Toba Hotels

Toba is a city located in Mie, Japan. Toba is best known as the hometown of Kokichi Mikimoto, who developed a method to cultivate pearls, and Tokuhichi Mishima, who invented MKM steel. Toba is the site of the world-class Toba Aquarium, which houses such animals as dugongs, African manatees, porpoises, and a wide-variety of aquatic life. As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 24,301 and the density of 225.26 persons per km². The total area is 107.88 km². The city was founded on November 1, 1954. Toba is a sister city of Santa Barbara, California. Toba city also administers the following islands located in the Ise Bay: Toba is a popular tourist destination at the southern entrance to Ise Bay. Toba's greatest claim to fame is as the birthplace of cultured pearls. Toba also has a number of islands nearby which are accessible by ferry. The two larger islands are Toshijima and Sugashima. Kamishima is a smaller, more remote island.