Experience a unique high-color walk-and-eat while touring attractions in Kuwana, Mie Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Apr 29 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Experience a unique high-color walk-and-eat while touring attractions in Kuwana, Mie

Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture flourished in ancient times as an important hub on the Tokaido Highway. Rich in water and greenery, the city is popular for its famous "hamaguri" (clams) and Nagashima Resort, one of the best theme parks in Japan. This time, we participated in the Kuwana High Color Tourism Digital Coupon Campaign in January 2023, touring Kuwana's representative tourist attractions and enjoying newly developed sweets with a high color consciousness.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Mie.

1. Rokkaen Area

Construction of Rokkaen began in 1911 and was completed in 1913 as the new residence of Seiroku Moroto II, a businessman known as the "king of forests." The mansion, which consists of Western-style buildings, Japanese-style buildings, storehouses, and a "pond garden" on a vast site, has retained much of its original appearance, although it has been partially renovated and damaged in the war. The Western-style building such as Rokumeikan and other buildings was designed by Josiah Conder, an English architect who is also known as the "father of modern architecture in Japan."

Irodori Monaka at Restaurant Rocca

The vivid colors of this dish will make your heart jump as soon as it is placed in front of you. On the far left is a piece of monaka skin in the shape of a clam, a Kuwana specialty, on which you can place, insert, or dip the wagashi on the plate. In the center of the plate is the famous "Isecha Mont Blanc!" No coloring agent is used for this color. The color is achieved by making a paste of Ise-cha (Ise tea) instead of using it as a powder. The base of the Mont Blanc is sweet potato, and the taste of Ise tea is very rich and punchy with a savory flavor.

Restaurant Rocca

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2 pm) / Dinner 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Closed: None
Average price: 2,000 JPY
Address: 22-4 Taichimaru, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

2. Teramachi Shopping Street Area

Teramachi-dori Shopping Street has been in Kuwana City for a long time. It was snowing on this day, but the arcade allows visitors to enjoy eating and walking without worrying about the weather. Not only restaurants but also stores of various genres are gathered here, and the morning market "Sanpachi" on the days that fall on the 3rd and 8th of every month attracts many people.

Red Rose Cream Soda at MAGO7 (Magohichi) Cafe & Sundries

The owner, Mr. Katagiri, is a French lover, and his café is popular for its tasteful selection of sundries and French tea. Katagiri's warm personality is also attractive, making it a place where people of all ages and genders gather. The red rose that makes this cream soda so impressive is made of agar, and the green apple flavor, not melon, is different and fresh. The beautiful imported things all around it add to the opulent atmosphere.

MAGO7 (Magohichi) Cafe & Sundries

Open: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
Average price: 1,000 JPY
Address: 44 Minami-teramachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

MuGicafe's "Sanshoku Dango" and "Kraft Kora”

Have you ever heard about Kuwana glutinous wheat? It is a domestic wheat produced in Kuwana, and its characteristic feature is that you can enjoy its firm texture by itself. Here at MuGicafe, you can enjoy pasta and sweets made with Kuwana glutinous wheat. The "Sanshoku Dango'' are handmade and deep-fried one by one, with a crispy outside and a chewy inside, which explains why they are called "dango."

"Kraft Kora" is an authentic, additive-free product made from spices based on brown sugar and beet sugar. A waffle produced from Kuwana glutinous wheat is used in place of the plastic cover, which is an enjoyable surprise. It's a great store, from the use of barley straws to its thorough and sustainable attitude!

MuGicafe

Open: [Monday to Thursday, Sunday, Holidays] 11:00 am - 5:00 pm / [Friday, Saturday] 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Closed: Tuesday
Address: 42 Kyomachi, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture

Belier's "Mikan Ginger"

Belier is popular for its sweets using fruits from the local fruit specialty store "Osumi Fruits" and sandwiches using fresh vegetables from the fruit and vegetable wholesaler. The Japanese modern design of the store is also very nice. "Mikan Ginger" is a drink that combines fresh Aoshima mikan with a base of homemade ginger syrup made from fresh ginger. Recommended for takeout. (Eat-in customers receive a 50 yen discount for a sandwich or dessert + drink.)

BELIER

Open: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Wednesday, Sunday, Holidays
Average price: 1,000 JPY
Address: 68 Minami Uomachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

Ishidori Parfait at Hoboya Teramachi Branch

Founded in 1920 during the Taisho era, Hoboya Teramachi Branch is a long-established Japanese confectionery store that has been in business for over 100 years. This sweet is a parfait shaped like the Ishidori Festival. Ishidori Matsuri is an early summer festival of Kasuga Shrine that has continued for more than 400 years since the early Edo period (1603-1868), and is known as "the noisiest festival in Japan'' with the beating of gongs and drums. The festival car is molded in the middle and is filled with ice cream, strawberries, butter, and our signature Tsubuan (sweet bean paste), the lifeblood of a Japanese confectionery store.

Hoboya Teramachi Branch

Open: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Closed: Monday
Address: 58 Kita-teramachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

Haikara Sanshoku Shirotama Azukin by Daikokuya

Next, we went to Daikokuya, also in the arcade. This store was established in 1932, and the owner, Mr. Goto, is now in the third generation. The soy sauce-mitarashi dumplings created by Shimakomochiten, where Mr. Goto's grandfather received his training, are this shop's specialty. The Dango are made with white bean flour to match the rich soft-serve ice cream, and the soft-cooked Tsubuan and Kinako (roast soybean powder) are combined to create a simple but well-calculated and exquisitely balanced taste.

