Mie Prefecture occupies the eastern tip of the Kii Peninsula along Japan's Pacific coast, sheltering Japan's most sacred Shinto shrine complex, a UNESCO-listed pilgrimage network, pristine pearl-farming bays, and a coastline famous for Ise lobster and Matsusaka wagyu beef.
Mie Prefecture's cuisine centres on exceptional ingredients: Matsusaka wagyu beef (often ranked Japan's finest), Ise-ebi (Japanese spiny lobster), Toba oysters, abalone, and pearls of the sea. Ise udon – thick, soft noodles dressed with a dark sweet-soy tare – and tekone-zushi (marinated tuna hand-pressed sushi) are the definitive local dishes. The Okage Yokocho street in Ise is the best place to sample traditional sweets and quick bites.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Mie Prefecture.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Wadakin
One of the most established names in Matsusaka for wagyu, operating as a formal restaurant with tatami private rooms as well as table seating. The kitchen sources beef graded and raised under the Matsusaka system, and the cooking here is deliberately simple - sukiyaki and shabu-shabu - so the fat and texture of the meat stay the focus rather than heavy sauces.
Known for: Oldest Matsusaka beef restaurant (est. 1878); owns its own cattle farm
1878 Nakamachi, Matsusaka, Mie 515-0085
Ise Udon Fukusuke
A no-frills noodle shop near the approach to Ise Jingu's Naiku, serving the prefecture's distinctive udon style: thick, very soft noodles in a small amount of dark, sweet-savoury tare rather than a hot broth. It's built for a quick bowl before or after visiting the shrine rather than a lingering meal.
Known for: Classic Ise udon – thick chewy noodles with dark sweet soy broth
Naike sando, Uji-Nakanokiri-cho, Ise, Mie 516-0024
Akafuku Honten
The original shop for Akafuku mochi, located right on the Naiku approach and dating back generations as an Ise pilgrimage-food institution. The mochi is soft rice cake topped with smooth sweetened red bean paste, sold both to eat in at simple wooden-bench seating with tea and to take away in boxes.
Known for: Famous Ise mochi sweet sold only same day; established 1707
26 Uji-Nakanokiri-cho, Ise, Mie 516-0024
Dainihokan (Nishikawa)
Popular Japanese seafood restaurant in Mie Prefecture.
Known for: Toba's freshest oysters, lobster, and abalone from local Ago Bay fishermen
3-24-2 Toba, Toba, Mie 517-0013
Yakiniku Iseya
Popular Matsusaka beef yakiniku restaurant in Mie Prefecture.
Known for: Affordable Matsusaka beef yakiniku; local favourite
1-2-5 Naka-machi, Matsusaka, Mie 515-0011
Kurufune
Popular Matsusaka beef teppanyaki restaurant in Mie Prefecture.
Known for: Open teppanyaki grill; chef cooks at table
1920-7 Naka-machi, Matsusaka, Mie 515-0072
Sushi Masuda
Popular Edomae-style sushi restaurant in Mie Prefecture.
Known for: Local fish sourced daily from Toba fish market
2-7-1 Toba, Toba, Mie 517-0011
Isobe Mochi Shop
A stall-style shop within Okage Yokocho, the reconstructed old-town shopping street by Ise Jingu, selling grilled rice cakes brushed with a soy-based glaze rather than the sweet bean-paste mochi found elsewhere on the same street. It's built for eating on foot as you walk the street.
Known for: Freshly grilled mochi in the traditional shopping street
Okage Yokocho, Uji-Nakanokiri-cho, Ise, Mie 516-0024
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Seafood
Kashikojima Umi no Sachi
Known for: Ise-ebi caught in local waters; seasonal October–April
Kashikojima, Shima, Mie 517-0502
Toba Uoichiba (Fish Market) Eatery
Known for: Eat fresh catch straight from the morning market
1-2083 Toba, Toba, Mie 517-0011
Hamayaki Seafood Grill (Goza)
Known for: Outdoor beach grill; visitors pick seafood and grill themselves
Goza-cho, Shima, Mie 517-0507
Asahi Sushi
Known for: Ise region speciality tekone-zushi; family-run since 1950
7-2 Miyamachi, Ise, Mie 516-0007
Japanese
Café Nagomi
Known for: Tranquil café near Naiku with traditional interior
34 Uji-Nakanokiri-cho, Ise, Mie 516-0024
Yoichi Izakaya
Known for: Cosy neighbourhood izakaya; wide local sake and shochu selection
2-14-8 Nishi-Tsuyukawa-cho, Tsu, Mie 514-0027
Anchor Bar & Grill
Known for: Relaxed bar with Ago Bay views; good for casual evening drinks
Kashikojima, Shima, Mie 517-0501
French
La Mer – Shima Kanko Hotel
Known for: G7 Ise-Shima Summit 2016 official dining venue; Ago Bay views
731 Ago-cho, Shima, Mie 517-0501
International Café
Café La Mer Goza
Known for: Beachside café with ocean views near Goza Shirahama
Goza-cho, Shima, Mie 517-0507
Ise Udon And Local Dishes
Katsuretsu-an
Known for: Traditional Ise dishes with tekone sushi (sailor's quick tuna sushi)
13-2 Uji Chugaisho-cho, Ise, Mie 516-0025
Local Iga Cuisine
Sakura-Tei
Known for: Traditional cuisine near Iga Ueno Castle using local Iga beef and produce
2 Ueno-Marunouchi, Iga, Mie 518-0873
Matsusaka Beef
Manpuku
Known for: Casual Matsusaka beef BBQ; popular with locals
1840 Naka-machi, Matsusaka, Mie 515-0082
Oysters
Toba Kaki Goya (Oyster Shack)
Known for: Seasonal oyster shack; grill Toba bay oysters yourself over charcoal
Toba Harbour, Toba, Mie 517-0011
Ramen
Ramen Taisei
A compact, counter-driven ramen shop in Fukiage, a residential pocket of Ise a short drive from the Naiku approach roads. The kitchen runs a straightforward tonkotsu operation alongside a shoyu bowl built on Ise's local Ise-jidori chicken, giving the menu a regional hook beyond generic pork broth. The room is small and functional, with the kind of vinyl booth and counter seating typical of neighborhood ramen-ya rather than anywhere styled for tourists.
Known for: Popular post-shrine ramen stop; rich tonkotsu broth
2-3-15 Fukiage, Ise, Mie 516-0073
Soba
Sobamasa
Known for: Stone-ground buckwheat soba served cold or hot; minimal, traditional interior
62-1 Miyamachi, Ise, Mie 516-0007
Tofu Cuisine
Tofu-Ryori Yamada
Known for: Local artisan tofu made with Mie soybean; gentle flavours
1-12-20 Honmachi, Ise, Mie 516-0073
Yakitori And Street Food
Ise Yatai Yakitori Row
Known for: Open-air food stalls; lively local atmosphere on weekends
Near Iseshi Station, Ise, Mie 516-0073
Food tours & tastings in Mie Prefecture
Eat your way through Mie Prefecture with a guide.
Browse food experiences in Mie PrefectureWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
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Vegetarian options are available but limited outside cities; tofu restaurants and temple-style shojin ryori can be found near shrines. Vegan options are very limited. Celiac travellers should note soy sauce (containing wheat) is ubiquitous; dedicated gluten-free restaurants are rare.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |