Rainy Day in Mie: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

Toba Aquarium

A day when the sound of rain taps at the windows—this is exactly the place you'll want to come to. That's how you can't help but feel about it.

Boasting over 1,200 species raised, Toba Aquarium is one of Japan's largest, a marine wonderland that Mie can be proud of, where you can spend an entire day without ever growing bored even on a rainy day. The graceful swimming of the dugong, which you can meet nowhere else in the world, the adorable gestures of the sea otter gazing intently at you with round eyes, and the phantom cat that moves nimbly along the waterside—the fishing cat. Once your eyes meet, you'll forget the time and be unable to leave the spot—such encounters await everywhere in the building.

The interior is divided into 12 zones, and you can experience an overwhelming sense of immersion, as if you were taking a one-day journey around the world's seas and lands—from the mystery of the deep sea to tropical coral reefs, from the riversides of South America to icy seas. Above all, the sight of a dugong drifting leisurely underwater in the "Sea of Mermaids" area envelops the viewer in a breath-taking stillness and beauty. A creature long regarded as the model for mermaid legends slowly soars before your eyes as if dancing through the air—it is an experience that transcends the space of an aquarium, somehow mythical. On rainy days it is often relatively uncrowded, so another great appeal is being able to enjoy the luxurious time of carefully "meeting eyes" with the creatures in front of the tanks, undisturbed by anyone.

Best Season / Recommended Times: The aquarium can be enjoyed year-round, but during summer vacation and long holidays it is extremely crowded with families. The target is weekday mornings, especially the 10 a.m. hour just after opening. The sea otter feeding time is often held then, giving you a chance to monopolize from up close the adorable sight of them deftly cracking open fish on their chests. On weekdays in winter, visitors are especially few, allowing a luxurious viewing experience of having each tank nearly all to yourself.

Hidden-Gem Information: While many visitors are absorbed in the dugongs and sea otters, the corner that is surprisingly overlooked is the African manatee. The presence of the manatees drifting languidly in a roomy, spacious area is a healing spot known to those in the know. Located in a tucked-away spot, it is less prone to crowds, and you can sit down on the bench in front of the tank and observe to your heart's content. It is also an ideal place for those who want to take photos quietly. Also, since visitors begin to thin out about an hour before closing, that is a recommended time to take another leisurely look at the popular areas.

Access: About a 10-minute walk from JR / Kintetsu "Toba Station." From the Nagoya area it is about 1 hour 30 minutes by Kintetsu limited express, and from the Osaka / Namba area about 2 hours, so the good access that fully accommodates a day trip is also part of the appeal. There is a route along the sea from the station to the aquarium, and on a rainy day, approaching while feeling the scent of the tide has its own charm.

Tips for Travelers: After entering, first pick up the facility map and immediately check the day's schedule of shows and feeding times. Since the viewing spaces for popular programs begin to fill up 30 minutes before the start, the iron rule is to secure a spot early. The interior is vast, and touring it carefully takes 3 to 4 hours, so it's recommended to plan with plenty of energy and time to spare. Even on rainy days, the approach in front of the aquarium and the area around the parking lot get wet, so visiting in non-slip sneakers or waterproof shoes is reassuring.

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Ise Jingu Chokokan (Museum) and Agriculture Museum

When it comes to Ise Jingu, everyone knows it as Japan's supreme sacred site. But surprisingly few people, perhaps, have visited "the treasure halls of the shrine." Quietly standing a little apart from the bustle of the Inner and Outer Shrines, the Chokokan and the Agriculture Museum are a treasury of culture known to those in the know—exactly the kind of place to savor carefully on a rainy day.

In the Chokokan sleep, in silence, vestments, sacred treasures, ancient documents, and other shrine treasures of national-treasure and important-cultural-property class dedicated to the shrine. The "world of the gods," which normally you can only worship by treading on the gravel and pressing your hands together toward a far-off shrine building, can here be felt directly before your eyes, even if through glass—that experience brings deep emotion beyond words. The many exquisite crafts handed down continuously since the Heian period have their sanctity and serene beauty stand out all the more precisely in the moist air of rain. For those who don't want to end their Ise pilgrimage as "surface-only sightseeing," this is a place to visit.

The adjacent Agriculture Museum carefully and clearly explains the deep connection between the shrine and Japan's agriculture and industry. The exhibits unraveling the formation of Japanese culture centered on rice cultivation speak quietly but powerfully of how our everyday dining tables and lives stand upon a long history and faith. Just stopping by between sightseeing sharply raises the resolution of your journey to Ise—such is this place.

Best Season / Recommended Times: Autumn (October to November), when the foliage turns beautifully, is especially recommended. In this season, when the tree-lined paths of the shrine's outer garden are dyed orange and gold, strolling together with the Chokokan and Agriculture Museum richly satisfies both the eyes and the heart. If you aim for the early morning hours when visitors are few, the exhibition rooms may become almost entirely yours. Facing each exhibit in the silence is one of the most luxurious times of an Ise trip on a rainy day.

