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Japanese Snow Monkeys and How to Visit
We’ve all seen it, whether you are flipping through pages of a National Geographic magazine or watching a documentary on Animal Planet – the monkeys somewhere in Asia that like to hang out in hot springs during the cold winter months. I’ve known about these monkey’s since I was a child. Honestly, I thought they were high in the mountains somewhere near China or some other country, I had no clue these were Japanese Macaques (Japanese Snow Monkeys) that lived in, you guessed it…Japan! When I moved to Japan in 2019, I made it a goal to visit Jigokudani Yaen-Koen, otherwise known as Snow Monkey Park. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Japanese Macaques(Japanese Snow Monkeys) Japanese Macaques are not just known as Japanese Snow Monkeys, in fact the ones in Jigokudani Yaen-Koen are the only monkeys known to relax in hot springs. The Japanese Macaques can be found throughout the country of Japan from the northern tip of Honshu to Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. Other then humans, the Japanese Macaque is the northern most primate in the world. Japan, especially northern Japan can get very cold and can endure a lot of snow. The Japanese Snow Monkeys have adapted to this climate by growing long and thick coats of fur to last the winter. During the winter, they huddle together for warmth high in the trees and scavenge for food during the daylight hours. The monkeys we know that enter the Onsen (hot springs) is somewhat a new phenomena and secluded to one valley, the Yokoyu River Valley, in the Shiga National Park located in the Japan’s Nagano Prefecture. How Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Became a National Park Jigokudani Yaen-Koen opened in 1964. It was never meant to be an onsen for monkeys. I read that the onsen was man-made for the intent of a resort, but once complete a rather un-ordinary guest appeared to be relaxing in the warm waters. Ever since then, travelers from around the world have come to see the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys soaking it up in the onsen’s. The park itself is not big but it is nicely done and gives both visitors and monkeys space. Upon entering the park, you will most likely see monkeys on the trail, in the hills and trees, and chasing each other in the river and surrounding areas. Obviously, the main attraction is the onsen and seeing the monkeys enjoying it. The monkeys tend to spend the nights in the mountains high up in the trees and come to the onsen during the day, when park officials arrive and set food out for them. Visitors can’t actually get to close to the onsen, there is a divider and somewhat of a platform on the side located slightly above the onsen. But it does offer the best view of the monkeys in the onsen and believe me, you don’t want to get to close to them, generally monkeys are known to be aggressive. Park Hours and Admission The park is open year round, and the monkeys will be in the area, but winter months is the best chance for seeing them in the onsen. Remember, with all wildlife, the monkeys may not be present at the time. A friend of mine went during mating season and he didn’t see a single monkey. Summer Months (April through October) – 8:30 – 17:00 Winter Months (November through March) – 9:00 – 16:00 Admission: ¥800 for Adults ¥400 for Children For more information check out the Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Website. They also have a live camera page, you can check out what the monkeys are up to. Hiking to and enjoying Snow Monkey Park Some hotels will offer rides to Snow Monkey Park, which is recommended, but they can only get you so far. There is a trailhead here and one must hike to the park entrance. The trail is 1.6 kilometers and can take about 30 minutes to walk. Due to the elevation and weather, the trail can be muddy, snowy, overgrown, etc.. so make sure to dress appropriately and find out ahead of time what the weather is like before attempting the hike. Most likely, there will be monkeys on or off the trail even before the park, so be cautious. Once I saw the first monkey on the trail, I instantly felt like a little kid, I mean it’s not every day you see monkey’s in the wild. Jill and I were watching a group of monkeys chase each other and another group cuddled up together, this was all before even getting to the park. After a few more minutes, we arrived at the park right on time, and were first in line. Go early, after an hour or so the park started filling up, fear not there will be more monkeys then humans here and the way it is set up, you get great views of the park and onsen area. We stayed here for hours just watching the macaques bathe in the onsen and chase each other around the park. There were several babies that were absolutely adorable, it was entertaining watching the little monkeys play and even push each other in the water. Although cute, monkeys are not the nicest of creatures, several fights broke out, most likely over food or territory and they make these screeching noises when agitated that are quite scary. Please, make sure not to touch or pet the monkeys. It seems tempting because they can be inches in front of you or even run into you or jump on your shoulders, remember they are wild animals and should stay wild. After our wonderful experience at Snow Monkey Park, Jill and I walked back to town. There are a few trails that head to town, you can back track the same way or head right outside the park to a trail that cuts through the forest hugging the river. On this trail we ran into one monkey, minding his on business, it was quite funny just walking by him/her and carrying on with our hike. If I am still in Japan for another year, I definitely plan on revisiting Snow Monkey Park, but will most likely come a month earlier, as there will be more snow where you can get that iconic shot of the monkey chillin in the onsen with a blanket of snow. We visited the park in March of 2020. This trip was absolutely spectacular and will forever be one of my most memorable trips. Getting Here from Tokyo Jigokudani Yaen-Koen is a world famous attraction and people from around the world come here to see the famous snow monkeys. The Snow Monkey Park is somewhat secluded and does take some planning and travel to get here. Most travelers will likely fly into Tokyo, so these recommendations are for visitors arriving in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. From the Haneda Airport Terminal 2, take the Tokyo-Monorail Sub Rapid going toward Hamamatsucho and transfer to the Keihintohoku Line Rapid for Omiya toward Tokyo station. Seems like a mouthful but the whole transit from Haneda to Tokyo Station was about 25 minutes including transfers. Once at Tokyo Station, if time allows it, there are plenty of options to sit down and have a meal and a drink. Nagano, Japan is the biggest city near the Snow Monkey Park, so take the shinkansen (Japan’s High Speed Train) from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station. Once at the Nagano Station, if you are headed directly to Yudanaka (small resort town where the Snow Monkey Park is), take the Zenkoji Temple exit and go to the Nagano Dentetsu Line, here you will enter a slower paced train to Yudanaka. I recommend staying at least a night in Yudanaka, and hiking to the park the very next day, but first enjoy the cute resort town. Yudanaka is home to many beautiful resorts that offer access to several onsens around town. To sum up how to get to Snow Monkey Park: Haneda → Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho → Keihintohoku to Omiya → Tokyo Station → Shinkansen to Nagano → Zenkoji Temple Exit → Nagano Dentetsu Line → Yudanaka Station Our Hotel I was very much looking forward to visiting the Snow Monkey Park, and it did not disappoint. The whole trip will go down as one of my favorite experiences. Not only was the Snow Monkey Park an amazing experience, but the resort we stayed at made this trip truly memorable. We stayed at the Shibu Hotel, a traditional Japanese hotel with its own onsen. The hotel went above and beyond my expectations. The rooms were all tatami rooms, overlooking the town and surrounding mountains. They even provided both Jill and myself a Yukata (Japanese Robe) and Getas (wooden shoes) for wandering outside at night. The hotel included both breakfast and dinner, the breakfast took some getting used to as it was not the traditional eggs and toast I am used to but the dinner was absolutely phenomenal. Dinner was a multi-course meal, the variety was spectacular and the presentations and flavors were spot on! The photos below include one of our dinner and the other photo is us dressed up in our Getas. Additional Snow Monkey Pictures! