How to Access Mie Prefecture from Tokyo and Osaka

Most overseas travelers reach Mie through one of these “funnels”:

1. Osaka → (Kintetsu Limited Express) → Iseshi

2. Tokyo → Nagoya (Shinkansen) → (Kintetsu Limited Express or JR) → Iseshi

From Osaka to Mie

Best option: Kintetsu Limited Express to Iseshi

• Depart: Osaka-Namba

• Arrive: Iseshi Station

• Why it’s great: direct, comfortable, and built for leisure travel (reserved seating).

I recommend booking a “scenic” Kintetsu train. If you want the journey itself to feel like part of the trip, Kintetsu has special Limited Express services and sightseeing-style trains.

• Ise-Shima Liner: connects Osaka / Kyoto / Nagoya with the Ise-Shima area.

• Shimakaze (Premium Express): the famous sightseeing Limited Express with premium seating and onboard comfort.

From Tokyo to Mie

Option A (most common):

1. Tokyo → Nagoya by Tokaido Shinkansen

2. Nagoya → Iseshi by Kintetsu Limited Express (comfortable + easy for visitors)

For many travelers, this is the smoothest combination because you can book the Shinkansen online and then reserve the Kintetsu Limited Express seat.

Option B: Shinkansen to Nagoya → JR to Iseshi

Also possible (sometimes cheaper), but Kintetsu is usually the more “tourist-friendly” route when your end goal is Ise-Shima.

About Kintetsu Shimakaze

This is Kintetsu’s premium sightseeing train running between Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Ise-Shima (Kashikojima). It’s not just transportation. It’s designed to be enjoyed.

• Spacious, reclining seats with wide panoramic windows

• Café car serving meals, desserts, and drinks

• Quiet, relaxed atmosphere compared to regular trains

Instead of rushing to your destination, Shimakaze slows things down. You sit back, enjoy the scenery, and ease into the trip. Just make sure to book online in advance.