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Shima
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Explore Shima in Mie for ria-coast scenery, pearl waters, ama culture, seafood and island views within Ise-Shima National Park.

Shima occupies the southern part of the Shima Peninsula in Mie Prefecture, where a deeply indented ria coastline curves around Ago Bay and opens towards the Pacific. The region is administered chiefly by Shima City and forms part of Ise-Shima National Park. Its landscape is defined by wooded hills, small fishing harbours, oyster rafts, rocky headlands and a scattering of sheltered islands. Rather than a single urban centre, Shima is a sequence of coastal communities linked by winding roads and the Kintetsu railway, with Ugata and Kashikojima serving as the principal transport and resort hubs.
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The bay-facing districts have a strong maritime character. Kashikojima is associated with hotels, pleasure boats and views across Ago Bay, while the fishing settlements around Wagu and the eastern coast retain a quieter, working-waterfront atmosphere. Shima is also one of Japan’s best-known centres of ama culture. Ama are traditionally female free divers who gather shellfish and seaweed without modern breathing equipment; their work, knowledge and communal food traditions remain important aspects of local heritage, although contemporary ama communities are much smaller than in the past.
The peninsula’s scenery is best appreciated from elevated viewpoints and coastal roads. Yokoyama Observatory looks across the many inlets and islands of Ago Bay, while Tomoyama Park provides another broad panorama over the rias. At the ocean-facing tips, Daiosaki Lighthouse and Anorisaki Lighthouse mark dramatic maritime landscapes, with fishing villages and exposed headlands nearby. The Shima Spain Mura resort in Isobe offers a more deliberately themed family attraction, contrasting with the region’s natural parks, temples and traditional coastal settlements.
Food reflects the productive waters around the peninsula. Ise-ebi spiny lobster, abalone, oysters, sea urchin, seaweed and other seafood appear in local restaurants and seasonal menus, while pearl cultivation has shaped both the economy and visual identity of the wider Ise-Shima coast. Shima is not a destination for hurried sightseeing: distances are modest on a map but roads are often curving, and a thoughtful itinerary benefits from combining one scenic viewpoint, one coastal community and one food-focused stop each day. The region’s appeal lies in the close relationship between forested land, tidal waters and the people whose livelihoods have long depended on them.

When is the best time to visit Shima?

Best: April–May, October · 20–25°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January1161
February1270
March16110
April (best)20120
May (best)25151
June28211
July32231
August32211
September29251
October (best)25161
November19120
December1380

Getting to and around Shima

How to get there

The most convenient public-transport approach is from Nagoya or Osaka via Kintetsu railway, travelling towards Ugata and Kashikojima; limited express services require the appropriate reserved ticket and supplement. From Tokyo and other distant cities, travellers commonly reach Nagoya first by Tokaido Shinkansen. Ise-Shima’s main airport options, Chubu Centrair International Airport near Nagoya and Kansai International Airport near Osaka, are outside Shima and require a further rail or road journey. Ise City, also outside Shima, is a useful interchange for some regional bus and rail connections.

Transportation

Kintetsu trains link the principal inland hubs of Shima with the peninsula’s larger towns, but many viewpoints, beaches, lighthouses and small fishing settlements are dispersed away from the railway. A hire car is therefore useful for travellers planning a broad coastal itinerary, especially around Daiosaki, Anorisaki and the bay-side parks. Local buses serve selected routes, though rural services can be infrequent and may not align conveniently with sightseeing. Taxis are available around major stations, while cycling is best suited to shorter local excursions because of hills, heat and winding roads.

Best attractions in Shima

Shima’s attractions are shaped by the meeting of forested hills and a highly indented coast. Yokoyama Observatory and Tomoyama Park provide wide views over the islands and coves of Ago Bay, while boat excursions from the Kashikojima area offer a closer perspective on pearl-farming waters and sheltered inlets. At the Pacific-facing edge of the peninsula, Daiosaki and Anorisaki combine lighthouse scenery with fishing heritage and open-sea horizons. The Shima Spain Mura resort in Isobe provides rides, performances and themed architecture aimed particularly at families, while local temples, shrines and coastal villages offer a quieter sense of place. Visitors interested in living traditions can seek carefully arranged encounters with ama culture and marine-food practices rather than treating them as simple performances. Beaches, woodland paths and national-park viewpoints support walking and photography, although conditions vary by season and some sites are easiest to reach by car. The attraction landscape is less about a dense chain of ticketed monuments than about understanding how aquaculture, navigation, religion and everyday coastal life fit together.

