Mikimoto Pearl Island

Mikimoto Pearl Island, A Small Island At Toba Where Kokichi Mikimoto Made The First Cultured Pearls, With A Museum Of Pearl History, A Demonstration Of The Sea Pearl Diver (Ama) Tradition And A Shop. A Short, Easy Stop In Ise Shima. · Toba, Mie

Mikimoto Pearl Island is a small island at Toba in Mie, linked to the town by a short bridge a few minutes' walk from Toba Station. It was founded as a pearl museum by Kokichi Mikimoto, known as the Pearl King, who is credited with the first cultured hemispherical pearls in 1893 and round pearls in 1905 - confirm the dates on the labels. The museum explains how an oyster makes a pearl, shows early tools and fine jewellery, and sets out the story of a poor noodle seller's son who changed the industry. The island also has a demonstration by ama, women divers in white robes who show how pearl oysters were once gathered by hand - confirm times and the season. A shop sells pearls. It suits families, jewellery fans and anyone passing through Ise-Shima. Allow about an hour. It is worth a stop for the ama show and the story, and not worth it if you dislike shops or crowds. Ise Grand Shrine is nearby.

Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba, Mie, joined to the town of Toba by a short bridge, a few minutes on foot from Toba Station, Toba, Mie, Japan

The island is usually open from morning to late afternoon, with a shorter winter day, and it closes for a few days each year around New Year and in midwinter - confirm current hours. Last entry is typically 30 to 60 minutes before closing. The ama diver demonstrations run several times a day on a fixed schedule, with fewer shows in the cold months; confirm times at the gate. It is a few minutes on foot from Toba Station on the JR and Kintetsu lines, about 90 minutes from Nagoya or Osaka. Nothing needs booking, though tour groups fill the demonstration in busy seasons. IC cards work at the station; the island ticket desk may prefer cash.

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