Iseshi Station for about 15 minutes and get off at Jingu Kaikan-mae. By car it is 5 minutes from Ise IC on the Ise Expressway heading toward Naiku. The oyster huts in Uramura-cho are along the Pearl Road, and a car is essentially required.
• Parking: Around Naiku, use the municipal Urata parking lot or similar; from there the Akafuku main shop is about a 5-minute walk. Okage Yokocho and Oharai-machi are full of pedestrians, so plan on walking from a parking lot.
• Photography rules: Whether photography is allowed inside shops and kitchens varies. Ask the staff before shooting, and be careful not to capture other customers. On crowded street-food lanes, avoid standing still to shoot for long periods or using a tripod.
• Cautions: Many all-you-can-eat oyster places require reservations, and you may not get in as a walk-in on the day. Pay attention to the distinction between raw-consumption and cooking oysters, and to how you are feeling. Oharai-machi and Okage Yokocho have a mix of shops that open early in the morning and shops open only at midday.

Note: Opening hours, prices and operating seasons are subject to change. Please check each establishment's official information before you visit.

(Sources: Akafuku official website, main shop https://www.akafuku.co.jp/store/2992/ ; Toba City Tourism Association, \"Oysters of Uramura\" https://www.toba.gr.jp/feature/oyster/ ; Ise City official website, \"Ise Udon\" https://www.city.ise.mie.jp/cul_spo_edu/culture/bunkazai_shiseki/iseudon.html )