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Best landmarks in Shima

Yokoyama Observatory is one of Shima’s defining viewpoints, looking across the complex waterways and wooded islands of Ago Bay from the hills behind the coast. The bay itself is a geographical landmark rather than a single structure, and its pearl rafts reveal how extensively people have shaped the marine landscape. Daiosaki Lighthouse stands on the western tip near the fishing settlement of Wagu, facing the open Pacific and marking a coast exposed to ocean weather. Anorisaki Lighthouse, on the eastern side of the peninsula, has a similarly strong maritime setting and helps convey the importance of navigation along this irregular shoreline. Shima Kokubunji, associated with the ancient provincial temple tradition, provides a religious counterpoint to the coastal landmarks, while the streets and harbours of older fishing communities preserve the scale of working settlements. Together these sites express Shima’s identity through terrain, navigation, belief and aquaculture rather than through a single monumental city centre.

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Best restaurants in Shima

Dining in Shima is closely tied to the waters of Ago Bay and the Pacific coast. Menus may feature Ise-ebi spiny lobster, abalone, oysters, sea urchin, seaweed and locally landed fish, with availability changing according to season, regulations and weather. Traditional Japanese inns often present seafood through multi-course kaiseki-style meals, while smaller restaurants and set-meal establishments offer grilled fish, sashimi, rice bowls and practical local lunches. Around fishing settlements, the freshest experience is often a straightforward preparation that lets the quality of the ingredient speak for itself. Pearl cultivation has also influenced the wider food-and-craft identity of the coast, though pearls are not a food product. Cafés and hotel dining rooms are concentrated around Ugata and Kashikojima, whereas rural coastal districts have fewer choices and may close earlier. Visitors should ask whether seafood is locally sourced and reserve accommodation meals in advance when staying at a traditional inn.

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Best bars in Shima

Shima’s evening life is modest and oriented towards dining, conversation and hotel hospitality rather than a large nightclub scene. Kashikojima’s resort hotels provide the broadest choice of lounges, dining rooms and bars, while Ugata has the most practical concentration of restaurants and small evening establishments. Traditional izakaya-style venues, where food is ordered alongside drinks, are more characteristic than dedicated clubs. Some hotels and restaurants serve regional sake, beer and other Japanese drinks, but opening arrangements vary by season and day of the week. In smaller fishing communities, the evening often becomes quiet once restaurants close, so visitors looking for nightlife should choose accommodation near a station or confirm transport in advance. Local etiquette favours considerate volume and orderly behaviour, particularly in shared hotel spaces and residential streets.

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Best nightclubs in Shima

Shima’s evening life is modest and oriented towards dining, conversation and hotel hospitality rather than a large nightclub scene. Kashikojima’s resort hotels provide the broadest choice of lounges, dining rooms and bars, while Ugata has the most practical concentration of restaurants and small evening establishments. Traditional izakaya-style venues, where food is ordered alongside drinks, are more characteristic than dedicated clubs. Some hotels and restaurants serve regional sake, beer and other Japanese drinks, but opening arrangements vary by season and day of the week. In smaller fishing communities, the evening often becomes quiet once restaurants close, so visitors looking for nightlife should choose accommodation near a station or confirm transport in advance. Local etiquette favours considerate volume and orderly behaviour, particularly in shared hotel spaces and residential streets.

