island

Swimming WITH dolphins in Japan

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Swam with dolphins yesterday. Dolphinitely an amazing experience.

So many wild dolphins. I could have spent the whole day chasing after them.

From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming
From Dolphin swimming

Travel notes:
Overnight ferry from Tokyo to Miyakejima. Join the dolphin swimming boat tour. Boat takes you out to Mikurajima where all the dolphins live. Swim with dolphins. Chase dolphins. Repeat several times. The water was deliciously warm at 27 degrees. Air temp was 21 degrees. It got quite cold in and out of the water and on the boat as we chased the dolphins. Actually did this same dolphin trip last year but was unable to swim with the dolphins due to my burn injury. Was so happy to have been able to go into the water this year and actually swim alongside them and get lots of underwater shots this time. Got quite close to them as well.

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Ogasawara Islands: Day 1

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Ticked off another destination on my bucketlist – the Bonin Islands, otherwise known as Ogasawara Islands – truly paradise.

It’s about 1000km away from Japan yet is still part of Tokyo. It is Japan’s southermost spot.

The Bonin Islands mean “uninhabited islands” and are an archipelago. Two of the islands however are habited – Chichijima (father islands) and Hahajima (mother island).
They were designated as World Natural Heritage sites a couple of years ago.

The ONLY access to the islands are by a 25-hour boat ride from Tokyo. There is no airport on the island. Boats only depart once a week so the basic itinerary is 5 nights. 2 of which are spent on the boat and 3 nights on the island. If you miss the boat or want to stay longer, you have to wait for the next week’s boat departure. Life on the island, as I discovered, revolved around the boat’s island arrival and departure.

I was lucky to go there during August – summer holiday and the end of Obon. Managed to get a spot on the boat, but even harder was finding accommodation. Given that accommodation is limited and it was peak season, a lot of places were filled up. And I had left it last minute. I only decided to this trip 1-2 weeks prior. I did end up finding a small minshuku to stay at.

The only departure to Ogawasara Islands is on a Saturday so I left on Saturday morning and would not arrive on Chichijima until Sunday lunchtime.
Tickets are not cheap. About 30,000yen one way and that was for the cheapest class which was basically a mat in an open-floor room. If you want beds in upper classes except to pay a lot more. And even more for the suites. I ended up getting a spot in the Ladies-only room which suited me fine. The general sleeping floor area fit about 100 plus people in the lower decks. They had a couple of ladies-only room which were smaller closed rooms that fit about 30 ladies. Considering I was traveling on my room, the ladies room was a better option. Got to avoid sleeping next time to snoring men and loud groups of people.

The boat was more like a cruise ship – restaurant/cafeteria, shower facilities etc. I normally quite like boat rides, but there wasn’t a lot of space on this boat – not a lot of free seating area. A bit tight in rooms filled with lots of people and not a lot of personal space.

I was looking forward to the 25-hour boat ride. Plenty of time to chill out and catch up on some reading. But I ended up getting seasick and threw up 3 times within in the first 5 hours. Napped a bit and ate some cup ramen on the deck. Ended up just sleeping through the majority of the trip to ward off vomiting. I got through one movie on my laptop and was in bed by about 7:30pm. Lights were turned off at 10pm.

A pretty long and uneventful boat trip. No wifi or phone reception on the boat either. Was ready for land.
Got some fresh air on the decks, enjoyed the views until arrive on Chichijima.
The Ogasawara Islands were amazing. Well worth the 25-boat ride.
A ticket to Ogasawara:

From Ogasawara boat

Bon Voyage:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

If you’re in second class, your beds are allocated as you bed. I got number 24.
My sleeping mat and pillow:

From Ogasawara boat

Out to sea:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

The next day:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

Approaching the islands:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

Everyone from Ogawasawara village on Chichijima comes to greet the boat on its arrival and all the accommodation owners come to pick up their guests.

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

Look for your accommodation sign:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

Welcome to Ogasawara:

From Ogasawara boat

Checked in my tiny room at the minshuku:

From Ogasawara boat

Ate lunch at a local cafe:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

Chichijima – a small beautiful remote island located in the Philippine Sea, 1000km from Tokyo, and World Natural Heritage Site:

From Ogasawara boat
From Ogasawara boat

Next up is some dolphin spotting!

