[Kuwana Retro Stroll] From its History to Famous Dishes, Introduction of a Recommended Itinerary!

Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, where the atmosphere of a castle town still remains. It is a charming town with retro scenery, from nostalgic shopping streets to historic buildings.

Starting with the tourist attractions “Rokkaen” and “Kyuka Park”, there are plenty of attractions such as gourmet dishes using the famous clams and retro coffee shops!

This time, we will introduce an itinerary where you can enjoy a retro walk in Kuwana for a whole day. In the second half, we will also introduce recommended souvenirs.

What is "Kuwana" with its Retro Atmosphere?

Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture is blessed with the magnificent nature of the three Kiso Rivers and Mt. The specialty clams are famous nationwide. Nagashima Spa Land, Tado Taisha Shrine, Rokkae, and Tokaido Shichiri no Watariato traces are some of the most abundant tourist attractions in Mie Prefecture.

In addition, Ishidori Festival, which is held in the city every August, is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and is called "Noisiest festival in Japan."

A Recommended Itinerary to Enjoy Kuwana
from Morning to Evening!

<Recommended Itinerary>

9:00 Arrive at Kuwana Station
9:20 Morning breakfast at retro coffee shop "Chateau Kuwana "
10:20 Take a walk in Kyuka Park to feel the history
11:30 Kuwana's symbol "Rokkaen"
13:00 Lunch at the retro western restaurant "Restaurant Azumaya"
14:30 Take a walk along the “Shichiri no Watashiato”
15:00 Let's eat clam snacks at "Toraya Manju"!
15:20 Head to “Taganeya”, a specialty of Kuwana
16:00 Eat while walking and get souvenirs at Kuwana Teramachi Shopping Street!
18:00 Returnto Kuwana Station

9:00｜Arrive at Kuwana Station!

I arrived at Kuwana station at 8am. It's about 30 minutes by train from Nagoya, so it's perfect for a day trip!

<Access from Nagoya>
By train: About 25 minutes on the JR Kansai Main Line or Kintetsu Nagoya Line
By car: About 30 minutes on the Higashi-Meihan Expressway or Isewangan Expressway

First of all, let's have morning breakfast at the coffee shop "Chateau Kuwana"!

9:20 | Morning breakfast at "Chateau Kuwana"!

<Kuwana Station → Chateau Kuwana｜Taxi about 8 minutes, walking about 16 minutes>

The coffee shop "Chateau Kuwana" was founded in 1974. It was started by their mother, and now sisters (daughters) run the restaurant. Morning breakfast is served in the morning, and the hearty lunch menu, such as traditional teppanyaki Italian pasta and sandwiches, is very popular at noon.

The bright and spacious interior will make you feel like you have slipped back in time to the Showa era. Retro lighting is also very nice!

Morning breakfast with delicious thick-sliced toast (400 yen).

Morning breakfast service is from 9:00 to 11:00. For drinks, you can choose from coffee, tea, milk, or cafe au lait.

For those who want to taste the retro atmosphere, we also recommend the specialty teppan Italian and cream soda. The eggs and Neapolitan spaghetti served on a hot iron plate are irresistible.

[Chateau Kuwana]
Address : 124 Uchibori, Kuwana, Mie Pref.
Phone number : 0594-21-4188
Business hours : 9:00-18:00
Closed ：Wednesday

* morning breakfast service is from 9:00 to 11:00

10:20｜Stroll around Kyuka Park to Feel the History

Statue of Honda Tadakatsu, the strongest general in the Sengoku era who continued to support Tokugawa Ieyasu.

< Chateau Kuwana → Kyuka Park | About 5 minutes on foot>

"Kyuka Park" is a popular park for Kuwana citizens as a place to relax. It was built on the Honmaru and Ninomaru ruins of Kuwana Castle.

"Cherry Blossom Festival"

"Azalea Festival"

Covering an area of about 7.2 hectares, the park is decorated with cherry blossoms in April, azaleas in May, and irises in June.

