The light at the end of the tunnel
What is time? Does day and night really matter? We started this trip messing up our body clocks and we shall end the trip this way. For the last major sight to see on the trip, we are in Toyama Bay and here to see the firefly squid. We had a boat tour that would take us out on the water at 3am. As Mother Nature was our DM, we had to roll the dice on whether or not we’d get to go out, and we rolled…
a 1 (those not privy to Dungeons and Dragons, a 1 is a critical failure), so our tour got cancelled minutes before we were to depart on account of wind. Thanks for reading. Tomorrow it is with heavy heart that we depart…
…just kidding! Fortunately, there is more to this post, as the museum plans for cancellations. I am impressed with how much they gave us after fully refunding us the tour. We got to be amused at our friend, as a couple news networks, national and local, were interviewing her. A newspaper even wanted to get in on writing about my friend. She took it well and in stride (literally, as she was being interviewed in the rain as we wrapped up the morning).
The staff at the museum instead hastily set their backup plan in motion, which involves a video explaining the squid and how they are able to glow in the water (chemical reactions), and where they glow from (primarily their “fourth arms” at the tips and around their eyes). In addition, we had a demonstration of them glowing and later got to hold the squid (very cold water, as they come up from almost 1000m down up to 30-100m to feed).
How they set up the nets to catch squid 
Touch! 
Glowing squid (best I could do in near pitch-black)
After the video and touching, we got to eat some squid. I will say that was a weird feeling to be eating squid that you were handling their brethren not but a few minutes prior. That being said, they tasted like fresh ocean, and their miso vinegar paste made it even tastier. Once some of the fishermen returned, we got to go where they bring the squid ashore, quality check them, and prepare them for auction.
Off-loading the boats Bins readied for auctioning Pools of squid QC and filtering out other caught fish Odd to eat what you’ve just touch
In all, for the price of messed up sleep and a round-trip taxi ride, the Hotaruika Museum was a fun experience, even if seeing them in the water was a no-go.
Of course, by 4:30am, and having had dinner nearly 12 hours ago, it was time eat again, so we made a Lawson’s run for food. It is great having 24-hour konbinis to scratch a food itch at any hour.
5am Curry udon (with inari pouch, not pictured) 11am Cold soba (with another inari pouch, not pictured)
We’ve been resting most of the day so far in the hotel room, listening to the wind, and in a surprise from my now hopefully news famous friend, we are off to another onsen, Kintaro Onsen in Uozu (yay another night of futon sleep!)
View from our room Downstairs area of the onsen
And of course, the dinner:
Initial setting The menu Nabe (flying squid, tofu, and enoki) Sakura sushi, dongo, and sakura tofu) 
Sakura sushi Sashimi Plate Taro and veggies Shrimp ball Beef, lotus root, mushroom, atop miso paste Pork wrapped in tofu skin The generous helping of pork Lightly boiled squid Fish and fried fish(?) ball on pest w/ veggies Shiro ebi (white shrimp) with sake sauce Cheesecake and poached apple
And that is our last full day of vacation. Tomorrow is a never-ending travel day (but more trains, so that’s good). Tomorrow’s last post will mostly be all the food consumed until I get home. I leave you with what we got to come back to our hotel at 5am after our visit to the squid museum. Thanks and good night.
