8 THINGS TO DO
IN IGA

Here's a collection of eight classic travel styles to help you enjoy Iga to the fullest.
If you want to visit Iga but don’t know where to go first,
try our Iga Quick & Easy Guide!

Enjoy Iga's Amazing Scenery and Nature Activities

Traditional Craft-making Experience

Taste The Delicious Flavors of Iga

Where to Stay

Iga's Finest Products as Souvenirs

Take in The History of Iga on a

Walk Around Town

Experience Being a Ninja in Ninja Town

Experience Iga's Traditional Events and Festivals

Enjoy Iga’s Amazing Scenery and Nature Activities

Take a Scenic Drive And Wash Away Your Fatigue At a Hot Spring

Drive along the ridge of the Aoyama Highlands, stretching roughly 10 kilometers from north to south. From the lush nature of the highlands, take in spectacular views of Ise Bay during the day and a sky full of stars at night. At Koraku no Yu bath in Kiryu Hot Springs at Menard Aoyama Resort, a resort complex located 600 meters above sea level in the Aoyama Highlands, enjoy four types of baths, including the Aromatic Bath which features freshly picked herbs floating in the water. The vast Mokumoku Tezukuri Farm offers a miniature pig show, handicraft workshop, and so much more that it is hard to fit all the fun into just one day.

Create a Unique Work All Your Own

Create a souvenir for yourself at Iga Ware Traditional Industry Hall, where the history and materials of Iga-ware are exhibited and available for purchase, and where you can enjoy casual pottery-making, trying your hand at techniques such as hand-coiling, an electric potter’s wheel, and painting. At Iga Kumihimo Center Kumi no Sato, you can experience a traditional form of braid and cord making known as kumihimo, a local industry in Iga. The way that each and every kumihimo piece is unique depending on who made it despite using the exact same materials is fascinating to see.

Exquisite Cuisine You Can Only Find In Iga

The place to go to taste Iga Beef, the “Yokozuna (Champion) of Meat”, is the main store of Ganso Iganiku Kanaya, which boasts more than 100 years of history. Kanaya offers Iga Beef prepared in a variety of unique ways, including sukiyaki and grilled with butter, which garners high praise from foodies both in Japan and abroad.
Tofu Dengaku is the definitive local dish of Iga. The Tofu Dengaku at Dengakuza Wakaya, made with carefully selected ingredients such as tofu made from organically grown soybeans and miso aged for about 1,000 days, is exquisite.

Relax And Rest Your Wings At a Hotel That Best Suits Your Needs

Nipponia Hotel Iga-Ueno Castle Town is the ideal choice for those who want to experience a stay in a historical building. This small-scale, decentralized, high-class hotel utilizes renovated historic residences and merchant houses scattered throughout Iga-Ueno, offering guests the opportunity to experience Iga’s history and culture throughout their stay.

Iga Megumi Souan is recommended for those who want to experience country life that is a little different from a stay in the city. Renting out one of the private houses that retain the nostalgic, traditional air of Japanese homes is also a great way to enjoy a stay with your family or a group of friends.

A Little Something For Yourself And a Gift For That Special Someone

Discover a plethora of souvenirs that embody the charm of Iga. First and foremost are Iga’s prized beef, sake, and rice. Iga Beef is an especially good choice, as it is a hard-to-find food that is typically only available in and around Iga. Savor this delicious beef together with Iga’s famous sake, brewed using the area’s high-quality rice and fresh mountain spring water. The local Iga brand Igamono, a collection of products created by the culture and lifestyle of Iga, is a perfect choice for a gift. Ninja-related souvenirs and historical specialty products can be found at Nishimachiya Kakan.

Reminisce on The Olden Days as You Eat And Walk

The first thing to do when you get to Iga is to visit Iga-Ueno Castle, where you can take in a view of the castle town of Iga from a special seat. The castle town is home to a number of facilities related to haiku poetry master Matsuo Basho, who was born in Iga. Take a stroll around the town while enjoying fresh gelato from the Kitagawa Milk Shop or a Ninja Parfait from Murai Bankoen. Enjoy a pleasant journey through the elegant townscape of Iga, with its traditional old shops along the Iga Kaido and Yamato Kaido roads.

Fully Immerse Yourself In The World of The Ninja

Iga is a mecca for ninjas and home to the Ninja Henshin Dokoro (Ninja Transformation Spot), where you can dress up in a ninja costume and then stroll through town. The Iga-ryu Ninja Museum features a ninja house packed with rotating wall panels and other tricks, as well as exhibits of weapons and Ninjutsu texts used by the ninja of the time. The breathtaking Ninjutsu performances are also a big hit with visitors.

See this UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Up Close!

Ueno Tenjin Festival is the largest autumn festival in the Iga-Ueno area, boasting 400 years of tradition and history. The procession of more than a hundred demons, a rarity in Japan, and the gorgeous and elegant parade of Danjiri floats from the 9th century through the castle town are sights to behold. The Danjiri floats and demons can be seen even outside of the festival season at the Danjiri Kaikan Museum.