The Rapid Mie for Iseshi and Toba

The Rapid Mie is a rapid train service operated by JR Central between Nagoya Station and Iseshi or Toba Station in Mie Prefecture. Because it is not classed as a limited express service, it provides an economical but quick route from Nagoya to key destinations in Mie, including the popular tourist destinations of Ise and Toba.

Part of the journey uses the Ise Railway Line between Kawarada and Tsu. This section is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, so pass holders must pay the separate adult Ise Railway fare of 520 yen. Travelers using a regular ticket should buy a through ticket that includes Ise Railway. Transport IC cards and contactless payments cannot be used on the Ise Railway section. At Nagoya Station, Rapid Mie services depart from Platforms 12 and 13, but passengers should confirm the platform on the station departure board.

Key Destinations

The following stations are on the route of the Rapid Mie service. Stations in brackets [] are not served by all trains.

Nagoya – Kuwana – Yokkaichi – Suzuka – [Nakaseko] – Tsu – Matsusaka – Taki – [Tokida] – [Tamaru] – [Miyagawa] – [Yamada-Kamiguchi] – Iseshi – [Isuzugaoka] – Futaminoura – [Matsushita] – Toba

Between Kawarada and Tsu, the Rapid Mie runs on the private Ise Railway Line. Below are the key destinations and transfer points. The adult train fares are for unreserved seats from Nagoya Station, and the train times use Rapid Mie 9, checked on 17-Jul-2026. Journey times vary by departure. If you wish to reserve a seat, the separate reserved-seat charge is 330 yen on specified discounted dates and 530 yen on other dates, so check the charge for your travel date.

Kuwana Station

Kuwana is a small historical city in Mie Prefecture. Kuwana’s top tourist attractions are the Rokkaen house and gardens, which were completed in 1913 and designed by the British architect Josiah Conder, and Nagashima Spa Land, a popular amusement park with roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, and a water park. At Kuwana Station, you can transfer to Sangi Railway’s Hokusei Line, the Kintetsu Nagoya Line, and Yoro Railway’s Yoro Line.

Yokkaichi Station

Yokkaichi is a major port city in Mie Prefecture. The city is not a major stop for tourists, but it holds the dramatic Dai-Yokkaichi Festival every August, featuring parades of giant mechanical dolls, dancing, and taiko drumming. From JR Yokkaichi Station, you can transfer by bus to Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station for the Kintetsu Nagoya Line, the Kintetsu Yunoyama Line, and the Yokkaichi Asunarou Railway Utsube Line.

Tsu Station

Tsu is the capital city of Mie Prefecture. Tsu’s main attractions are Kitabatake Shrine, whose origins date to a small shrine established on the site in 1643, MieMu: Mie Prefectural Museum, Mie Prefectural Art Museum, and Tsu Castle. Tsu Castle was founded in 1580 and later enlarged by Todo Takatora. Today, the site retains stonework and a reconstructed three-story corner turret dating from 1958. Transfers can be made here to JR Central’s Kisei Line and the Kintetsu Nagoya Line.

Matsusaka Station

Matsusaka City has many preserved traditional buildings dating from the Edo era and castle remains dating from 1588. There are also two museums in and around the castle grounds: the Matsusaka City Museum of History and Folklore, and a museum dedicated to the 18th-century classical Japanese scholar Motoori Norinaga. Near the castle grounds are the Castle Guard Residences, which were formerly the homes of the samurai who guarded the castle. One of these buildings is open to the public. Matsusaka’s famous products are indigo-blue cotton, traditional green tea, and Matsusaka beef, which is known for its fine marbling, tender texture, and carefully managed production. Transfers can be made here to JR Central’s Kisei Line and Meisho Line, and to the Kintetsu Yamada Line.

Iseshi Station

Iseshi Station serves the city of Ise. Transfer here to the JR Sangu Line and the Kintetsu Yamada Line. Ise is best known for the Grand Shrine of Ise, Japan’s highest-ranking Shinto shrine complex. The Grand Shrine has two main parts in separate locations: the Outer Shrine, or Geku, and the Inner Shrine, or Naiku. Geku is about a five-minute walk from the JR side of Iseshi Station, while local buses connect the station with Naiku. Close to Naiku, Okage Yokocho is a recreated historical streetscape with souvenir and craft shops, galleries, and restaurants in buildings representative of the Edo-to-Meiji Iseji route.

Toba Station

Toba is a popular resort destination on the Mie coastline. The famous Meoto-iwa, or “wedded rocks,” are at Futami Okitama Shrine in Futami, Ise City, and are best reached from Futaminoura Station, about a 15-minute walk away. These rocks in the sea are bound together with a sacred rope and are associated with the union of Izanagi and Izanami, the male and female deities at the center of the Japanese creation myth. Mikimoto Pearl Island has a museum dedicated to the cultured-pearl industry, and visitors can see demonstrations by local ama free divers, who hold their breath and dive without air tanks or scuba gear. Colorful cruise boats also run regular tours of Toba Bay. Transfers can be made at Toba Station to the JR Sangu Line and the Kintetsu Toba and Shima lines.

Travel Times

On weekdays, 13 Rapid Mie services depart from Nagoya Station. Between 08:37 and 17:37, there is an hourly Rapid Mie service departing at 37 minutes past the hour. After that, services depart at 18:35, 19:33, and 20:33. The services departing from 17:37 through 20:33 terminate at Iseshi Station and do not continue to Toba Station. Weekend and holiday services are almost the same, except for an additional Rapid Mie service at 07:43 that also terminates at Iseshi Station. Timetables can change, so use JR Central Access Search or Jorudan to check times, fares, and connections for your travel date.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 17-Jul-2026.