Toba Day Trip from Nagoya: Toba Aquarium, Mikimoto Pearl Island and the Ama Divers

ByCentral Japan Guide

Last checked: November 4, 2026, against the official Toba Aquarium website (English), the official Mikimoto Pearl Island website (English) and a route planner for the Kintetsu train. Hours, prices and closing days change, so please confirm before you go. This site is independent and is not affiliated with either attraction or with Kintetsu. This post may contain affiliate links; if you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Toba is a port town on the Ise-Shima coast, and it is the easiest way to extend an Ise Jingu day trip, or to make a day of its own. Two attractions sit within a short walk of the station: Toba Aquarium, which says it has the most species of any aquarium in Japan, and Mikimoto Pearl Island, where you can see demonstrations by ama divers, the women who dive for pearl oysters. This guide covers the trip from Nagoya, current prices and hours, and the combination tickets.

Key takeaways

  • By Kintetsu limited express, a route planner shows about 1 hour 38 minutes from Kintetsu Nagoya to Toba and 3,410 yen with a reserved seat. An express with a change takes about 2 hours and costs 2,070 yen.
  • Toba Aquarium is open every day of the year. Adults pay 2,800 yen. The official site says it takes about 2 hours to see everything.
  • Mikimoto Pearl Island is a 5-minute walk from Toba Station. Adults pay 1,650 yen, and it includes the Pearl Museum and the ama diver demonstration.
  • The Pearl Island will be closed for 3 days, from December 8 to December 10, 2026.
  • Combination tickets are sold online only, and save up to 1,150 yen for adults.
Toba day trip facts

Getting there from Nagoya

Take the Kintetsu Nagoya Line from Kintetsu Nagoya Station. For how to find the Kintetsu platforms, see our Nagoya Station transfer guide.

  • Limited express. A route planner (Yahoo! Transit, for a weekday morning) lists a Kintetsu limited express to Kashikojima that takes 1 hour 38 minutes with no change. The fare is 3,410 yen, made up of 2,070 yen for the ticket and 1,340 yen for a reserved seat. This is a route-planner result, not an official fare.
  • Express. A cheaper option, 2,070 yen, takes about 2 hours to 2 hours 23 minutes and needs one change at Isuzugawa.
  • By car. Mikimoto Pearl Island says it takes about 2 hours from Nagoya.

Toba Aquarium says Toba can be reached by train from Nagoya in about two hours. Mikimoto Pearl Island says JR or Kintetsu takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. The route planner times above are the ones to rely on, and the sources differ by a few minutes.

Both attractions are close to Kintetsu or JR Toba Station. Mikimoto Pearl Island says it is a 5-minute walk.

Toba Aquarium

According to the aquarium’s official site, it has more than 1,200 species, the most numerous in Japan.

  • Hours. 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. In the summer season it opens earlier and closes later by 30 minutes. Final admission is one hour before closing.
  • Open. Year-round, including all national holidays.
  • Admission. Adults 2,800 yen, children aged 6 to 15 1,600 yen, children aged 3 to 5 800 yen, and children under 3 free. Payment cards are accepted for tickets. Disability discounts are available at the ticket office for people with a certificate issued by a domestic institution.
  • Time. The official site says it takes about 2 hours to see all the areas, and there is no set route.
  • What to see. The home page lists a dugong, sea otters, a coral reef tank, finless porpoises and a section for unusual creatures.
  • Shows. The home page lists a sea lion show, a penguin walk, a walrus touching time and feeding times. Times depend on the day, so check the page on the day.
  • Eating. The page lists two restaurants, with dishes at about 1,000 to 1,500 yen and about 600 to 1,000 yen.

Mikimoto Pearl Island

Mikimoto Pearl Island is a small island near the station. The entrance fee includes the Pearl Museum, the ama diver demonstration and the Memorial Hall.

Hours

The official site lists these hours.

  • September 19 to October 12, 2026: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • October 13 to November 26: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • November 27 to December 22: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • December 23 to December 31: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • January 1 to January 5, 2027: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • January 6 to March 18: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Ticket sales end 60 minutes before closing time. The island is closed for 3 days, from December 8 to December 10, 2026. Hours change by season.

Prices

  • Adults. 1,650 yen.
  • Children aged 6 to 15. 820 yen.
  • Groups of 20 or more. Adults 1,320 yen and children 660 yen. Groups must reserve in advance.
  • Advance e-tickets. The same prices, sold through Jalan, KKday and Rakuten. Tickets cannot be refunded after purchase.

Ama diver demonstrations

The official site lists the demonstrations at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm. On days when business hours end at 4:30 pm, the final demonstration is at 3:30 pm.

Combination tickets

The Mikimoto Pearl Island site lists three combination tickets. They are sold online only and are valid for one month from the date of purchase.

  • Toba Marumie Passport. Mikimoto Pearl Island, Toba Aquarium, the Toba Bay Tour and Dolphin Island. Adults 5,700 yen instead of 6,850 yen, a saving of 1,150 yen. Children aged 12 to 15 pay 3,100 yen, and children aged 6 to 11 pay 3,100 yen.
  • Toba W Coupon. Mikimoto Pearl Island and Toba Aquarium. Adults 4,000 yen instead of 4,450 yen. Children aged 6 to 15 pay 2,100 yen instead of 2,420 yen.
  • Pearl Cruise Combination Ticket. Mikimoto Pearl Island, the Toba Bay Tour and Dolphin Island. Adults 3,600 yen instead of 4,050 yen.

The page notes that Toba Aquarium and the Toba Bay Tour require tickets for children from age 4, and that the aquarium requires tickets for children from age 3 on the W Coupon.

Viator · Affiliate linkIse Grand Shrine, Meoto Iwa and Mikimoto Pearl Island, from NagoyaA guided small-group day trip with round-trip transport and admission to the sites, according to the listing. It visits Ise Grand Shrine, Okage Yokocho, Mikimoto Pearl Island and Meoto Iwa. The meeting point is at the silver clock in Nagoya Station.Check on Viator

A day trip plan

This is our suggestion, not an official plan. Check the hours for your day.

1. Take a morning limited express from Kintetsu Nagoya to Toba, which takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. 2. Start at Toba Aquarium for about 2 hours. 3. Have lunch in Toba, and then walk to Mikimoto Pearl Island. 4. See an ama diver demonstration, and then the Pearl Museum. 5. Return to Nagoya by Kintetsu.

If you also want Ise Jingu, give it its own day, or see our Ise Jingu day trip guide.

Practical tips

  • Buy the combination ticket online before you go. It is sold online only.
  • The Pearl Island closes early in late autumn, and the last ticket is sold an hour before closing. Check the hours for your date.
  • December 8 to 10, 2026 is a closure for the Pearl Island, so avoid those days.
  • Check the aquarium’s show times on the day, because they depend on the weather and the animals.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take from Nagoya to Toba? About 1 hour 38 minutes on a Kintetsu limited express, according to a route planner. An express with a change takes about 2 hours.

How much is Toba Aquarium? Adults 2,800 yen, children aged 6 to 15 1,600 yen, children aged 3 to 5 800 yen. Children under 3 are free.

Is Toba Aquarium open every day? Yes. The official site says it is open year-round, including all national holidays.

How much is Mikimoto Pearl Island? Adults 1,650 yen and children aged 6 to 15 820 yen. The ticket includes the Pearl Museum and the ama diver demonstration.

Is there a combination ticket? Yes. The Toba Marumie Passport covers four attractions for 5,700 yen for adults. The Toba W Coupon covers the aquarium and the Pearl Island for 4,000 yen. Both are sold online only.

Sources

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