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This island in Japan is famous for octopus, fugu

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Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News

<p>NAGOYA, Japan – This island in Japan is for people who are looking for some peace and quiet, as well as good seafood.</p><p>Himakajima (or Himaka Island) is a well-loved weekend destination among the residents of Nagoya, with the island only around two hours away from the industrial city. </p><p>It is famous for mainly two things – octopus and fugu. These two are all over the island – from statues, kiddie drawings on the walls and manhole covers to, of course, the food offerings.</p><p>Octopus is a common ingredient in sushi and takoyaki, those little savory wheat flour-based balls. But in Himakajima, these are usually sold and served whole. </p><p>After being caught in a vase trap, the octopus is cleaned thoroughly, stretched out and dried under the sun or boiled. And unlike the ones served in other areas, the octopus in Himakajima is noticeably tender and more flavorful.</p><p>Fugu, on the other hand, is the Japanese name for pufferfish or blowfish, considered bizarre by many as it can be fatal if not prepared properly. Chefs are required to earn a license to prepare and sell fugu to the public.</p><p>Raw fugu has a clean taste that is almost flavorless, but is delicious when deep-fried. Either way, eating it is a fun experience, with some saying it is like dancing with death. </p><p>Himakajima is a small island that can be explored on foot. Aside from the seafood and nice views, visitors can also go to a marine land with performing dolphins, and a handful of quiet beaches. </p><div><strong>ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT</strong></div><p>From Nagoya Station, take the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line and alight at Utsumi Station. Take the Minamichita-cho Community Bus until Morozakiko, then take the Meitetsu Sightseeing Boat to Himakajima Port.</p><div><strong>ACCESS BY CAR</strong></div><p>From Minamichita Road Toyooka I. C., drive for 10 minutes to Morozaki Port. Take the Meitetsu Sightseeing Boat to Himakajima Port.</p><p>ABS-CBN News visited Himakajima as part of a media tour organized by the tourism association of Aichi Prefecture and Ysmael Moyer Valenzuela &amp; Associates Inc.</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-5.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-6.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-7.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-8.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/lifestyle/01/06/himakajima-9.jpg"/></div></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>An octopus statue greets visitors at Himakajima, an island famous for octopus and fugu <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Octopus-designed manhole covers can be found all over Himakajima <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The same goes for manhole covers designed with fugu or pufferfish <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>It’s easy to get a nice view here at Himakajima. This one shows the nearby Sakushima island <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A local teaches visitors how to properly clean and hang an octopus to dry <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>After cleaned and seasoned with soy sauce, each octopus is dried under the sun and then sold as a delicacy <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Make sure to try the fugu at Himakajima. This is a deep-fried version <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>But don’t just limit yourself to fugu and octopus – Himakajima’s other seafood dishes are just as excellent <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Octopus-themed kiddie drawings can be seen all over Himakajima <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div>

<p>This island in Japan is for people who are looking for some peace and quiet, as well as good seafood. </p>

This island in Japan is for people who are looking for some peace and quiet, as well as good seafood.

This island in Japan is famous for octopus, fugu

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This island in Japan is famous for octopus, fugu

Karen Flores,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 06, 2017 04:07 PM PHT

Read More:

travel

Japan

Himakajima

octopus

fugu

food

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