basic information

The Mikimoto Pearl Island is an excellent museum about pearls, pearl cultivation and Mikimoto Kokichi, the first person who succeeded in cultivating pearls. The island is located in the Bay of Toba, accessible via a bridge.

Mikimoto Kokichi was born in Toba in 1858 and became the first person to successfully cultivate pearls in the year 1893. He opened the first Mikimoto Pearl Store in 1899. The Mikimoto Kokichi Memorial Hall introduces his life story.

Also located on the island, the Pearl Museum provides detailed explanations about pearls and the cultivation of pearls in Japanese and English. In the adjacent Pearl Plaza you can view and purchase a wide variety of pearl jewelry.

The Mikimoto Pearl Island also offers hourly performances by female pearl divers, known as Ama (lit. "sea women"), who have traditionally been planting and harvesting the oysters (and other seafood).

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how to get there

The Mikimoto Pearl Island is a short walk from Toba Station, served by JR and Kintetsu trains. The train trip from Ise-shi Station to Toba takes 15 minutes and costs 230 Yen by JR and 320 Yen by Kintetsu.

Toba is also directly connected with Nagoya by JR rapid trains and Kintetsu limited express trains and with Osaka and Kyoto by Kintetsu limited express trains.

How to get to and around the Shima Peninsula

Admission: 1500 Yen
Hours: Daily from 8:30 to 17:30 (slightly shorter hours during the off-season). Closed for three days during December.

travel community

Users who have been to Ise Shima: 80
Users who have been to Mikimoto Pearl Island: 24

2nd of 8 most visited sights in Ise Shima.
256th of 430 most visited sights nationwide.

hotels & ryokan

Japanese Hotel Ohishiya Situated in front of the famous Meoto-iwa Rock. Offering a full ocean view. Ise Shrine and Mikimoto Pearl Island nearby.

tours and packages

Ise Shima Tours Various English tours of Ise and surroundings.

english links

japanese links