(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
In Japan, Tsuribori refers to ponds where you can enjoy fishing without even going to sea.
The last time I tried it was almost four decades ago when I was a little kid. I vaguely remember catching one trout after another at a now-gone fishing pond in the northern part of the island.
Since that time, fishing ponds continued to intrigue me. Whenever I traveled to Tokyo, I curiously looked at folks having fun fishing at a pond along the Chūō Line. So, when I heard recently that a new fishing pond debuted in Okinawa, I decided to give it a try.
Named “Tsutte Mitsukeru Bouken no Kuni Okinawa,” this new fishing pond park is located at a hill near the Ishikawa Exit of the Okinawa Expressway, which used to be known as Uruma Farm. If you were wondering, its new name roughly means “adventure world in Okinawa for fishing discovery.”
Unlike a conventional fishing park, this location offers more than fishing. Besides the Fishing Area, the park features the Shimanchu Area, Jurassic Area, Yambaru Area, and Meiro and Konchu area, which features a labyrinth and bug exhibit.
With so many options available, it feels more like a theme park than a fishing pond.
(Graphic by Stripes Okinawa)
Treasure hunting at Shimanchu Area
I was going to go straight to the Fishing Area, but since it was on the way, I first tried Shimanchu Area, a treasure-hunting spot. Housed in what looked like a huge Quonset hut, this area had three 36-meter (118-foot) water channels running parallel to each other along the long side of the hut. I could see white sand covering the bottom of each channel.
With a small bucket and a scoop in my hands, I positioned myself by one of the channels along with many kids and their families. As soon as a 15-minute treasure-hunting session began, I started digging in the sand, looking for some colorful stones. According to the park’s brochure, various stones such as turquoise, amethyst, and jade were there to be discovered as treasures. Plus, finding keys buried in the sand could win me a bigger prize.
At first, I was not planning to take the game seriously. But once it began, I was fired up and competing passionately with the kids around me. With the theme music of Indiana Jones blasting in the background, it felt like a mini adventure. Fifteen minutes passed by much quicker than I thought, and I ended with only a few stones in my bucket, but it was fun.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Fishing Area
Carrying the stones in a vinyl bag, I headed to the Fishing Area where there were six round pools, each 23 feet in diameter and stocked with different kinds of fish, including Colossoma, tilapia, piranha, Oscar (astronotus ocellatus) and osphronemus goramy.
Many kids from the treasure hunt were there, and most went straight to the pond with piranha, knowing the fish was the most dangerous and difficult to catch.
Since I didn’t want to compete with the minors again, with a small rod and a box of bait in my hands I headed to the Colossoma pond first.
Balling up some bait and attaching it to a hook, I cast my line into the pond. It did not take long to start feeling some light hits. However, they never developed into substantial results. Every time I pulled up the line, there was nothing but a bare hook. Obviously, the Colossomas outsmarted me.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka )
After several failed attempts, I gave up. It appeared that the kids had no luck with piranha either. But that didn’t stop me from heading to that pond.
Seeing how I struggled with Colossoma, a staff member offered to switch my rod with another with a bigger hook. Within a few attempts, I got big hit and battle was on! The piranha furiously moved left and right trying to shake free. Since my miniature rod had no reel, I pulled the fishing line up with my hands.
It was quite the battle, and when I pulled the fish out of the water and held it in the air, the kids and their families were cheering me on. Although I was not allowed to bring the piranha home as a trophy, becoming a hero, even for a short while, made my day.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Jurassic Area
Very satisfied with my fishing experience, I headed to Jurassic Area, which had replicated fossils of dinosaurs, ammonites, trilobites, and other ancient creatures on exhibit.
I ventured into a garden where some dinosaur statues were displayed. Interestingly, I was told there were some fossils scattered in the garden which visitors can bring home if they find one. With Jurassic Park’s theme music in the background, I walked around the garden, looking for some fossils. This time I wasn’t a hero and came up emptyhanded.
But it was fun and relaxing to stroll around the statues of Spinosaurus, Velociraptor, and Parasaurolophus while posing like Dr. Ian Malcolm.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Yambaru Area
This area is home to many fern plants and trees, replicating the northern part of Okinawa’s main island that it is named after. Its biggest draw is a large pool with many red crayfish lurking about. When I arrived, kids were enjoying catching them on mini fishing rods, while other visitors were scooping tropical fish from small pools in the area.
Much like the Japanese kingyo sukui (goldfish scooping game), visitors could try catching the fish with “poi”, a scoop in the shape of a small ping-pong racket whose surface is covered with a piece washi paper.
Since a couple of pois were offered for free, I gave it a try. If you have tried kingyo sukui, you can probably imagine how difficult this simple game can be. In fact, the tropical fish were very quick and game me no chance to even come within striking distance. My paper scoops were completely broken after several attempts. Though I came up emptyhanded once again, I had fun chasing the little fish.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Maze and Bugs
The last section of this park happened to be a new attraction, which came in two parts. The first portion was a labyrinth, where visitors navigate themselves through intricate wooden-walled aisles.
Hearing it would take 30 minutes on average to find the exit, I was not expecting a big challenge. Plus, there was some gap between the bottom of the wooden wall and the ground, so it did not feel like I was completely trapped. After five minutes in the maze, I discovered it would not be as easy as I thought. I was circling back and forth not knowing how to get out. On my third pass of the same spot, I finally found a place to advance. But soon I was stuck at another riddling spot.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
This maze is also designed as a “dasshutsu game (escape game)” where visitors play the role of a lord of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429 – 1879) and complete some assignments such as finding a princess and discovering treasure. There’s also a point system where you score or lose points if you find an illustration of their allies, enemies or some other items. A score sheet was offered at the reception counter. Instructions were available in English as well.
Since I’m interested in Okinawa’s history, I played along with this scenario at first. As I struggled to find the right track, however, I stopped caring about my points and desperately looked for an exit. It was a little under 30 minutes later that I finally got out. If I had strictly followed the scenario and point system, it would have taken a lot longer.
Waiting at exit was a building where 38 kinds of beetles were exhibited.
There’s a sign at the entrance that said “Bouken no Mori (forest of adventure), mori no chiisana houseki tachi (small jewelry of forest).
One step inside, I could see the bugs crawling on trunks that were lined up like roadside trees with no glass case or cage containing them. Some were unusual colors like gold or orange, while others had a metallic texture that gleamed in the light like jewelry.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Life Style Café
To take a break from Bouken no Kuni, I stopped by this eatery for a quick bite. Located by the Ishikawa multi-purpose dome, it’s just a 5-minute drive from Bouken no Kuni. Their menu items include tacos (700 yen), pulled pork rice (880 yen), garlic shrimp (1,200 yen), cheeseburger (750 yen), and more. I had garlic shrimp, which I heard was the eatery’s signature item. And I coupled it with an iced coffee (380 yen).
Having the juicy and crispy shrimp on a terrace-style seat felt very rejuvenating.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Tsutte Mitsukeru Boken no Kuni
Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (some attractions may be closed between 1:30 and 2 p.m. for maintenance)
GPS Coordinates: 26.439741, 127.829377
Admission fees: 2,400 yen for middle school aged and above. 1,890 yen for elementary school age. 1,590 yen for ages between 3 and preschool age. Free admission for those under the age of 3 (0 – 2).
Life Style Café
GPS Coordinates: 26.436427, 127.826496
Hours: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 6 – 11 p.m. (Tue – Sat), 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Sun) *Closed on Mon
