In March 2025, just like last year,
I took about two weeks off and went on a road trip through Mie, Wakayama, Nagasaki, and Yamaguchi prefectures.
The total distance traveled was about 3,500 km.
This year, I tried some new things, such as taking a ferry for part of the journey and staying at campgrounds.
I visited places like Ise-Shima in Mie, Nachi Taisha and Shionomisaki in Wakayama, Nagasaki Peninsula, and Akiyoshido in Yamaguchi.
It was a physically demanding trip again this year,
but I was able to see many landscapes I had never seen before,
making it a very satisfying journey.
This trip lasted 11 days, with a total distance of about 3,500 km.
Here is the timeline and the spots I visited during the trip.
Day 1: Tokyo (Home) → Ise City
On the 1st day, I left my home in Tokyo and headed to my first destination, Ise City in Mie Prefecture.
I arrived in Ise City before sunset,
so I dropped off my luggage at the hotel and went to a nearby hot spring to relax.
Ise Set Meal (Ise Udon and Mini Tekone Sushi) at the hot spring restaurant
Day 2: Ise Jingu & Ise-Shima Sightseeing
On the 2nd day, I toured Ise Jingu and the Ise-Shima area.
The Ise and Ise-Shima area is much larger than I expected, with many tourist spots.
If you want to take your time sightseeing, it's best to allow plenty of days.
Day 2-1: Ise Jingu
I visited both the Outer Shrine and Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu.
As expected, Ise Jingu was very crowded even on a weekday.
It was hard to take photos without people in them,
so I don't have many pictures to share.
Ise Jingu Inner Shrine
On the way back from the shrine,
I had zenzai (sweet red bean soup) at the Akafuku.
It had been a while since I had sweet red bean paste, and it was delicious.
I thought about buying Akafuku mochi as a souvenir,
but the shelf life was short (only two days?), so I gave up.
Akafuku Zenzai
I went early on a weekday morning, but the parking lot at the Inner Shrine was almost full.
I parked a bit farther away, but even that lot had a line of cars waiting when I left.
If you plan to visit by car, be careful about parking.
Day 2-2: Iseshima Skyline
After visiting Ise Jingu, I drove along the Iseshima Skyline.
The feeling of driving along the mountain ridges,
the breathtaking views from the observatory,
and the solemn Kongoshoji Temple were all wonderful experiences.
After driving the Iseshima Skyline, I took the Pearl Road toward Iseshima.
I stopped at the Toba Observatory and had lunch at the cafe there.
The ocean view from the cafe was spectacular.
Sandwich (or burger?) at the Toba Observatory cafe
After eating and taking a short break, I headed to the Yokoyama Observatory.
After sightseeing, I went to the same hot spring as the first day and relaxed.
Mysterious robot at the hot spring
Day 3: Ise City, Mie → Kushimoto Town, Wakayama
On the 3rd day, I aimed for Kushimoto Town,
the southernmost point of Honshu, starting from Ise City.
I stopped by the Umigame (Sea Turtle) Aquarium, Kumano Nachi Taisha, and Nachi Falls,
then enjoyed Shionomisaki, the southernmost tip of Honshu, and the Shionomisaki Lighthouse, before heading to the campground for the night.
Wakayama was much bigger than I expected...
Day 3-1: Umigame (Sea Turtle) Aquarium
I stopped by the Umigame Aquarium in Kiho Town, Mie Prefecture.
The Umigame Aquarium is a small, free aquarium attached to the Kiho Town Umigame Park roadside station, where they work to protect sea turtles and raise awareness.
Kiho Town Umigame Park
Inside the building, various turtles of different sizes are kept,
and you can see many turtles up close that you wouldn't normally encounter.
Large sea turtleTurtle taking a walkDonation box (donate 500 yen or more to get a badge)
They also post photos and videos of turtles on social media like X (formerly Twitter),
so if you're interested, follow them for some healing content 🐢🐢🐢
The 4th day was mostly a travel day,
moving from Kushimoto Town at the southern tip of Wakayama to Iyo City in western Shikoku.
The distance was about 500 km, taking 7 hours even without stops.
Most of the day was spent driving, with the only sightseeing break at the Awaji Service Area to view the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
I arrived in Iyo City in the evening and had dinner at a local ramen chain in a shopping mall.
Ramen at a shopping mall in Iyo City
Day 5: Iyo City, Ehime → Nagasaki City, Nagasaki
On the 5th day, I headed from Iyo City to Nagasaki City in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Heading west from Iyo City along the Sadamisaki Peninsula,
I found the Ikata Nuclear Power Plant operated by Shikoku Electric Power.
Next to the plant is a roadside station and the Ikata Visitors' House,
where you can see free exhibits and explanations about nuclear power generation.
Exhibits at Ikata Visitors’ House
Continuing west, I took the ferry from the Route 94 Ferry Misaki Office to Oita.
A sea journey is nice once in a while.
From the ferry deck
In Oita, I stopped by Beppu Onsen, enjoyed the hot springs and a relaxing meal, then headed to Nagasaki.
Beppu Onsen was very crowded even on a weekday...
Set meal at a restaurant in Beppu Onsen
I arrived safely in Nagasaki, marking the end of the first half of the trip.
Day 6-7: Family Home
I spent some relaxing time at my family home.
Day 8: Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
On the 8th day, I visited the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium and saw penguins.
Day 10: Nagasaki City, Nagasaki → Okayama City, Okayama
The 10th day marks the start of the return journey to Tokyo.
The only sightseeing spot on the way back was Akiyoshido Cave in Yamaguchi Prefecture,
and I drove straight toward Tokyo.
The Mekari Parking Area, where I stopped along the way, offered a great view of the Kanmon Straits.
