Mikimoto Pearl Island

Kokichi Mikimoto was an udon seller's son who became a pearl dealer, watched oyster stocks collapse under harvesting pressure, and set out to make pearls rather than find them. Years of failure followed, including a red tide that killed his stock; in July 1893 he found a semi-spherical cultured pearl in one of his oysters on this islet, and by 1905 he had a fully round one. The museum on the island covers the technique - a nucleus and a piece of mantle tissue inserted into the oyster, which coats it - along with the grading of pearls and a collection of nineteenth-century pearl craft objects including a pagoda made with tens of thousands of them. Ama divers, the women who free-dived for the oysters before culture made it unnecessary, give demonstrations in white cotton diving dress from a boat off the island several times a day.

What you actually see

• The first cultured pearl - produced on this islet in 1893 after repeated failure.
• The technique explained - nucleus and mantle tissue inserted and coated by the oyster.
• Pearl craft objects - nineteenth-century pieces including a pagoda of tens of thousands.
• Ama demonstrations - free-divers in white cotton working from a boat several times daily.

When to go

All year. Two hours. Check the ama demonstration times on arrival.

Honest expectations

It is a company museum and the shop is a substantial part of the experience. Ama demonstrations are short and cancelled in rough weather. Entry is charged and pearls are expensive. The island is small.

Nearby

Ago Bay is south; Ise Jingu is west.