First civilian! Small rocket launch site was born in Kushimoto

Launch of Private Rocket No. 3

In December 2021, Spaceport Kii, Japan's first private small rocket launch site, was established in Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama Prefecture.

In March 2024, the first small rocket, Cairos, was launched, and on December 18, 2024, the second launch was carried out.

Opportunities to experience the rocket flying into the sky up close are spreading here in Kushimoto.
One of the unique attractions of Kushimoto is that you can feel the state-of-the-art space development close to you.

Please take this opportunity to visit Kushimoto and enjoy a special moment.
Here, along with the charm of Kushimoto, we will introduce the rocket launch site "Space Port Kii".

Honshu's first rocket launch site

The Spaceport Kii, built as a rocket launch site, was born in Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama Prefecture in December 2021.
Space One Co., Ltd., which operates Spaceport Kii, the first private rocket launch site, is a company established for commercial space transportation services.
Specifically, it plays a role in transporting small satellites entrusted by customers to the specified satellite orbit. In the future, commercial satellites are expected to become smaller and lighter, and the field of activity is expected to expand, and this will be loaded onto the company's small rocket and launched.
In recent years, the private sector's business utilizing space has expanded rapidly, and demand for rocket launches has increased accordingly.

Kushimoto-cho, the southernmost town of Honshu

Kushimoto-cho, Wakayama Prefecture is located at the southernmost tip of Honshu, and the sea of Kushimoto, which was blessed by the Kuroshio Current, is a large-scale coral community, and is famous as a place with very many types of fish.
In the mountains and seas around Kushimoto, there are many tourist spots known nationwide, such as Hashikui-iwa Rock, Shiomisaki, Kumano Kodo, and Nachi Falls. There are also "Aventure World", which is famous for pandas if you go a little further, including the Nanki Kumano Geopark Center.
There are many delicious Wakayama gourmets such as bonito, quee, and tuna, as well as "Kumano beef", and abundant fruits, so you can enjoy visiting sightseeing spots and gourmet tours.

This is the reason why Kushimoto was selected as a rocket launch site, because it is located in the southernmost tip of Honshu. Currently, there are two rocket launch sites in Japan, all of which are located in Kagoshima Prefecture.
It is said that the closer the equator, the more gravitational power can be used effectively, and in that sense, Kagoshima, located at the southern tip of Japan, has been selected.
In the case of rockets launched from Kushimoto-cho, the main factory to manufacture is located in the Kanto region, so rockets can be transported by land.
Another reason is that the surrounding area is unmanned in a certain area or more.

In fact, rocket launches can only be seen at two official tours, Tahara Beach (about 20 minutes by car from the hotel) and former Uragami Elementary School (about 25 minutes by car from the hotel). . Both venues are about 2 km from the rocket launch site, so you can see the rocket launch up close.
※The image is an image.

Scheduled launch date: Undecided

Place of launch: Spaceport Kii

For more information, please refer to the following website.

Click here for details.