Toba Time: Exceptional Eco Tours Around Ise-Shima National Park

Dive into local life and sample sublime seafood from Ise Bay

Set on the eastern coast of Mie Prefecture, the sea and islands of Toba have long been intimately tied to local customs and traditions. Join Kaito Yumin Club on one of their eco tours and experience life here firsthand.

Sample delectably fresh seafood in myriad forms—join local fishermen and catch sea bream or scorpion fish, then let nearby chefs transform your haul into culinary delights. Harvest wakame seaweed to be enjoyed in a hot pot of fresh fish, grill Spanish mackerel over an outdoor fire, and chat with local wholesalers and sushi chefs.

Take part in the Ama Hut Experience and enjoy a conversation and meal at the huts of ama divers, women who maintain the millennia-old tradition of free-diving for shellfish and seaweed. Stroll the fishing village of Tōshijima Island, which provided fruits of the sea to the Imperial family and court from Japan’s ancient times through the Heian period (794–1185).

Discover the natural wonders of Ise-Shima National Park by kayak, paddling around the coastline to explore uninhabited emerald islands. Marvel at the fauna and flora that call these waters home, from small finless porpoises and black kites (a bird of prey) to forests of seaweed swaying gently in the currents below.

With English-speaking guides accompanying each tour, visitors can enjoy an authentic experience connecting with the local community. The team of experts at Kaito Yumin Club are also happy to customize plans to suit your interests and needs.

Toba makes for an attractive additional destination for travelers visiting the famous Ise Shrine in neighboring Ise City. An overnight stay will allow more time to leisurely discover the cultural, natural, and spiritual gems housed in this seaside town.

Access: From Nagoya Station, walk to the Kintetsu Nagoya Station (about two minutes), then take the limited express to Toba Station (about one hour 50 minutes) and walk to the Kaito Yumin Club (about seven minutes).

Take the Kintetsu Limited Express from Kintetsu Nagoya Station (approx. one hour 50 minutes), exit at Toba Station, then walk seven minutes to Kaito Yumin Club.