Ogasawara Islands: Dolphin swimming

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Ogasawara Islands is known for whale watching and dolphin spotting. The marine life down there is pretty specacular.
There’s no shortage of boat operators there who take you out to the various islands for snorkeling, and whale and dolphin spotting. Winter months are whale spotting season, so I opted for a half day dolphin swimming and snorkeling tour in the afternoon that I arrived on Ogasawara.

I got to see lots and lots of dolphins. Oh, happy days!
They got really close to the boat and there were so many of them.

From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling

Ogasawara Islands: Snorkeling paradise

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Ogasawara Islands was a snorkeler’s paradise.
On the boat trip they took us out to a special spot where all the fish are. Didn’t get as long a time that would I have liked here, but that’s only because we were lucky enough to see dolphins and spent more time dolphin watching which cut into snorkeling time. I ended up going back out this to snorkeling spot on another boat trip on my last day.

The snorkeling was amazing! So much fun.

From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling

Snorkeling is awesome.

Some cool cloud photos:

From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling
From Ogasawara day 1 – minami jima and dolphin snorkeling

Naoshima Diary: Frame Art Tunnel

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This is another art installation found on Teshima Island. In fact, handfuls of random properties have been converted into art installations.

This one was cool and yep, set us back another 300 yen.

From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel

A tunnel made of window frames.

From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel

The view at the other end:

From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel

Silhouette:

From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel
From Teshima frame tunnel

Naoshima Diary: Teshima Art Museum

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One of the highlights of Teshima Island was the Teshima Art Museum.
It cost about 1500yen for entry, but totally worth it for the one and only art installation there.
Most people visit Teshima just for a half day and see this.

Photography of the installation is not allowed, so I’ve only got photos of the exterior, but definitely worth checking this out. Needs to be seen and experienced for yourself.

From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum

This was the musuem shop and cafe:

From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum

View of the island countryside:

From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum
From Teshima art museum

Naoshima Diary: Pumpkin galore

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Travel Notes:
After spending a night on Teshima island, we then made our way onwards to Naoshima island.
Unfortunately, this meant going back via Uno port.
There are two boats that run to/from Uno and Teshima – the ferry and then the passenger boat.
We took the passenger boat from Teshima back to Uno. It only took about 20 minutes (half the time it to get to Teshima on the ferry). That meant we were back in time at Uno to take the ferry to Naoshima. We had to bolt for the ferry connection though. We thought the boat back to Uno was going to take about 40 minutes giving us an hour layover in Uno port. But thankfully we made the earlier ferry to Naoshima. Woo hoo. This meant we’d have more time on Naoshima.

Ferry to Naoshima was about 20 minutes and was pretty crowded. Naoshima is pretty popular and it was a summer long weekend.

Upon arrival at Naoshima, first thing in order was to dump our back at the cheap hostel/minshuku we were staying at. And then off to find some bike rentals for the day. We had to try a few places before we found a place with electric bikes. We got lucky and set off on our electric bikes. It was about 1000yen for a 7 hour rental (with a 3000yen deposit). Sweet. A full day of cycling around Naoshima.

I previously posted up photos of the yellow spotty pumpkin art installation from day 1 on Naoshima.

On day 2 we bussed and walked around the island.
Here are photos from day 2 on Naoshima. More pumpkin photos. Cannot. Go. Past. Giant. Pumpkins. Without. Taking. Photos. Of. It.

From Yellow pumpkin day 2
From Yellow pumpkin day 2
From Yellow pumpkin day 2
From Yellow pumpkin day 2
From Yellow pumpkin day 2
From Yellow pumpkin day 2
From Yellow pumpkin day 2

Not only did I get to take lots of photos of pumpkins, but I got to eat pumpkin ice-cream. Surprisingly, delicious. But quite rich and creamy. Just as well we shared one (although we had originally wanted to get one each, but they only had one left!). But pumpkin is a vegetable, so it’s healthy ice cream, right?

