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Stay connected when travelling to Japan
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, staying connected is a must. From navigating the busy streets of Tokyo to finding your way to Toba 😎, having access to the internet can be a lifesaver. Fortunately, there are several options for travellers looking to stay connected, including pocket Wi-Fi, physical SIM cards and eSIM cards.…
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Five things to do when you arrive in Toba by cruise ship.
The seabed in Toba Harbour is too shallow for ships to dock. As a result, large cruise ships anchor in Toba Bay and guests are taken ashore by tender. This is part of the journey and an attraction of Toba Harbour. The Toba Marine Terminal is in front of the Toba Railway Station, from where…
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Toba a place to grow citrus fruits…
Although Japan is known for its rice cultivation and the importance of fish in the diet, there is another more unsuspected food which nevertheless occupies a prominent place among Japanese agricultural products: tangerines. Mie Prefecture is one of the top 10 prefectures in Japan in terms of tangerine production.Tangerines are known in Japan as “Mikan”,…
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The life of Ama divers
A selection of interactive sceneries to improve your knowledge of Ama divers’ unique history and culture.
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Abalone, treasure of a shellfish
The abalone is the most sought after shellfish by Ama divers. The fishing season runs from March to August. This strict schedule prevents overfishing and does not disrupt the spawning season, which takes place in autumn (when the typhoon season is over). There are both female and male abalone, which are “broadcast spawners”. This means…
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A guide to wakame seaweed
Native to the Northwest Pacific Ocean (hence endemic to Japan). Wakame is harvested late in winter until April. Wakame are either ocean-farmed or harvested from wild, the latter being one of Ama’s biggest jobs. In season, each Ama harvest Wakame by the tens of kilograms every diving session. In order to help Ama divers, other…
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The Ancient Relationship Between the Ise Grand Shrine and Toba
Toba City has a beautiful view of the sea, and many people stay here for their visit to Ise Jingu (or Ise Grand Shrine) in neighboring Ise city. Amaterasu Omikami, enshrined in Ise Jingu, is the supreme deity in Shinto likened to the sun and is the head goddess of Japan. At New Year’s and…
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Toba’s Tomorrow: Moving Towards a Bright Future
Toba’s Ama culture has recently been recognized on the “Japan Heritage List” by the Agency of Cultural Affairs.And there is even a movement that wants to see it recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by Unesco. But it’s not all good news for Ama culture, which is sometimes called a dying culture as there are…