The garden has a quiet and calm atmosphere, perfect for a stroll! A large moat remains, so you can enjoy walking while crossing several bridges.

On sunny days, we recommend buying a bento lunch from Kakiyasu Honten near the park and having a picnic.

There are also a number of historical sites, including the "Chinkoku Shukoku Shrine" dedicated to Matsudaira Sadatsuna (Lord Chinkoku) and Matsudaira Sadanobu (Lord Morikuni, Lord Rakuo) at the site of the main castle, and the remains of the Kuwana Castle tower next to the main castle.

Please enjoy the historical walk as well.

[Kyuka Park]
Address : 5-1 Yoshinomaru, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number : 0594-21-9932
https://www.city.kuwana.lg.jp/asset/kouen/kyuka.html

11:30｜Rokkaen, the Symbol of Kuwana

<Kyuka Park → Rokkaen｜About 3 minutes by cab, about 13 minutes on foot>

As one of Kuwana City's leading tourist spots, Rokkaen is visited by about 50,000 people nationwide and abroad every year. A Western-style building with a four-story penthouse designed by the British architect Josiah Conder, who worked on the Rokumeikan*, and a Japanese-style building with a strolling pond garden. It's a thing.

The highlight of Rokkaen is its mixture of Japanese and Western styles. The Western-style and Japanese-style buildings are designated as national important cultural properties.

*What is Rokumeikan?
A Western-style building of an international social institution built in 1883 (Meiji 16) as part of the Westernization policy of Kaoru Inoue, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Rokkaen was originally built as a new residence for Seiroku Moroto, a businessman known as the King of Forests, and it still retains its original appearance. You can also see many materials from that time, such as floorboards, tiles, doorknobs, and hidden keys.

This is the carriage porch on the first floor of the Western-style building. Although the beautiful stained glass was damaged during the war, it has been restored to its original beauty through renovation.

The tower is a symbol of Western-style buildings. The original design stage was 3 stories, but it was changed to 4 stories because the view of the Ibi River and Nagara River could not be seen due to the row of cherry blossom trees planted by the founder Seiroku Moroto.

The window glass is a curved window, which was very expensive even at that time. The vivid blue exterior is recommended as a commemorative photo spot.

You can feel Josiah Conder's attention to detail everywhere, such as the different tiles depending on the fireplace and the glass door on the 2nd floor as a solarium so that the sunlight can reach it.

In addition, there are heart motifs in various places in Western-style buildings, such as stair railings and fireplace decorations, so be sure to look for them!

As you approach the Japanese-style building, you will be overwhelmed by the beautiful pond garden that can be seen through the open shoji screens. The garden of the Western-style building is at a height that you can see from a chair, while the garden of the Japanese-style building is adjusted so that you can see it from a tatami room.

"Matcha set that you can make yourself" 1 set 400 yen (tax included)

There is also a cafe space attached to Rokkaen. Please take a break at the café, where you can enjoy coffee served in the old pottery and a matcha set that you can make yourself.

[Rokkaen]
Address : 663-5 Oaza Kuwana, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number: 0594-24-4466
Business hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (but admission is until 16:00)
Closed: Monday

*If Monday is a holiday, the following weekday

https://www.rokkaen.com/

13:00｜Founded in 1946. Retro Western Restaurant "Restaurant Azumaya"

<Rokkaen → Restaurant Azumaya｜Taxi about 3 minutes, walking about 8 minutes>

After leaving Rokkaen, we went to "Restaurant Azumaya" for lunch. This is a long-established western restaurant founded in 1946 that continues to be loved by Kuwana citizens.

The restaurant boasts a variety of menus that can only be tasted here, with Kuwana's specialty clams arranged in a Western style! Clam gratin, fried clams, clam chowder soup, and other clam chowder lunch courses are very popular.