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Nagasaki, Japan. To Westerners, one image or thought instantly pops up when discussing the Japanese city of Nagasaki. August 9th, 1945, 3 days after the atomic bomb exploded over the city of Hiroshima, Nagasaki witnessed a similar fate. Fat Man – the name given to the atomic bomb that exploded over Nagasaki, killing around 80,000, ultimately leading to the surrender of Japan 6 days later. Prior to the war, Nagasaki was one of Japans most important and largest trading ports. Because of trade mainly by the Portuguese, Dutch, and Chinese, there are a lot of cultural influences within the city that make Nagasaki a truly unique city worth visiting not to mention they host the Lantern Festival every year around February. An Early History of Nagasaki Nagasaki started off as a small fishing village on the Japanese island of Kyushu. The first outside visitors to arrive on the shores of Nagasaki were Portuguese explorers in the early 1500’s. Shintoism and Buddhism are the primary religions in Japan and Christianity was non-existent at the time of the first explorers arrival. The Portuguese decided to preach Christianity here before making their way through other areas of Japan. Because of the success of trading, in 1571, the local government decided to open a port here to allow trading with the Portuguese. Soon after, the Dutch and Chinese also found themselves here at the port trading goods. At one point, the Japanese government closed off all ports in Japan except Nagasaki to foreigners, so the city quickly expanded and became one of the more prominent cities in Southern Japan. The War and How it Shaped Nagasaki It is a shame that World War II and the atomic bomb are what makes Nagasaki so famous. But we can’t deny this, it will forever remain in our history. When you walk around the Peace Park and museum you will see the date August 9, 1945 everywhere. The day the atomic bomb was dropped and leveled the city killing 80,000 people. The B-29 known as Bockscar took off with “Fat Man”, the atomic bomb. The people of Kokura got very lucky that day, as Kokura was the primary target, but due to haze and bad visibility that day, Bockscar flew to Nagasaki, the secondary target. At approximately 10:58 am local time, Fat Man was dropped and exploded 1,640 ft above ground. Half of the 80,000 people on the ground died instantly, and the rest died days, weeks, months, years later of injuries from the blast and radiation. About 40% of the entire city was completely destroyed. Because of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered. Nagasaki and most of Japan has done a tremendous job of rebuilding their city, history, and culture since the war. Attractions and Sites Nagasaki is not a huge city but has a lot to offer, therefor I suggest spending two days here. There are trams that connect the city and travel frequently so it easy to get from one end to the other relatively quickly. Atomic Bomb Museum – Museums in Japan are inexpensive, the entrance fee for the Atomic Bomb Museum is 200 Yen. If you are a foreign visitor in Nagasaki, this museum is a must. The museum is not very big but it is informative and of course tragic but it is a part of our history. The museum has a replica of Fat Man and a lot of artifacts that were collect after the bombing along with stories of residents at the time of the bombing. Peace Park – Not far from the museum is the Peace Park, a place for remembrance. Beautifully laid out and has one of the coolest escalators I’ve seen. Dejima – An Open-Air-Museum, set up to show what the port was like for the Portuguese and Dutch traders. Originally it was an island and made to separate Westerners from the local Japanese. Today, you can freely walk around and explore the buildings. Chinatown – The oldest in Japan and is fairly large. This area is full of restaurants and shops. Oura Church – Considered the oldest Catholic church in all of Japan and is a UNESCO site. I found the entrance to be very expensive for what it is, 1000 Yen. Kofukiuji Temple – The oldest Chinese temple in Nagasaki. It was built by a Chinese monk in 1620. There is a 300 Yen fee to enter the grounds for this temple. Lantern Festival For a long time, Nagasaki has had residents from China. The famous lantern festival started when they would celebrate the Chinese New Year everywhere. In the year 1994, the city of Nagasaki made it a tradition to turn this into Japan’s largest lantern festival. Since then, every year the lantern festival takes place in Nagasaki on January 1st of the lunar calendar year for fifteen days. During this time period the city sets up over 15,000 lanterns throughout Chinatown and other parts of the city and the celebrations begin! During the 15 days, Chinatown is completely overrun by locals and tourists. All shops and restaurants are open but there are several street vendors and festival areas serving food. Honestly, one of our favorite street foods was a Baked Sea Bream, a cake in the shape of a fish filled with either Red Beans or Custard. After living here in Japan for several months, they tend to put red bean paste in a lot of pastries, it is ok but usually I think it’s chocolate, so it is always a let down, my opinion is go with the custard sea bream. Other then food and drinks, many activities take place daily. You should get a pamphlet with events their location and times. Some of the events that occured were the Emperor’s Parade, Dragon Dance, Lion Dance, Acrobatics, karate, and the changing of the masks (Bian Lian)! Bian Lian – I was at the Kofukiuji Temple with Jill and Kimball for an event. Unfortunately, Jill told us the wrong time and we ended up at the temple for over an hour waiting for the event. We had no idea what the event was but found seats and the temple was a beautiful backdrop for whatever event was scheduled. All of a sudden, music began to play and a fairly large individual appeared in front of the temple wearing a black outfit with huge feathers and a colorful mask. We had no idea what was happening but the performer danced to the music and all of a sudden snapped his fan and boom, a new mask appeared! How was that possible? Not even a split second and his face went from orange to green! Apparently this is an ancient Chinese art associated with a traditional opera where the performer would dance to music and instantly swap their mask with the flick of the fan or other movement. This event was definitely a highlight for me from the Lantern Festival. [envira-gallery id=”2155″]
Cycling Around Suo Oshima
Konichiwa or should I say, “Aloha!” Yashiro Island, better known as Suo Oshima, is an island located in eastern Yamaguchi Prefecture. Suo Oshima is a large island located in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. Suo Oshima is connected to mainland by a huge green bridge named Oshima Bridge. Somewhat mountainous with gorgeous beaches, Suo Oshima is also famous throughout Japan for their mandarin oranges or “Mikans,” in Japanese. Why Aloha Island? Aside from the natural beauty and mikans, Oshima is also called the Aloha Island and has a relatively long history with the U.S. state of Hawaii. Suo Oshima is the sister island of Kauai Island in Hawaii, and they share similar climates. In the late 19th century thousands of islanders from Suo Oshima immigrated to Hawaii to work on sugar plantations. To this day, during the warmer summer months, several events are put on to celebrate the islands rich history with Hawaii. You can catch a hula dance or visit the museum to learn more about the immigration to Hawaii. Cycling Around Oshima Island Cycling around Suo Oshima Island is very doable and can be done in one day or multiple days. If doing multiple days, there is a campground near the aquarium that has incredible ocean views. I