CBC reporter Minami Tomohiro, originally from Osaka, embarks on an unannounced trip to discover the charms of the Tokai region by bicycle, a hobby she loves. This time, she aims for Irago Cape Lighthouse in Tahara City, starting from Nomasaki Lighthouse in Mihama Town, Aichi.

Fishing at a popular facility opened in 2026

At 0:20 PM, about 68 km from the starting point, Nomasaki Lighthouse. She departs from the surfing shop “B-TRIBE” in Gamagori City. Approximately 57 km remain.

Tomohiro heads for “MEGA Don Quijote” in Toyohashi City. According to a local survey, there is an indoor fishing spot on the premises.

Her bicycle smoothly enters Toyohashi City, and she finds herself on a quiet, green road. Tomohiro prefaces with, “This might be unnecessary information for everyone, but…” and then reveals a photography tip: “The green of summer makes your face look best, so photos turn out great!”

Crossing a bridge over the Toyokawa River, she continues cycling. The sign for “Irago Cape” also appears.

At 2:00 PM, about 80 km from the start. She arrives at MEGA Don Quijote about an hour after departure. She also discovers the recommended fishing facility!

“Tsutte Mitsukeru Boken no Kuni” (Discovering Adventure by Fishing) is an indoor amusement facility primarily for fishing, which opened in March 2026. It has four branches nationwide, with Toyohashi City being the only one in the Tokai region. On busy days, about 400 people visit, making it a popular spot.

There are eight types of attractions, including an insect corner where you can see beetles and stag beetles from around the world, and a corner where you can play with remote-controlled excavators.

The fishing corner features a giant tank with a diameter of 9 meters! According to staff member Fumiya Komatsu, 10 types of tropical fish can be caught in this tank.

Tomohiro tries her hand at tropical fish fishing. According to Mr. Komatsu, the trick is to lower the float until it touches the water surface, and then pull it up once it enters the water.

Following the advice, she drops her line, and immediately the float reacts! Tomohiro shouts, “It’s nibbling! It’s coming, it’s coming! Fast! Wait, wait! Do I pull it up?” and excitedly lifts her rod.

In just 5 seconds, she catches a “Tilapia”! According to Mr. Komatsu, they are gluttonous tropical fish. The caught fish are released back into the tank.

Caught faster than expected, Tomohiro, worried about the amount of footage, tries again. This time, she gets another hit immediately! She catches a brightly orange-colored fish, a “Parrot Cichlid.”

For the third time, she quickly catches a Tilapia! Regardless of the footage, it was a tank where parents and children could enjoy fishing without having to wait patiently.

Next, she heads to an area with many small tanks. Many children are engrossed in crab fishing, tropical fish scooping, and more. Since no hooks are used, it’s a safe corner for small children to enjoy.

Tomohiro decides to try “newt fishing,” which is said to be particularly popular. Faced with a large group of newts in the tank, she sits down, saying, “I can’t look directly at them.”

According to Mr. Komatsu, newts have poor eyesight, so the key is to drop the bait near their mouths.

Tomohiro, her face stiff with discomfort at the group of newts she dislikes, takes a deep breath and drops her line into the tank. “Oh, it ate it! It’s eating quite a bit, but it’s not biting hard,” she quickly becomes engrossed. “It’s here! I’m pulling it up, so make sure to film it properly! Are you filming? Are you filming?” she shouts excitedly again.

She successfully catches a Japanese fire belly newt! It’s an amphibian that lives in rice paddies and ponds. Tomohiro reports, despite her fear, “The underside is red, isn’t it? It has beautiful patterns!”

Sudden thunderstorm forces evacuation to a cafe

After enjoying the facility, Tomohiro asks Mr. Komatsu about local attractions. He recommends a restaurant nearby called “Hamaya.” She immediately heads there, but finds a “Preparing” sign on the door.

“Hamaya” is an izakaya that also serves lunch. Their recommended “Daily Lunch” includes a main dish, five side dishes, rice, miso soup, and a drink.

Tomohiro, after checking X for information, decides to head to “Osaki Farm,” which is said to have a variety of summer fruits.

Although she started riding, the sky was covered with clouds, and it looked like it could rain at any moment. In fact, on this day, the Tokai region, including Nagoya City, experienced heavy rain. Gradually, large clouds gathered over Toyohashi City.

At 3:45 PM, about 81 km from the start. Thunder began to rumble, so she urgently looked for a shop. She entered a cafe along the road and waited for the rain to stop while having lunch.

“Junocafe” is a cafe that has been in business for 28 years. Thank you for helping us during the heavy rain.

Tomohiro orders the “Pork Ginger Set Meal.” She takes a big bite of the pork! “I feel like the nutrients I needed are spreading through me! It’s irresistible! The ginger is so refreshing. It’s a comforting taste,” she savors it.

Although she managed to have lunch, the thunderstorm did not subside no matter how long she waited. Eventually, it became dark.

Even after the rain calmed down, the thunder continued, so her bicycle trip for the day was stopped here. This was her first interruption due to a thunderstorm.

＜This trip’s travel notes＞
Gamagori City → Toyohashi City

From CBC TV “Chant!” broadcast on August 14, 2026