Mie's coastline unfurls as a quieter, more peaceful side of Japan. Fishing villages sit beside pearl farms and rocky coves, while the sea shapes daily life. Inland, cedar forests and pilgrimage trails lead toward Ise Grand Shrine, one of Japan's most sacred sites. Here, spiritual heritage, ocean culture, and a slower pace of living make Mie feel deeply restorative.
Toba is the living center of the Ama freediving tradition, where women divers have harvested abalone, seaweed, urchin, and shellfish for centuries. The Ama Museum preserves this heritage, while local festivals and cuisine keep the culture intact. But unfortunately, the Ama are struggling to find younger generation divers to keep the tradition alive.
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