[On sale Jan 17 (Fri) at 13:00] First special Spaceport Kii launch site tour!
USP Japan Inc. (Kushimoto, Wakayama; Representative: Ken'ichi Niitsu), in cooperation with Kushimoto and Nachikatsuura and with the support of Space One Co., Ltd.,
[Spaceport Kii Launch Site Special Tour]
will be held for the first time.
The first special tour for general guests, combined with special places, people and experiences unique to the region, will be sold through travel agencies.
(This tour is a project selected under the Japan Tourism Agency's program to expand and raise the quality of inbound consumption through special experiences.)
It is the first tour open to the general public to visit Spaceport Kii, still lingering with the excitement of the December Kairos launch. We are preparing a tour where you can enjoy plenty of "specials," including expert guide commentary, a pre-opening visit to the Kushimoto Space Contact Hall Sora-Miru, model rocket building and launch experiences, and local sightseeing and food experiences.
- Course overview (day trips and1 night, 2 daystours)
Confirmed details will be published on the website at 13:00 on Friday, January 17. The following is subject to change.
- Highlights
- Full cooperation from Space One! Visit the launch site with its lingering excitement [first public opening]
① Enter Spaceport Kii by bus, the first time for the general public
② See the launch pad with its lingering launch excitement
③ Commemorative photo in a non-public area
④ (Premium tour only) Expert staff explain during the tour of the launch site
⑤ (Premium tour only) A souvenir giftLeft: Kairos No. 2 Right: Inside Spaceport Kii * Provided by Space One - A special experience to learn about and feel the appeal of rockets [special preview and special viewing]
① Special preview of the entire Kushimoto Space Contact Hall Sora-Miru [pre-opening early entry]
② Experience Japan's largest AR globe [Japan's largest]
③ (1-night, 2-day tour only) A special goma fire prayer ceremony for launch success at the World Heritage Fudarakusanji Temple in Nachikatsuura
④ (1-night, 2-day tour only) Special limited viewing of the secret Thousand-Armed Kannon, normally shown only twice a year [special viewing]
⑤ (1-night, 2-day tour only) Build your own model rocket and launch it more than 100 m into the sky [experience]
⑥ Commemorative photo with Uchu Nanchara Kotetsu-kun
Left: Sora-Miru exhibit Right: Japan's largest Earth ballLeft: Special prayer ceremony at Fudarakusanji Right: Model rocket launch - [1-night, 2-day tour only] Enjoy food, sightseeing and the Kii region's charms [local, special, limited]
① A local mandarin specialty shop serves visitors its pick of the day's "citrus fruit" [local]
② Enjoy game meat dishes while looking at the natural monument "Ichimaiiwa" [local]
③ A tour-exclusive "Kii hospitality lunch" (bento) packed with local ingredients [limited]
④ A backyard tour of the marine park to experience the charms of the Kii sea [special, limited]
⑤ A special navigator rides the bus, explaining the region's charms and rocket expertise exclusively for this tour. [local, special, limited]
Left: local mandarin specialty shop "Miyake Foods" Right: local limited bento (* image) - Special navigator profilesLeft: Kentaro Seino Right: Ken'ichi Niitsu① Kentaro Seino
Born and raised in Kushimoto in 2005. Entered the Faculty of Tourism at Wakayama University in April 2024.
At the first Kairos launch in March 2023, he handled the live broadcast as part of Kushimoto Koza High School's CGS. His precise commentary at the time of self-destruction became a topic of conversation.
At the second Kairos launch in December 2023, he appeared in the rocket launch explanation video shown at the official viewing site and hotels. At the Nachikatsuura rooftop special viewing seats he also explained how rockets work and the region's charms. He earned high praise and encouragement from Mr. Kamigauchi, director of the Japan Space Youth Club, who appeared with him.
While studying hard at university, he is expanding his range into many fields that interest him, such as taking part in a solar car project.
② Ken'ichi Niitsu
Born in Saku, Nagano Prefecture.
After 19 years at a department store, he founded USP Japan. From achieving reform of the duty-free system for foreign visitors to Japan, as a central figure in the Japan Shopping Tourism Association he has grown Japan's inbound market and worked on regional revitalization nationwide. In his work he coordinates public-private cooperation and involves various businesses and residents.
Since 2020 he has worked on regional revitalization built around rockets. He opened a Wakayama office in Kushimoto and began full-scale activities with four local employees. While supervising the "Spaceport Kii Complete Guide Book" and the "Space Contact Hall Sora-Miru," he is advancing the use of regional natural and tourism resources such as Yoshino-Kumano National Park and the Nanki-Kumano Geopark.
Flying around Tokyo, Wakayama and the whole country, he continues activities linking the world and big cities with the region.
- About sales
Sale date: Friday, January 17, 2025, 13:00
Travel planning and sales: JTB Wakayama Branch
For tour details and booking, please see the site below.
* The site becomes viewable at the start of sales.
* Tour content and operators may change.
| Period | 2025-02-12 00:00 – 2025-02-16 00:00 |
| Venue | Wakayama: Kushimoto, Nachikatsuura, Spaceport Kii |