The pumpkin ice cream was served in an actual frozen pumpkin:

From Pumpkin icecream
From Pumpkin icecream
From Pumpkin icecream
From Pumpkin icecream

So creamy and delicious:

From Pumpkin icecream
From Pumpkin icecream
From Pumpkin icecream

Overnight on Teshima Island

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Most people barely visit Teshima for a day let alone stay overnight there. It’s often seen as a day trip from Naoshima.
But we did Teshima first, stayed overnight there and then moved onto Naoshima.
We had a rental car for the day on Teshima and still didn’t get to see everything.
We had to return the car at 5pm and made our way back to the port where we got picked up by the hotel owners to take us to our accommodation for the night.

Accommodation on Teshima Island is very, very limited.
One of the few lodgings is Teshima Amore Resort – a really bizarre little place run by a Japanese couple. It is now basically a delapilated resort located right on a private beach, but I’m sure it was seen as luxury lodgings back in its heyday.

The private beach was nice for walking along at sunset. Didn’t get a chance to have a dip although it would have been nice to. Very secluded and quiet. There were only a few other guests staying there and the owners were quite friendly and accommodating for us.

It was a random little place to stay, but very peaceful.

Excellent waterfront views of the Seto inland sea:

From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore

The rather run-down rooms for the night:

From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore

Private beach:

From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore
From Teshima Amore

The rooms weren’t the Ritz, but the dinner was pretty special. An awesome BBQ feast out on the deck.

From Teshima Amore

An absolute feast, I tell you!

From Teshima Amore

For a little run down place, the accommodation price was definitely on the pricier side – but factor in that it was a night’s accommodation, BBQ dinner feast included, breakfast included, and to/from pick up/drop off to the port – it was not bad value.

Thoroughly enjoyed Teshima Island. And Naoshima Island was going to be even better!

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Travel notes:
Day 1 of Teshima. Arrived on the boat from Uno and hired the car for the day sightseeing around the island visiting the various museums and art installation.

Here are some snapshots around Teshima.

Bike rental is popular mode of transport (most of which are electric bikes). We scored one of the few rental cars on the island which was a real bonus. Bikes can be rented from right outside the port area.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iONZannvH75VsajqfAvHpNVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-quiDYzDAD_M/U88tACwelRI/AAAAAAACvxk/aHK5tJHjgwE/s640/DSC_0890.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

We passed this building along our drive, which we thought might have been a museum. Turned out to be a restaurant.
Great water views which they would not let us take photos of. We drove on.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hM-JGDHR4WcZNHAdgXjex9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RwQ-utQhHyI/U88sxh6QnaI/AAAAAAACvq8/hjQ18V2QDqg/s640/DSC_0707.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

We checked out the installation called “Stormy House”. Entry was 300yen. You’re hit up for fees everywhere around the island. You’ve been warned.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/914fqnTga-CoaKAufPxh1NVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hDbVP-lXbUw/U88tDItP7yI/AAAAAAACvwg/s-qPePlU7QA/s640/IMG_0070.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

All I’ll say about Stormy House is that it can be heard all around the island.

The island itself is pretty with some scenic views:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jZrR4qt3WaUcXQajWN-PsdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2dsj1Uvqkc0/U88tRexuAbI/AAAAAAACv04/pjAQjJWrOc4/s640/IMG_0143.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5HKG_XWO4nLgvFE2xFnt5dVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JDMsCVEeJNI/U88sxVegnqI/AAAAAAACvq0/48i3yd7D91Y/s640/DSC_0724.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BcAkhfYIqlOMNDv6_oh6qdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WZJgqWjcYDw/U88tGqMSXxI/AAAAAAACvxc/roDf5Z-oAug/s640/IMG_0078.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

The Seto Inland Sea:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6wO7PXxZEIT9hEC8OvgluNVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-idMrUr5g3cQ/U88symR1oZI/AAAAAAACvrY/d8P-kDHlYtk/s640/DSC_0726.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;authkey=Gv1sRgCK6Gj9S9pfnIzQE&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lZd0ISkHHXNXyibiwaGU8dVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R9IedPFqbOY/U88s0YYF7jI/AAAAAAACvro/mFLbbJyzzWw/s640/DSC_0743.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”425″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

