MIE Around Iga Experts in the dark arts of espionage and stealth assassination—welcome to the home of the Iga-ryu ninja

Hot springs, spectacular waterfalls, hiking, hands-on ninja training and so much more make western Mie an excellent destination for enjoying rural Japan.

Both JR and Kintetsu train lines run from nearby Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka to Iga, western Mie's main city.

JR runs from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya to Iga-Ueno Station, and Kintetsu will bring you from Nagoya and Osaka-Namba to Iga-Kambe Station. From one of these two points, take a train to Uenoshi Station in downtown Iga.

The journey from Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya takes between 90 minutes and two hours in total.

This quiet, inland area of Mie Prefecture , with its small towns and farmland nestled in the mountains, is also historically home to Japan's famous ninja. It was here that the Iga-ryu school developed its mysterious martial art. The ninjas maintained their base in the Iga area for centuries, venturing across the country to act as spies and assassins for samurai warlords.

Those days are long past, but ninjutsu's stealthy arts are alive and well. If you want to delve into the ways of the ninja, then come and explore the remote forests in western Mie they called home.

Iga City makes a good starting point for learning about the shadow warriors and their history. The Ninja Museum of Igaryu has a maze-like ninja house open for exploration. You can also see ninjutsu masters demonstrate their techniques and test your own warrior aptitude by throwing some razor-sharp ninja weapons.

After the museum, head next door to Iga Ueno Castle from which feudal lords once ruled the area and commanded the local ninja. Rent a ninja costume and spice up your photos by posing in stealth mode.

Continue your adventure in the secluded mountains to the south where you'll find the Akame 48 Waterfalls . There you can join a ninja training course held on the same terrain where ninja once practiced their arts.

When you're finished, hike out to view some of Akame's fabulous waterfalls while keeping your eyes open for the rare Japanese giant salamander along the river. If you miss one there, you can see one for sure at the Japanese Salamander Center not far from the entrance to the falls.

Yunoyama Onsen is a hot spring resort where you can unwind with a soothing bath whether you're staying at one of the inns there or just stopping by. A ropeway will take you to the summit of Mt. Gozaisho , where skiing, hiking trails, and panoramic views await.