Photo: Ganokure / CC BY-SA 4.0This small island beside Toba harbour is where Kokichi Mikimoto created the cultured pearl, and it is the first thing most people on a Toba call should see. It is a ten-minute walk from the Marine Terminal, so it fits a short call, and for the November Mitsui Ocean Sakura call the tender lands at the island itself.
The ticket price includes the ama diving demonstration, which runs at set times: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30. There is no 12:30 show. On days when the island closes at 16:30, the last demonstration is at 15:30. Build the visit around one of those times and the rest falls into place.
The catch is the clock. If you arrive at 12:00 you wait until 13:30, the show list shifts in the shoulder season, and the island's page does not say how long a demonstration lasts. Skip the island if you are on a call that ends before the afternoon shows; take the 9:30 or 10:30 show on an early landing.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Plan around the demonstration times and do not arrive at noon: there is no 12:30 show, and the gap is 11:30 to 13:30.
- The online combination ticket with Toba Aquarium (¥4,000 for adults) is sold online only and is valid for one month from purchase, so buy it before the call.
- Tickets stop selling 60 minutes before closing, so the last entry is about 16:00 from 13 Oct to 26 Nov.
- The island closes for three days from the second Tuesday in December, which is 8–10 Dec 2026.
- The island's page gives no senior price, so adults pay ¥1,650; the only discount listed is for disability-handbook holders.
Build the visit around one of those times and the rest falls into place.
Guided ways to do Mikimoto Pearl Island
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
Questions people ask here
How do you get from the Toba cruise ship to Mikimoto Pearl Island?
Ride the tender to the Sadahama pier at the Toba Marine Terminal, then walk about 10 minutes; the port council gives that figure. Mitsui Ocean Sakura's tender lands at the island's own pier.
What time are the ama diver demonstrations?
9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30. On days when the island closes at 16:30, the last demonstration is at 15:30.
How much does Mikimoto Pearl Island cost?
¥1,650 for an adult and ¥820 for an elementary or junior high school child, including the ama demonstration. A combination ticket with Toba Aquarium is ¥4,000 for an adult, online only.