Let's go to MikimotoPearlIsland to see an ama performance! We will report on museums, pearl shops, as well as parking and access information.

掲載日:2017.06.14

MikimotoPearlIsland in Toba is a museum where you can learn everything about pearls! It's a fun-filled island where you can not only learn, but also shop for pearls and other jewelry, and even watch ama diver fishing demonstrations. There is also a power spot, so we covered it in detail! Access and parking information is also included.

``MIKIMOTO''--A brand admired by all women and boasting the world's largest share of pearl sales. The founder KokichiMikimoto, was the first in the world to successfully cultivate pearls, making it possible to deliver rare pearls that had previously only been a product of chance to women around the world.
Introducing MikimotoPearlIsland, a place where pearl cultivation has been successful, as well as a pearl museum, shops, and power spots.

Beyond the eye-catching building is the island where the world's first successful pearl cultivation took place in 1893. Here, you can learn a lot about things, people, and things related to pearls, such as how pearls are cultured, their history as jewelry, and the life and achievements of the founder, Kokichi KokichiMikimoto.
The entrance is on the land side, and after entering, cross this bridge to get to MikimotoPearlIsland. Even after arriving at the island, there is a path along the roof, which is designed so that you can enjoy it regardless of the weather.

When you arrive at the island, you'll find a board with the word "Welcome" secretly placed on it. It sparkles in the sunlight filtering through the trees and is very beautiful.

The first building you see on the grounds is the Pearl Museum. Shells are displayed in an easy-to-understand manner so that you can learn about their structure as living creatures. It's kind of like a science corner. Half of the pearls are made by shellfish.

Pearls are known as jewelry and crafts. Pearls are created through the combination of human wisdom and the power of nature, and come in a variety of colors and shapes. It seems that even those that are not perfectly round are used in a way that suits them. As you can see in the section that explains color coding, black pearls are made from different shellfish. Pearls are made from pearl oysters, and black pearls are made from black-lipped oysters caught in warmer regions.

Kailingual, developed in 2004, is the world's first marine environment observation system using biological sensors. It is useful for detecting abnormalities in the ocean, such as red tide, by sensing water quality and observing the movement of shellfish as they open and close. It was developed by taking advantage of the property of shellfish, which closes and opens depending on the water quality. It feels like I'm borrowing the power of the shellfish to tell me, ``It's painful.'' It's a new system that was developed to not put a burden on the natural environment.

A special machine that pierces the pearls used to make necklaces. Holes can be drilled from both sides. Although it is a sophisticated machine, the direction and angle in which the pearls are placed are determined by the human eye. Pearls are natural, so even though they may look the same at first glance, they all have slight distortions and different shapes.

The special exhibition room holds special exhibitions with a theme every year. Currently being held at "Nippon Pearl Historia - Where are the White Pearls?", the highlight is this "Pearl Jewelry Five-String Biwa". A beautiful piece created by Mikimoto Accessories to commemorate its 100th anniversary. It contains 6,284 Akoya pearls. The back side is also decorated with shiny pearls! What a beautiful piece. What kind of tone does it have?

When you go up to the second floor, you will see a wealth of exhibits showing that pearls have been used as ornaments since before the cultivation of pearls began. You can also learn about the white, round, glossy sea gems that happened to come out while eating shellfish, and the people who used them as valuable objects in the past. Pearls have been used for decoration since the days of hunting, and are said to be the first gemstones encountered by humans. It is a natural gem that shines without polishing.

A globe made from 12,541 pearls! Also pay attention to the equator made of 377 rubies and the ecliptic made of 373 diamonds! How gorgeous! It is so beautiful that it makes you feel excited. Amazing.

There are also benches where you can take a break. Toba Bay stretches out in front of you. You can enjoy the calm and colorful scenery just like a painting. After looking at all the gorgeous jewelry and getting excited, it's time to take a break. The exhibits are beautiful, the products are beautiful, and even the scenery outside is beautiful. Everything you see here is beautiful. It looks like it will be a treat not only for the eyes but also for the soul.

