fbpx
    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
        mead brewing in japan

        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
        the knights in white lycra

        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
        sea to table yamagata

        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Near Tokyo
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokka...

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
        togari onsen outdoor japan

        Northern Shinshu’s Secret Stash

        A weak yen, revenge travel, and excellent ski conditions have led to high demand, booking out popular resorts like Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen this year. Fortunately, lesser-known gems like Togari Onsen, near Nozawa Onsen and Madarao, offer charming alternatives for powder seekers.
    • Travel
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Food and Drinks
      • camp3 clubhouse madarao keith stubbs outdoor japanvideo

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
        sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
        ainu tour daniel moore outdoor japan hokkaido

        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Races and Events
      • sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.

        Winter News and Notes

        Check out the latest news and winter events held at ski resorts all over Japan in 2024!
        dd4d brewing

        DD4D Brewing

        In nearly e...

Getting Your Jig on in Terengganu

The Malaysian evening sun was blazing on the horizon as we entered the choppy South China Sea. As the sun set, local Muslim fishermen completed their evening prayers on the roofs of their fishing boats. Aided by a full moon, the seasoned fishermen turned on lamps in hopes of attracting sotong (squid) closer to the vessels.

From April to September, sotong approach the waters near Terengganu in large numbers to lay their eggs. Fishermen here, on the northeastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, set off in colorful boats, using their instincts and experience to locate the valuable catch. Once a year, visitors can join the action. We started off late, as squid are most active at night, attracted to light as they hunt in shoals near the seabed. The boat stopped, and we set anchor about 20 minutes off the coast in deep water.

“This is one of the spots where squid gather,” our boat’s helmsman said with confidence.

What followed was a test in patience. Instead of a fishing rod, we were armed with a simple jig set, which consists of a handline made of nylon that has three luminous “jigs” attached with sharp spikes at the end of the line.

I threw the jigs into the water and let the line run until it touched the sea floor. As instructed, I began “jigging” the line, jerking the line up and down and waiting for an unsuspecting squid to wrap its tentacles around the hooked lures. The strong currents added deceptive weight to the line, but once a squid latched on, there was no mistaking; it was time to reel in fast before the squid could escape.

At the end of the long night, we fried our bounty with spicy curry powder over a small stove on the boat. The rest we saved for ketupat sotong versi Terengganu, or squid filled with glutinous rice and cooked in sweet coconut milk and spices.

With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Terengganu has been a key trade route and fishing point as early as the 6th century. Fishing remains a major industry today, along with petroleum, gas and tourism. Squid jigging is one of the earliest, simplest and most economical forms of catching squid and is still practiced by small-time fishermen and hobbyists.

In recent years, however, local fishermen struggle against corporate trawlers, relocating youth and land reclamation, which has led to dwindling numbers of fish. Although Terengganu faces development in its coastal cities, dig deeper, and you will find a tight-knit spirit within the local communities. In keeping with Malaysia’s unbridled love for festivals, Terengganu hosts several events planned to attract tourism that will directly give back to the community, including the annual International Squid Jigging Festival. For more information on how you can join, visit www.facebook.com/SquidJiggingTGG

Getting There

Visitors traveling to Terengganu will fly into Sultan Mahmud Airport via Kuala Lumpur International Airport. AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air all have regular flights from Kuala Lumpur.

Essential Info

Tourism Terengganu can help organize a unique experience and the age-old tradition of jigging along the coast of Terengganu that was once the livelihood of the fishing village community. You can also rent a boat or arrange a fishing trip at your hotel.

Five Things to do in Terengganu

1. Snorkel and Dive in Redang Marine Park

Redang Marine Park is comprised of nine small islands 14 kilometers off the coast of northeastern Terengganu, with Pulau Redang being its biggest island. Here you can snorkel and dive in waters teeming with damselfish, sergeant majors, wrasses, parrotfish, triggerfish, moray eels, groupers, batfish and angelfish.

The busiest house reef is around Tanjung Tengah in Pasir Panjang where lucky visitors might see Green or Hawksbill turtles, squid, barracuda and black-tip sharks.

Redang is an hour ferry ride from Shahbandar Jetty in Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu’s capital). The public ferry comes three times a day, and tickets can be purchased at the jetty for MYR50 one-way. Always check with your resort for ferry timings and cancellations and check in 30 minutes before departure.

There are 14 resorts at Redang, ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts.

2. Get Down to Chinatown

“Terengganu” means rainbow in Malay, and vibrant Chinatown certainly lives up to that name. What makes this Chinatown different is the blend of Chinese and Malay influences resulting in Peranakan culture. Next to your usual pharmacies, wet markets and herbal shops are street art and open-air exhibitions by local creatives.

While the streets tend to be sleepy during the day, weekend nights are filled with young film camera-toting hipsters hanging out in cafes, showcasing their artwork and street performances.

3. Malaysian Surf

Surfing in Southeast Asia conjures up images of Bali or Cloud 9 in the Philippines. But during the monsoon months of November to March, you will be surprised to find decent waves at lesser-known surf spots such as Batu Burok in Kuala Terengganu and Kijal in southern Terengganu.

Surfing may be an emerging sport in Malaysia, but big surf brands including Quiksilver have already hosted international competitions here.

4. Kenyir National Park Recreation

Lake Kenyir, the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia, is a popular spot for angling during monsoon season and water sports during the dry months. Constructed in the late ’70s, this freshwater lake was built to generate hydroelectric power and stop flooding.

Sitting on the border of Taman Negara National Park, Lake Kenyir and its surrounding rainforest attracts hikers who want to explore waterfalls and caves. Hiking tours can be arranged from lakeside resorts such as Kenyi Eco Resort.

If you are traveling with children, bathe with elephants at the Sungai Ketiar Elephant Sanctuary before taking a boat to Kenyir Water Park. This open-air, floating bouncy-house- meets-obstacle-course will be an instant hit with kids (and parents).

5. Explore Islamic Culture

Terengganu was the first Malay state to receive Islam and today, Malays make up nearly 95 percent of Terengganu’s population. The Crystal Mosque in the Islamic Civilization Park is a popular attraction with its glass domes reflecting the sky during the day and illuminating the Terengganu River at night.

Visitors may enter the mosque but must wear long-sleeved robes and hijabs for women (available at the entrance). The massive Terengganu State Museum in Bukit Losong is a 20-minute ride from the city and houses ancient artifacts, crafts and Islamic artwork.

[novo-map id=2 individual=”yes”]

Outdoor Japan logo tree

Related

Latest posts

CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madara...

Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.

New Horizons in Shiretoko...

During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.

Silent Resilience

Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.

Categories