highly recommend cycling around the island, as there are so many scenic roads and narrow paths that go completely around the island. Most visitors will drive here and stay on the northern side of the island not knowing of the beauty and scenic beaches that surround the whole southern coast. There is a road that completely loops Suo Oshima. The road is in pretty good shape, and there are not to many steep uphill portions. For the most part, the road hugs the coast. Most attractions are located on the northern side of the island, there is the Mutsu Memorial Museum (Sunken Battleship), a campground, aquarium, and a small town with a few restaurants and convenience shops. Once you get passed the campground at the far north-east tip, the southern side of the island is basically all coastal with a few tiny pockets of houses here and there, until you get closer to the main bridge again. It was an early November morning, my buddy Kimball and myself started at 5 am and rode until 6 pm the same day. In total we cycled 160 Kilometers or 100 miles, the photo above is the exact route taken from my GPS. Take into account, this is from departing Iwakuni which is 27 Km away. There is an observation deck shortly after crossing Oshima bridge, our goal was to get there by sunrise, we accomplished this. Afterwards our goal was to bike around the island with the obvious stops at attractions and scenic views. About an hour into our ride, we came across a local farmers market selling all sorts of treats made with their famous mikans. We stopped for a bit and loaded up on calories before heading out. Shrines are all over Japan to include Suo Oshima Island. There was a decent sized shrine here named Ikadahachimangu right before Mutsu Park. Shortly after the campground the main road, cuts southward and the ride continues along the southern coast. The southern coast of Suo Oshima consisted of a very nice and scenic road that hugged the cliffs with great views of the ocean. There is not a whole lot of towns, convenience stores, etc.. on this portion. Although, there is a resort area here, it was all closed for the season when we were there. Summer time, might be a completely different experience! I love biking, but I am not so much a fan of biking just for exercise. I like turning it into a day trip and stopping to see stuff or going to places to eat, you know as a reward! We had no luck finding restaurants or anything really, until we passed a unique log cabin style building, kind of near the end of our journey around Suo Oshima. The restaurant was named Saruware and served freshly made pizza. Kimball and myself almost kept going but decided we had to stop and try it out. We were glad we did as the pizza was fantastic! I had a pizza with bacon and eggs on it and we split a dessert pizza with honey and ice cream, yumm! After riding all day it was the greatest feeling to sit down, wash our hands, and pig out! After spending about an hour there, we loaded back onto our bikes and made our way across the Oshima bridge, up Hwy 188, and back to Iwakuni. At the end of the day we rode 160.9 Kilometers, roughly 100 miles. Jill and Myself Rode 60 Miles Around Oshima On October 25, 2020, Jill and I rode our bikes around Suo Oshima. This time, we drove our car to the island instead of departing directly from Iwakuni by bike. After crossing the Oshima bridge, to the left there is a nice parking lot (Coordinates: 33.954786, 132.188402). We unloaded the bikes from the car, geared up and rode around the entire island. The trip was just about 96 kilometers or 60 miles and took us just under 6 hours to complete, take in to account that we stopped multiple times to take a breather, explore temples, and stop to take in the gorgeous views. The two times I’ve biked Suo Oshima, I began the bike route going left on the north side of the island. By starting on the north side, the bike route is relatively flat hugging the coast the entire time. There are no real designated bike routes, but the roads and sidewalks are safe, there is not a whole lot of traffic to worry about. On this trip, Jill and I first stopped at the Ikadahachimangu Shrine, (No idea how to pronounce that). The Ikadahachimangu Shrine is a traditional shrine along the coast that has a small section of red Torii Gates and really impressive wood work. After a brief stop at the shrine, we passed the Mutsu Memorial Park and then veered right making our way to the southern side of Suo Oshima Island. The southern route of the island is a night and day difference when comparing it cycling on the northern side of the island. The northern route was smooth, easy going, and had towns with convenience stores and restaurants. The southern side is very hilly and desolate. Because of the terrain, our pace was much slower but the views on this side are incredible. No matter where you are in Japan, you can see the affects of landslides (the second photo below). Jill and I stumbled upon this one while riding the southern side. It looked to be recent as there were nothing but a few cones in place. Normally in Japan, they clear it out quickly and start stabilizing the area, either way it was kind of interesting to see. The southern end of Oshima is pretty exhausting, it feels like it never ends due to the constant hills and switchbacks. I look at it as getting great exercise, Jill on the other hand was not as thrilled about it. There are some beautiful beaches along the route and after passing the Shonan Beach area, the ride gets smoother and easier passing by small towns. We didn’t really make any stops besides a small grocery store called A-Coop to refill our water bottles. We pedaled through all the way until we got back to the parking lot which was our starting point. At the end both Jill and I were exhausted, but cycling around Suo Oshima is such an incredibly beautiful experience, I would have no issues doing it again and again! Don’t have a bike? no problem! Although biking is my preferred method to explore Suo Oshima, there are many other ways to get here and explore. Many people come here to relax on the beaches during the summer months. Obviously, the easiest way to get here is by driving, it is only 40 minutes from Iwakuni. You can also take the Japanese Rail line to the Obatake station and walk from there, not ideal but it can be done. During the summer months, once the water warms up, swimming and snorkeling are also great options. There are several beaches around the island, some maintained while others are more natural. Most of the beaches are on the southern part of the island, including some “Resort like” beaches that are very well maintained but can get crowded. Last time I visited Suo Oshima, I went to Shonan Beach and snorkeled the waters. Snorkeling was alright, there are a few areas that support vegetation for fish, so I saw quite a few fish on the smaller side and a jelly fish. There are a few dive spots around the island as well. For my open water certificate, we dove at one of the coves on the southern side of the island. Visibility was horrible when we went. I don’t know if I would recommend it for diving, but I guess dive spots on mainland are rare, so why not dive here! In the town of Suooshima there are quite a few restaurant options. On another trip we stopped at a Hawaiian restaurant called Aloha Orange and they had great pancakes! There are quite a few ramen restaurants here and other restaurants, I can’t wait to try again! There is also a Dog rescue here on the island that has a petting zoo as well. On Google, it is simply listed as “Dog Petting Zoo Store,” so not sure what it is actually called. I stopped here with Kimball and a few other friends, we had a fun time! There was a small entrance fee, but you get to play and pet dogs, what’s not to love about that? Hopefully they all get adopted and live happy lives! There are also other animals (horses, pigs, llamas, rabbits, etc..) across the road that are part of the same rescue. If you want to see these animals they charge another fee, so we just decided to hang out and pet the doggies! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. Plan Your Trip: Booking Accommodations For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator has a lot of great options. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support!
