Frequently asked questions
Mikimoto Pearls Island and Amagoya (ama huts) are definite must-see places.
If you like culture and heritage, we recommend the Toba Sea-folk Museum and Osatsu Ama Culture Museum.
If you’re interested in something activity-based, we recommend going on a hike to Mount Aonomine, biking or strolling around Tojishima, or even a kayak tour to uninhabited islands.
For spiritual travelers, Takigyo (waterfall meditation) at Shirataki Daimyojin and a visitation to Shinmei Shrine • Ishigami-san would be perfect for you.
For gourmet lovers, an all-you-can-eat oyster course during winter in Uramura and Ise-ebi at Ekimae Shotengai is a must! Make sure to check out the Uramura oyster map for more information.
When in doubt, just download our free Toba itinerary PDF!
Yes! At many different attractions, stations, marine terminals, and even local restaurants have their pamphlets and menus translated into English, Chinese, and other languages.
Multilingual pamphlets and translation assistance are available at the Toba City Tourist Information Center inside Toba Station.
You can visit an Ama Hut (Amagoya) like Hachiman-kamado or Mae-no-Hama, where active or retired Ama divers grill fresh seafood for you while sharing stories of their traditional diving heritage.
Reservations are strongly recommended weeks in advance, especially during peak seasons. Reserve through local guides like Osatsu DMO or Kaito Yumin Club.
Payment
Cash or credit card
Cash is most definitely preferred and is the only way to pay around the city. But certain places, like convenience stores, accept credit cards.
ATM
ATMs are available throughout the city if you ever need to take out cash.
Some ATMs that work with International cards are Aeon atm (available in most Aeon malls),
Internet ATM and 7 Bank ATM (available in most 7-Eleven stores).
Please note that most ATMs are available in Inner Toba. So we recommend you bring enough money for your trip before venturing outside of Inner Toba.
Toba is a well-visited tourist destination in any season, as each season has different aspects that draw visitors in.
Spring/Summer:
Ideal for island hopping, sea kayaking, and warm coastal breezes.
Autumn/Winter: Best for eating fresh Ise spiny lobster and Uramura oysters, plus enjoying hot spring (onsen) baths with clear ocean views.
There are luggage coin lockers in the station for day use.
Toba Station Baggage Service Center will also keep your luggage safe for a mere ￥500 yen per piece of luggage. Luggage delivery service is also available, where they will send your luggage from the station to your lodging on the same day.
We recommend getting the Kintentsu rail 5-day pass or 5-day plus pass.
It's a bang for your buck rail pass.
You can visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Ise Shima (Toba), and Nagoya with just one pass priced at 4900 yen!
To purchase the kintetsu Rail Pass online, Click here!
Central Toba, including Toba Aquarium, Mikimoto Pearl Island, and the Toba ferry terminal, is fully walkable from Toba Station.
For coastal areas like Osatsu or Uramura, ride the local Kamome bus or rent a car at Orix Rent-a-Car or Toyota Rent-a-Car
For those wanting to go to Ise Jingu, we recommend riding a CAN BUS from Toba Bus Center.
Municipal passenger ferries depart regularly from the Toba Marine Terminal (located a 7-minute walk from Toba Station).
Fares and timetables vary by island, so check the live ferry schedule here before departing.
Toba is famous for its raw and grilled seafood:
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Ise Lobster (Ise-ebi): In season from October to April.
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Oysters (Kaki): Uramura oysters are famous for all-you-can-eat oyster huts along "Oyster Road" from November to March.
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For Toba Aquarium, plan for 2 to 3.5 hours.
It features 12 zones and rare marine species like dugongs and the two famous sea otters Mei-chan and Kira-chan.
Mikimoto Pearl Island: Budget 1.5 to 2 hours to watch live Ama diving demonstrations, tour the Pearl Museum, and shop
Yes! Toba is only 15–20 minutes by train or car from Ise.
Many visitors stay in Toba for the ocean views and seafood while making day trips to Ise Jingu.
From early june up till the middle of july will be the rainy-season.
Typhoon season will take place late August through september.
Best Time to Visit: October through November (pleasant temperatures, low rainfall) and
April through May (cherry blossoms and comfortable outdoor travel).
Toba is a coastal area. So prepare some wind resistand wear if you're planning to go near the ocean.
Toba is a disability-friendly tourist destination with varying services, from free wheelchair rental services up to wheelchair-friendly rooms at varying hotels.
Wheelchair rental
Both free and paid wheelchair rentals are available at the Ise-Shima Barrier Free Tourist Centre, which can be found in Toba Ichibangai, right across from Toba Station.
Welfare taxi service
Car type: Toyota Esquire
(One wheelchair user + three passengers, two wheelchair users + two passengers)
Life Support Services: 1,000 yen for 30 minutes
These services include grocery shopping assistance, prescription pickup assistance, home tidying, light bulb replacement, etc., and can be used without using a welfare taxi.Toll free number: 0120-38-4031
Car type: Toyota Alphard
(1 wheelchair user + 5 passengers)
0599-21-0550
Acommodations
At least nine hotels in Toba have wheelchair-accessible rooms.
List of wheelchair-friendly hotels
For more information on barrier-free tourist destinations in Toba & other places in Ise Shima, please visit Ise-shima Barrier-free Tourist Center
Traditional seafood and ryokan dining feature fish and dashi stock heavily.
While options are growing, vegetarians, vegans, and visitors with any dietary restrictions are encouraged to notify hotels/restaurants ahead of time or seek out dedicated cafes near Toba Station.
Strollers, both free and paid, are available at Ichibangai at the Ise-Shima Barrier Free Tourist Centre, which can be found right across from the Toba station.
Call 110 for police for nationwide events relating to theft, crime, or traffic accidents.
Call 119 for nationwide medical or fire emergencies.
Call 0599-25-1199 for the Toba local emergency medical center.
