Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Himaka Island

WHAT IS HIMAKA ISLAND?

Population: 1,687
Area & Surroundings: 0.73㎢ & 5.5km

Himaka Island is a close island to Nagoya, which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. It’s even closer if you come from Nagoya International Airport. The island is very small, so a day trip or a one-night trip is enough to see and do everything you need!

Himaka Island is also known as the Octopus & Blowfish Island because you can catch delicious octopus near the island throughout the year and blowfish during the winter seasons from November to March.

HOW TO VISIT HIMAKA ISLAND?

It takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the island from Nagoya Station by train and ferry. The total cost for a round trip is 5,000 yen per person. If you take a ferry from Morozaki Port, it’s only a 10-minute ferry ride. I’ve provided the fastest and easiest route for visiting Himaka Island from Nagoya Station in great detail. Please check the attached link and explore the information!

MORE DETAILS

How to get to Himaka island from Nagoya

WHERE TO STAY IN HIMAKA ISLAND

There are plenty of accommodation options, ranging from guest houses to hotels. I personally recommend trying a ryokan if you are visiting Japan, as it provides an authentic Japanese experience. Typically, you can enjoy an onsen or a public/private bath with an amazing view, and breakfast and dinner meals are included in the ryokan package. If you hesitate to sleep on a Japanese futon on the floor or use a public bath, Isuzukan offers a bedding option that was recently renovated, and they also provide private baths in the room.

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WHAT TO EAT IN HIMAKA ISLAND

OCTOPUS – You can enjoy fried, boiled, dried, and grilled octopus on the island. I personally recommend trying a whole octopus, as shown in the picture above, and eating it boiled. Octopus is so chewy, and it’s a rare experience to eat it whole.

BLOWFISH – I know you may find it strange that we eat blowfish. However, I believe Japan is the safest country to eat blowfish, as a chef must have a blowfish cooking license to serve the fish. I was also hesitant to try it, but eating blowfish for the first time in 30 years really changed my life! I truly want to come back to this island because of blowfish.

ALL KINDS OF SEAFOOD – Seafood is absolutely fresh and incomparable to what is sold in supermarkets. You may be familiar with eating raw fish with soy sauce and a little wasabi, but here, we eat it with Ooba (green leaves), and it’s even more tasty!

TAKOMANJUU – If you have ever tried Momiji Manju in Hiroshima, this sweet is pretty similar, with sweet red bean paste inside. If you consider trying one, go for it at 55 yen. We also got plenty to bring back home. I love Takomanju as a sweet treat.

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WHAT TO SEE & DO IN HIMAKA ISLAND

FINDING OCTOPUS IN THE ISLAND – There are lots of octopuses on the island. It would be fun to spot octopuses during your trip, as well as hidden spots like a manhole. The police station near the west port is especially hilarious.

A COUPLE SWING – This is an iconic feature of Himaka Island that most locals instantly recognize when you’ve visited. It offers a fantastic view for playing on the swing, and don’t forget to capture a picturesque photo for your memory!

ENJOY THE BEACH – There are two beaches on the island: Sunrise Beach near the East port and Sunset Beach near the West port. Personally, I prefer the one near the East port because of the great coffee shop in front of the beach, and a couple of swings located nearby.

The island has only one traffic light, police station, dental clinic, kindergarten, and elementary school. It would also be interesting to find something precious. There used to be a precious middle school on the island, but it closed in March 2023 due to a decline in population.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING HIMAKA ISLAND

MOST PLACES ARE CASH ONLY – While I prefer cashless transactions, it’s important to note that most stores and restaurants on the island accept only cash, excluding accommodation places such as ryokans and hotels. Depending on your budget, it’s advisable to carry at least 10,000 yen in your wallet. If you have a Japanese phone number, you can download ‘PayPay’ during your travel in Japan for more convenience. PayPay can be linked with your credit card, excluding AMEX cards. If you are an AMEX user, please make sure to bring extra cash for ferry rides, approximately 5,000 yen for a round trip per person, as the ticket counter accepts only VISA and MASTERCARD.

LOCALS ARE VERY RELAXED – I was quite surprised to find that the locals are very laid-back, reminiscent of the atmosphere in Thailand. When we visited a restaurant we wanted to try at opening hour, there was a sign that read, “Today we will open at around 1 PM.” You might have a strong stereotype that Japanese are very punctual, but not on this island! Somehow, it really reminds me of living in Thailand in the past, and I feel nostalgic about this kind of atmosphere!

Risa

Japanese Blogger

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A Japanese working mom based in Nagoya, Aichi. Studied International Tourism Management and worked in a 5 stars luxury hotel in Bangkok for total 8-ish years. Sharing our culture, lifestyle, local tips, and experiences in traveling, especially in Nagoya and Aichi 🇯🇵