Discover the Federated States of Micronesia!
A treasure trove of magnificent nature and cultural diversity

Permanent Edition

Full of exciting experiences
For both first-time and returning visitors wholove the Federated States of Micronesia

Experience Guide

“The seas bring us together; they do not separate us.”
(Quoted from Preamble - Constitution of the FSM)

Experience all of Micronesia, a fascinating oceanic country
There are many tourists who have travelled south from Japan to Guam,but how many have travelled further down the Pacific Ocean towards theequator? The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a vast maritime
nation consisting of 607 islands and large atolls, just 90 minutes by planefrom Guam.
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If the ocean itself were to be included in the World Heritage list, theMicronesian waters would definitely be selected as No.1. Among these,
one of the world’s largest lagoons is Chuuk Lagoon in Chuuk State,with a circumference of about 200km. On a windless day, because thewater surface is so calm and mirror-like, you will feel as if you are in aswimming pool. This is why some people may call it the world’s largest
swimming pool. The FSM is a great place for swimming, snorkeling andscuba diving.

History1886 Spain declared territorial sovereignty over the Mariana and Caroline Islands.

The country with the world’s highest percentage
of Japanese descendants
Yap

Pohnpei Surf ClubState of

YAP

Weno
State ofCHUUK

The 14th-largest exclusive
economic zone in the world
The FSM has the 14th largest sea areain the world with a population of about
110,000 people. Its total sea area (EEZ:
Exclusive Economic Zone) covers about 3
million square kilometers, an area larger
than Japan.
Currently, the country’s major industry
is fishing, mainly tuna. However, hopes
are high that the FSM will acquire
enormous marine resources through theadvancement of seabed development
technologies. Many countries haveshown keen interest and moreinvestments are expected from all over
the world.

Have you ever
heard of acountry called
Rainbownesia?
1State of

KOSRAE

PohnpeiState of

POHNPEI

KosraeEco-discovery tour toexplore cultural diversity
and primitive nature
As its name suggests, the FSM is afederation consisting of four states: Yap,
Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Residents
are very friendly and peaceful, andthe unique cultures and ecosystems
are unlike anywhere else in the world.
Each state is self-governing, and theindigenous cultures and eight languages
remain strong and well preserved. The
natural surrounding is also diverse—
there are 600m high mountains,deep valleys, hills, grasslands, dense
mangrove forests, atoll-enclosed
lagoons, and beaches that retain theirtrue beauty.

Rainbownesia is a nickname given to the Federated States ofMicronesia, derived from the words rainbow and nesia (meaningislands). The FSM has a tropical marine climate and is one of
the wettest regions in the world, this is why there are so many
rainbows. Just like the seven colors of a rainbow, the FSM is fullof charms that will spark inspiration within you.

According to one estimate, as many as 20% of the population are ofJapanese descent as a result of about 30 years of Japanese occupation.
Some older people who received Japanese language education are still
able to speak Japanese, and many words of Japanese origin still remain.
For example, denshinbashira (telegraph pole) or undoukai (athletics).
However, some Japanese words have been adapted into their own
Micronesian meaning! The Japanese word joshi has evolved from simply
meaning young woman to referring to someone lovely and cute. Anotherexample is kokoro, or heart which now refers to something important.

1899 Spain sold the islands of Micronesia to Germany.
1914 WWI began. Japan occupied Micronesia (Southern Ocean Islands),
including the present-day Federated States of Micronesia, Palau,
the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.
1945 WWII ended. US military rule began.
1979 The Constitution came into effect. Self-government was established.
Tosiwo Nakayama of Japanese descent was inaugurated
as the first President.
1986 The FSM became independent after the government signed
the Compact of Free Association with the United States on 3 November.
1988 Diplomatic relations were established with Japan in December.
1991 The FSM joined the United Nations on 17 September.

Experience the world’s best rainbow
One reason why the FSM is called Rainbownesia is because of therainbows that appear in various forms. If you are particularly lucky
you can even see a Midnight Rainbow. This is a phenomenon where arainbow appears in the moonlight after a sudden squall at night. The
reason why the FSM is blessed with so many
rainbows is the amount of rainfall. It receives
over 10,000mm of rain in an average year,
which is one of the highest in the world.
Thanks to this rain, natural resources
like forestry and wildlife grow strongly,
filling all the islands with vitality.

