What to know
Minamata City (水俣) in southern Kumamoto Prefecture became internationally known in the 1950s and 1960s due to a mercury poisoning disaster caused by a local factory discharging toxic wastewater into Minamata Bay.
Thousands of local residents were affected, and the resulting illness became known worldwide as Minamata Disease, named after the city where it was first identified.
In recent decades, Minamata has turned its negative history into a positive force, establishing itself as an environmental model city with extensive recycling and environmental programs. It welcomes school and study tours from across Japan and the world to learn about environmental issues.
With a population of about 30,000, Minamata enjoys a beautiful coastal location on the Shiranui Sea, offering views of the Amakusa Islands. Within its municipal boundaries are two hot spring resorts: mountainous Yunotsuru Onsen and coastal Yunoko Onsen.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Original name
- Minamata
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