Okunoshima “Rabbit Island,” Japan
In the Seto Inland Sea, there is a small island named Okunoshima that has a dark past but the current residents are darn cute! I am talking about Rabbit Island, in Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture! **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! How did Okunoshima become known as Rabbit Island? So how did this island become known as rabbit island? The obvious answer is that this island is inhabited by bunnies. There are no cats or dogs allowed on the island, so it is overrun by a thousand cute, furry, adorable bunnies! Before it became Rabbit Island, Okunoshima was a typical island, no different then any of the others. So how did they all get here? There are a few theories on how the bunnies got here, remember these are just theories, no one truly knows how they got here. A popular theory is that the bunnies were released on the island by a group of school children, another theory suggests it was a couple from the U.K. But there is a darker history that occurred here. In the late 1920’s the Japanese Military used this island to create and test chemical weapons and they used rabbits as test subjects. After WWII the island was destroyed by allied forces and it is likely all the rabbits were killed, but there is no guarantee, which leaves the mystery unresolved. How to get to Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) Okunoshima “Rabbit Island,” is secluded, but is reachable by public transportation and a short 12-minute ferry ride from Tadanomi Port. The Port is a quick 3-minute walk from the Tadanomi Train Station. The easiest way to arrive at the Tadanomi Train Station is by the Mihara Station. Both Kodama Shinkansen coming from either Hiroshima or Osaka make a brief stop here. If driving to Rabbit Island from the Hiroshima area, you can stay on Route 2 through Higashihiroshima before taking a right onto Route 59 all the way to Tadanomi Port. If arriving by vehicle, there is plenty of free parking next to the General Store at the port. Ferry tickets and rabbit food can be purchased from the general store. There is an automatic ticket machine within the store. Tickets are ¥310 one way; I recommend buying round trip tickets right away. Rabbit food can also be purchased here for ¥200 a bag. The ferries depart regularly starting at 8:00 am until around 7:00 pm, there is a ferry schedule in the store. The Gateway to Rabbit Island site has a lot of good information and pictures of everything related to Rabbit island to include getting here, ferry time tables, and exploring the island. Apart from rabbit food and tickets, the shop also sells souvenirs, ice cream, and drinks. Once the ferry arrives, there will be an individual collecting tickets outside the ferry. The ferry conditions are not the most comfortable but it’s a quick and easy 12-minute ride. Enjoy! Rabbit Island is small, but there is a lot to see! Of course, the second you get off the ferry, there are bunnies everywhere. Logically, you would think they would just hang out by the terminal since that is where all the tourists get off and feed them. That is not the case as they live all over Okunoshima. There is a trail around the whole island, my recommendation is to start walking right away to give yourself space from the potentially crowded port area. The trail was only a few kilometers in length and was well maintained. Cars are not allowed on the island, but there are bike rentals. But please, ride slowly and watch out for the bunnies. Along the trail there are gorgeous views of the sea and surrounding islands as well as the remains of the gas factories and forts. There are many other trails leading to the center of the island, unfortunately, when I went all these trails were roped off. There is even a luxury hotel on the island with a restaurant and café. If you love the outdoors, there is a small campground on the island, make sure to book in advance to reserve a spot. The Rabbits With over a thousand rabbits occupying Okunoshima, you are guaranteed to encounter them everywhere! The second you get off the ferry, you will be greeted by hordes of adorable bunnies. I recommend walking the paths around the island right away. Don’t worry, the rabbits are plentiful along the trails. It is quite entertaining to see a few running toward you and then out of nowhere there can be upwards to ten or more curious bunnies surrounding you. I purchased food to feed them (from the general store on the mainland). The rabbits are not shy, they will climb on your lap to get food, they will even eat directly off your hand if you are daring enough to feed them this way. I try to make sure everyone gets a few pellets. If you really want to feed the bunnies, I recommend not wasting all the pellets on the rabbits near the port, they get plenty of food from visitors that don’t walk the trails. Instead, save the pellets for the bunnies on the trails a bit further out, if you have left over pellets at the end, go ahead and share it to the smart bunnies near the ferry port. The rabbits on Okunoshima are wild animals, but thankfully they are well cared for. There are water bowls scattered throughout the island so they always have fresh water to drink. They get fresh vegetables to eat from caretakers as well. All the bunnies appeared to be in good shape and very happy! Please, follow the rules of the park and respect the rabbits. Don’t pick up the rabbits or forcefully try and pet them. If you want to feed the rabbits, purchase food specifically made for them which can be bought for ¥200 at the general store (there is no place to buy food for them once on the island). Do not feed them human food. Don’t try and sneak a rabbit off the island and make it your pet and don’t leave your pet rabbit on the island, trust me there are already plenty here and many signs regarding these warnings! Be kind and respect the rabbits and the island. Use common sense and enjoy their cuteness. The rabbits are curious and will come up to you and bombard you with cuteness. For photos, I found it fun to take ground level shots of them. Many times, when they get close they stand on their hind legs, perfect for unique photos! The Dark History of Rabbit Island, Gas Manufacturing Plants and Forts Obviously, the rabbits are the main attraction on the island, but when walking around it is hard not to notice the several large ruined buildings and forts scattered along the trail and throughout the island. Before WWII, during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), forts were placed on this island due to its secluded and prominent location. Today, many of the gun batteries and ruins from the Russo-Japanese War still remain and can be seen. In the 1920’s, the island was used as a secret location to develop and test chemical weapons in the form of poisonous gases. During the development of the chemical weapons, the Japanese went to great lengths to keep the island a secret, they even had the island removed from maps. After WWII, the gases were disposed of and the facilities were destroyed. Today, several of the storage houses can be seen throughout the island and there is a Poison Gas Museum near the Resort. So, Is Rabbit Island Worth Visiting? Visiting Rabbit Island in Japan is well worth visiting. Japan has so many animal attractions that are worth visiting. There are cat islands, a fox village, the snow monkeys, an island full of deer, and bunny island! I am so glad I had the opportunity to visit bunny island not once but twice. For being a small island I spent a solid five hours here and lifelong memories! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️🇯🇵 Booking Accommodations ⛺️🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖️🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars. Train Travel 🚂🚊 For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
I Moved to Japan!