The most strangest dead-end pier ever:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Naz0dRfsUS5XuoQlEleQt9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gDY0oQH71VE/U88s1UrFmoI/AAAAAAACvsM/pmb_8lUemUQ/s640/DSC_0746.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Not at all connected to land:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/s40VEKurH6byL3LA3uzR4tVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UnPCOtPzfR0/U88s2fkwO2I/AAAAAAACvsU/KbH0r4ggQv8/s640/DSC_0748.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Everyone will recommend that you eat lunch at Shima Kitchen, and so you should:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ebcu7lhOSDZ-C0kbnEZittVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_xGIrXGES-Y/U88tDXFRfiI/AAAAAAACvw8/8jt1X93drPI/s640/IMG_0071.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R4guyZV4jEqSAf3AgcMYmtVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Rbs-tVy_Dd8/U88tEa6b3GI/AAAAAAACvws/VBS6A2vbVhQ/s640/IMG_0073.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Other random stuff we saw on the island:

This was totally my cup of tea:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cvIl3PnpnkMgo8CdhHPmX9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bd_gxwdFzOQ/U88s3huKGOI/AAAAAAACvts/Iks3A4-1XZs/s640/DSC_0784.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Port area:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bNCa7jBZjaNY0VE756QOcdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a8qDQL2zfz8/U88s4QeupWI/AAAAAAACvs4/7Wv5D0Rnt1Q/s640/DSC_0786.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2MUPxT8hrfxBTccqE10BUdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ucMu_Dc7t4c/U88s4nkpQfI/AAAAAAACvs8/aQdyf89k5Og/s640/DSC_0787.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lT-jkHh_qHbWNNkwFlw4H9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DbG_bI5jC-A/U88tNbT3F7I/AAAAAAACvz0/cohppt9w9IM/s640/IMG_0120.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gn7agE_r3P3H0-1gYjZEPNVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tjqe-OASZsI/U88tPKBraxI/AAAAAAACv0U/VzfYyMa9810/s640/IMG_0121.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

No filter used. That was actually part of a museum building with a giant red-tinted glass window,

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/seTsuBDSPj_NtsR9EGzUftVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8VcTy77ySRo/U88s72iyWnI/AAAAAAACv1k/FoXX-NkqoT0/s640/DSC_0837.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7dUtpFhgb5C95p6oMyo8mdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Wwluf8HuHUI/U88s8McA5XI/AAAAAAACvuI/GBTHg0O7A78/s640/DSC_0838.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qsJYnuGY9lM46qxj3E8WftVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yJTNkgmhPT8/U88tBYPes6I/AAAAAAACvxQ/V5DGOjtnzrQ/s640/DSC_0949.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Highlight was the Teshima Art Museum. Has to be experienced for yourself. Pretty amazing. Entry is about 1500yen for only one installation. But totally worth it.
Photos of it are not allowed, so this is all you’ll get. I’m also pretty sure this is the main reason that people even visit Teshima, is for this museum.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4Mbrc0h7lLViZbM3neRZP9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5HeBHnRlyO4/U88tID-O79I/AAAAAAACvyI/74Yj92Fnn2E/s640/IMG_0082.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

One of the bizarrest museums on the island is the heartbeat museum. It’s an archive of human heartbeats. It’s a bit freaky really. People (anyone) can contribute a recording of their heartbeat which is then played in a room. The room is pretty much pitchblack. You enter and listen to a collection of a total stranger’s heartbeat in darkness, with the exception of a small flickering lightbulb. It’s very weird. They also display the name of the person’s heartbeat you are listening to. At the museum, you can pay to have your heartbeat recording added to the collection.
One of the recording sites is at the Museum of Modern Art in Tasmania!
There is even a computer available with the heartbeat archive which can be searched for free.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LQ4Hk2QAdR1QII-dx-w_99VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-58OTh4v_O0o/U88tLZW4lxI/AAAAAAACvzU/gV_qAwimPDc/s640/IMG_0092.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xrLmoGyNyrjhKhJduvbCGdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dIqpBN0cVGw/U88tJMQMUdI/AAAAAAACvzs/xeyVLD_t9fA/s640/IMG_0084.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HuTdbOiktf5rsNGyQVTpE9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SVewRFSVvxE/U88tJlSh0tI/AAAAAAACvys/Uq4h-iJJHL4/s640/IMG_0086.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HybS66c0Y9I1BrBKpsY0odVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VoLCa-8WaL4/U88tJ0bRnuI/AAAAAAACvyw/L1VW5MlbGMI/s640/IMG_0087.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Si3r_ZF9z5wpWmoN2Py5QdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1dREOgjKegs/U88tKR3WVAI/AAAAAAACvy4/Lzb2hYGxoZw/s640/IMG_0088.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/snXLT031pGoHopd0p34xbtVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_VLlvolDYVI/U88tLP_ZnCI/AAAAAAACvzE/_Y2vyxMMzP8/s640/IMG_0091.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Another installation we checked out was in the forest. It was a little meh. And we paid 300yen.

