Welcome to HIMETATSU Beach Station

Hello, travelers! This is Asukarando, writer for [Sarukuma].

Today, I’m excited to introduce a fantastic new spot located in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
【HIMETATSU Beach Station (Nagisa-no-Koban HIMETATSU)】

Just steps away from the previously featured ‘Yunoko Park’ and ‘Umi to Yuyake’ restaurant!
A wonderful new facility has just opened inside ‘Yunoko Beach,’ so I dropped by right away to check it out (^-^)v

Right next to ‘Yunoko Beach,’ you’ll spot this stylish, modern building!

Its name is ‘Nagisa-no-Koban HIMETATSU’ (HIMETATSU Beach Station)

Himetatsu is a species of seahorse that lives in the waters off Minamata. Areas where you can observe them in the wild like this are said to be incredibly rare on a global scale!

Many elementary school students across Kumamoto Prefecture learn about Minamata’s environmental history in class and even visit the city as part of their studies. While they learn that the sea has been beautifully restored, most students leave without ever actually seeing it. The Beach Station was created so visitors can finally experience this revitalized Minamata sea firsthand (^^)

The two-story building dedicates the 1st floor to a marine sports activity center where you can experience the ocean up close (^^)

The interior has a soothing, fresh wooden scent that makes you feel instantly relaxed.

There’s plenty of tourist information about Minamata City available here.
Minamata has so many hidden gems — this is a great place to plan your itinerary!

Here’s the full marine sports menu!

Leisure Kayak — 1 person (¥4,400) / 1.5 hours

Clear Canoe — 1 person (¥5,500) / 1 hour

SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) — 1 person (¥3,300)

Trial Diving — 1 person (¥13,200) / 2.5 hours

Tide Pool Exploration — 1 person ¥2,200

Snorkeling Experience — 1 person (¥6,600) / 1.5 hours

※ Reservations required. You can book directly through the ‘Nagisa-no-Koban Himetatsu’ website. All activities include a guide, so even first-timers can join with confidence!

They also plan to host hands-on events in the future, with announcements posted on Instagram. Something to look forward to ☆

There were even some folks already enjoying marine sports during my visit (^^)

Front and center, there’s a TV monitor showcasing the marine life found along the coast (^^)

Head upstairs to the 2nd floor and you’ll find a beautiful café with sweeping views of the Yunoko coastline (^-^)v

The 2nd-floor café offers both counter seats and table seating — every spot has an ocean view (^^)

There’s also outdoor terrace seating where you can really feel the sea breeze (*^.^*)

The open kitchen lets you peek into the café’s culinary action!

Is it ready yet? Is it ready yet? You can’t help but sneak a look… (>.<)y-~

Yunoko Nagisa Curry — ¥1,158

Yunoko Shirasu Pasta — ¥1,278

Yunotsuru Meat Pasta — ¥1,343

Kids’ Curry — ¥800
“Ano” Margherita Pizza — ¥1,297

Yunotsuru Meat Sauce Pizza — ¥1,436

Yunoko Shirasu Pizza — ¥1,713

Nagisa Special Pizza — ¥2,176

Hot Dog — ¥538

Fish & Chips — ¥750

French Fries — ¥510

Classic Corn Dog — ¥350

Mont Vert Farm Saumagen — ¥723

Ubuyama Spiral Sausage — ¥808

Churros — ¥500 (Brown Sugar, Kinako, Cinnamon, Original)

Fried Sandwich — ¥682

Beach Donut — ¥260

(Sio Donut, Cinnamon Donut, Kinako Donut)

Organto Ice Shop — Aisukurin — ¥5,467

Minamara Japanese Black Tea Soft Serve — ¥500

You can even sample flavors from other beloved Minamata shops right here (^^)

Drink Menu

Citrus Smoothie — ¥750

Japanese Black Tea Chai Smoothie — ¥750

Glass of Wine — ¥600

Minamara Tea — ¥400

Craft Fresh Juice — ¥550

Iced Coffee — ¥400

They proudly feature Minamata’s locally grown Japanese black tea (wakoucha) — fragrant, smooth, and absolutely delicious (^^)

The 1st and 2nd floors have different opening hours (^^)

1st floor: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

2nd floor: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last order: 4:30 PM)

HIMETATSU Beach Station — Recommended Menu Picks

Sio Donut (Salt Donut) — I had to try one (*^.^*)

Those white grains you see? That’s real sea salt!

Here’s a fun surprise — when you pick it up, you realize it’s chilled! And the texture is perfectly soft.

One bite in, and the salty-sweet flavor combined with the cold, refreshing donut texture was absolutely heavenly (*^.^*)

Minamata Japanese Black Tea Soft Serve

Did you know Minamata is also famous for its Japanese black tea (wakoucha)?

The soft serve has a rich, intense black tea flavor — an absolute must-try for tea lovers!
I ordered it for myself, but my daughter unexpectedly fell in love with it and devoured most of it (>.<)y-~

“Ano” Margherita Pizza

I got this one to-go and enjoyed it right at the beach across the road!

Pizza after a swim in the ocean — pure happiness (*^.^*)

The crust is thin but pillowy soft!
And the cheese — generously melted and oozing — was so good it practically melted me (^-^)v

HIMETATSU Beach Station is open every day during summer, so why not stop by for lunch with a beautiful Minamata sea view? Even after beach season ends, the ever-changing ocean views and delicious food make it a destination worth visiting all year round \(^_^)(^_^)/

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Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information is current as of the visit. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before your visit.