The Coastal Town of Sunbul: Exploring Himi City

In a previous entry we explored the city of Takaoka in Toyama Prefecture, otherwise known as the hometown of Mr. Fujiko F. Fujio, the prolific manga author behind the blue space-cat Doraemon (3abqoor for fans in the Middle East).

Well, Mr. Fujiko F. Fujio was actually part of a manga duo aptly named “Fujiko Fujio” alongside author “Fujiko A. Fujio”! Not only that, but both authors have created popular series that have entertained fans in the Middle Eastern world, as Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio is the genius behind “Mu’3amarat Sunbul”, one of the beloved anime characters of the 80s.

In fact, a trip to Takaoka must be accompanied by a visit to the nearby city of Himi, which is home to Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio. There are many different anime spots to see tied to the wonderful worlds created by this creative genius, so let us go ahead and explore some of them here!

1. Witnessing Ninja Hattori-kun Come to Life

Himi City is a coastal fishing town known for its delicious seafood. It is also known for its manga road, a lengthy arcade stretch that features multiple iconic characters from Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio’s popular works.

As you enter the arcade, you will find first find the Ninja Hattori-kun Automaton Clock, an automatic clock that offers a special show to all visitors every 30 minutes from 9 AM to 7 PM. In those time intervals, you get to enjoy an automatic display featuring statues depicting Ninja Hattori-kun’s characters come to life, accompanied by a wonderful water show. A very special welcome into Manga Road indeed!

Access Information Ninja Hattori-kun Trick Clock (忍者ハットリくんカラクリ時計) Address: 4 Honmachi, Himi, Toyama 935-0012, Japan Opening Hours: Automaton Clock operates every 30 minutes from 9AM-7PM Link: https://www.kitokitohimi.com/site/tourism-guide/276.html

2. Walking Down Memory lane in the Manga Road

After enjoying the spectacular show, we make our way towards the Manga Road. From the entrance, you are greeted with various statues of Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio’s characters. While Sumbul has enjoyed great popularity and success in the Middle East, in Japan Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio’s iconic character is the aforementioned Ninja Hattori-kun, and it is easy to see! Wherever you turn, you will find Hattori-kun and his friends. A lot of the imagery involves an ocean-theme, an ode to the coastal town of Himi.

And then finally I saw him… Sunbul, in all his glory!

There are many fun photo spot opportunities that incorporate the scenic landscape, with a total of 16 different statues laid out across the long shopping arcade. For example, you can take a photo on a bench sitting next to The Laughing Salesman, one of his most popular works.

Not far from the Manga Road you arrive at Himi Station. In the front, a welcome sign featuring the author’s characters in addition to a themed bus make for a good welcome photo spot. There are also small electric carts you can rent out to explore the city. You will need a viable driver’s license to do so, but if this is an option for you, it’s definitely worth it! Along the coast we saw many visitors driving alongside the ocean hue, and it truly makes the trip memorable.

Access Information Manga Road Address: Chūōmachi, Himi, Toyama 935-0011, Japan Link: https://visit-toyama-japan.com/en/places-to-go/21024

3. A Stop at the Sotoshu Kozen Temple

At the entrance of the Manga Road you will find a sign leading to Sotoshu Kozen Temple. At first glance, the temple seems like a good spot to take photos of historical Japanese architecture, but the surprising thing is that this, too, is tied to anime tourism, and that is evident from the entrance alone!

But there is an even greater story in this story- this is apparently the very same shrine Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio was born and raised in! In a sense, seeing all the statues lined up at the entrance is like his own family greeting you to his home, and it really gives such a fuzzy feeling thinking so.

The temple was built in 1327, and it never fails to astound me the amount of effort placed to preserve such intricately crafted structures all across Japan. It is a nice scenic spot to take pictures showcasing the mixture of tradition and the influence of pop culture. Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio's works have, after all, become a part of this longstanding history, influencing cultures throughout the world.

Access Information Sotoshu Kozen Temple 光禅寺 Address: 1-35 Marunouchi, Himi, Toyama 935-0017, Japan Opening Hours: 9AM-7PM Link: https://www.kitokitohimi.com/site/tourism-guide/293.html

4. Enjoying Fujiko A. Fujio's Works at the Himi Shiokaze Museum

After exploring the birthplace of Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio, I headed over to the Himi Shiokaze Museum, a museum dedicated to the works of this prolific author. There are many interactive exhibits here that parody the series they are based of.

My favorite part was the special Laughing Salesman exhibit hidden in the back of the second floor. If you use your camera flash on the black “A” sign, you will get to see special artworks of Mr. Fujiko A. Fujio’s characters! On another wall, you will see the iconic Laughing Salesman pose. I actually have no idea how this works, I’d imagine there is a certain hue that can only be found with flash, but it’s definitely exciting to experience in person!

In the first floor I spoke to some of the staff members and showed them the Arabic version of Sunbul’s opening song. They were extremely happy to know that Sumbul is beloved in the Middle East, and it served for a great cultural exchange moment! While the original Japanese version aired in 1989, Sunbul arrived in the Arabic world around the year 1991, and many children born in the 80s and early 90s grew up watching his wondrous adventures.

