Mie Prefecture · Japan
Where to stay in Matsusaka
Matsusaka is a city in Mie Prefecture, Japan, home to about 158,000 people. This guide covers 1 hotel in Matsusaka.
- Places to stay in this guide
- 1
- Nearest airport
- NGO40 km · Chubu Centrair International Airport
- Currency
- JPYyen
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Language
- Japanese
About
About Matsusaka
Matsusaka (松阪市, Matsusaka-shi; Local dialect: Mattsaka or Massaka) is a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2021, the city had an estimated population of 157,235 in 66,018 households and a population density of 250 people per km2.
Located in the very center of Mie, Matsusaka has historically been a town of merchants selling all sorts of goods to pilgrims travelling to the sacred shrine in Ise. In modern times, Matsusaka continues this tradition, but now serves tourists and pilgrims alike as people continue to pass by in droves to visit the shrine. The city is best known for 'Matsusaka beef', which is among the finest 'wagyu beef' in the country. Whether you're a twenty-something backpacker passing through, a family on vacation, or a culinary connoisseur, this city has something for everyone.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Matsusaka
See
- Matsusaka Castle Ruins
- Gojoban Yashiki
- Museum of Motoori Norinaga
- Matsuura Takeshirō Museum
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Places to stay in Matsusaka
1 place to stay from the chains this guide covers, each linked to its own website.
| Place to stay |
|---|
| Toyoko Inn Ise Matsusaka Ekimae hotel |
Where to stay
Which part of Matsusaka to stay in
Most accommodation in Matsusaka is geared toward business trips, so you'll find a wide variety of mid-range hotels in the city. However, both an excellent hostel is available for people on a budget, as well as a renowned ryokan for those who can afford it.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
More hotels in Matsusaka
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| VISON | 13.2 km | |
| Ace-inn Matsusaka | 0.7 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Matsusaka
Matsusaka has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; September is the wettest, with about 253 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Matsusaka: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), about 40 km from the city centre in a straight line; Nagoya Airport / JASDF Komaki Air Base (NKM, 84 km) and Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM, 102 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
The nearest airport is the Chubu Centrair International Airport. Ferries are available to and from the airport in neighboring city of Tsu. The city is also accessible from Kansai International Airport. You'll catch a train from the airport to Osaka-Namba, and go from there to Matsusaka. Total trip from the airport takes about two hours and forty minutes. The city is serviced by the JR and Kintetsu railways. A ticket from Nagoya station costs ¥1250-1650. Add another ¥1300 if taking the faster and more comfortable 'Limited Express' option.
Getting around
Most of the main sites can be traveled to on foot nearby Matsusaka station, where the majority of hotels and restaurants are located. Buses are available near the station that can take you to places such as Bell Farm and Iinan village. A car rental agency (Toyota Rent-a-car) is near the station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
NGO · Chubu Centrair International Airport
NKM · Nagoya Airport / JASDF Komaki Air Base
ITM · Osaka Itami International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Matsusaka
Eat
Perhaps the main reason people visit Matsusaka is to eat some of the delicious food found at its prestigious restaurants. Matsusaka beef is the main attraction for most. The beef is regarded as nearly holy in nature, as every product that remotely includes it is marketed as 'Matsusaka beef'. This includes everything from rice crackers flavored with it to finely marbled choice cuts. For those on a tight budget, most of the food people travel here for isn't exactly the cheapest. A cheap place to grab a snack is the takoyaki and taiyaki stand found on the main street near the station. Chain restaurants and mom-and-pop eateries with decent prices are found throughout the city.
Drink
Matsusaka has a vibrant nightlife, though a bit different from the youthful clubs of Osaka and Tokyo. The bars and clubs here are marketed towards a more middle aged working class audience. While not as energetic as a place such as Dotomburi or Roppongi, there's a genuinely friendly atmosphere in most of the local watering holes.
Stay safe
Matsusaka, like most Japanese cities, is extremely safe and crime against tourists is practically unheard of. The city has a large red light district known as 'Atago-machi' that locals will claim is very dangerous, but it's not really the case. You'll definitely know if you wander into this district, but at the very worst you might get solicited (a simple 'no thank you' will always suffice), or hear a drunken businessman singing terrible karaoke through a thin wall. Avoid places with 'snack' in the name, unless you want to pay exorbitant prices for watered down drinks poured by pretty girls. Do not go to the Matsusaka castle ruins after dark, unless there is an event going on.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Matsusaka: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Matsusaka?
Matsusaka has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; September is the wettest, with about 253 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Matsusaka?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), about 40 km from the city centre in a straight line; Nagoya Airport / JASDF Komaki Air Base (NKM, 84 km) and Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM, 102 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Matsusaka?
yen (JPY).
Nearby
Destinations near Matsusaka
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.