Japan information for the solar eclipse of 2009

There aren't many places to see the 2009 total solar eclipse in Japan on land. Toshima Village (Tokara Islands) is made of twelve small islands is the main place with long totality. Knowing eclipse-chasers as I do, I expect the ballot to be many times over-subscribed.

I have also been informed that there will also be a Total Solar Eclipse Live Music Festival at the north-side of Amami-Oshima.

My latest information is as follows:

• The Toshima village has a population of under 700.
• fears of an unrestricted influx of astronomy and eclipse ensthusiasts have caused the authorities to enter into an agreement with a travel firm who will manage the process. Numbers will be restricted to 1,300 during the eclipse period.
• The cost of visiting the islands will be around 300,000 Yen
• Access will be limited to the regular ferry (capacity 200) betweet Kagoshima on the mainland and Amani Oshima via the the inhabited islands. Three high-speed boats with a seating capacity of 30 are also being chartered.
• period of stay will be subject to a minimum of 3 nights and a maximum of one week
• accomodation is limited to 300 persons in 24 minshuku homes
• I am led to understand that it will be possible to camp on the islands but have yet to determine where these locations are.
• costs are likely to be constant regardless of the length of stay as the authorities are making exceptional provisions for the islands during this period including, but not limited to, emergency service provisions
• private boats are prohibited from approaching the islands between July 17 and July 26.
• Yakushima and Amami-Oshima are more used to tourists and generally more ready to accept them and tours here are expected to be cheaper. However, totality will be shorter than on the Tokara Islands.
• Totality will also be visible at Yakushima whose nature reserve is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Although I am informed weather conditions will probably not be conducive to viewing the eclipse from this specific location.

Toshima Village means Tokara archipelago, i.e. 7 inhabited islands and 5 uninhabited islets, from north to south,

1. Kuchinoshima
2. Gaja-jima
3. Kogaja-jima
4. Nakanoshima
5. Taira-jima
6. Suwanose-jima
7. Akuseki-jima
8. Kodakara-jima
9. Kojima
10. Takara-jima
11. Kaminone-jima
12. Yokoate-jima

Bookmark this page

[ Delicious ] [ Digg ] [ reddit ] [ Facebook ] [ StumbleUpon ]