Mie

Mie is a prefecture on the Pacific side of the Kii Peninsula in central Japan, running from industrial bayfront in the north to pearl coves and sacred forests in the south. It holds Japan's most venerated Shinto site and, at the other extreme, the country's most famous racetrack.

Ise Jingu draws millions of pilgrims to forest sanctuaries rebuilt from fresh cypress every twenty years, while Suzuka Circuit hosts Formula 1's Japanese Grand Prix. The islands of Ago Bay shelter the pearl farms where cultured pearls began, with Mikimoto's museum island in nearby Toba.

Add the ninja heritage of Iga on the prefecture's inland side, and eat well: Matsusaka beef ranks among the most prized wagyu in Japan, and Ise ebi lobster headlines coastal menus. Kintetsu trains from Osaka and Nagoya reach the shrine country directly. Autumn and spring suit the pilgrimage paths.