20 Parks in Mie worth your time

An agricultural park in Mie featuring a historic irrigation pond, a student-run restaurant, and a small zoo for families.

What it is

• An agricultural park in Taki, Mie, that officially opened in 1985.
• Centered around Mie Prefecture's largest irrigation pond, constructed between 1672 and 1679.
• Features a restaurant run by high school students that inspired a television drama.
• Offers outdoor recreation including a campground with lodges and a putter golf course.

What to see

• The Hana to Dobutsu Fureai Hiroba zoo with various animals.
• The historic Gokatsura Pond used for local irrigation.
• An eighteen-hole putter golf course for visitors.
• Mago no Mise, the famous restaurant operated by local students.
• The Furusato no Ie campground area featuring wooden lodges.

When to go

• Visit during strawberry and persimmon seasons for fruit picking activities.

Getting there

• A thirty-four minute walk from JR Sana Station.
• A five-minute drive from the Seiwa-Taki Interchange.

Read more about Gokatsura Pond Furusato Village

Explore ancient Yayoi and Heian period ruins, offering a glimpse into early Japanese settlement.

What it is

• A park preserving Yayoi and Heian period ruins.
• First settlement site found south of Miyagawa River.
• Discovered in 1984, now a historical park.
• Indirectly indicates Ise Grand Shrine's establishment.

What to see

• Reconstructed pit dwelling from the Yayoi period.
• Two reconstructed pillar-supported buildings.
• Remains of 22 Yayoi period buildings.
• Yayoi artifacts: pots, jars, axes, pedestals.
• Heian artifacts: green-glazed pottery, Haji ware.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Ujiyamada Station.

Read more about Kakuregaoka Ruins Park

This garden, themed on a folk song, offers flowers, greenery, and water features.

What it is

• A Japanese garden in Kihoku-cho, Mie Prefecture.
• Themed on the folk song "Gonbe-san."
• Focuses on flowers, greenery, and water.
• Opened in May 1994.

What to see

• Enjoy the flowers, greenery, and water features.
• Visit Gonbei Yashiki on site.

When to go

• Open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
• Closed on Mondays, holidays, and New Year's.

Getting there

• 60-minute walk from JR Kisei Main Line Aiga Station.
• Located along Mie Prefectural Road 760 Minamiura Miyama Line.

Read more about Home of Tanemaki Gonbei

Bellfarm is an agricultural park with gardens and activities, worth visiting for its unique offerings.

What it is

• An agricultural park in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened on April 21, 2004.
• Operated by Matsusaka Kyodo Farm Co., Ltd. since 2007.
• Admission to the park is free.

What to see

• The English Garden has nine distinct gardens.
• Three ponds: Yogoi, Onigakubo, and Zarui.
• Japan's first outdoor fitness club.
• Bellfarm Farmer's Market.

When to go

• Hosts the Matsusaka Beef Cattle Exhibition.

Getting there

• Located near the Ise Expressway Matsusaka Interchange.

Read more about Bellfarm

A modern sports park in Toba City, offering various facilities for recreation and exercise.

What it is

• A sports park owned by Toba City.
• Managed by Toba Budo Shinkokai.
• Includes a gymnasium, baseball field, and martial arts hall.

What to see

• Gymnasium completed in 2020.
• Baseball field for soft baseball.
• Martial arts hall built with Marine Promotion Association aid.
• Four clay tennis courts.
• Sumo wrestling area.
• Multi-purpose ground with a grass field.

When to go

• Park closed on Mondays, except for the pool.
• Swimming pool open from July 1 to August 31.

Read more about Toba Chuo Sports Park

A city sports park in Kuwana with extensive facilities for active recreation.

What it is

• A city park in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.
• Acquired naming rights from NTN Corporation.
• Training ground for NTN Athletics Club.
• Training ground for Veertien Mie.

