Matsusaka

Matsusaka is a city in central Mie Prefecture, best known as the home of Matsusaka beef (Matsusaka-gyu), one of Japan's three top wagyu brands alongside Kobe and Omi. The city developed as a castle town under the Todo clan during the Edo period, and its well-preserved merchant district reflects that prosperity. Matsusaka is also the birthplace of the Meiji-era entrepreneur Mitsui Takatoshi, founder of the Mitsui zaibatsu.

Matsusaka is on the JR Kisei Main Line and the Kintetsu Osaka Line. From Nagoya, take the Kintetsu limited express (about 70 minutes). From Osaka, it's about 90 minutes via Kintetsu. By car, Matsusaka is about 1 hour from Nagoya via the Ise Expressway.

The city is compact enough to explore on foot between the station and the castle ruins. Local buses serve peripheral areas. A rental bicycle from the station area is a good option for visiting the merchant houses.

• Matsusaka Castle ruins — the stone foundations and a reconstructed turret of the original castle, set in a park.

• Matsusaka Merchant Houses — a row of Edo-era townhouses on Hon-machi Street, including the old Mitsui residence open to visitors.

• Matsusaka City History Museum — exhibits on the Todo domain, ninja lore, and the city's commercial history.

• Matsusaka Beef Museum — a small exhibit next to the central wholesale market explaining the breed, marbling grading, and history of the Wagyu brand.

• Koto-ji Temple — a serene Zen temple with a famous stone bridge and garden.

• Eat Matsusaka beef — this is the primary activity. Numerous steak houses and yakiniku restaurants line the streets around the station and castle area.

• Stroll the merchant quarter — the preserved streetscape of Hon-machi and Motomachi is pleasant for an afternoon walk.

• Visit the morning market — the Matsusaka Central Market is lively with fresh seafood and local produce.

The single reason most visitors come is Matsusaka-gyu. The beef is so marbled it is often served in small, rich portions — sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, or teppanyaki. Restaurants range from high-end (Wakkoqu, a famous chain) to casual yakiniku grills. Ise-ebi (spiny lobster) from the nearby coast also appears on menus.

Local sake breweries in Mie produce several labels that pair well with beef. Try a bottle from the Nakano Shuzo brewery.

Accommodation options include business hotels near Matsusaka Station, such as the Matsusaka City Hotel and Toyoko Inn. For a more traditional stay, a few ryokan in the merchant quarter offer a castle-town atmosphere.

Matsusaka beef for home cooking is available at the central market and specialty butcher shops. Local sake and crafts are sold at the merchant quarter shops.

• Ise — the Grand Shrine, 30 minutes by train
• Tsu — Mie's capital city, with a castle museum and coastal parks
• Nabari — a quiet town in the Nabari Valley
• Kashihara — the ancient imperial capital area in Nara Prefecture