Honeybee Symposium in Kumano: Event Announcement

Keyword：

  • Honeybee Symposium in Kumano

  • Kumano beekeeping

  • Kushimoto honeybees

  • Japanese honeybees

  • honeybee forest creation

  • traditional beekeeping

  • Gora

  • Kumano nature

  • forest creation

  • Wakayama events

  • Kushimoto events

  • natural environment

  • symposium

  • rare fish fishing

  • sea kayaking

Categories
Events
Shops
A town with a rocket, Space Town Kushimoto / Nachikatsuura Town
Area
Kansai Wakayama
Period
2026-06-27 13:00 - 2026-06-27 17:00
Venue
Kushimoto Town Cultural Center

Honeybee Symposium in Kumano: Event Announcement

We will be holding the 「Honeybee Symposium in Kumano,」 where we will learn about the beekeeping culture that has been passed down in Kumano and the role of honeybees in supporting forests, flowers, and people's lives, from both historical and modern perspectives.

Through lectures and panel discussions by experts, we will provide an easy-to-understand introduction to Japanese honeybees and forest management, beekeeping as a regional resource, and living in harmony with nature. This symposium is recommended not only for those interested in beekeeping, but also for those interested in the natural environment, community development, food, and lifestyle.

Participation is free on the day of the event. Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome. Additionally, optional tours offering unique Kumano/Kushimoto experiences such as rare fish fishing and sea kayaking are available at special prices exclusively for participants.

For more details about the event, please see here .

Promotional Video

Event Overview

  • Date：Saturday, June 27, 2026
  • Time：Doors open 12:00／Start 13:00／End 17:00
  • Venue：Kushimoto Town Cultural Center（2427 Kushimoto, Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama Prefecture）
  • Capacity：200 people
  • Participation Fee：Free
  • 申込：Advance registration recommended. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Organizer, Co-organizers, and Supporters

  • Organizer：Honeybee Symposium in Kumano Executive Committee
  • Co-organizers：Kushimoto Town, Apis Cerana Association
  • Supporters：Wakayama Prefecture, Kushimoto Town Board of Education, Nanki Kushimoto Tourism Association, Kozagawa Town Tourism Association
  • Event Support：Apis Cerana Association Secretariat　TEL 03-6277-8000

Program

Time

 Content Speakers
13:00 Opening Remarks Executive Committee Chairman and Mayor of Kushimoto Town: Mr. Katsumasa Tajima
Representative Director, Apis Cerana Association: Mr. Kazuo Takayasu,
13:15 Guest speeches Section Chief, Kinan Livestock Health and Hygiene Center, Wakayama Prefecture: Ms. Miyuki Fujiwara
13:30 Lecture 1「Let's revitalize Kumano by creating a bee-filled forest!」

Representative Director, Moriage Co., Ltd.:

Ms. Asako Nagano
14:15 Lecture 2「Plums and Honeybees」 Senior Researcher, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization: Mr. Taro Maeda
15:00 Break
15:15 Lecture 3「The History of Beekeeping in Japan, Beginning with Kumano’s Magojiro Oroshi and His Korean Honeybees」 『Complete Translation of Kahochikuyouki: Beekeeping of the Japanese Honeybee』 Translator/Commentator: Mr. Shigehiko Azuma
16:15 Panel Discussion
「The Inheritance and Transformation of So-called『Traditional Beekeeping』 in Kumano
Raising Japanese Honeybees Using Gora(bee keeping box) and the Joys of Life」		 【Moderators】Project Researcher, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo: Ms. Rika Shinkai, Kozagawa Town: Mr. Taomi Hashimoto
【Advisors】Ms. Asako Nagano, Mr. Taro Maeda, Mr. Shigehiko Azuma

Optional Tour Information

Participants of this symposium can take part in optional tours offering unique experiences in the Kumano and Kushimoto area at special prices.

Held on Sunday, June 28, 2026

  • Rare Fish Fishing Experience
  • Hashigui-iwa Rocks Sea Kayaking Experience
  • Gora Sightseeing Cycling

For details on optional tours, please contact the respective tourist associations directly.

Rare Fish Fishing Experience

Kushimoto, where temperate and tropical climates coexist thanks to the Kuroshio Current. This is a fishing experience where you can try your hand at catching rare fish in the sea said to have the greatest variety of fish in Japan. The fish caught will be displayed in a tank set up at the venue, allowing for enjoyable viewing and learning about the sea and fish. All fish will be released at the end.

Time Content
9:30 Gathering／Registration／Payment／Preparation
9:50 Start fishing
11:20 Finish fishing
11:25 Explanations and stories about the sea and fish
11:50 End
  • Venue：Kushimoto Port Pier (Kushimoto Cosmo Oil, seaside)
  • Fee：Adults (Junior High School Students and older): ¥5,000 → ¥4,000／Children （Junior High School and Elementary School ¥4,000 → ¥3,000
  • Children under elementary school age cannot participate. However, they are welcome to watch.
  • Fee includes：Fishing equipment set, life jacket rental, guide fee, insurance

What to bring

  • Comfortable clothing that can get wet
  • Clothing that protects against sunburn
  • Safe shoes
  • Hat, towel, sunscreen
  • Drinks

Information and Precautions

  • There is parking at the venue, but congestion is expected, so please consider carpooling or using public transportation.
  • The program may be subject to change.
  • Photography and recording are prohibited inside the venue.

Applications and Inquiries

  • Symposium Applications and Inquiries：Kushimoto Town Hall, Industry Division,　TEL 0735-62-0558
  • Rare Fish Fishing Experience & Hashigui-iwa Rocks Sea Kayaking Experience：Nanki Kushimoto Tourism Association　TEL 0735-62-3171
  • Gora Sightseeing Cycling Tour：Kozagawa Town Tourism Association　TEL 0735-70-1275

Details

For event details, please check the Nanki Kushimoto Tourism Association's information page.

Click here for details on the Honeybee Symposium in Kumano

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