Inabe City and its region are located at the foot of the Suzuka Mountains in the northern part of Mie Prefecture, Japan. This prefecture is blessed with an exceptional natural environment and a centuries-old culture that is rooted in the history of the archipelago and in the hearts of its inhabitants. In Inabe, history blends with nature, culture, gastronomy and lifestyle. For a weekend or more, you can enjoy the simple pleasures of an engaging and invigorating destination.
Assets shaped by history
To find the origins of the name "Inabe", we must go back in time to the Nara period (710-794). The Inabe family, originally from the Settsu region (present-day Osaka), had settled in the area. They were the head of a group of workers in the field of navigation. Under her leadership, the group provided valuable assistance in the creation and construction of the Nara temples, a huge national project. In honor of their service to the nation, the town was named after the clan.
Inabe, with its lush natural surroundings, has long attracted new residents. Over the centuries, many people have settled here to create a new lifestyle based on the use of small-scale agricultural and forestry crops in harmony with nature. A satoyama was born in Inabe. This word of Japanese origin is the name of a border area between the mountain foothills and flat arable land. Here, mixed community forests are managed and cultivated with the utmost respect for nature. Farmers use the grasslands to feed their livestock; water levels in the rice fields are adjusted naturally by streams and reservoirs. Nature is adorned with its most beautiful assets to charm the visitors who come to walk on this sacred land
Activities for all tastes
Gastronomy is inseparable from any trip to the archipelago. On this point, Inabe has a very nice card to play. One can enjoy strolling through the Nigiwai no Mori Hutte market, a friendly and lively place reminiscent of the Nordic villages. This popular market is composed of several stores and restaurants that allow visitors to discover local products from the local production. The charm and assets of Inabe are condensed in this market, which attracts more and more travelers eager for culinary delights
With such a lush nature, contemplation is part of the daily life of travelers in Inabe. The Plum Park, or Bairin Park, is a perfect example. People flock here to participate in the "Plum Festival" in March to enjoy the harvest and experience the making of the juice of this sweet-tasting fruit. With more than 4,500 plum trees, the spectacle of the blossoming is striking and dreamlike. From the top of the hill, one has the sweet impression that white and pink sheets are floating over the surroundings. After the plum trees, it is the peonies' turn, at the end of April and beginning of May, to reveal their most beautiful colors. As for the park's restaurant, it offers up to 30 different dishes, mainly made from local products carefully harvested by the farmers of the fields managed by the restaurant.
The different experiences offered by the city are all ways to discover the regional products and the people who keep the local economy alive. The plurality of activities is an undeniable advantage. For example, it is possible to learn the ritual of ishigure-cha green tea from the Ito family, a family that has been producing it for more than 140 years, or to discover the local agriculture thanks to Yasuda and Happu farms.
Taste the local flavors of the region
In Inabe, there is no shortage of options for gourmets. For quality Japanese/Western fusion cuisine with local ingredients and homemade bread, you can visit Chef Hirano's Sakura restaurant, opened in 2000. To enjoy local cuisine, you can go to Chitose restaurant, which is located in a traditional house. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Nakajima, also hold cooking classes and workshops to learn more about the fine cuisine, local customs and gastronomy related to Inabe ingredients.
In addition, many restaurants promote their specialties. Depending on one's desire, curiosity and appetite, the choice is all the better. Whether it is with the grilled eels and their unique sauce that Nishiki restaurant is famous for; with the sweets at Konma Café or with the local vegetables cooked in a delicious way at Sugi, there is something for everyone. Special mention to Sakura Pork, a brand developed by Matsuba Pig Farm in Mie Prefecture. The name Sakura comes from the pink color of this marbled meat, low in fat, which reminds the color of cherry blossoms.
Relaxing and exotic overnight stays
With such panoramic views, a true ode to the nature of the region, the camping option can be a great experience. Aogawa-Kyo Campground, located in Aogawa Gorge, is even considered the best campground in western Japan. Campers come from all over the country to enjoy the unique nature of Inabe. The campground is so popular that it is highly recommended to make reservations as soon as the booking opens. Another place, another experience with Ugakei Camping, Japan's first outdoor park sponsored by the Danish brand Nordisk, which offers permanent Nordisk-style tents and the most comfortable cottages to enjoy the wilderness of Ugakei Gorge.
There are other offers to enjoy Inabe at your leisure, starting with the Koboku no aru Ie guesthouse, whose setting is reminiscent of the early Showa era. From the precious wooden beams to the doma floor and the period handicrafts, one is truly transported into the Japanese tradition for a night or more. To contemplate the exceptional nature of the region, you can also put your bags in the NICO guest house, an authentic inn nestled in a mountain landscape that changes with the seasons.
Inabe is full of hot springs , real Japanese relaxation heavens. One slips into them with pleasure after a long and beautiful day of excursions. You can go to Ajisai Onsen Rokkoku Kogen Hotel and its hot spring in the middle of nature or to Ageki Onsen Ajisai no sato, to enjoy a hot bath in the open air. This experience is the perfect conclusion to the whole tourist offer of Inabe: a stay that galvanizes the senses!
Getting there
From the capital Tokyo, take the shinkansen to Nagoya, then change to the Kintetsu Nagoya Express to Kuwana. From Nishikuwana station, a few minutes walk, take the Sangi Hokusei line to Ageki (Inabe). It takes a little more than 3 hours.
From Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, Nagoya is 49 and 34 minutes respectively by shinkansen. The rest of the journey by train remains unchanged.
It is possible to easily reach Inabe by rented car from the major airports of the region: Nagoya (about 1h15 min / 76 km) and Osaka International Airport (about 2h30 / 195 km).
Good to know
The Sangi Hokusei train line is a curiosity. Considered as a narrow gauge line, it is one of the last three lines in Japan still in service. The width between the two rails is so narrow that it is not uncommon to touch the foot of the person sitting opposite. Also called "matchbox train", it runs between Nishikuwana and Ageki
