There are a lot of great places to visit in Mie, but what I recommend the most is an afternoon drive from Matsusaka all the way down to the Miyagawa River on Route 42. The untouched mountainsides, lush rice paddies and clusters of traditional homes along the way provide scenery that makes the trip as enjoyable as the destination.

Along the way, in Matsusaka City, I recommend stopping at Matsusaka Hot Springs, Kumano no Sato (松阪温泉・熊野の郷, matsusaka-onsen・kumano no sato), a Japanese-style public bath. Kumano no Sato has only a short history in Matsusaka, but its state of the art facilities and unique indoor and outdoor baths (there are both Japanese-style and Bali-style, which alternate between men and women, depending on the day) make it a welcome break even on a warm day.

After that, keep driving south on Route 42, and if you need a snack you can stop for something homemade or to buy local produce or tea at the rest stop called “Michi no Eki Okuise Ōdai” (道の駅奥伊勢おおだい). Ōdai is famous for tea, and this is a great place to buy a bag to bring home with you for after your visit. Just down the road, turn onto the 31 at the police station, and if you’re lucky you can catch some wonderful glimpses of the clear blue water as you follow this road along the Miyagawa river.

As you enter what used to be called Miyagawa Village, follow signs to Okuise Forestopia (奥伊勢フォレストピア), a hotel with hot springs and a restaurant surrounded by more beautiful nature. From here you can start off on a hike through the woods to a nearby waterfall, followed by lunch or a bath at Forestopia and really enjoy all that the countryside has to offer.

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  Osugi Valley/Oodai Plateau

  A hidden frontier remaining at the headwaters of the Miya River. The ravine is continuous rapids and cliffs, with several hundred waterfalls. The primitive forest grows luxuriantly, with plank walkways and suspension bridges passing through it. However, it is not possible to walk the full course in a day trip, and the path is steep, so it is intended for experienced hikers.
  ※In the event of a disaster, current mountain roads will be closed.

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  Okuise Forestpia

  A nature therapy complex along the banks of a clear river flowing through the center of a forest surrounded by greenery, with a hotel, cottages, hot-spring facility, and various kinds of experience facilities, as well as facilities such as field athletics ground, garden, tennis courts, etc., where nature and time mingle to create scenery and sounds to make you forget the passage of time.