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vTnkk96_601FvcsvTkVQhNVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0wIPSKksywU/U88tMN1yn4I/AAAAAAACvzw/p_injTNnyHo/s640/IMG_0094.JPG&#8221; height=”480″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qrasBL-a7PJmwe0oQG8uUtVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AmA8YbbLu3c/U88tM9_vS9I/AAAAAAACv0A/w5_oou78qAs/s640/IMG_0096.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

Island life:

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ycjno2irvVJKMCXwsHWE29VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mVHlo7VMYjU/U88s9vFcNtI/AAAAAAACvus/iZdqDeRLvtM/s640/DSC_0843.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gUcreVMSUt7FdYCpHqvHFtVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_A2BeIROZfU/U88s8daFN6I/AAAAAAACvuY/vup3o4LoeLw/s640/DSC_0839.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nMxUyfucQuC1qOF1H9GqkdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bTDinNnjYu8/U88s960j_6I/AAAAAAACv1k/5rRhQ51G488/s640/DSC_0881.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qwRtXxz6-HxP2BSavIISAdVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S03ObUwT6OU/U88tOZT3-QI/AAAAAAACv0M/IDqJGPCMODc/s640/IMG_0137.JPG&#8221; height=”640″ width=”480″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/q4gerkbNlFE0omSyt5O1_dVsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xzeeCoduBMw/U88tQ_diUbI/AAAAAAACv00/X1djyQpmfbE/s400/IMG_0142.JPG&#8221; height=”400″ width=”400″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

<table style=”width:auto”><tr><td><a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MIKrXsIbfMVXHZ233eoiW9VsL23opckzBiqcC1hraOw?feat=embedwebsite”><img src=”https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0ZKH1tKlThQ/U88tBdbIBEI/AAAAAAACvv4/uFFzKQtxXGw/s640/DSC_0950.JPG&#8221; height=”425″ width=”640″ /></a></td></tr><tr><td style=”font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:right”>From <a href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/116032719585350311356/SightseeingTeshima?authuser=0&amp;feat=embedwebsite”>Sightseeing Teshima</a></td></tr></table>

A really fascinating island. But apart from art, there’s not much to see on the island. But the art is really worth seeing. But everything you see on the island has a price. Most cost 300yen with the museums costing a bit more.

Naoshima Diary: Posing with Giant Pumpkins

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A 3-day long weekend was had and my brother was visiting Japan. On the last few days of his trip, I headed down to meet up with him in Okayama for our final adventure – a trip to Teshima and Naoshima islands also known as the Art Islands.

Truth was, I was supposed to go there over the last Christmas/New Years break, but you might recall no adventures were had by me and I stuck around in Tokyo for personal reasons. So at last, I finally got to go with brother and a friend in tow.
Day 1 was Teshima. Day 2 and 3 was Naoshima.

I’m just gonna jump to the highlight of the trip which was posing around with oversized pumpkin sculptures (all in the name of art).

Currently obsessed with giant plastic polka-dotted pumpkins.
This is the yellow one (yes, more than one oversized pumpkin!) located on Naoshima island and brought hours of entertainment.

From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1

I think I foresee a future as a pumpkin model:

From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1

Super excited about giant pumpkins. I can barely contain myself:

From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1

Pushing Pumpkins. Beats pushing papers:

From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1

No selfie is complete without a giant pumpkin in it:

From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1
From Yellow pumpkin day 1

Note, that these photos are from the Yellow Pumpkin Day 1 album. More of the same yellow pumpkin photos taken on Day 2!

Artist is none other than Yayao Kusama, of polka-dot fame.