9 SPECIAL PREFECTURES

For hundreds of years, pilgrims have flocked to Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine, the grand Ise Jingu. The truly devoted also followed the ancient cobblestoned Kumano Kodo route past gorges, waterfalls, and misty mountains. Mie is blessed with a long, winding coastline of pristine beaches, fun family attractions, and traditional Ama women divers collecting pearl oysters from the sea. At Iga Ueno Castle is the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum, where you can see how ninja used to train.