How do I get to K's LABO Stone Museum on Kitagi Island?

Take the JR San'yō Line to Kasaoka Station, then walk to Kasaoka Port where regular ferry services operate to Kitagi Island. The museum is accessible from the island's ferry terminal. Private boats can also dock at the museum's marina facility.

Is there an admission fee to enter K's LABO Stone Museum?

The museum itself is free to enter. However, specific fees may apply for hands-on stone-working experiences, bicycle rentals, and purchases at the museum shop. Check current pricing for activities and rental equipment upon arrival.

What can I see and do at the museum besides viewing exhibits?

Beyond stone artifacts and displays, you can participate in hands-on stone-working experiences, browse the museum shop for stone souvenirs ranging from accessories to luxury products, rent bicycles to explore the island, and visit the integrated café. The museum also serves as a starting point for touring the island's stone art installations.

Can I visit the active stone quarry on Kitagi Island?

Yes, visitors can access the Kitagi Island Quarry and the Ishikiri no Tani Observation Deck, which provides panoramic views of the working quarry with height differences exceeding 100 meters. Bicycle rentals from the museum make it easy to reach these locations around the island.

What makes Kitagi Island's stone industry historically significant?

Kitagi Island's stone quarrying began during the Meiji era and continues today as a "living quarry." The island has supplied high-quality granite for prestigious construction projects throughout Japan's modern history, making it a crucial center for stone production. The 80-year-old museum building itself was originally a rice storage facility, representing the island's adaptive use of stone construction techniques.

K's LABO Stone Museum, Kasaoka, Okayama

K's LABO is a unique stone museum located on Kitagi Island in Okayama Prefecture, positioned within the scenic Seto Inland Sea. The museum occupies an 80-year-old stone building that originally served as a rice storage facility, now repurposed to showcase the island's rich geological heritage and stone-cutting traditions.

Kitagi Island's stone quarrying industry began during the Meiji era and continues to operate today as a "living quarry". The island has supplied high-quality granite for numerous prestigious construction projects throughout Japan's modern history, making it a significant center for stone production in the region. The museum preserves and presents this industrial heritage through exhibits that demonstrate traditional stone-cutting techniques and the geological properties that made Kitagi stone particularly valuable.

Visitors can explore comprehensive displays of stone artifacts, from everyday household items to premium stone products used in construction and decoration. The museum features a museum shop offering stone souvenirs ranging from small stone accessories to luxury stone products, plus hands-on experience corners where guests can work with stone materials. The facility also functions as a Umi-no-Eki (sea station) with an integrated café, providing refreshments with views of the surrounding seascape.

The museum serves as an ideal starting point for exploring the island's stone-based art installations scattered across Kitagi Island. Visitors can access rental bicycles from the museum to tour the island, including visits to the active Kitagi Island Quarry and the Ishikiri no Tani Observation Deck, which offers panoramic views of the quarry with height differences exceeding 100 meters.

K's LABO also operates as a marina facility, making it accessible by private boat. The primary access route involves taking a ferry from Kasaoka Port on the mainland to Kitagi Island. Regular ferry services connect the island to Kasaoka, which is accessible by train via the JR San'yō Line to Kasaoka Station. The museum is free to enter, though specific activity fees may apply for hands-on stone-working experiences and bicycle rentals.

What other travelers are saying about K's LABO Stone Museum, Kasaoka

Geared towards the discerning Japanese visitor, there is some history of the stone and an explanation of where all the rock went. Personally, I would have liked more power tools and more rocks, maybe even some rock cats. For rock cats, I would have been happy to pay way more than the 600yen entrance fee. There is a vending machine at the entrance that sells tickets for the museum, the restaurant, and probably the bike rental. The restaurant had 1cm diameter straws so beverage consumption was most efficient.

David Jenkins

Aug 17, 2018

I went there for lunch on the first day of a three-day weekend in September. It was a hot day, so the six or so tables on the air-conditioned first floor were almost full. I was about to give up, but then I went to the terrace seating on the second floor, where there seemed to be no guests. There was no air conditioning, but the moderate sea breeze was pleasant, and I was able to spend about an hour relaxing while enjoying my salted sea bream ramen. The staff also handed me a pitcher of drinking water, which was very useful as I was thirsty from walking around. There are several sculptures around the building, as befits a stone island. One of them, a sculpture of a white nude woman, caught my eye, and I'm not sure whether it was the artist's skill or the beauty of the model.

I'll be honest, but I never expected to be able to enjoy such a hearty lunch on Kitagi-shima, so I was really impressed! This time I had sea bream bone ramen and chicken rice, but next time I'd like to have chicken curry! Thank you so much & it was a delicious meal 😀

This is the perfect base for sightseeing on Kitagi-shima! Bicycle rentals, ocean play sets, lunch, a museum, and souvenirs are all available. It's perfectly located, just a one-minute walk from Toyoura Port, and is the central point for exploring the island. Bicycle rentals are very reasonable at 1,000 yen per day (non-electric), tai bone ramen for 800 yen, and a tai bone ramen + chicken rice set for 1,300 yen. The staff are also kind and attentive to your needs. *Please note that sea kayaking is currently not available due to a lack of instructors. (As of May 2025)

This cafe is run by busy older women. You can rent bicycles, eat meals and shaved ice, and the restrooms are clean. Located right next to Toyoura Port, it's a tourist hub for Kitagi-shima. Above all, Oba-samachi is warm and welcoming. (Whether you like that or not is up to you.) For me, this warmth made my visit to Kitagi-shima the best it could be.