Ise - Toba - Shima | Local Highlights

After enjoying various attractions at Shima Spain Village Parque España, visit a natural hot spring facility located within the park, called Ise-Shima Natural Hot Spring "Himawari-no-yu". A spectacular ocean view spreads out beyond this open-air bath, helping you relax and take a break from a busy tour schedule. Kashikojima Hojoen is an upscale ryokan (Japanese-style inn) in Shima. Its featured open-air garden bath, named "Asanagi-no-Yu, Yunagi-no-Yu," offers a beautiful ocean view along with relaxing and quality bath time.

Hotel Kintetsu Aquavilla Ise-Shima and Prime Resort KASHIKOJIMA are among the high-class resort hotels in the area, offering quality guest services including spa salons. Often referred to as "Umashi-Kuni" (wonderful land blessed with delicious foods), Shima is renowned for a variety of delicious seafood. Be sure to experience the taste of the fresh catch, right from the ocean.

Enjoying onsen (hot springs)

Calling it touji (literally meaning "hot water therapy"), the Japanese have long appreciated the therapeutic effect of onsen (hot springs) to heal certain ailments, such as poor blood circulation and rheumatism. For Japanese people, taking a public bath serves as an occasion to communicate with others. Certain manners should be respected at onsen, just as at other public places.

<How to take an onsen bath>

1): Before entering the tub, rinse the body with water from the tub to clean the body, and also to gradually adjust to the water temperature. This process, called kakeyu, should start from the feet, then the hands, and eventually finish with the head.
2): After kakeyu, slowly enter the bath tub. Never jump into the tub.
3): Do not stay in the tub too long. Your blood pressure and pulse may rise too high, which could make you feel sick.
4): After getting out of the tub, it is better not to shower, which eventually rinses off the effective components of onsen water from which your body can benefit. Let the body dry naturally so that all the good elements may penetrate through the skin.

<Manners to remember at public bath>

• Wash your body and hair at the showers, not in the tub.
• Rinse the soap off completely before entering the tub.
• Do not dip your towel in the tub.

"Asanagi-no-Yu, Yunagi-no-Yu" at Kashikojima Hojoen

The water contains sodium chloride and hydrogen carbonate. As the name implies, the view of a beautiful sunrise can be enjoyed from "Asanagi-no-Yu" and a beautiful sunset from "Yunagi-no-Yu." The water here can be effective in treating neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, motor weakness, bruises, sprains, hemorrhoids, chronic digestive disorders, poor blood circulation, and fatigue, and aiding recovery from illness and health promotion and so on.

Ise-Shima Natural Hot Spring "Himawari-no-yu" at Shima Spain Village

Good-quality, simple alkaline water leaves your skin silky-smooth. An open-air bath looks down on the ocean, creating a relaxing space to ease your body and mind. The sunset view from the bath is particularly impressive, and the salt sauna is popular for its esthetic benefits (available only at the women's bath).
Potentially efficacious for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulder, motor weakness, stiff joint, bruises, sprains, chronic digestive disorders, hemorrhoids, poor blood circulation, recovery from illness, recovery from fatigue, and health promotion and so on.

"Tomoyama-no-Yu" at Hotel Kintetsu Aquavilla Ise-Shima

Natural hot spring water contains sodium/calcium chloride. Enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding nature from a huge indoor bath, or experience Mother Nature directly in an open-air bath.
The water here can be effective in treating cuts, burns, chronic skin disease, physically weak children, chronic gynecopathy, neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, motor weakness, bruises, sprains, hemorrhoids, chronic digestive disorders, poor blood circulation, and fatigue, and aiding recovery from illness and health promotion and so on.

Ise ebi (small lobster)

Mainly caught around the Shima Peninsula from October through April, Ise ebi is one of the most expensive gourmet ingredients from the local ocean. While sashimi (raw slices) is the best way to enjoy its freshness, Ise ebi can be cooked and enjoyed in many ways, such as in miso(soybean paste) soup, grilled or stewed. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the fine flavor of the fresh local catch.

Shima awabi (abalone)

Fed on good quality seaweed, Shima awabi has earned a reputation for its outstanding quality. Those caught by the hands of ama divers are given a higher grade at the market and are served at local minshuku (guest houses) and ryokan (Japanese inns) and often are shipped to exclusive restaurants in large cities. Available from April through September, Shima awabi is best enjoyed as steak or sashimi (raw slices).

Matoya kaki (oyster)

Often described as "milk from ocean" in Japan, oysters are rich in nutrients. Matoya kaki is especially known for its size, which is the result of being grown in the nutrient-rich ocean. Cleaned by a special technology that uses UV light, Matoya kaki can be safely enjoyed raw. Available for a longer period than other varieties, from September to March, Matoya kaki can also be enjoyed grilled, deep-fried, stewed with miso, and many other ways.

Anori fugu (blowfish)

Known as a local specialty in winter, Anori fugu refers to a torafugu blowfish that falls under a specific definition: it must be naturally caught in Ise Bay, Enshunada Sea, or Kumanonada Sea, and weigh 700 grams or more. Most Anori fugu are landed near the Anori Fishing Port. Available between October and February, Anori fugu tastes great as tessa (sashimi-sliced row blowfish), tetchiri (stew), karaage (deep-fried), or zosui (stewed with rice).

Extend your trip and visit Iga: The hometown of ninja

From IGA-KAMBE Station, it only takes a short ride on a colorfully-painted ninja or kunoichi (female ninja) train of the Iga Railway to Iga-no-Sato, hometown of the ninja. Working as secret agents during the feudal period, ninja played an important role in the support their master shogun (feudal lord) from behind the scenes. Trained with special skills and techniques, ninja were able to quietly sneak into the enemy's residences, collect information, and fight with enemy warriors. The Iga-Ueno area flourished as a castle town and has been known as the home of Iga-ryu, one of the two major historic ninja schools. Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum features the world's largest collection of ninja articles and is popular for thrilling ninja action shows. The area is also known as the birthplace of Matsuo Basho, the great master of haiku poetry. Haiseiden (a memorial hall whose building is designed to represent the figure of Basho on his trip) and Basho Memorial Museum are among the places related to Basho, where another key element of Japanese culture is introduced through the life of the haiku master.

Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum

A unique museum where visitors can experience the thrill of ninja arms and their special techniques. A kunoichi (female ninja) guide demonstrates and explains various secret tricks hidden in a ninja yashiki (house).

Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum (117 Ueno-Marunouchi, Iga-city(inside Ueno Park))

Ninja souvenir items

In addition to ninja house tours and ninjutsu martial arts experiences, Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum has souvenir shops that sell a variety of ninja-related items, including ninja dress-up costumes (for adults and children) and shuriken (throwing stars).

Souvenir shops within Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum: Ninja-Bo (117 Ueno-Marunouchi, Iga-city (inside Ueno Park)), Iga-Ryu Ninja-Shop (1938 Ueno-Atagomachi, Iga-city)