After visiting Ise Jingu, enjoy Okage-yokocho walk -1

28 Dec 2020

The KANSAI Guide

After visiting Ise Jingu, enjoy taking a walk at "Mukashi-machi" (old townscape). Along the stone paving on the bank of Isuzu-gawa river starting from the Ujibashi bridge at the entrance to the Naiku (Toyo-uke Daijingu) of Ise Jingu, you will find the shrine town called "Oharai-machi" (Purifying town) replicating old streets with restaurants, souvenir shops, traditional sweets shops with a long history and traditional inns etc. At the center of "Oharai-machi", "Okage-yokocho" (Blessing alley) with around 60 shops is very polular among Japanese tourists and local residents and is lively like a festival every day. You will be fascinated by good old Japanese sweets and lovely Japanese fancy goods and find it difficult to choose. Business hours differ by shops and seasons, but nearly all shops are open from 11:00 till 17:00.

Ebimaru

"Ebimaru" is where you can enjoy fishermen's cuisines with plenty of fresh seafoods from local sea. Ebimaru offers a variety of dishes including "Fisherman's soup" (bouillabaisse-type seafood miso soup) and "Seafood (sashimi) bowl". Also, based on your orders, they can cook live local fish from the fish-tank. Do not hesitate to try "Ebimaru" if you look for authentic good seafoods in Ise-Shima area.

Sushi-kyu

"Sushikyu" is a restaurant that represents Okage-yokocho for providing traditional local dishes, including "Tekone-zushi", known for golden vinegared rice, added with "Katsuo" (oceanic bonito) sauce made through dipping katsuo in sweet rich soy sauce. The view of clear stream Isuzu-gawa and its refreshing water adds value to good local cuisines. On the first day of each month, "Asagayu" (morning rice gruel) with seasonal ingredients will be served from 4:45 a.m..

Fukusuke

"Ise Udon" (local noodles) is popular among visitors of Ise Jingu. This Udon is quite unique to this area and not found anywhere else in Japan, as the noodles are snowy white and thick as a string of beads, and are served with deep brown Tamari Shoyu (dark deep soy sauce). It could be enjoyed by anyone, from baby food eater to elderly people.

Akafuku main store

"Akafuku-mochi" is an anko (sweet bean paste)-coated rice cake, designed to replicate the clear stream of Isuzugawa river. Akafumochi is one of the most well known traditional Japanese sweets, and it might be difficult to find any Japanese who does not know Akafuku-mochi. The main shop of Akafuku-mochi, which has been keeping the traditional taste up to now, is located fairly close to the very entrance to Ise Jingu. While it is certainly good for souvenirs, it is highly recommended to enjoy Akafuku-mochi with Japanese tea at the shop with good old atomosphere. The popular items include, "Tsuitachi-mochi" available on the first day of each month and "Akafuku-kori" (shaved ice with anko) available during summer season. Opens at 5 am.