Where to stay if you are visiting Himaka island ｜ Isuzukan Review
Risa
Okaeri Sweet Home
The best 8 places to visit in Himaka island
Risa
If you are visiting Himaka Island for the first time, here are the top eight places, based on our delightful experiences! As I mentioned in the latest blog post titled ‘Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Himaka Island,’ the island is quite small, allowing you to explore these locations in just a day.
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A Couple Swing
Starting from the beginning, one must-visit place on Himaka Island is the Couple Swing. This iconic spot is unmissable, offering a truly unique experience. The ocean scenery is picturesque, and swinging while enjoying the spectacular view of the island is genuinely enjoyable.
Taking a stroll along the beach beneath the Couple Swing is also a delightful experience. You may come across interesting layers of history and even encounter a Doraemon Door. The placement of the Doraemon Door on the beach remains a mystery!
If you’re wondering how to get there, we opted for a leisurely 30-minute walk from the West Port. Alternatively, you can rent an electric scooter from the shop located behind the West Port.
恋人ブランコ：About 30 min from West Port, 10 min from East Port.
Otohime
Himaka Island is also renowned for its gourmet destinations. If you’re visiting for a day trip, don’t forget to indulge in the freshly caught seafood and boiled octopus! I highly recommend trying a whole boiled octopus for a unique culinary experience.
Otohime is a very popular restaurant, always with long queues due to its reasonable prices (around 1,000 yen) and the availability of fresh seafood rice bowls. If you find waiting for food a bit challenging, I recommend booking a lunch experience at a ryokan in advance. This way, you can savor delicious dishes even during a day trip.
乙姫：0 min, just behind the west port, Operation hours: 11:00〜14:30.
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Himacars Kitchen ManMaru
Himacars Kitchen Manmaru is an outdoor cafe, easily recognizable by the old-school bus located outside. The cafe boasts a lovely beach in front of it with plenty of seating options. It was a pleasant experience to enjoy a hot chai or cocoa as a break by the beach. If you find yourself hungry, you can conveniently grab some food from the shop nearby. They also organize beach yoga, making me eager to return for the next summer!
ヒマカーズキッチン萬丸: 5 min from the East Port.
Kamome Baiten
Kamome Baiten is a souvenir shop that also crafts Takomanju on-site. 多幸まんじゅう, the name of Takomanju, caught my attention with its literal meaning of ‘LOTS OF HAPPINESS MANJU’ in Kanji. If you’ve ever tried Momiji Manju in Hiroshima, this is a similar treat with azuki beans inside. I purchased a pack as a souvenir, but you can also indulge in a freshly made one for just 55 yen. Despite being already full from delicious seafood, these sweets deserve their own space in the stomach!
かもめ売店: 0 min from the West Port, Operation hours: 9:00 to 15:00 for weekdays, 16:00 for weekends.
KITCHEN macha
The Kitchen Matcha is a charming cafe-restaurant located just in front of the West Port. They offer a variety of fresh seafood dishes in both Japanese and Western styles. Although we didn’t have the chance to sample their main dishes, the ice cream we tried was exceptional! While it would be delightful to try it in the summer, we enjoyed this treat while waiting for the ferry back to Nagoya.”
The Kitchen Matcha: 0 min from the West Port. Operation hours: 9:30～17:00 closed on Tuesdays. *National holidays, a day before national holidays are open on Tuesdays.
Kaneto Syoten
Kaneto Syoten is a small souvenir shop that mainly sells island foods. As seen in the photo above, numerous Japanese celebrities have visited this store and have often been captured by the media. The lady running the store is delightful and cheerful. You can try various foods there, such as grilled octopus, and enjoy seeing the peculiar sight of octopuses drying outside.”
かねと商店：3 min from West Port,
Operation hour: 9:00 to 16:00 for Weekdays, 8:30 to 16:00 for Weekends.
Suzuen Shop
Suzuen Shop is a rice cracker shop where they freshly prepare them in front of you using a press machine. I regretted ordering only a half-size, as both my parents and I loved it. We also purchased three packs of seafood rice crackers with shrimp, squid, and octopus flavors, and we literally couldn’t stop eating them.
鈴円本舗: 1 min from West Port. Operation hours: 9:00～15:00/16:00 for Weekdays/ Weekends, closed on Tuesdays.
Shima Baru Daitome
Shima Baru Daitome is a casual cafe restaurant with outdoor seating. We tried Tako Meshi (Octopus Rice Bowls), and the Taka Karaage (Fried Octopus) was delicious as well. As we visited in February, the coldest season in Japan, grabbing a hot cup of coffee was the best way to stroll around the beach.
島バルdaitome: 1 min from the West Port. Operation hours: 9:30 to 17:00 for Weekdays, 9:00 to 17:30 for Weekends, Closed on Wednesdays.
ABOUT ME
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 🇯🇵