I Moved to japan! In 2019, I created a goal for myself to leave the Mid-West. Originally, I was hoping to move to either the East or West Coast, so I applied for positions along the coasts. Just for laughs, I applied for one position in Okinawa, Japan. Out of the places I applied for, I never heard anything back except for the job in Japan. The company got back to me letting me know that the positions in Okinawa were full but they had an opportunity in Iwakuni, Japan. I’ve never heard of Iwakuni, but anything in Japan sounds exciting so I accepted the position and have been here for a few months now. A Little Information on Japan The island of Japan is located in East Asia and is made up of 47 Prefectures. Prefectures are basically what we refer to as States. There are four main islands – Honshu (being the main Island, where Tokyo is located), Kyushu, Hokkaido, and Shikoku. Okinawa can be considered a main island as well, depending on who you talk to. In total there are close to 7,000 islands and roughly 430 are inhabited. About 73% of Japan is mountainous, so most major cities are located along the coasts. The current population of Japan is 127 million people. Tokyo, being the most populated city has a population of 14 million, 38 million if you count the the entire metropolitan area. The language of Japan at least to me seems to be quite complicated especially the writing. Japanese consists of Kana which are phonetic symbols and Kanji which are the Chinese symbols. Kana is the combination of Hiragana and Katakana, each having 46 characters. Many signs here in Japan will have both Kanji and Kana making it even more confusing for people like me trying to learn. I am trying to learn as many symbols, phonetics, and phrases for now, I know i’ll never be fluent or gain a complete understanding, but since I live here, I will try my hardest! Iwakuni, Yamaguchi prefecture I reside in the town of Iwakuni located in the Yamaguchi Prefecture, the southern most Prefecture on the Honshu Island. The Prefecture of Yamaguchi does not really have any big cities, Shimonoseki is the largest city. The population of Iwakuni is around 138,000. Iwakuni is probably most famous for the Kintai Bridge over the Nishiki River which was built around 1673 to gain access to Iwakuni Castle which is perched on top of the hill. With hundreds of years of typhoons and flooding, the original bridge no longer exists, but the bridge that stands today is an exact replica. Other popular attractions here in Iwakuni are Kikko Park, The White Snake Museum (Not the band), and their many many festivals! Regarding the white snake museum, these are a particular type of albino rat snake that call Iwakuni home and are said to be good luck if you spot one! Iwakuni is also home to the Marine Corps Air Station. My thoughts after two months I love it here! I’ve always dreamed about a place located near both the ocean and mountains, not far from a big city with exceptional transportation. Iwakuni is just that! Iwakuni lies between a mountain range and the Seto Inland Sea and is a short train ride from Hiroshima, a city of over a million people. I live in a traditional neighborhood and shop at local supermarkets. I hold an international license but have chosen not to purchase a car. Instead, I purchased a hybrid bike and like to explore the area on two wheels or by using the wonderful trains here. One more thing, I absolutely love the signs here in Japan. Not road signs but signs like pick up after your pet or don’t litter, they are hilarious and creative! It’s become one of my hobbies to take photos of the signs here. Transportation In Japan, there is a Japanese Rail the JR and the Shinkansen aka the Shin aka the Bullet Train. Iwakuni has a main train station for the JR that is easy to navigate, there is also a Shin Station a bit further out of town. I took the Shin to Fukuoka, I am used to the ICE train in Germany so am familiar with high speed trains, but the Shin is a on a whole new level. My first time at the station waiting for my train I heard a noise and the Shin zoomed by, I was instantly amazed by how fast the train was, I wanted to record it. The Shin goes so quick, I missed it three times trying to record it on my phone. They trains are spacious and very quiet, makes for an enjoyable ride! For the most part the trains are on time. Really the only times they are delayed is when a tsunami is happening or a vehicle gets stuck on the tracks. Some of the frustrations while living here I’ve traveled to Asia before but living here is a completely different then living out of a suitcase. I basically started my life over from scratch. I had came here with two suitcases and knew nothing about Japan really. For two weeks, I lived in a hotel until my apartment was available. In order to rent here, you need a whole lot of money up front. I somewhat knew that coming in. One of the more frustrating things here is everything takes forever! You want internet? That won’t be ready for about two weeks. How about a kitchen set or bed? That will take a month to deliver. Basically everything here takes a while, patience is key! The Trash! Yes, we all love to recycle and protect the environment but the recycling out here is complex and downright confusing. I have three separate trash bins for different uses. Combustibles, Plastics, and Misc items that recycle companies come around once a month to collect, I am constantly scratching my head and asking myself what trash goes where?? The lights here take forever and no one J-Walks. Sometimes you feel like you are waiting for 5 minutes just for the light to give you the OK. I have not found any decent beer here yet, everything taste like Bud Light. Maybe I’ll start drinking Sake. The Food The food has been great! Obviously, at some point i’ll have a post just about the food in Japan, but I feel I am not an expert yet. One of my favorite things to do is go to grocery stores, each one has a section of fresh meals to go whether it be chicken on a stick, okonomiyaki (I’ll explain later), or tempura, it’s always cheap, tasty, and makes for a great snack or meal. Japan has a lot of exciting candy, like dark chocolate or green tea Kit-Kats. I don’t understand why the U.S. isn’t adventurous with their candy, why does Kit Kat sell all the fun stuff here. Same goes with soda, although I am not a huge soda fan, they have a lot of unique flavors here. The food out here is addicting, I just want to try it all! Going forward I am really hoping I will be out here for a few years. I want to explore as much as Japan as possible. I also have plans to visit some of the U.S. territories that are accessible from Japan and other countries. My ultimate goal is to live a slower paced and different life then in the States. Living abroad is not for everyone and is definitely not easy. It takes a special type of individual to pack up their life in two suitcases and move thousands of miles away to an unfamiliar place. I am grateful this opportunity came my way and can’t wait to explore my new home!!