<Clam Set>
・3 types of Western-style grilled clams
・Gratin of clams
・Clam chowder soup
・Deep-fried Clam
・Shigure chazuke (rice in soup) or rice
・Pickles
・Drinks

The steak served on an iron plate with the image of clams is a special dish that uses only domestic beef. Enjoy our signature Japanese-style sauce on a hot iron plate.

In addition, there are also casual menus such as daily lunches and Shichiri no Watashi bento.

The open interior of the store is a relaxing space that is loved by men and women of all ages. It is open from morning to night, so please enjoy your meal at your leisure.

[Restaurant Azumaya]
Address : 10 Kawaguchi-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number : 0594-23-1800
Business hours: Lunch: 11:00-17:00, Dinner: 17:00-21:00
Closed: Monday

https://restaurant-azumaya.com/

14:30｜Walk along the “Shichiri no Watashiato”

＜Restaurant Azumaya → Shichiri no Watashiato｜1 minute walk＞

After you've filled your stomach, let's take a stroll through the "Shichiri no Watashiato" right in front of the restaurant.

"Shichiri no Watashi" means that there is the only sea route on the Tokaido from Atsuta to Kuwana, and the distance is shichiri,
(approximately 27.5 km), so it is called that name.

Otorii is called "Ise's No. 1 Torii" because it enters the Ise Route from here, and it is currently rebuilt every time Ise Jingu is rebuilt.

Kuwanajuku was the 42nd post town from Edo, and at its peak, there were 120 inns lined up.

By the way, you can see the Ibi River outside the breakwater.

The castle-like building is the Banryu Yagura. It was a place to monitor ships entering Shichiri no watashi. "Banryu" refers to a crouched dragon before ascending to heaven. The current building was built in 2003 (Heisei 15) as a control building for the water gates, and faithfully reproduces the appearance of that time.

There is a promenade along the river, so it is perfect for a walk.

There is also "Sumiyoshi Shrine" near Shichiri no Watashi, where you can see the sea from the precincts. On New Year's Day, the first sunrise of the year rises from the center of the torii, so it is also known as a popular spot for hatsumode (first visit on the new year to shrine).

Shichiri no watashiato
Address: Higashifunamacho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture

https://www.city.kuwana.lg.jp/kanko/miru/kankospot/kanko009.html

Sumiyoshi Shrine
Address: Sumiyoshi-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture

https://www.city.kuwana.lg.jp/kanko/miru/history/history026.html

15:00｜The Clam Motif is Cute! "Toraya Manju"

Nibee Adachi, the 11th generation owner

Okaki made with brown sugar is delicious and can't stop eating it!

<Shichiri no Watashiato → Toraya Manju | About 5 minutes on foot>

"Toraya Manju" was founded in 1704 and is located about a 5-minute walk from Shichiri no Watashi. This shop is popular for its "grilled clams", which are chewy skins filled with red bean paste, "toraya manju", which are steamed bean paste manjyu, and "okaki".

Toraya Manju

"Toraya manju" has been popular among samurai and townspeople as a souvenir of Kuwana-juku since the Edo period. Sake that has been fermented with glutinous rice and koji is mixed with wheat flour to ferment the dough. The dough is made into a thin skin, wrapped in koshian (smooth bean paste), and then steamed.

It seems that it was also a training destination for Nagoya's famous confection "Nayabashi Manju".

grilled clam

We recommend the new clam-shaped specialty, "grilled clams." In addition to the standard tsubuan (red bean paste), there are also products that can be enjoyed in each season, such as tsubuan with chestnuts and sweet potato.

It looks bigger than it looks in the picture and the volume is perfect. It is also recommended for eating while walking and as souvenirs.

Toraya Manju
Address : 54 Honmachi, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number : 0594-22-0706
Business hours : 8:00-19:00
Closed : Thursday

15:20｜Loved by Celebrities! "Taganeya", a Kuwana Specialty

Mr. Ito and his son, the owner who continues to preserve Taganeya

<Toraya Manju → Taganeya | About 3 minutes on foot>

"Taganeya" along the old Tokaido is a "senbei (rice cracker) shop" founded in 1872. Their flagship product, Tagane Senbei, has many fans all over Japan and has been loved for over 150 years.

