Sea Turtle Observation FAQ
- Q1: How can I observe sea turtles on Yakushima Island?
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A: Participate in the sea turtle observation tours run by the Sea Turtle Conservation Committee Yakushima Town Ecotourism Promotion Council.Tour capacity is set in consideration of the impact on the sea turtles, and reservations are therefore required.
- Q2: How can I participate in a tour?
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A: Visitors are received, and lectures given at the Nagata Inaka Beach Parking Lot. After making a reservation, be sure to arrive at the reception area by the specified time.
Reception/tour times:
1) 20:00 Reception
2) 20:30 Lecture and observation of spawning on the beach.
3) 23:00 End (the tour ends following observation, or at 23:00 if observation is not possible ). - Q3: How much is the tour?
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A: Adults (high school students and above): 2,000 yen; Junior high school students and below: 500 yen. Participation fees are used to cover surveying expenses for the protection of sea turtles, beach cleanup expenses, and personnel expenses and other expenses for tours.
- Q4: Is photography of spawning permitted?
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A: Camera and video photography is prohibited under the Nagata Beach Sea Turtle Observation Rules.
Sea turtles come ashore at night for protection from prey. Sea turtles dislike light and are sensitive to not only camera flashes but even the light from LCD screens. Such lights may cause them to return to the sea without coming ashore or spawning. - Q5: Is it acceptable to touch sea turtles and eggs?
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A: Kagoshima Prefecture ordinances for the conservation of sea turtles prohibit taking sea turtles or sea turtle eggs at all beaches in the prefecture (excluding open sea areas). Furthermore, loggerhead sea turtles and green sea turtles are designated as animals for which capture and killing are prohibited under Japan's Natural Parks Act. Please note that picking up baby turtles is considered as 'capture'. Permission is required for surveying or research.
- Q6: Can Nagata Beach be entered freely?
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A: Please refrain from entering the beaches between 20:00 and 5:00 the following morning between May 1 and September 30 in accordance with the Nagata Beach Sea Turtle Observation Rules.
- Q7: Is it possible to see baby turtles returning to the sea?
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A: Baby turtles hatch and crawl out of the sand on their own at night. It is very rare to encounter a baby turtle returning to the sea in its natural state. Please refrain from walking about unnecessarily on your own, as these risks stepping on eggs and killing turtles in the sand.
Note that baby turtles are not released in the daytime on Yakushima Island as this practice may decrease the survival rate compared with sea turtles behaving naturally. - Q8: What is the Nagata Beach Sea Turtle Preservation Council?
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A: The Nagata Beach Sea Turtle Preservation Council was established on December 9, 2009, to consider the protection of sea turtles at Nagata Beach, conservation of the environment for spawning and hatching, and proper utilization of the turtles. Since 2019 the committee has been conducting studies under the new structure of the Sea Turtle Protection and Utilization Committee of the Yakushima Town Ecotourism Promotion Council in order to develop sea turtle ecotourism not only at Nagata Beach but throughout Yakushima Island.
- Q9: What is the Sea Turtle Protection and Utilization Committee of the Yakushima Town Ecotourism Promotion Council?
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A: The Yakushima Town Ecotourism Promotion Council was established in August 2009 to carry out projects necessary to promote ecotourism. The concerned parties within the Council work toward conservation to enable sustainable use of the flora, fauna, scenic landscapes, topography, waters, and other aspects of Yakushima Town's natural environment. The Sea Turtle Protection and Utilization Committee was established in September 2019 to study rules necessary for the protection and proper use of sea turtles at Nagata Beach, Kurio Beach, and Nakama Beach.
- Q10: What is the Nagata Sea Turtle Liaison Council?
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A: The Nagata Sea Turtle Liaison Council, organized in the local Nagata Ward, has launched activities to protect the quiet spawning environment from visiting tourists. It is a member of the Sea Turtle Protection and Utilization Committee and conducts sea turtle observation tours in cooperation with other organizations.
- Q11: Are tours available outside of Nagata Beach?
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A: There are no observation tours conducted outside of Nagata Beach. However, rules for the protection and observation of sea turtles have been established at Kurio Beach, where visitors are requested to cooperate in following the instructions of conservation monitors and sea turtle protection supporters. For more information, please contact the Tourism & Community Development Section of the Yakushima Town Office. TEL: 0997-43-5900 (in Japanese)
