This guide covers how to reach Goshoura Island by boat, digging for fossils, the dinosaur museum, the rest of the island, and the way back.
Goshoura Island is worth the trip for Cretaceous fossils that visitors can see in a museum and dig out of the ground themselves. The sections below follow the day in order, from the crossing to the way back.
Getting to Goshoura Island by Boat
Boats to Goshoura Port leave from Hondo Port, Tanasoko Port and Daido Port, and the fares for each crossing are in the table below. A shared sea taxi from Minamata is the other way across, and it is booked ahead by phone through the Shiosaikan.
Passengers need to be at the port before boarding, so build in some time ahead of each sailing. The table lists the fares, example sailings from Hondo Port and the walk from Goshoura Port to the fossil site.
| From | Line and operator | Time or fare |
|---|---|---|
| Hondo Port to Goshoura Port, one-way fare | Regular boat | 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children |
| Hondo Port to Goshoura Port, 8:30 departure | Regular boat | Arrives at 9:10 |
| Hondo Port to Goshoura Port, 11:50 departure | Regular boat | Arrives at 12:30 |
| Tanasoko Port to Goshoura Port, one-way fare | Regular boat | 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children |
| Daido Port to Goshoura Port, one-way fare | Ferry Goshoura | 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children |
| Minamata (Hyakken) Port to Goshoura Port, one-way fare | Shared sea taxi | 1,500 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children |
| Goshoura Port to the Trigonia Sandstone fossil site, on foot | Walk | About 5 to 6 minutes |
The sailings in the table are examples, so check the latest timetable with the boat operator before travelling. The next table covers boarding, booking and payment.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regular boats, boarding | Arrive at the port at least 15 minutes before departure |
| Shared sea taxi, boarding | Arrive at the boarding point 5 minutes before departure |
| Minamata shared sea taxi, booking | Booked ahead by phone with the Shiosaikan, 0969-67-1234, from 9 to 17 o'clock |
| Museum admission, payment | Cash only |
| Fossil digging for groups, booking | Apply through the group application form by 17:00 two days before |
To compare and book outings around Amakusa, look at tours around Amakusa.
Digging for Fossils at the Trigonia Sandstone Site
The Trigonia Sandstone fossil site is a short walk from the museum, with the minutes given in the table below. Fossils dug out there can be taken home, with the limit on the number also in the table.
Reception for the dig closes earlier than the site itself, so arrive with time to spare.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Museum to the fossil site, on foot | About 5 minutes |
| Fossils to take home | Up to 5, excluding valuable fossils |
The Goshoura Dinosaur Island Museum
A replica skeleton of Tyrannosaurus stands in the world fossils corner. The permanent exhibition is split into areas, and the table below gives how many areas there are and how many specimens they hold.
The Cretaceous Amakusa area shows Cretaceous dinosaurs, ammonites and shells, and its count is in the table as well.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Permanent exhibition | 5 areas displaying about 2,000 specimens |
| Cretaceous Amakusa area | About 700 fossils, including dinosaurs, ammonites and shells |
Around the Island
Kuroshima, an uninhabited island, lies offshore and is reached by sea taxi from Goshoura Port. Reefs surround Kuroshima, and at low tide it connects by land to a neighboring islet.
Rental cycles are available on the island, and every bicycle in the service is electric-assist. A lookout on Karasutoge takes in a panoramic view all the way round over the calm Shiranui Sea. Nagaura, on the west side of Makishima, is a deep, intricately indented and calm bay.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Goshoura Port to Kuroshima, by sea taxi | About 15 minutes |
| Ebessan statues on Yokoura | More than 60, counted from the road alone |
| Rental cycles, reception and return | Reception 9:00 to 17:00, with returns accepted until 17:30 |
Hours and Fees
The tables below set out what to pay and when to arrive.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Museum admission, general | 500 yen |
| Museum admission, high school and university students | 300 yen |
| Museum admission, elementary and junior high school students | 200 yen |
| Fossil digging, general admission | 1,000 yen |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Museum, daily | 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30 |
| Museum, weekly closure | Closed every Monday, or the next weekday when Monday is a public holiday |
| Museum, year-end closure | Closed December 30 to January 1 |
| Fossil digging, daily | 9:00 to 17:00, with reception until 16:30 |
| Fossil digging, weekly closure | Closed every Monday, or the next day when Monday is a holiday |
| Fossil digging, year-end closure | Closed December 30 to January 1 |
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Heading Back
Plan the walk back to the port around the museum's last entry and the end of dig reception, since the museum stops admitting visitors and the dig stops taking reception before the site itself closes. The boat operator and the Shiosaikan can be reached by phone at the numbers and times in the table.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regular boats, operator | Kyodo Ferry, phone 0969-67-3305 |
| Boat operator office, hours | 8:30 to 17:00, closed on January 1 and Sundays |
| Shiosaikan, access inquiries by phone | 8:30 to 17:50 |