Takojima and its fishing port 蛸島町

Seagulls circling above the ocean are the first clues of what the traveler is about to find down the road. Then, once you get closer, their shrill cries mingle with the still-strong smell of fish freshly unloaded from the trawlers.

Observe The Trawls

The port of Takojima is a relatively quiet little fishing port, the pace of which intensifies in the morning, and at the end of the day, when the anglers return from the sea, the bellies of the boats filled to the brim. We can thus observe the comings and goings of the sailors, the hands loaded with cash, the business done once the weighing has been carried out, the customers in a hurry, and the regulars who have come to get some provisions for lunch or dinner.

Once the excitement has passed, it's time to clean the boats and patch up the nets in the middle of the yellow and blue buoys. Then, the port empties at lunchtime. It's a good time to survey its contours, get closer to the boats, watch the nets that have had a makeover and try to decipher the meaning of the various signs written in Japanese.

A Small Temple To Protect Sailors

For the more curious who would push to the end of the port, you will find on your left, right next to the enormous pile of yellow buoys which seem to have been stranded here for decades, a small miniature temple, supposed to bring good luck to sailors and fishermen going to sea.

A Traditional City Center

But Takojima is not just a port. The portion of the town closest to the port is entirely made up of old traditional houses. Don't hesitate to take the path along the coast before heading inland and taking a short walk in the shade of the slate roofs.

You will find a small grocery store there (very useful for having a picnic on the sand by the sea), a few shops, a tiny restaurant, and a hairdresser and barber. All are scattered on the main street and the small adjacent streets.

And it is undoubtedly in the evening that Takojima will reserve its most beautiful surprise for you: a beautiful sunset over the sea. Unmissable.