At Pearl Plaza, you can actually purchase Mikimoto pearl jewelry. How about making it a souvenir, a reward for yourself, or a memento of your trip? This floor exudes a sense of luxury.

When you go outside, you will see a bronze statue of KokichiMikimoto. The majestic figure of King Pearl stands out well against the blue sky. In front of this statue is a popular spot for tourists who want to take commemorative photos. It is built on a high pedestal, so if you take a picture from a little distance, you can get a clear picture of the whole body.

"Love Love Stone" is known as a power spot on Pearl Island. It is one of the green stones, and was apparently found by an ama diver by chance. The Ama diver is said to be good friends with her husband. It seems like it's packed with the power of love! However, it has a really beautiful heart shape. Try searching around the island to see where it is!

At the ama stand, you can watch demonstrations of traditional diving work. It is said to be able to dive 5 to 6 meters. Being able to hold your breath for a long time is also a result of training. A new Ama diver who hasn't appeared in five years is also practicing. It seems that 18-year-old newcomers are progressing quickly, so you might be able to see them perform just after making their debut.

Diving demonstrations are held several times each day. I jumped in from the boat, dove down quickly, and after a while... I came back up with a wonderful shellfish! It is a valuable experience to be able to see live the activities of the Ama divers who support pearl farming. It is held approximately every hour, so if you miss it, you can wait for the next one while looking at other exhibits.

From the observation deck, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Toba Bay. This small forest with clear air is named ``Wild Bird Forest,'' and it is a place where you can hear the chirping of small birds. This is a relaxing walking course, and benches are also provided here. Why not take a look at Toba Bay and reminisce about Kokichi's time?

``Tama no Miya'' is said to bring blessings such as matchmaking, longevity, and prosperity. It is said that KokichiMikimoto, who passed away at the age of 96, also prayed to this shrine. The stone word for pearl is also said to be wealth and longevity. Living a long and prosperous life is a desire of people that remains unchanged throughout the ages. It is also said that if you throw a shell with a wish written on it into the ``Wishing Well'' in front of the shrine of ``Tama no Miya'' and pray to it with all your heart as it sinks, your wish will come true one day. .

The promenade looks like the exterior of a Japanese garden. It is refreshing and filled with a relaxing atmosphere.

This is KokichiMikimoto Memorial Museum. There are many exhibits related to the life of Kokichi, who was known as the ``Pearl King.'' There is plenty to see, from panels explaining his achievements to a recreation of Shinjukaku, the room where Kokichi spent his later years. Materials that help you learn about Kokichi's dramatic life are displayed in chronological order.

A recreation of the udon restaurant "Awako" in Toba, Kokichi's birthplace. I wonder what kind of flavor the udon had. Kokichi was born as the eldest son of this store and lived to be 96 years old. A tour of this memorial museum, where you can get a glimpse of his life and thoughts, is a must-see.

Beyond this tiny pearl was a great deal of research and the wisdom and efforts of many people, including KokichiMikimoto. MikimotoPearlIsland is a museum island where you can learn about pearl farming from a natural science perspective, a humanities perspective, and an industry. The grounds are rich in nature, and there are many places to relax. MikimotoPearlIsland was a fascinating island that attracted visitors from both Japan and abroad.

Click here to reserve discounted tickets (smartphone electronic tickets)!

〇Basic information
Address: 1-7-1 Toba, TobaCity, Mie Prefecture
Phone number: 0599-25-2028

[Opening hours]
January to March, November 8:30 to 17:00
April to November 8:30 to 17:30
December 9:00-16:30

【Admission fee】
Adult 1,500 yen
Elementary and junior high school students 750 yen
*General groups (20 people or more) Adults: 1,200 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 600 yen

【access】
Approximately 5 minutes walk from JR/Kintetsu Toba Station
By car From Ise Interchange, take Ise Futami/Toba Line National Route 42 for 12 km.
55 minutes by IseBayFerry from Irago Port