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Best shops in Shima

Shopping in Shima is centred on regional food, pearls, crafts and practical local high streets rather than extensive department-store retail. Ugata offers the broadest everyday choice, while Kashikojima’s hotels and visitor-oriented shops are convenient places to look for pearl jewellery and locally themed gifts. Pearl products range from small souvenirs to carefully finished pieces, so buyers should compare materials, certification and return policies before making a major purchase. Seafood products, dried goods, seaweed and other preserved foods are useful gifts, subject to Japanese customs and the traveller’s home-country import rules. Farmers’ and community-based outlets may carry seasonal produce, although markets and opening days can vary. Smaller coastal settlements are better for observing local commerce than for browsing a large number of shops. Shima Spain Mura also has themed merchandise, but the region’s more characteristic purchases are connected with its marine environment and food-producing communities.

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Shima essentials

Currency and Payment
Shima uses Japan’s national currency, the Japanese yen (JPY). Cards and contactless payments are increasingly accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, railway counters and established attractions, but smaller family-run eateries, rural shops and some taxis may still prefer cash. Carry yen for coastal communities and countryside stops, and do not assume that every payment terminal accepts an overseas card. Japan’s consumption tax is generally included or clearly added at the till according to the establishment’s displayed pricing.
Safety
Shima is generally a calm destination, but ordinary precautions remain sensible around stations, hotel areas and busy seasonal attractions. Coastal visitors should take notice of warning signs, tides, slippery rocks and sudden weather changes, particularly at exposed headlands and uneven paths. Swimming should be confined to designated areas when available. Drivers need patience on narrow, curving roads, and should allow for cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles emerging from small settlements. Japan is earthquake-prone, so visitors should familiarise themselves with hotel evacuation guidance.
Emergency Situations
For emergencies in Shima, call 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance services. The maritime emergency number is 118 for the Japan Coast Guard, an important contact around the peninsula’s bays and open-water coast. Give the operator your location as precisely as possible, using a railway station, road, harbour, lighthouse or named attraction if necessary. English support may be available but cannot be assumed in every immediate conversation; hotel staff, railway personnel or local authorities can help communicate details.
Do's and Don'ts
Remove shoes where signs or hosts indicate, keep voices low on trains, queue neatly and follow local instructions at shrines, temples and viewpoints. Do not climb over barriers or collect marine life from protected or privately managed areas. At restaurants, ask before photographing staff, divers or working harbour activity, particularly where people are carrying out their jobs. Tipping is not customary in Japan, and a polite thank-you is normally sufficient. Follow waste-sorting guidance and take rubbish with you when visiting rural coastlines where bins are limited.
Local Tips
The best views of Ago Bay usually require a short uphill walk or a car journey rather than appearing immediately beside a railway station. Kashikojima is convenient for bay excursions and accommodation, while Ugata is a practical base for everyday services. Seafood menus change with weather, fishing conditions and season, so flexibility is useful. If visiting a lighthouse or coastal park, check the final public-transport connection before setting out, as returning services can be less frequent than those in the central towns.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHowdy[haʊdi]
GoodbyeSee ya[si jə]
YesYep[jɛp]
NoNah[nɑ]
Please/You're welcomeSure thing[ʃʊr θɪŋ]
Thank youThanks[θæŋks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me[ˈpɑrdən mi]
How are you?How's it going?[haʊz ɪt ˈgoʊɪŋ]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[ɡʊd ju]
Do you speak English?Can you talk English?[kæn ju tɔk ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ]
I don't understandI ain't gettin' it[aɪ eɪnt ˈɡɛtɪn ɪt]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[kæn aɪ si ðə ˈmɛnju]
I don't eat meatI ain't eatin' meat[aɪ eɪnt ˈitɪn mit]
Cheers!Cheers![ʧɪrz]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[kæn aɪ ɡɛt ðə ʧɛk]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![hɛlp]
Go away!Beat it![bit ɪt]
Call the Police!Call the cops![kɔl ðə kɑps]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![ɡɛt ə dɑk]
I'm lostI'm turned around[aɪm tɜrnd əˈraʊnd]
I'm illI'm sick[aɪm sɪk]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[aɪ ˈwɑnə baɪ]
I'm just lookingJust browsing[dʒʌst ˈbraʊzɪŋ]
How much is it?What's the price?[wʌts ðə praɪs]
That's too expensiveThat's pricey[ðæts ˈpraɪsi]
Can you lower the price?Can you drop the price?[kæn ju drɑp ðə praɪs]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time we got?[wʌt taɪm wi ɡɑt]
It's one o'clockIt's one[ɪts wʌn]
Half past (10)Half past ten[hæf pæst tɛn]
MorningMornin'[ˈmɔrnɪn]
AfternoonAfternoon[ˈæftərˌnun]
EveningEvenin'[ˈivnɪn]
YesterdayYesterday[ˈjɛstərdeɪ]
TodayToday[təˈdeɪ]
TomorrowTomorrow[təˈmɔroʊ]
1One[wʌn]
2Two[tu]
3Three[θri]
4Four[fɔr]
5Five[faɪv]
6Six[sɪks]
7Seven[ˈsɛvən]
8Eight[eɪt]
9Nine[naɪn]
10Ten[tɛn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[wɛrz ðə]
What's the address?What's the addy?[wʌts ði ˈædi]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you point it out?[kæn ju pɔɪnt ɪt aʊt]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[wɛn's ðə nɛkst bʌs]
A ticket (to ....)One ticket to ...[wʌn ˈtɪkɪt tu]