Recharge your body, mind and spirit!

KIZUNA
Japanese people who established KIZUNA (Bond)
There are still many people carrying Japanese names due to thelong Japanese occupation period. Koben Mori, the first Japaneseperson from Kochi Prefecture, emigrated to Chuuk in the 1890s.
He married a local woman and had six sons and five daughters.
Over a century later, the number of his descendants is now
estimated to be over 3,000. The Mori family has been playing
a major role politically and economically. Tosiwo Nakayama,another man of Japanese descent, was the first President of
the FSM and he helped the country gain independence fromthe US. Mori’s descendant, Emmanuel Mori, also became
the 7th president about 20 years later. Susumu Aizawa was aprofessional baseball player in Japan before returning to Chuuk
to become a head chief. The FSM has an immeasurably deep andstrong bond with Japan.

Let’s take a journey of self-reflection and ask yourself about the true wealthand happiness that you may be losing sight of. Here, you can discover what
you can’t find in more developed tourist destinations and learn importantlife lessons through deep interactions with nature. It will help you regain theenergy to live in nature again.

FSM Visitors Board
Address: PO Box PS-12 Palikir, Pohnpei FSM 96941
Tel: +691 - 320 - 5133 Fax: +691 - 320 - 3251
Mail: fsminfo@visit-fsm.org
URL: http://www.visit-micronesia.fm/jp/index.html

2

YAP

Traditional Yapese culture is full of colors

About YAP
RumungMill Channel
Maap

Explore unseen
traditional culture

Yap
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Yap is located approximately
halfway
Harborbetween Guam and Palau.
In the vast sea area stretching
Gilmen1,200km from east to west,
it consists of 138 small
islands, including 22 that are
inhabited. The best part of visiting Yap is to experience the traditional
culture that Yapese people have kept unspoiled. Not only is Yap themost traditional island in the FSM, it is also known to be a very uniquecultural destination in the Pacific area. This must be because the island
is rich in old traditions and fascinating legends, retaining many of the
distinctive cultures among the Pacific Island countries. The charmof the island is highlighted by seaside men’s houses, village tours to
explore unchanging cultures and traditions, ancient stone money andstone money banks, a variety of handicrafts, marine life and mangrove
forests, etc. Colorful Yapese clothing is still in use for traditional dances.
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3

Wonder
Stone Money

Exciting story about
the world’s biggest money

The value lies not in its size
but in its story

It works in a similar way
to virtual currency

Small stone money can be 60cm in diameter, while large
ones are approximately 2m. Given that they are called stonemoney, you would imagine that only people in the oldendays used them, but you would be surprised to learn thatthey are still in use today. As people cannot actually takestone disks to a convenience store to spend, they deposit
them in the stone money banks and use them as bridal gifts,
or to pay for materials to build a house.

The stones are made of crystalline limestone and weretransported on rafts from Palau, although its exact origin
is not clear. The hole in the center is for inserting a log so
it can be carried, but how did they transport such massive
stones? Yapese people used to sail over 500km to Palau bycanoe, carve the limestone and bring it back. A number ofpeople might have been injured or even lost their lives instorms on the voyage across the sea... This is why the valueof the stone money lies in its story.

Virtual currencies, a new form of money, are attracting a lotof public attention today, and play a fundamentally similarrole to stone money. The similarity is that if everyone
recognizes you as the owner of the money, then you are theowner of it even if no one has ever seen the money itself. As
long as you have the trust that you have the money, you canpass on the value of the stone money to others. Somethingold but new.

4

YAP
Traditional meeting houses
For lovers of architecture and design

Kaday Village culture tour

Each village on Yap Island has its own
traditional meeting house. These breathtaking
traditional houses were built without a single
nail. They can be divided into two types:
faluw and p’ebay. The faluw, or men’s house,stands at the seaside in each village andserves as gateway to the sea. Marine work was
the responsibility of men on the islandof Yap. All unmarried men over 10 years oldused to spend their nights in the faluw, learning
the traditional knowledge and skills
needed to become mature men. Women are
still not allowed to go near it. P’ebay is a kind ofvillage community center, where men, womenand children gather for different purposes.