First Timer’s Travel Guide to Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka, Japan’s 6th largest city and the capital of Fukuoka prefecture is a modern city with a fantastic food scene. Fukuoka is the result of two cities, Hakata and Fukuoka being merged together in 1889. The city of Fukuoka has two main districts, Hakata and Tenjin, each unique with an exciting nightlife. Fukuoka was the first city I visited when traveling to Japan in 2017. Fort first timer’s, Fukuoka is a great introduction to Japan. The subway line here is easy to figure out, it’s walkable, tourist friendly, and has amazing attractions. Since the first time I visited Fukuoka, I’ve been back here a half dozen times at least. This is my travel guide to Fukuoka for first timer’s. I’ve outlined everything you need to know about visiting Fukuoka from eating amazing Hakata style ramen to visiting the Giant Wooden Buddha. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Fukuoka: Fukuoka is one of my favorite cities in Japan. Fukuoka is easy to navigate, has plenty to see and do, and is famous for Hakata Ramen, the best ramen, in my opinion. Top Things to do in Fukuoka: Eat Ramen. Shop at Canal City. Relax and walk around Ohori Park. Consider taking a Private Fukuoka Tour or this Fukuoka Essentials Tour to see the main highlights and learn about Fukuoka along the way. Where is Fukuoka, Japan? Fukuoka is the capital of the prefecture that shares the same name, Fukuoka prefecture. Fukuoka is on the Japanese island of Kyushu just south of the main Japanese island of Honshu. For reference, Fukuoka is about a 5 hour Shinkansen ride from Tokyo and about a 1-1.5 hour Shinkansen ride to the city of Hiroshima. Best Time to Visit Fukuoka I’ve been to Fukuoka during all seasons in Japan and practically every month. My favorite time to visit Fukuoka is during either Sakura Season or the season of Fall. Sakura Season in Fukuoka is not to be missed and I feel Fukuoka is one of Japan’s most underrated cities for Sakura Season. We visited Fukuoka this past April, specifically for Sakura and it did not disappoint. To catch Sakura trees in bloom, I recommend starting at Tochoji Temple and then walk to Shofukuji to catch some of the Sakura Trees near the temples. After visiting Tochoji Temple, head toward to Ohori Park and visit the Fukuoka Castle Ruins for some of Japan’s most spectacular views of Sakura Trees. The Fall season in Fukuoka is also a perfect time to visit. Around late September to early December the temperature begins to cool off and the weather is just perfect. You have to head to the surrounding hills to catch some of the autumn colors, but there are trees throughout the city that do change color. But I recommend Fukuoka during this time of year simply because it’s not tourist season and the weather is ideal. Transportation in Fukuoka Fukuoka Airport is conveniently located in the city of Fukuoka. Fukuoka Airport is a major hub in Japan and offers flights both domestically and internationally. It’s worth flying here from places like Tokyo or Osaka. Many international flights fly in and out of Fukuoka as well. From Fukuoka Airport, there is a subway line directly to JR Hakata Station. It’s only two stops from the airport to Hakata Station. Hakata Station is the main station in Fukuoka and is the main station for the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. You can even purchase Regional and JR Passes at Hakata Station. For first time travelers to Japan, Fukuoka is easy to navigate and the subway system is far from difficult. In Fukuoka, there are three subway lines, the Orange, Blue, and Green lines. Tenjin Station is a popular station and puts you in the heart of Fukuoka. For travelers visiting Japan, you can purchase day passes at both Hakata and Tenjin Station. In the subway stations and trains themselves, announcements will be in both Japanese and English. Signs also have English translations. I wrote a post on general train travel in Japan, in case you want to learn more about trains and train travel throughout Japan. Recommended Places to Stay in Fukuoka Since moving to Japan, I’ve now been to Fukuoka several times and have spent many long weekends here. Not only are hotels in Japan cheaper then what I am used to paying in the United States and Europe but they have a lot of character and bathroom supplies, like toothbrushes, combs, shower caps, razors, etc. The hotels listed below in my guide to Fukuoka are hotels that I stayed at in Fukuoka and personally recommend. None of these hotels are anything fancy or expensive. They are comfortable with all the needed amenities. APA Hotels – APA Hotels are always a classic chain in Japan. With APA, you always know what you are getting. Generally, the rooms are smaller but they have all the needed amenities. I always enjoy my stays at APA. APA does have a solid breakfast as well with all your classic Japanese breakfast dishes. There are several APA Hotels spread throughout Fukuoka. My last visit in April 2023, I Stayed at the APA Hotel Hakata-Ekimae near the Hakata Station. Montan Hakata – Because of a few unfortunate events coming back from Taiwan, I missed my Shinkansen train to Iwakuni and had to book a cheap hotel near Hakata Station. Well, Montan Hakata is a great option if you are looking for a hostel near the Hakata Station. This hostel has a great front desk area which includes breakfast, rental bikes, and they have a great selection of international beer. The rooms here are your traditional tatami rooms with floor mats. The rooms are very spacious and clean with a private bathroom. Riverside Inn Hakata – One of the best hotel stays I’ve ever had. Located right by Canal City and walking distance to both train stations. Breakfast was not included with this stay, but the rooms and views make up for it. The room I had was almost an entire apartment, to include a living room and kitchen. The balcony has a great overlook of the Naka River. Randor Residential Hotel – Another modern style Japanese hotel with all the conveniences and fun toiletries. This hotel was near a local food market and within walking distance to Canal City and Tenjin Station. Must See Attractions in Fukuoka Fukuoka is definitely one of Japan’s most underrated cities. In the grand scheme of things, Fukuoka has it all, amazing food, historical sites, modern architecture, and great transportation. Visitors can easily spend upwards to 3 days in Fukuoka, there is that much to see and do. My guide to Fukuoka lists some of the must see attractions for first timers visiting Fukuoka from a building covered in a forest to a very impressive Wooden Buddha statue at Tochoji Temple and everything in between. ACROS Building Talk about going Green! The Acros Building, near Tenjin Station is a futuristic structure where one side of the building is forested. Acros is well worth a visit, mainly just to see the outside. Visitors can take stairs at the front of the building and actually walk through the forested area of Acros. The view from on to of the building is spectacular. Visitors are greeted by 360° views of Fukuoka. You can walk into the building, but there is nothing worthwhile, perhaps just a quick toilet break if anything. More buildings need to adopt what Acros did. The additional plants on the outside of the buildings contributes to cleaner