But the adventures of Mr. Fujiko A Fujiko's works do not stop here, as it was recently announced that his most famous work, Ninja Hattori-kun, is slated to receive an Arabic dub set to air in 2026 and beyond. This proves that no matter how much time has passed, Mr. Fujiko's works still touch the hearts of many across generations.

There is a gift shop with various merchandise featuring Mr. Fujiko's works. Of course, I had to pick up a sticker of Sunbul to commemorate this trip!

Access Information Sotoshu Kozen Temple 光禅寺 Address: 1-35 Marunouchi, Himi, Toyama 935-0017, Japan Opening Hours: 9AM-7PMLink: https://www.kitokitohimi.com/site/tourism-guide/293.html

4. Eating Himi's seafood delicacies at Himi Banya-gai

You cannot enjoy a day in sunny Himi without trying the seafood, and this is exactly why Himi Banya-gai Harbour Market is one of the city’s most popular spots for both locals and tourists. Overlooking the ocean, Himi Banya-gai is famous for its fish market where locals buy fresh catches of the day. There is also a food court with many options, most famous being Himi udon and Himi beef. For those seeking a restaurant overlooking an ocean view, there is no shortage of options here!

I went to Fish Restaurant Banya-tei on the second floor, where we got a gorgeous panoramic view of the sea and the Tateyama mountains beyond. It was a clear, sunny day making for the perfect photo spot!

The interesting thing is that the staff working in the store were students from middle school. We were told that it was a week where all students in Himi get to experience working first-hand in the various local industries. I thought this initiative was amazing, and I wish we could have something like this in the Middle East!

Access Information Himi Banya-gai Address: 25-5 Kitaomachi, Himi, Toyama 935-0004, Japan Opening Hours: 8:30AM–6PM Link: https://www.kitokitohimi.com/site/tourism-guide/293.html

Access Information Fish Restaurant Banya-tei 魚のレストラン 番屋亭 Address: 25-5 Kitaomachi, Himi, Toyama 935-0004, Japan Opening Hours: 8-9AM–11AM-5PM Link: https://www.kitokitohimi.com/site/tourism-guide/293.html

5. Soaking in the Eihokaku Ryokan's Hot Springs

A long day of exploring Himi cannot end without a dip into traditional Japanese hot springs (onsen), of which the beautiful coastal town is famous for. This trip I headed over to Eihokaku Ryokan, a gorgeous traditional inn, known as a ryokan, situated a close trip away from Manga Road.

Right from entering, you are greeted with a vast, wonderful lobby overlooking a bright ocean view. The weather was absolutely perfect with clear, blue skies. On such days, the staff greatly recommends checking out the garden that can be accessed from the terrace. It is designed in a traditional Japanese style, making it a diverse experience depending on the season you visit. Eihokaku Ryokan has actually been in operation since 1937 and has undergone several renovations while maintaining the spirit of the original design, making the stay a wonderful experience

The lobby has a refreshment area where you can grab a variety of traditional teas and coffee. There is also a special section hidden in the back right by the entrance to the hot springs... a manga corner! You'll find many titles old and new hidden in the shelves here.

Going up to the room, you're greeted with a breathtaking view of Himi's clear blue ocean. The room is extremely spacious and comes with a combination of traditional Japanese ryokan aesthetic (the tatami) alongside a western bedding. I know a lot of travelers prefer to sleep on a bed while still wishing to enjoy a traditional experience, and Eihokaku Ryokan offers the perfect combination of both.

Eihokaku Ryokan also has a special dining hall downstairs where you can enjoy breakfast in dinner. For dinner, there is a prepared set menu, and the staff were extremely flexible and kind in accommodating any dietary restrictions you have. In my case, since I cannot eat pork and raw fish, the ryokan accommodated this by substituting them with cooked fish and grilled beef. The fun part was that you grilled the beef at the table, turning it into a yakiniku experience!

In traditional ryokans, the staff place the course menu right in front of you as you are seated so you can see what is coming and what to expect. It's a very unique aspect of traditional Japanese culture that I really love. In my case, the dietary changes were also carefully written down there, meaning that there is also an efficient way to check that whatever you receive meets any special dietary needs you have.

Of course, you cannot enjoy Himi without sampling delicious seafood. The catches were all fresh from the nearby ocean, making for a lovely, relaxing dinner.

Breakfast in the ryokan was done in a buffet style with many Western options. There was also an ice cream corner with some very unique flavors, like soy sauce. It actually proved to be the most popular, probably because you never hear of this flavor much.

Eihokaku Ryokan is definitely the perfect countryside getaway to enjoy a combination of tradition and modern anime culture!

Access Information Eihokaku Ryokan 氷見温泉郷 魚巡りの宿 永芳閣 Address: 3257 Ao, Himi, Toyama 935-0002, Japan Link: https://breezbay-group.com/eihokaku/

Closing Thoughts

Being an island nation, visiting coastal cities and towns is a must when you stop by Japan. In the case of fans from the Middle East, a combination of childhood nostalgia and delicious seafood is sure to keep a lasting memory you'll cherish forever in the city of Sunbul.