What to see

• 16 artificial grass tennis courts with night lighting.
• Artificial turf soccer field.
• Multi-purpose sports areas.
• Day camp area.
• Ground golf course.

Getting there

• 7-minute walk from Mie Kotsu Oyamada Danchi bus stop.
• 3-minute walk from Mie Kotsu Sports Park South bus stop.

Read more about NTN Sports Park

Ugura Park offers scenic coastal views, a heart-shaped inlet, and rare migratory birds.

What it is

• Picnic site with four viewpoints.
• Located in Minami-Ise.

What to see

• Rocky coastline facing the Kumano Sea.
• Heart-shaped inlet from Mieshima View Point.
• Beautiful forest of evergreen broad-leaved trees.
• Rare house martin bird from Mieshima View Point.
• Nie Bay and fishing villages from Kasaragi View Point.
• Red Oyako Ohashi bridges from Akebono View Point.

When to go

• Night for clear star visibility.
• Throughout the year for house martin bird.

Read more about Ugura Park

Japan's only roadside station dedicated to sea turtle protection and breeding, worth visiting for its unique facilities.

What it is

• Japan's only roadside station for sea turtle protection.
• It also has sea turtle breeding facilities.
• Registered and opened in 1993.
• Disaster prevention functions were enhanced in 2024.

What to see

• A sea turtle aquarium.
• A sea turtle museum.
• African spurred tortoises from Shima Marineland.
• A product building.

When to go

• Open all year round.

Getting there

• Located on National Route 42.

Address

井田568-7 Map

Official site

umigamekouen.com

Read more about Roadside station Kihocho Umigame-park

One of Japan's largest aquariums, Toba Aquarium is worth visiting for its diverse marine life and unique exhibits.

What it is

• One of Japan's largest aquariums.
• Opened on April 10, 1994.
• Became a private museum in 1958.

What to see

• About 1,200 species on exhibit.
• 12 zones recreating natural environments.
• Total pathway length is 1.5 km.
• World record for dugong rearing.
• World record for nautilus rearing.

When to go

• Annual underwater entrance ceremony.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Toba Station.

Address

三重県鳥羽市鳥羽3丁目3-6 Map

Official site

www.aquarium.co.jp

Read more about Toba Aquarium

Maruyama Park offers panoramic views of Ago Bay and honors the history of cultured pearls.

What it is

• A park on Kashikojima island, part of Minato Oasis Shima.
• Established as a facility in June 2017.
• Commemorates the history of cultured pearls.

What to see

• Monument honoring cultured pearl inventors.
• Tower commemorating Akoya pearl oysters.
• Fourth-order triangulation station.
• Views of Ago Bay, Yokoyama Island, and Tatoku Island.

When to go

• Pearl Festival is held annually on October 22.

Read more about Maruyama Park

Nabana no Sato is a vast flower park known for its stunning winter illuminations.

What it is

• A flower theme park.
• Opened on July 12, 1998.
• Part of Nagashima Resort.
• Operated by Nagashima Kanko Kaihatsu.

What to see

• A large flower garden of 13,000 tsubo.
• A rotating 360-degree observation deck.
• Begonia Garden, a large greenhouse.
• A rose garden with 800 varieties.
• An ajisai and hanashobu garden of 8,000 tsubo.

When to go

• Winter illumination event from November to March.

Address

三重県桑名市長島町駒江漆畑270 Map

Read more about Nabana no Sato

Hiyamaji is a scenic agricultural and fishing area known for seasonal catches and local produce.

What it is

• A region in Shima City, Mie Prefecture.
• Focused on agriculture and fisheries.
• Borders Ago Bay at the mouth of the Hiyamaji River.
• Comprises three settlements: Hatsubuki, Shimojo, Kamijo.

What to see

• The Hiyamaji River.
• Ago Bay.
• A large camphor tree from Hiyamaji.

When to go

• Shira-uo fishing for about one month from Setsubun.
• Aonori cultivation from September to May.