air, limits the urban heat island affect, it keeps temperatures in the building cooler, not to mention it is pleasant to look at. Canal City Canal City is a modern shopping mall with dining, shops, and an intense light/water show. Canal City is a must when visiting Fukuoka and is in every travel guide to Fukuoka. There are several stories here full of unique shops and delicious restaurants. The main attraction at Canal City is definitely the shallow river that flows through Canal City and the light/water show. I’ve seen the light show three times now and each show had a different theme just as exciting and intense as the last light/water show. Fukuoka Castle Ruins After or prior to visiting Ohori Park, it is recommended to visit Fukuoka’s Castle Ruins. Just a short walk from the park lie the ruins of this enormous castle site. Unfortunately, outside from the recreated gates along the moat, there is no structures remaining of the castle. But the foundation is still in place and the city of Fukuoka does a nice job at maintaining the site. Fukuoka Castle was built in the 17th century as a result of Sekigahara Battle. The castle stood for hundreds of years only to be torn down during the Meiji Restoration era. Fukuoka Castle can be visited all year long but it is absolutely beautiful during Sakura Season. Fukuoka Tower At 234 meters, Fukuoka Tower is the tallest structure in the city of Fukuoka and considered to be Japan’s tallest seaside tower. For ¥800 visitors can take the elevator to Fukuoka Tower’s observation deck. You truly can see the entire city of Fukuoka from here and you fantastic vis of Hakata Bay and the surrounding mountains. Kawabata Sotengai Shopping Arcade Kawabata Sotengai Shopping Arcade is an old arcade street in Fukuoka within walking distance from Canal City. There are hundreds of shops varying from selling local souvenirs to antique shops. Kawabata Sotengai Shopping Arcade is 400 meters long and fully covered, which is perfect on a rainy day. Ohori Park A huge city park and just a few stops from Tenjin Station is Ohori Park. with a lake in the middle. Ohori is a beautiful park where there is always something going on. Ohori Park is most notable for the large lake with a trail that cuts through the middle of the lake. There is a running track around the lake, playgrounds, and facilities. You can even rent a swan boat and paddle around the lake. In the area, visitors can also visit the Fukuoka Castle Ruins and Ohori Park Japanese Gardens. Ohori Park Japanese Garden I stated earlier that Fukuoka is the ideal destination for first time visitors to Japan because you get the whole Japanese experience in an easy and manageable city. People around the world are familiar with Japanese Gardens and Fukuoka has a beautiful Japanese Garden right at Ohori Park. Ohori Park Japanese Garden is your traditional garden with ponds, Koi fish, stones crossing rivers, pine trees, and fabulous views. Admission and Hours AdmissionAdult – ¥250Child – ¥120 HoursMay – September: 9:00 – 18:00October – April: 9:00 – 17:00 Closed on Mondays For more information, visit the Ohori Park Japanese Garden Website. Tenjin Underground Mall This was the most fascinating underground shopping network I’ve ever seen. This mall was linked to several subway stations hosting shops and restaurants. What was truly unique about this underground mall was the looks and style of it. It was just beautifully done! Again, if you are looking for things to do in Fukuoka, especially on a rainy day, the Tenjin Underground Mall is the perfect place to stay dry. ⇒ Additional Things to do in and Around Fukuoka Hakata (Tonkotsu) Ramen in Fukuoka – Simply the Best Style of Ramen Fukuoka is known as the birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen. Throughout Japan, various cities or regions have some style of Ramen. Tokyo has their shoyu ramen, Sapporo is known for miso ramen, and Fukuoka is famous for Hakata Ramen also know as Tonkotsu Ramen. Ramen in Fukuoka is what Lobster is to Maine, what Beer is to Bavaria, what Paella is to Spain, uh ok we get
Interesting Food Around the World that We’ve Tried
Exploring a cultures culinary traditions has become one of the motivating factors and reasons we travel. Plain and simple, it is fun to try authentic, new, and down-right weird food. I always say, I am willing to try everything at least once! Living by that rule, the two of us have become adventurous when it comes to local cuisine. What may seem bizarre in our culture can be a daily diet in others. I mean here in the United States we eat beef right? While the cow is sacred in some states in India. Did you know that over 80% of the world’s population eats insects, yet the sound of that disgusts most Westerners. Lets face it, they are rich in protein, low in fat, and there is an abundance of them. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Interesting Food Around the World that We’ve Tried I grew up watching Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods and Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and have always shared a fascination with foods from around the world no matter how weird, interesting, or unique the food is. I believe you should try everything once. How else are you going to know if it’s a good dish or not! I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the taste of some of the more bizarre foods I’ve tried and have disliked some foods that are standard to so many people. I say it is all part of the experience, and it is fun to say, “I’ve tried that!” Here are some of the most interesting food dishes I’ve had throughout my travels. Asia Cambodia Tarantula: Siem Reap Eating tarantula in Cambodia is a well known and definitely an adventurous dish to try for any traveler. During the Khmer Rouge, when food was scarce, people had to eat what they could to survive and that included tarantulas. Since then, it has kind of stuck around as a delicacy and fun thing for tourists to try, including myself! I found a place that sold tarantula and brought it back to my hotel room, hence the fancy plate! I ate the tarantula starting with the legs as they were the least threatening looking spider part. I then worked my way to the body. Overall, taste wise, it was not great! Tasted a bit like dry cardboard even with the chili lime seasoning. But hey, Tarantula is an excellent source of protein and mierals. Japan Natto Natto is a Japanese dish that consists of fermented soy beans. This is definitely an interesting dish that I’ve had twice, once as an appetizer over rice with a raw egg and the second time at a sushi go round where it was wrapped in seaweed. Honestly, I think I would rather eat Hákarl again then eat Natto. Natto has a distinctive smell and a slimy gooey texture. It is definitely an acquired taste, people here love it! It just wasn’t for me. The benefit of Natto is that it is very healthy to eat, it is said to help against strokes and is great for people on diets and helps manage stress, so that is a plus, it just isn’t for me! Irabu (Sea Snake) Soup: Okinawa Irabu (Sea Snake) soup, probably the most nerve-racking food I’ve had in my life. I’m seen so many sea snakes while diving and snorkeling around Okinawa, I’d never think I’d actually eat one! In a way, I felt bad eating Irabu soup, I’ve grown quite fond of these snakes. Yes, they are