The Cherry Blossoms are long gone, and temperatures are getting warmer by the day…that can only mean summertime is on us once again. If you’re looking to get out of the sweltering concrete jungle that is Nagoya, you could do the usual thing and go to Irago… but everybody does that. You, on the other and have an adventurous spirit. You want to explore Japan and get to know the culture. Go where the locals go. Well, if you’re that kind of person, we have an insider tip for you. Why not head over to Himakajima Island? If you’ve never heard of this secret gem, you’re in for a nice surprise. It’s just a relatively short 90 minute trip on the Meitetsu train from Nagoya. Once you get to the port (Kowa), it’s just a quick 10minute ferry ride over to the Island.
You can relax on one of the two white Sandy beaches, then rent a bike or scooter to explore the island, or alternatively you can walk around the entire island in about 90 minutes. There are many nice places to see around the island and some fantastic photo ops.
After all that exploring, you’re bound to start feeling a bit peckish. Since the main source of revenue on the island is the fishing industry, you have a plethora of choices for some great seafood. You are adventurous, however, and thus might want to try the seasonal fugu specialties on offer. If you don’t feel like putting your life in danger for a little pufferfish, they also have excellent octopus dishes there. As a matter of fact, you can actually catch the octopus yourself and then cook them right then and there on a BBQ grill. It doesn’t get fresher than that, mates.
At the end of the day, head over to Sunset Beach next to the western port. A stunningly beautiful sunset will unfold right in front of your eyes and remind you that summertime in Japan doesn’t have to mean sweating your cajones off in the city – there are great alternatives nearby.
If somehow you miss the last ferry, you can opt to stay in one of the many ryokan around, and after a hearty breakfast the next morning, you can partake in one of the islands’ main attractions – swimming with dolphins.
A small Island with beautiful beaches, great food, lots to explore, stunning sunset views, and dolphins right here in Aichi – only 90minutes from Nagoya? Who would have thought. This place is perfect for the Really Adventurous Nagoyans.
