Mie Prefectural Museum (MieMu)

A comprehensive museum where visitors can experience the diverse nature, history, and culture of Mie Prefecture, from its mountains to the sea. The permanent exhibition focuses on natural environments such as the deep forests of Osugidani and Odaigahara, the Suzuka Mountains, Ise Bay, and the rich waters of the Kumano Sea. Rocks and fossils also reveal how the land of Mie was formed. One highlight is the reconstructed full skeleton of the Mie elephant, one of the largest land mammals ever discovered in Japan.

The museum also explores pilgrimages to Ise and the industries that developed in the region, which has long flourished as a major transportation hub connecting eastern and western Japan. Exhibits also examine lifestyles shaped by the different environments of mountains, basins, plains, and rocky shores, showing how people built their culture through their relationship with nature.

Special exhibitions, events, and lectures by curators offer something new to discover with each visit. A visit before traveling around Mie Prefecture will deepen your understanding of the region, while stopping by during your trip may give you a new perspective on the mountains, sea, and townscapes you have seen along the way.