Local Ways to Enjoy: After the Chokokan and Agriculture Museum, be sure to walk a little in the nearby shrine outer garden. The outer garden after the rain has its trees beautifully wet and the green color deepened, and a refreshing fragrance drifts in the clear air. It is especially recommended for those who have already worshipped at the Inner and Outer Shrines; by seeing the treasure-hall exhibits, the meaning of the worship experience deepens in layers—"so behind that shrine building there were such sacred treasures," "so that festival has such meaning"—and your journey to Ise becomes many times richer. Among locals, it is even said, "Worship alone would be a waste; see the treasure halls too for a real Ise pilgrimage."

Access: Conveniently located, about a 5-minute walk from the Inner Shrine and about a 15-minute walk from the Outer Shrine, easy to access from either. From Ise-shi Station or Ujiyamada Station, it's convenient to use a route bus (Mie Kotsu). From Nagoya it's about 1 hour 20 minutes by Kintetsu limited express, and from Osaka / Namba about 1 hour 40 minutes to Ise-shi Station.

Tips for Travelers: The admission fee is set at a reasonable price, so you can casually drop in between worship visits. Combining it with worship at the Inner and Outer Shrines, the half-day course "shrine outer garden → Chokokan / Agriculture Museum → Oharai-machi" is a royal route recommended even by local residents. On some days an audio guide is lent out, so check at the reception. If you view carefully, allow about 1 to 2 hours to enjoy it with room to spare.

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Mie Prefectural Art Museum

Standing in Tsu City, the prefectural capital of Mie, the Mie Prefectural Art Museum is an art museum for grown-ups, where the goodness of its calm space stands out when you visit on a rainy day. There are no flashy stagings or showy gimmicks, but precisely because of that you can quietly face the works—a space that has been pared of all excess invites the viewer deep into the world of the paintings.

The core of the collection is modern Japanese-style painting. The works of Sosuke Morimoto, a master of realist painting whom Mie can be proud of, draw the viewer quietly into the world within the painting with breathtakingly delicate expressions of light and shadow. The depiction of soft light pouring onto pale skin, the subtle shading dwelling in the folds of cloth—no matter how many times you gaze, there are new discoveries, and before you know it you've been standing before it for a long time, such is its deep charm. This collection, which local people have cultivated with pride over many years, is also highly esteemed by art lovers nationwide, and quite a few fans visit from afar.

The special exhibitions are also substantial throughout the year, and another great appeal of this museum is that it shows a new face each time you visit. At the leisurely pace of a rainy day, try viewing one painting at a time, taking your time as if conversing with each work. There is no place more wasteful to rush through than an art museum.

Best Season / Recommended Times: During special exhibition periods (held several times a year), the museum is especially worth seeing, with high-quality works gathered from across the country. Checking the current exhibition on the official site before visiting greatly increases your sense of fulfillment. The recommended time is weekday afternoons. Visitors are few, and you can view while having the wide gallery almost entirely to yourself. Coupled with the silence of a rainy day, it makes for a special time when the dialogue with the paintings deepens further.

Hidden-Gem Information: Not to be missed is the in-house museum shop. In addition to goods related to art connected with Mie, it stocks tasteful stationery and miscellaneous goods, making it ideal for souvenir-hunting on a rainy day. Also, in the adjoining cafe space, you can enjoy the luxurious time of taking a breather while listening to the sound of rain falling outside the window. A cup of coffee after viewing is sure to stretch the afterglow long. Viewing just the permanent exhibition is plenty worthwhile, so you can casually drop in even when time is limited.

Access: Accessible by an about 15-minute walk from Kintetsu "Tsu-shimmachi Station," or by a Mie Kotsu bus from JR / Kintetsu "Tsu Station." From Nagoya it's about 50 minutes by Kintetsu limited express—good access, within day-trip range for a casual visit. From Osaka / Namba it's about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Tips for Travelers: The admission fee may differ between the permanent and special exhibitions, so check the official site in advance. For those who visit Mie repeatedly, an annual passport is also an economical option. Stowing your luggage in a locker before viewing lets you enjoy it more lightly. To protect the works, a quiet environment is maintained inside the museum, so visiting in a slow, calm frame of mind may be the courtesy this museum asks of you.

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Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

Is there anyone whose heart doesn't race at hearing "ninja"? Located in the mountains of Iga City, the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum is one of Japan's premier entertainment-type museums, where children, adults, and overseas travelers alike can all become equally absorbed. The more it rains, the more real the dim air of the ninja house becomes—it is also a spot with excellent compatibility with rainy days.

The greatest highlight is the genuine ninja house that was actually built. As you step into the house while being guided by a dedicated guide, trick doors, escape passages, and hidden rooms rigged here and there appear one after another, and even adults can't help letting out a "Wow!" The precision of the contrivances that craftsmen of hundreds of years ago racked their brains to create is more than enough to be filled with surprise even to modern eyes. Rainy days are no problem—the joy is that it can all be experienced under a roof.