Culture & Charm
Explore the untouched world of
traditional culture
One of the best things about Yap is to experience the unspoiled
traditional culture which is a part of their everyday life. From themoment you arrive in Yap, you will see traditional houses andstone money making you feel like you are on a different planet.
You will often encounter men wearing loincloths called thu andwomen wearing wrap-around skirts. You will feel the spirit of theYapese people everywhere on the island, as if you have taken atrip back to ancient times.

Homecoming Festival
Join the warm social atmosphere
To celebrate the reunion of family and friends, this festival takes
place in early summer at the Living History Museum located in
the heart of Yap’s main island, Colonia. Traditional dances andperforming arts are also performed here.

Must-seetraditional festivals

Let’s dance to celebrate Yapese traditions
Yap Day is the biggest festival in the state and the island
is filled with bright colors. It is held annually on the 1stof March with the aim of returning to the old Yapese
way of life in food, dresses and everything else to passon the traditions, culture and wisdom of life to future
generations. Islanders from each village on Yap Island
will perform traditional dances for two days. There
are also agricultural and seafood fairs, and traditional
life skill competitions such as coconut husking, basket
weaving and more. All hotels will be fully booked during
Yap Day, make sure to book early!

Canoe Festival
Enjoy a passionate atmosphere

YAP Visitors Bureau
Address: Bldg#1 YVB Main Drive, P.O. Box 988, Colonia, Yap State 96943
Tel : +691-350-2298/5005 Fax : +691-350-7015
Mail : yvb@mail.fm
URL: https://www.visityap.com/

The Yap Canoe Festival is held annually in November for
two days highlighting the traditional Yapese navigationand canoe building skills. You will feel the Yapese prideand desire to preserve these skills and pass them on to theyounger generations. The event begins with a parade ofcanoes of all sizes, from lagoon canoes to voyaging canoes
with a crew of 15. The sight of the canoes approaching theshore is truly spectacular. During the festival, you can also
enjoy traditional food and crafts at the night market.

This is a place where you can experience avariety of things in one place, not just watching
women in colorful grass skirts sitting in acircle making baskets out of banana leaves
and children performing traditional dances,
but also chewing betel nuts which have a mild
anesthetic effect. Kaday Village is located in
Weloy, the western side of Yap Island, where
you can see the well-preserved stone paths,
stone money, recently rebuilt magnificent
p’ebay and faluw on the beach.

To Do List

Experience special events unique to Yap

Yap Day

Experience all the traditional culture
at once!

Experience traditional canoeing

Scuba Diving & SnorkelingThis tour offers not only a canoe ride, but alsoa chance to feel the spirit of the Yapese people.
It takes you to the reef on a small canoe, but
the steering is the same as a large canoe.
With the aid of a few crew members, oncethe canoe catches the wind, it starts sailingat quite a high speed. Yapese people on big
sailing canoes do not use nautical charts orcompasses, but instead sail by using the stars,
waves, winds, marine life, and other natural
phenomena. Even today, canoes are built byskilled craftsmen and this art of navigation has
been handed down to the next generation.

See manta rays and sharks in one of the world’s
top five seas
What has become increasingly popular on Yap Island inrecent years is diving and snorkeling to see manta raysand sharks. The best part is that you can see schools ofmanta rays and sharks close up in water with a visibilityof over 30m. If you are lucky, dolphins will pass by. The
water around Yap is shallow and calm at a depth of 1m
extending for 1 to 2km before the drop-off, making it safe
for children to play. There is also a lot of coral so you can enjoy
snorkeling with colorful fish. There is something for everyone
from beginners to advanced divers.

Sunset Beach
Traditional nautical navigation

ancient navigation techniques have been passed
down to us in a surprisingly sophisticated form
and are full of human wisdom for surviving in
the wild.
On Yap and Chuuk Islands, some men still sail to
Palau and Guam in hand-built canoes using only
the stars as a traditional navigation technique.
Without a nautical chart or compass, they can tellwhere they are and which way to go by translating
beautiful, twinkling stars into a map in their mind.
They say that the navigation is based on two spatial
perceptions: finding the ‘position’ and ‘course’ ofthe ship. In ancient times, voyagers made navigation
possible by reading various signs from nature—
heavenly bodies, wind and waves, swell, tidal
currents, color of the sea water, birds and fish, evensmells of the land.

