tourism

GKTN04

Mon-Fri 10~, by request.

2 hours
*The end time may change depending on weather conditions.

Japanese・English

Minimum 2 people / Maximum 6 people

Advance payment by credit card via the application form

・Please wear a rash guard over your swimsuit or shorts over your leggings.
・Please also wear a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.
・For safety reasons, please wear sandals with a strap, water shoes, or shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.
・If you do not fall into the sea, you will only get wet up to your knees.
・There is a shower available.
・For those who wish, after the experience you can bathe in the hot spring,
Shikisai which is located 10 minutes away by car. (Requires an extra fee that is not included in the cost of the experience).

Swimsuit, rash guard, sandals with a strap or water shoes, hat, sunglasses, water/drinks, snacks, towel, change of clothes.
There are no convenience stores or vending machines near the venue. Please bring enough drinks and snacks. You can put these in a dry bag (free rental) and bring them with you during the SUP experience.

・For single-person SUP, participants must be at least 120 cm tall, at least 12 years old, in good health, and able to understand the safety instructions.
・If it is difficult to control the SUP by oneself, we may arrange for a companion to share the ride or to pull the board by connecting it to the guide’s SUP.

• ● Because this activity is easily affected by the wind, it may be canceled due to high waves or strong winds, even if the weather is good. We will make a decision and notify you at least 3 days in advance. If you need a decision sooner than this due to accommodation or transportation reservations, please let us know when you apply. If the SUP tour is canceled, the participation fee will be fully refunded. 
• ● In the unlikely event that SUP in front of the old Akasaki Elementary School becomes difficult due to a sudden change in the weather on the day of the event:
  →If it is possible to hold the SUP event at a nearby beach with calmer waves, we will move to an alternative beach after visiting the Inn of Souls.
  →If it is not possible to hold the event at a nearby beach, we will offer a guided tour of the Inn of Souls for a fee of 1,000 yen (tax included) and refund the remainder of the fee. It is also possible to cancel the entire experience and receive a full refund.
  Please understand that this experience is very susceptible to weather conditions.
• ● We reserve the right to refuse participation in the SUP experience if we deem it unsafe for a guest to participate due to their physical condition.
• ● For safety reasons, guests will be asked to remove their masks during the SUP experience. The guide will also remove his/her mask except when giving explanations nearby.

• ● This is a program that requires participants to travel to the meeting place on their own.
• ● UNA Laboratories staff will not accompany guests on this program.
• ● All photos are for illustrative purposes only.
• ● The tour will be canceled in the event that it becomes difficult to smoothly conduct the tour due to the new coronavirus infection situation, wind and wave conditions, or other factors. If the tour is canceled, the full amount of the tour fee will be refunded.
• ●We recommend participants purchase domestic travel insurance for the tour.
• ● No pets allowed.

If you wish to cancel your reservation, please contact us as soon as possible.
In the event of cancellation due to the customer’s convenience, the following cancellation fees will apply:
– Cancellation 7 to 2 days prior: 30% of the fee
– Cancellation on the day before: 50% of the fee
– Cancellation on the day of the reservation: 100% of the fee
Please note that we may not be able to accommodate requests for changes due to the time of year or availability of reservations.

We recommend you visit these places before or after the program to experience more of Tsunagi.

Tatzubutzu Carved Buddha Statues:

A 5-minute drive from the former Akasaki Elementary School. This is an outdoor project created by artist Tatzu Nishi where 33 Buddha statues have been carved directly into the forest’s trees.

Stone Spirit Forest:

An outdoor work created by contemporary artist Yukinori Yanagi that was inspired by the works of a local writer, Michiko Ishimure. Here, in a ginkgo grove, recitations of Michiko’s poems can be heard. This is located next to the artwork, Tatzubutzu.

Tsunagi Art Museum:

A 10-minute drive from the former Akasaki Elementary School. Open 10:00-17:00. This municipal art museum opened in April 2001 and has served as a hub for artistic and cultural activities in the Minamata and Ashikita areas of Kumamoto Prefecture. Closed every Wednesday.

Tsunagi Cultural Center:

A 10-minute drive from the former Akasaki Elementary School or a 3-minute walk from the Tsunagi Art Museum. Open 9:00-21:00. Yukari Ohira’s artwork, Tsunagu, is on permanent display in the lobby. Closed on Mondays.

Tsunagi Hyakkodo:

A 10-minute drive from the former Akasaki Elementary School. Open 9:00-18:00. This store sells local specialty products selected based on environmentally friendly farming methods as well as tastiness.

Tsunagi Hot Spring Shikisai:

A 10-minute drive from the former Akasaki Elementary School. Open 10:00-21:00. A hot spring located on top of the mountain, accessible via ropeway. From the hot spring, one can enjoy a spectacular view of Tsunagi and the sea below. Closed on the first Wednesday of every month.