Read more about Hamajimachō-hiyamaji

Daibutsuyama Park offers recreation, sports, and night views from an urban hill.

What it is

• An urban park spanning three municipalities.
• Includes a prefectural park and a city sports center.
• Located on Daibutsuyama, an isolated 50m high hill.
• Designated for biodiversity conservation as a satoyama.

What to see

• A baseball field with night lighting.
• Tennis courts for recreation.
• A multi-purpose ground and mountain bike course.
• Two observation points for night views.

Official site

daibutsu-sun.net

Read more about Daibutsuyama Park

Ise-Shima National Park offers many traditional festivals, including rare ritual dances and unique diver competitions.

What it is

• National Park in the Ise-Shima region.
• Home to Ise Jingu, a major shrine complex.

What to see

• Geku shrine (Toyo’uke-daijingu).
• Naiku shrine (Kotaijingu).
• Shirongo Beach.
• Shirahige Shrine.

When to go

• October for Hatsuhobiki ritual with rice offerings.
• Spring and fall for kagura ritual dances.
• July for Shirongo Festival with ama divers.

Official site

www.env.go.jp

Read more about Ise-Shima National Park

A large urban park with diverse facilities, ideal for families and outdoor activities.

What it is

• Mie Prefectural urban park, opened 1972.
• Developed for Meiji Centennial Commemoration Project.
• Adjacent to Suzuka Circuit.
• Will be renamed Daisei Forest Park.

What to see

• Symbol plaza, ponds, and a birdcage.
• Lawn plaza and multi-purpose plaza.
• Campground facilities.
• Athletic course and disc golf course.
• Artificial waterfall.

Official site

suzuka-seisyounennomori.com

Read more about Suzuka Seishōnen no Mori

Kiba Park is a small urban park with basic play equipment, conveniently located by a train station.

What it is

• An urban park in Shima City, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened in March 1985.

What to see

• 12 benches, 2 swings, and 1 slide.
• A new athletic facility, GREENGREENFARM.
• A commemorative monument erected in March 1989.

Getting there

• Located in front of Shima-Isobe Station.
• On the Kintetsu Shima Line.

Read more about Kiba Park

Suwa Park offers a unique blend of history and European charm in Yokkaichi.

What it is

• A city park in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened in 1906 as a Suwa Shrine park.
• Renamed Suwa Park in 1916.

What to see

• A former honjin building, Gyoko Kinenkan.
• The old Yokkaichi Municipal Library building.
• A medieval European style courtyard.
• The former library is a registered cultural property.

Read more about Suwa Park

Ise Sea Paradise is an aquarium known for close animal interaction, including the otter handshake.

What it is

• An aquarium in Ise City, Mie Prefecture.
• Opened in 1966.
• Known for close interaction with animals.
• Originator of the otter handshake.

What to see

• Pinnipeds and various fish.
• Animals with records for longevity.

Getting there

• Accessible by bus and train.

Address

〒519-0602 三重県伊勢市二見町江580番地 Map

Official site

ise-seaparadise.com

Read more about Zero Distance Aquarium Ise Sea Paradise

Kuwana Shichiri no Watashi Park offers scenic views and a peaceful escape near Kuwana Station.

What it is

• A park in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.
• Part of the Kiso Sansen National Government Park.
• Opened on November 3, 2015.

What to see

• Lawn area for relaxation.
• Scenic pond with a spring water outlet.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Kuwana Station.

Read more about Kuwana Shichiri no Watashi Park

Nihon Kamoshika Center was a specialized serow zoo and museum, now closed.

What it is

• A specialized zoo dedicated to serows.
• Opened in July 1960.
• Closed on November 30, 2006.
• The foundation dissolved on March 31, 2007.

What to see

• Various serow exhibits.
• A natural science museum.
• Museum displayed taxidermy and skeletal specimens.

Read more about Nihon Kamoshika Sentā