Up, up, and away. Get a view of historic Japanese ruins from above while enjoying a rare hot air balloon experience around 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nagoya.
What to expect
Saikū in Mie Prefecture was once home to holy princesses called Saiō in the ancient Heian period. During the Saikū Cultural Art Festival 2024, you’ll be able to discover their history while also participating in unique events, including this one.
You’ll learn about the old customs of the area, listen to traditional music, eat local produce, and get whisked up into the air in a hot air balloon (while being safely tethered to the ground).
Schedule
There are two main hot air balloon tours to choose from, one taking place on September 15 and one on September 16. The price and content are slightly different.
September 15 (Sun.)
- 14:30: Meet at Saikū Station Shiseki Park Exit and walk into the park
- 15:00: See an exhibition at the Saikū History Museum
- 17:00: Fire-making experience with Japanese music concert and a special local BBQ that includes Matsusaka beef (one of the three best beefs in Japan)
- 18:30: Watch the hot air balloons inflate
- 19:00: See the balloons glow and take a tethered flight
- 20:30: Return to the station
September 16 (Mon. Public Holiday)
- 16:15: Meet at Saikū Station Shiseki Park Exit and walk into the park
- 16:30: Watch the hot air balloon inflate
- 16:45: Get inside the hot air balloon
- 17:00: Take a tethered flight on the hot air balloon in the day
- 18:00: Visit the Itsuki no Miya Moon Viewing Ceremony and order drinks and food (interpretation provided)
- 19:00: Take a tethered flight on the hot air balloon at night
- 20:00: Return to Saikū Station
Tickets and entry
Because the content is slightly different, the tour prices also change. The tour on September 15 costs ¥15,000 while the tour on September 16 costs ¥10,000.
How to get there
Both tours start at Saikū Station.
From Osaka/Namba
To get to Saikū Station from Osaka (Namba Station), the quickest way is getting the Kintetsu Limited Express to Ise-Nakagawa Station and transferring to the Yamada Line for Saikū. The journey takes between 2 hours and 2 hours and 30 minutes depending on what train you catch.
From Nagoya
Take the Kintetsu Limited Express from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Ise-Nakagawa Station then change to the Yamada Line. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
From Tokyo
From Tokyo Station take the Tōkaidō-Sanyō Shinkansen to Nagoya Station, change to the Rapid Mie Line for Matsusaka Station, then change to the Yamada Line for Saikū. The journey takes 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.