History of Shima

Early Coastal Settlement and Sacred Landscapes

The Shima Peninsula has been occupied since prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence from the wider Mie region showing long-established settlement, fishing and marine-resource use. Its sheltered inlets provided practical harbours, while wooded hills and prominent headlands acquired religious significance within the broader sacred geography of Ise-Shima. Shima’s landscape was shaped not only by agriculture but also by tidal flats, seaweed beds and offshore waters. This long relationship with the sea helps explain why coastal knowledge, seasonal harvesting and shrine-linked traditions remain more important here than monumental urban development.

Medieval Estates and Maritime Communities

During the medieval period, the peninsula was divided among local estates and communities whose livelihoods depended on farming, fishing and coastal transport. The intricate shoreline made small harbours useful for moving people and goods around the Kii Peninsula and the Ise coast. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines developed alongside village settlements, while local warrior families competed for influence over land and maritime routes. Rather than leaving one unified medieval capital, this era created the dispersed pattern of hamlets, temples and harbour communities that still characterises much of Shima.

The Tokugawa Period and the Ise Pilgrimage

Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Ise region became one of Japan’s most important pilgrimage destinations. Travellers heading to Ise Grand Shrine, which lies outside Shima in neighbouring Ise City, increased movement through the wider peninsula and strengthened commercial ties between coastal settlements and inland routes. Shima itself remained primarily rural and maritime, with fishing, small-scale agriculture and local trade sustaining its communities. The period also helped establish the enduring association between Mie’s coast, religious travel and hospitality.

Ama Divers and the Coastal Economy

Ama free-diving communities developed a specialised seasonal economy based on shellfish, seaweed and other marine resources. Divers traditionally worked without artificial breathing equipment, relying on breath control, knowledge of currents and cooperation among women in the community. Their practices were never identical from one settlement to another, but throughout Shima they formed part of a wider coastal culture in which the sea provided both food and income. Modern regulation, changing employment patterns and the ageing of many divers have reduced the number of active ama, making cultural preservation increasingly important.

Pearl Cultivation and Modernisation

The sheltered waters of Ago Bay proved well suited to pearl cultivation, which expanded across the Ise-Shima coast during the modern period. Pearl farming introduced new forms of aquaculture, processing and trade, and helped connect local waters to national and international markets. It also altered the appearance and economy of the bay, with rafts and cultivation areas becoming characteristic features of the seascape. Although pearl production has faced environmental and economic pressures, it remains an important part of Shima’s identity and is reflected in local jewellery, museums, shops and coastal imagery.

Tourism, National Park Protection and Shima City

Tourism grew as improved rail connections made the peninsula more accessible from Nagoya and Osaka. Scenic resorts developed around Kashikojima and Ago Bay, while the designation of Ise-Shima National Park in 1946 recognised the value of the region’s forests, islands, coastlines and cultural landscapes. In 2004, several former municipalities were combined to create Shima City, bringing much of the peninsula’s southern area under one local administration. Today, tourism sits alongside fishing, aquaculture and community life rather than replacing them entirely.

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