deadly. Yes, they can be terrifying to swim with. But at the same time, they are peaceful to watch as they glide through the water. I love watching them swim up to get air and see their tiny heads pop out of the water. At the same time, I love trying local cuisine. Irabu Soup is found in restaurants around Okinawa and it is a local delicacy, especially on Kudaka Island. I found a restaurant on the island that specializes in Irabu Soup, so I had to try it for myself. On Kudaka Island, the sea snakes are caught bare-handed. Keep in mind, these are highly venomous snakes and are deadly. But they are shy and gentle creatures unless harmed. Once caught the snakes are killed, boiled and then smoked before being turned into soup. The soup generally consists of broth, pork, konbu (which is a type of kelp), and a piece of snake. I placed my order, once finished the waiter called me up to pick up my soup. I double checked with him that Irabu was in fact safe to eat. He assured me it was safe. Not only is Irabu safe to eat but it is full of nutrients, protein, and vitamins. The soup was fantastic! I ate the snake, skin and all and it tasted nothing like chicken! It had its own distinct taste, it was a bit chewy but had a nice flavor. If given the opportunity to try Irabu soup again, I would eat it without question. Torisashi (Raw Chicken): Okinawa Usually, I’d never recommend eating raw poultry of any kind. But if I were to eat raw chicken, it would be in Japan, and I did. The dish is called Torisashi and it is thinly sliced raw chicken. It’s basically chicken sashimi and it is often served in Izakaya’s in the Japanese Prefectures of Kagoshima, Miyazaki, and Okinawa. I’ve tried Torisashi in Okinawa at several different Izakaya’s and honestly, I like the flavor and texture. Some Izakaya’s will slightly sear the outside, the inside is pink and slightly chewy. Yagi Sashi (Raw Goat): Okinawa Yagi Sashi is the Okinawan word for the raw goat dish that can be found throughout the island of Okinawa. In Okinawa, many Izakaya’s and specialty restaurants serve Yagi Sashi. It’s usually served chilled and thinly sliced with ginger and soy sauce on the side. The raw goat has a gamey feel to it and a very distinct taste. I really enjoy the flavor and texture of it. Philippines Balut: Cebu I’ve been wanting to try Balut for a while now and in July of 2024, I took a trip to Cebu, The Philippines and finally got a chance to try it. Balut is a fertilized duck egg. The embryo of the duck develops for several days usually between 14 and 21 days. Most people are put off by the look of the egg once opened. It’s not your typical hard boiled egg that is white on the outside and yellow on the inside. No, instead, Balut is layered, there is a juice you suck out first, followed by a hardened white piece, yolk, and the unlucky duckling. I found a street vendor selling Balut on the side near Carbon Market. I cracked the egg, sucked out the juices and began to disassemble the egg, biting off one layer at a time. I’ll be honest, it was not easy on the eye, looking down at what I was eating, but taste wise, Balut was actually good and I really enjoyed it! It tasted just like a hard boiled egg with a little more texture to it. I would definitely eat Balut again. South Korea Beondegi: Busan Next stop while trying interesting food around the world is Busan, South Korea. While in Busan, we visited the Haedong Yonggung Temple right outside the city. The temple lies along the coast and is considered to be one of the most well known in all of South Korea. To our surprise, there was a small food market right before the entrance to the temple. Several vendors had huge steaming pans full of something we’ve never seen before. Turns out, these pans were full to the top of a popular snack item known as Beondegi, otherwise known as Silkworm pupae. You get a cup full of them, at a cheap price! In the images below you can see what Jill’s reaction was to eating Beondegi. I found the flavor to be a little nutty and very juicy, almost to juicy. Unfortunately, a cup was a little much, so we decided to share our Beondegi with the local wildlife! Taiwan Stinky Tofu You know how some cities have that bad city smell once in a while? You’ll walk around and smell sewage here and there. In Taiwan you’ll sense that same smell here and there and turn the corner and it’s just someone cooking Stinky Tofu. Stinky Tofu lives up to its name. The smell can be horrid! Rest assured, stinky tofu tastes better then it smells. Locals in Taiwan, love it. You’ll find stinky tofu in restaurants, at night markets, and from people selling it at a food stall. Stinky tofu comes in many different forms. I’ve personally tried it a few times, once as a block with onion and sweet sauce, the second time in Hualien where it was advertised as Stinky Tofu Fries. Trust me, no matter how you try it, it is going to be stinky. So, what makes stinky tofu, stinky? It’s all about the fermentation process! It’s soaked in a brine that is made from a mix of vegetables, meats, milk, and other ingredients. The tofu will ferment anywhere from a couple hours to several months. Europe Iceland Hákarl: Reykjavik Our next interesting food around the world takes us to Iceland. We’ve all heard of Hákarl (Fermented Shark). Based on stories and the media I’ve heard that Hákarl is potent and has a very unique flavor. After trying Hákarl I came to the conclusion that it was not as bad as I was expecting. Not that I’ve ever tasted smelly feet, but I kind of describe the flavor that way, mixed with a little ammonia, still not terrible tasting! It’s not found all over Iceland, but I did my research and saw that Kaffi Loki served it as an appetizer. You get a few cubes served in a small dish with an Icelandic Flag toothpick! Would I try it again? Sure! North America Mexico Ant Larvae, Crickets, and Maguey Worm at Mercado de San Juan: Mexico city Mercado de San Juan in Mexico City is paradise, that is if you are looking for unordinary food to try. This market is full of fresh meat, fish, and produce. I read about this market while researching and came here to explore the unique and interesting foods. There is a vendor here that even sold rare tiger and lion meat along with tarantulas and other creepy critters. You have to start somewhere, my plan was to start small and work my way up. I found a vendor selling a variety of insects that included grasshopper, crickets, and ant larvae. I wanted to try a few of each, there was a slight translation mix-up and I ended up with a mixed sack full. Thankfully there was a bar next to this vendor, I washed the bugs down with a local beer and even shared them with the bartender, he loved them. To be honest, the bugs were dry, salty, and not that great! On a side note, Mercado de San Juan had some other great restaurants and normal eats. We went to a small Italian vendor and ordered a delicious bocadillo. Scorpion: Mexico City At Mercado de San Juan, I wanted to try something I knew would be tough to come by in the states, so I was torn between trying a tarantula or a scorpion. Both choices were very intimidating, I opted for the scorpion. I thought to myself, “how the hell am I going to eat this thing!” For starters, remove the stinger not because it is poisonous, but because it is sharp and can get lodged in your throat! After a