Also not to be missed is the ninja live demonstration show. Ninja clad in authentic costumes demonstrate one after another the techniques of shuriken, kusarigama, sword, and more right before your eyes; the power and presence are on another level. There is an authenticity that easily surpasses the preconception "so this is the ninja of TV and movies," with a continuous string of moments you'll want to capture in photos and videos.

Best Season / Recommended Times: It can be enjoyed year-round, but in the spring cherry-blossom season (March to April), the nearby Ueno Castle is beautifully adorned, and touring it together with the Ninja Museum is especially recommended. Since the start times of the ninja live demonstration show are limited to a few times a day, the clever way to go around is to check the day's schedule right after arriving and work backward from it.

Local Ways to Enjoy: Around the museum spreads a sightseeing area lined with ninja-themed cafes and souvenir shops, and just walking around lifts your spirits. Furthermore, lunch using Iga beef, another specialty Iga is proud of, is a local reward beyond compare. After your ninja experience, be sure to savor the umami of Iga beef at a famous local restaurant. If you plan a day spent fully enjoying the whole town of Iga—also called the "Ninja City"—a page of an unforgettable Mie trip is completed.

Access: About a 10-minute walk from Iga Railway "Uenoshi Station." From Nagoya it's about 2 hours connecting the Kintetsu Osaka Line and the Iga Railway, and about 2 hours from Osaka as well. By car it's about 10 minutes from the Iga-Ueno IC—easy to access and easy to incorporate into a drive trip.

Tips for Travelers: On weekends and holidays it is often crowded with families, and the viewing space for the demonstration show begins to fill up 20 to 30 minutes before the start. Securing a spot early is essential. A ninja-costume rental service is also available inside, so if you've come all the way to Iga, dressing up and taking photogenic photos is by all means recommended. The reaction is especially big when you bring along friends or family from overseas—this is a spot with the power to make them say, "This was the most fun part of my trip to Japan."

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Matsusaka City Museum of History and Folklore

On a trip in Mie, when you hear "Matsusaka," the first thing that comes to mind is Matsusaka beef. But this town has not only beautiful beef but also a heavy, rich history as the land that gave birth to a great figure who shook the very history of Japanese culture. The Matsusaka City Museum of History and Folklore is a place that conveys that history quietly and carefully, without being pushy.

Matsusaka is known as the birthplace of the Edo-period kokugaku scholar Motoori Norinaga. The museum carefully introduces, with easy-to-understand exhibits, the footsteps of this person who laid the foundation of Japanese culture through great achievements such as the "Kojiki-den." The exhibits of ancient documents, daily tools, and folklore materials resonate gently but surely in the heart of a traveler who seeks "depth" rather than glamour. A name you knew as knowledge becomes felt, for the first time, as a "living human being" by visiting here—that is the real charm of a history museum.

And what is most worth visiting is the appearance of Matsusaka Castle Ruins Park, on which the museum stands. There is no castle keep, and only the stone walls remain; on the contrary, that quietness strongly imparts the weight of history. On rainy days the stone walls grow wet and take on a deep hue, and their beauty stands out all the more. The experience of slowly climbing the stone steps while holding an umbrella gives a strange, somehow time-slip-like sensation.

Best Season / Recommended Times: In spring (March to April), the cherry-blossom season, Matsusaka Castle Ruins Park is adorned with pale pink flowers, and the contrast with the museum is exceptionally beautiful. Weekday mornings, when visitors are few, are recommended; the staff have a strong love for their hometown, and if you strike up a conversation, they may carefully teach you the background of the exhibits and local anecdotes. Such "encounters with people" are also a charm unique to a museum of this scale.

Hidden-Gem Information: Right near the museum is also the Motoori Norinaga Memorial Hall. Norinaga's own handwriting and his cherished belongings are exhibited, and by visiting it together with the museum you can experience the cultural depth of Matsusaka more deeply. Locally, the town is affectionately known as "Norinaga-san's town," and as you walk the shopping street you naturally come across monuments and signs related to Norinaga—the atmosphere of the whole town "treasuring Norinaga-san" is also a heartwarming point.

Access: About a 15-minute walk from JR / Kintetsu "Matsusaka Station." If you walk aiming for the entrance of Matsusaka Castle Ruins Park, you'll arrive naturally. From Nagoya it's about 1 hour by Kintetsu limited express, and from Osaka / Namba about 1 hour 30 minutes—good access. Around the station there are also many famous restaurants where you can taste Matsusaka beef, so it's a location where you can easily plan an ideal day, capping off a historical stroll at the museum with an exquisite beef dish.

Tips for Travelers: The admission fee is very reasonable (often free or low-priced), so the nice point is that you can drop in with the casualness of "shall we pop in for a bit?" On rainy days the castle ruins' stone pavement and stone steps become extremely slippery, so visiting in shoes with firm anti-slip soles is strongly recommended. Popular Matsusaka beef restaurants have long wait times on weekends, so if you have a restaurant in mind, don't forget to make a reservation in advance. Matsusaka, where you can deeply savor both history and food, is one of the destinations with a particularly high sense of fulfillment among Mie trips.