【parking】
・Mikimoto Parking (passenger cars)
・Private parking lot (bus/passenger car)
・Iwasaki parking lot (passenger cars)
[Parking fee] Regular car: 500 yen/2 hours (250 yen for each additional hour)
Click here for parking map → MikimotoPearlIsland area parking map

Related spots

Hand cream making experience

MikimotoPearlIsland experiential learning [for groups]

Ise Shima

TobaCity

The lush MikimotoPearlIsland, floating in Toba Bay, is where KokichiMikimoto was the first person in the world to successfully cultivate pearls. The island, which is about 23,000 square meters, is dotted with the Pearl Museum, where you can learn all about pearls, and the KokichiMikimoto Memorial Museum, which introduces the life of KokichiMikimoto, known as the Pearl King. There are three experience options: the Kaleidoscope Workshop, where you can make your own original kaleidoscope using freshwater pearls and beads; the Strap Workshop, where you can make your own original straps using freshwater pearls, Swarovski beads, etc.; and the Hand Cream Making Experience, where you can make hand cream using pearl conchiolin, which has a high moisturizing effect. ≪ Kaleidoscope Workshop ≫ [Student groups only] …………… Details of the experience …………… [Period] 9:00-17:00 (Spring and Autumn school trip season) [Duration] Approximately 30 minutes [Fee] 800 yen (same amount for accompanying teachers) *Separate admission fee required [Number of participants] 64 people [Reservation] Required [How to make a reservation] Telephone ≪ Strap Workshop ≫ [General and student groups only] …………… Details of the experience …………… [Period] 9:00-17:00 (Spring and Autumn school trip season) [Duration] Approximately 30 minutes [Fee] 1,600 yen, 2,600 yen (same amount for accompanying teachers) *Separate admission fee required [Number of participants] Up to 30 people (Shift system possible, preparation time required) [Reservation] Required [How to make a reservation] Telephone ≪ Hand cream making experience ≫ [General and student groups only] …………… Experience Details …………… [Period] 9:00-17:00 (Spring and Autumn school trip season) [Duration] Approximately 30 minutes [Fee] 1,600 yen (same fee for accompanying teacher) *Separate entrance fee required [Number of people] 10-30 people (please inquire for more than this) [Reservation] Required (contact us 2 weeks before the experience reservation date) [How to make a reservation] Telephone *The implementation period may have changed, so please check with the relevant contact before heading out. For other details, please see here.

MikimotoPearlIsland

MikimotoPearlIsland

Ise Shima

TobaCity

MikimotoPearlIsland, a lush green island in Toba Bay, is the island where KokichiMikimoto succeeded in cultivating pearls for the first time in the world in 1893. The island was opened in 1951, and since then we have welcomed many visitors from Japan and abroad. The approximately 7,000 tsubo island is dotted with the Pearl Museum, where you can learn everything about pearls, KokichiMikimoto Memorial Museum, which introduces the life of KokichiMikimoto, known as the King of Pearls, and the Pearl Plaza (shops and restaurants). You can watch diving demonstrations performed by Ama divers wearing traditional white isogi. Advantageous advance electronic tickets ・Asoview ・Rakuten ticket ・KKday ・https://passmarket.yahoo.co.jp/ticket/show/detail/03smchvtw3m11_B.html

MikimotoPearlIsland Pearl Shop

Ise Shima

TobaCity

MikimotoPearlIsland will resume operations from June 1st (Monday). Notice of resumption of business This is a shop located on the 1st floor of Pearl Plaza in MikimotoPearlIsland. We have a wide variety of pearl products and souvenirs on our spacious floor, including Mikimoto brand jewelry and MikimotoPearlIsland 's original jewelry.

restaurant entrance

MikimotoPearlIsland Restaurant “Awako”

Ise Shima

TobaCity

This restaurant is named after the udon restaurant that was KokichiMikimoto 's birthplace on MikimotoPearlIsland. We offer a wide variety of menu items, including the famous "Shinju Udon". In a calm atmosphere, you can relax and enjoy your tea time or meal while looking out at the sea.

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