tokyo-nagoya-mie

Satoshi has another potential tour, so we went to check out areas in Mie prefecture.

First stop was Matsusaka.

It was our first time here.

But first lunch...

The more expensive way to try Matsusaka beef is at Gyugin, where they serve sukiyaki and steak, but since our dinner was going to be French, we decided to try Matsusaka beef in a more "reasonable" way, as udon at Gyugin’s sister shop, Aoyagi.

Buy your lunch ticket at the machine and give it to the wait staff, then find a seat 

I chose the half size udon with musubi filled with beef shigure-ni (beef simmered in soy sauce and other seasonings)

This was just the right amount for me, I loved the beefiness of the broth and the tenderness of the meat...1180 yen (tax included)

Satoshi had the Matsusaka beef donburi and beef udon.

He said he enjoyed it...1980 yen (tax included)

I'm glad we tried this.

From Aoyagi it is only about 5 minutes walking to the Matsusaka Castle Ruins.

You can see the preserved samurai homes from the ruins.

There are actual families still living in most of them too!

So many ume (plum) trees in bloom

At the Harada residence, a merchant in the Matsusaka area, there was also one in bloom

Up to Matsusaka Shrine

I purchased some wagashi (Japanese sweets) for us to try

From Tatsumido, suzu monaka, tsuru no tama and mo-chan manju...430 yen (tax included)

the most interesting of these three was the mo-chan manju which had beef shigure-ni mixed in with the sweet bean paste.

It had a savory flavor to it, I'm glad we got to try these.

Kirinohayama and oinotomo from Yanagiya Houzen, which has been in business since 1575! 

The kinohayama was savory too with aonori (green laver) mixed in to the white bean paste...280 yen (tax included)

oinotomo was a monaka (wafer) filled with sweet bean paste gelee...185 yen (tax included)

And we also tried these hachimitsu (honey) manju from Tenrinyaki...95 yen (tax included))

From Matsusaka we caught the train to Toba.

The last time we were in Toba was in 2007!

The area has some new places, like the Toba Marche.

A place that sells locally grown veggies and locally made foods.

We found a Pokemon manhole cover here.

From the marche, I bought some hoshiimo (dried sweet potato) for us to try called Kinko...1000 yen (tax included)

We then went to Mikimoto Island.

Where Kokichi Mikimoto invented cultured pearls.

You can also watch Ama (sea women) dive for seafood/pearls.

On this day it was blustery and fahreezing...I give those women credit for jumping in to show us this!

We checked in late so our dinner time was 19:45!

French dinner : everything was delicious!

A long day, but Satoshi got to see everything he needed to.

Aoyagi

1657 Uomachi

Matsusaka, Mie

Open daily: 11:00-17:00

*cash only

Tatsumido

2172 Honmachi

Matsusaka, Mie

Open daily 8:00-19:00

Yanagiya Houzen

1877 Nakamachi

Matsusaka, Mie

Closed: Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Hours: 9:00-18:00

Tenrinyaki

650 Hinomachi

Matsusaka, Mie

Open daily 10:00-18:30

Altia Toba

1061-9 Arashima-cho

Toba, Mie

ps more photos/videos, here (I haven't labeled everything yet, but will do so soon!)