"Tagane" uses carefully selected ingredients and is carefully grilled one by one over charcoal, just like in the old days. This senbei is characterized by its sticky and crumbly texture created by the secret combination of glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice, and the light and dark browning unique to hand-baked.

There are two types: atsuyaki, which has been handed down from ancient times, and usuyaki, which was devised in recent years. The thickness of the fabric is different, so please purchase the product you like.

We also recommend the Kogane Yaki, which has a fragrant charcoal-grilled batter and the right amount of salty flavor that fills your mouth.

As a favorite gem, it is sure to be appreciated as a gift.

Chef Harumi Kurihara introduces the pairing of tagane and white wine in her book, "Tanoshi Koto Ippai 65".

Among them, New Zealand's wine "CLOUDY BAY" is said to be an excellent match, so please try it.

[Taganeya]
Address : 10 Tamachi, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number : 0594-22-2828
Business hours : 9:00-18:30
Closed ：Thursdays
https://www.taganeya.com/

16:00｜Let's Eat Around and Get Souvenirs at Kuwana Teramachi Shopping Street!

<Taganeya → Kuwana Teramachi Shopping Street | About 2 minutes on foot>

Finally, take a stroll through Kuwana Teramachi Shopping Street and pick up some souvenirs. At the 200-meter arcade, you can find specialty clams, freshwater clams, fresh local vegetables, side dishes, fresh fish, bread, flowers, and clothes.

The famous morning market "Sanhachi Market" is also held on days with 3 and 8 every month.

An array of Kuwana masterpieces! "Kuwana Town Station"

Kuwana Machi no Eki is recommended for buying souvenirs. It is a town station where Kuwana City's special products, souvenirs, agricultural products, etc. are gathered together.

Most of Kuwana's recommended products are available.

Shigure, a specialty product of Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, is available from various manufacturers.

Clam udon from Utaandon, a Japanese restaurant that specializes in clams. Utaandon's proud dashi stock is further enhanced by the umami of clams, creating a rich taste of udon.

There are various products such as the famous Yasunaga mochi, Hamaguri-siruko, and the specialty clam. Please visit when you get souvenirs.

Retro Gourmet Food you want to Eat in Kuwana

Here are some retro gourmet foods you should try when you visit Kuwana.

First of all, Kuwana's local drink "Smack Gold". The catchphrase is "Whispers of cream". A carbonated drink born in the Showa era that continues to be loved in a retro package.

Don't forget to try Kuwana's specialty, "Ice Manju". It is a milk and zenzai (sweet red bean soup) popsicles. Since around 1950, it has been made while preserving the manufacturing method of the time.

Kuwana's ice manju is sold at various stores, so it is recommended to try and compare them.

[Kuwana Town Station]
Address: 49 Kitaderamachi, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number: 0594-84-6811
Business hours: 10:00-17:00
Regular holiday: Monday
https://www.machinoeki987.com/

[Kuwana Teramachi Street Shopping Street]
Address: 45 Kitaderamachi, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Business hours: Varies by store
Closed: Varies by store
https://www.teramachi-kuwana.com/

18:00｜Return to Kuwana Station

This time, we introduced an itinerary that you can enjoy for a whole day under the title of "Retro Stroll" to enjoy in Kuwana. The spots introduced here are all places that can be explored on foot.

By all means, please visit Kuwana to discover its charms.

Guide map "Akiko Kikuchi's Kuwana Stroll" is also being distributed!

A guide map "Akiko Kikuchi's Walk Kuwana", illustrated by Akiko Kikuchi, an actress who is appointed to Kuwana City's "charm finder", is also distributed free of charge at each facility in the city!

Akiko Kikuchi, who is active in a wide range of fields, rediscovered Kuwana City's "old and new" spots with illustrations by herself. Please try to get this too.