Mie Prefecture. April 2024. Part 3. Toba.
Cheesecakes with a view of Mie Bay.
Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.
Morning April 27. I come to Kashikojima Port to say goodbye. It is Saturday, so a bit more activity than on a weekday including tourist boats.
My next destination is Toba in Mie.
Toba is a very small town of around 18,000 people. There is not much to do here which I like. In such places I would normally stroll aimlessely, at the same trying to chat with locals when I sense they don’t mind it either. Museums, castles, temples etc. is not really my cup of tea. Once in a while only. Among Toba travel destinations are Toba Aquarium, Toba Castle and Mikimoto Pearl Island, the first place in the world where humans succeeded to cultivate natural pearls.
To get to Toba from Kashikojima I took a 40-minutes’ train. There are some pretty trains on Toba-Shima Line!
Since Toba is famous for oysters there is a whole small street near the station offering oysters, and other seafood, in different cooking attires. Instead, I headed to a small eatery sporting big sign “IWASHI” which turned out to be a cozy family-run restaurant. Since the name is “Iwashi” (closest English equivalent will be sardine), iwashi sashimi was offered as a lunch set. “Yes, I want it please”.
I then wander the town.
Main street Honmachi Doori.
One street to the left, and it is getting clear that the town had seen better days.
Local post office. I liked the trolley.
Next, I am passing main temple in Shima-Ise area - Joanji.
There is also a castle with a park which I skipped. Instead, I moved towards one of my favorite places in any seaside town - the port. Was really tempted to board this ferry departing to Irago in Aichi prefecture “swimming” across Mie Bay.
Could be a good route for the next time. Then hike across Atsumi Peninsula towards Lake Hamana.
I then enjoy walking along another nice spot, Kamome Promenade. Ahead I can see Momotori, part of Toshijima island, nice to visit if you like oysters and fatty fish sawara (mackerel).
I find a bench and spend some time reading or rather catching myself on repetitive thoughts that I am more gazing on the water rather than reading.
Time to move closer to the hotel. Near the shopping center Toba Ichibangai I spot interesting vending machine selling cheesecakes.
There are few benches nearby inviting you to enjoy Mie Bay views whilst munching on your cakes.
And as in any true coastal town a lot of shells and other seafood!
Hotel Senpokaku is on a steep hill. So, I am expecting a good view.
And am I right!
As usual, in such hotels, the higher the floor the better. RRRRight?
Time to hit outdoor hot baths!
Mie trip has ended. But I feel I have only touched a surface of this peaceful prefecture…Will I come again? Mental nod.
(Taiwan posts to follow)