Daikokuya

Average price: 1,000 JPY
Address: 67 Minami-teramachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

3. Kasuga Shrine Area

Officially known as "Kuwana Sosha," it is the chief Shinto shrine of Kuwana, consisting of two shrines, Kuwana Shrine and Nakatomi Shrine. The shrine has a history of more than 1,000 years, and wedding ceremonies have been held here for more than a thousand years, as the two shrines are located in harmony with each other. It is a highly prestigious shrine that has been revered by successive lords of Kuwana Castle, including donations of divine domains from Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa, and is said to be blessed with prosperity for descendants, prosperity for business, and good luck.

Shirozakeya Mosaburo's "Haikara Plate"

Shirozakaya Mosaburo is a popular store crowded with shaved ice in the summer. The plates, which are all handmade by the owner, Mr. Ito, are beautifully decorated in a vivid green color based on matcha green tea. The matcha leaves used for the ice cream and chiffon cake come from Nishio, Aichi Prefecture, a famous tea-producing region. The tea has a strong aroma and a robust, mellow flavor. On the left is Kuwana's famous rice cracker, "Tagane," which has an addictive smell and exquisite saltiness!

Shirozakeya Mosaburo

Open: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (On July and August 10:00 am - 7:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday

Average price: 1,000 JPY
Address: 24 Kita Uomachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

Toraya Manju's "Strawberry Yakihamaguri"

"Toraya Manju" is a long-established Japanese confectionery store that even Mr. Ito of "Shirozakaya Mosaburo" is a big fan of. "Toraya Manju," which bears the name of the store, has many fans and is visited by many tourists as well as locals. "Strawberry Yakigurimari" is served here. The moist dough shaped like a clam, a Kuwana specialty, is filled with sweet bean paste, whipped cream, and strawberries. The mochi is heavy in one's hand, and the amount of red bean paste used is a whopping 50 grams! Today's strawberry is a crimson hope, and its exquisite sourness balances the overall taste.

Toraya Manju

Open: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Closed: Thursday
Address: 54 Honmachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfeture

The Kasuga's An Butter French Toast

The Kasuga, which opened after renovating a hall attached to the grounds of Kasuga Shrine, is a restaurant that meets a wide range of needs, including weddings, restaurant use, and afternoon tea in the lounge/café. The "An Butter French Toast" developed for this time for walk-and-eat with a large amount of reddish brown sugar used in the toast, to make a big impact! The red bean paste is hidden underneath. The eggs used in the French toast are from Yokkaichi's Kirara no Sato, and the Danish bread is soaked overnight in the egg mixture. It's fantastic to be able to savor the moist texture, creamy egg flavor, and buttery scent of the Toast!

THE KASUGA

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 1:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 7:30 pm) / Lounge Cafe 11:00 am - 5:00 pm (L.O. 4:30 pm) / Banquet 11:00 am - 9:00 pm (L.O. 7:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: Lunch 3,000 JPY / Dinner 7,000 JPY
Address: 46 Honmachi, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

4. Shichiri-no-watashiato area

Nagoya Miyashuku, the 41st of the 53 stops on the Tokaido Highway, was one of the largest and most crowded at the time. To reach Kuwana-juku - the 42nd stop, from Miyashuku, one had to travel by sea. The distance between Miyajuku and Kuwana-juku was seven Li in the unit of measurement of the time, hence the name "Shichiri-no-watashi". The symbolic Otorii (Grand Gate) is called "the best torii in Ise Province" and is rebuilt every time the Ise Jingu Shrine is relocated.

Kofukudo's An Butter Sandwich from Kakiyasu Seiniku Honten

"Kakiyasu" is overwhelmingly well known throughout Japan. Did you know that the main store is located in Kuwana? It is a long-established butcher store founded in 1871, and also produces wagashi under the brand name "Kofukudo”. The traditional manufacturing method is maintained, and each confectionary is made in the store so that customers can easily enjoy the nostalgic and simple taste. Among the many Kakiyasu stores, Kakiyasu Seiniku Honten is the only one with a bakery department, and the "An Butter Sandwich" is the menu item this time, taking advantage of the bakery's strength. The sweet bean paste, which is procured from Kofukudo, is sandwiched between butter and homemade brioche, which is rich in butter and eggs, and the shape of the sandwich is very cute. The perfect size is perfect for a walk-and-eat tour.

Kakiyasu Seiniku Honten

Open: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: 1,000 JPY
Address: 8 Yoshinomaru, Kuwana City, Mie Perfecture

Bindora at Hajime Tea Shop in Shukuba

Now, it is time for the last stop on our food tour. The homemade dorayaki is very popular at this cozy store right in front of the Ichino-torii at the site of Shichiri-no-watashi. “Bindora” is a combination of dorayaki and strawberries in a bottle. The beautiful appearance is intriguing from every angle. Under the matte-textured whipped cream lid is a moist dorayaki, and the natural sweetness of the tsubuan (sweet bean paste) gives it a gentle taste. Dried fruits and corn flakes are also included, and the flavor changes with each bite, so you will never get tired of eating it and will eat it in spurts.