Experience Madagascar's cuisine and culture in the coastal town of Toamasina

The largest city in Madagascar is the inland capital Antananarivo, but the second city, Toamasina, is located on the coast.
You can enjoy a moderate sense of convenience and the leisurely time along the coast of Madagascar.

Eastern port city of Madagascar

Eight hours by car from the capital Antananarivo.
Toamasina (Tamatave) is located on the eastern coast. The rainy east side is rich in marine resources and agricultural products, giving a lush impression.

In the morning, if you go to the coast, you'll see many boats lined up. They were in the midst of fishing.
In Madagascar, fishing is done with hand-rowed boats carved from a single tree.
Watching them row through the rough waves is impressive no matter how many times you see it.
When I went to see the boats after fishing, they had caught fish and shrimp.

During my stay in Madagascar, I ate fish the most.
In Madagascar's eateries, there's often a dish where fish is fried and topped with a stewed tomato sauce. It's simple yet incredibly delicious, so be sure to try it.

While wandering along the coast, a herd of about 40 cows came from the front. It seemed like a stroll.
In Madagascar, beef is a special and popular meat.
A large number of cows strolling along the seaside.
It's an unfamiliar sight in Japan, but a quintessentially Malagasy scene that excites the heart.

A theme park with Madagascar quality

Toamasina also has a theme park full of handmade charm!
The attractions featuring hand-drawn Mickey Mouse have quite a unique flavor.

Inside the park, popcorn is sold, and despite the fake Disneyland vibe, the Ferris wheel and carousel-like attractions are powered by manpower.
Even though it's powered by manpower, the Ferris wheel spins quite fast. I was too scared to ride it, but thrill-seekers should definitely try it. (laughs)

Recommended local food

My favorite during my stay in Madagascar was a shrimp fritter-like snack costing 300~500 Ariary, about 10~15 yen.

In Madagascar, when you're on a bus, people come to the window selling plates piled high with fried bananas, shrimp fritters, and spring roll-like items.
The roads in Madagascar are not in very good condition, so travel takes time.
They're perfect for long-distance travel, so I recommend them.
In Tamatave, there are plenty of local food stalls.

Here, they were unusually selling baobab fruit.
I had never seen it in the markets of Antananarivo, so I bought it immediately.
The fruit is known as a superfood, and locally, they make juice from baobab fruit.

Playing soccer with the locals

On the beach, boys were practicing soccer.
Being able to play sports with the locals is one of the charms of Toamasina, which is not as urban as Antananarivo.

In Madagascar, you occasionally see basketball being played, but soccer seems to be the most popular sport.
When I went to the soccer stadium with my Malagasy friend to watch a match, there were quite a lot of spectators, and it was very lively.
There was a cow in the soccer stadium, and just as I was thinking how free-spirited Madagascar is, my friend told me, 'That's a prize for the winning team!'
A cow as a prize for the winning team. It's so typically Malagasy, and I love it. (laugh)

Toamasina has plenty of currency exchange places and ATMs with good rates, and you can stay at nice accommodations for a reasonable price.
Getting around the city is easy with a rickshaw-like vehicle called a 'pousse-pousse.'
It's not as unsafe as Antananarivo, and while it's moderately urban, it's a recommended place to stay and enjoy the relaxed pace of Madagascar.