Wedding on thesouth island
Celebrate your marriage
again!
A unique wedding with thebeautiful nature of Yap willremain as a special memory
in your heart forever.
Handmade mwaramwar (flower
headdresses), necklaces,
traditional costumes and a
private beach with a lagoon will
make your wedding even more
special. Why not have a second
wedding and pledge your love
for each other once again? Most
hotels in Yap will make all thenecessary arrangements for you.
Weddings also take place on thebeach, at the Yap State Court
and in churches and chapels.

Watch the flaming sunset
on a tropical beachAfter a long day ofsightseeing, it is time towatch the sunset. Because
this beach faces west, it isperfect to watch the sunset.
Sunset Beach is located in
Kaday Village on the westside of Yap Island. There is asmall cottage on the beachwhere you can relax in theshade while looking at thesea. You can also enjoy
snorkeling at a spot whichused to be a mangrove
forest.

Kayak Tours
Explore the rich natural beauty of Yap by kayak
Take your kayak and head out to the mangrove forest acrossthe blue sea! Paddling through quiet mangrove channels will
make you feel so calm and peaceful. The mangrove forestis the best place to “recharge your body and mind” whichhave become tired from your everyday life. You can also
explore the unique nature and eco-system of Yap by kayaking
around the quiet inner bay, which is protected by coral reefs
and mangroves. You can pull in at villages to visit traditional
meeting houses or go snorkeling on the way.

5

6

Wonder
Jeep Island-Experience your dreamdeserted island stay!
Sleep on a beachunder the wonderful starry sky
Jeep Island is about 100m in circumference and takes lessthan 3 minutes to walk around. Here, you can find beautyin everything—sunrise and sunset over the horizon, coral
reefs, crystal clear water, the sound of the waves and more.
Rainwater stored in tanks is for your daily use, and you will
be provided with a bucket of water each day to wash yourbody and clothes. The island was once selected as No. 1 on
Fuji TV’s show
“The 100 Best Views in the World: 100 Places to See
Before You Die” and has become popular. Both day trips andovernight stays are available, either alone or with a loved
one, you can enjoy the ultimate healing paradise.

The luxury of “Disconnecting”

CHUUK

To the universe of waterthat draws you in
Venice in the South Seas

North
Pass

About CHUUK
Chuuk

Weno
AirportTonoas

Tol
Udot

Fefen
Uman

South
Pass

7

Northeast
Pass

During your quick 90-minute flight from Guam to Chuuk State,
you’ll see a stunning view of the atolls that surround the islandsin the deep blue sea. Weno Island, the capital of Chuuk, is oneof the world’s largest atolls. The closer you get to the island,
the more excited you’ll be by the spectacular sight. Chuuk State
consists of six main islands and numerous atolls. The population isabout 54,000 people across the many islands, although some areuninhabited. The pleasure of travelling by boat from one island to
the next seeking more exciting things will remind you of Venice in
Italy.

Traditional practices that have protected
the natural environment of Chuuk
Chuukese culture in particular cherish their traditional
practices called Mechen for coastal areas and Pwau forterrestrial areas, which protect their precious naturalenvironment. When a key clan or family member becomesdiseased, they close their own land or sea for a certain
period of time at their discretion. When they exercise
Mechen or Pwau, the specified area becomes strictly off
limits. This also means that no hunting or gathering can takeplace in the area for a certain period of time. The systemand traditional wisdoms have been a major force helping
regional revitalization and protecting the whole naturalenvironment of Chuuk.

No Internet, no running water, and no electricity. Jeep
Island and the other uninhabited islands of Chuuk arenothing like well-developed beach resorts, but there are
special things that you can only experience here. The view
surrounded by the sea on all sides is spectacular. Enjoy
having a sleep in, or watching the bright sunrise. Snorkel
among the coral reef encounter countless colorful fish andtake a nap after lunch. While watching the sunset, you canenjoy a BBQ with a beer. How about laying down on a beach
bed and going to sleep while watching the star-filled nightsky? Just like a Japanese teahouse, the island is a place
which relaxes and sharpens your mind and reminds you that
because it is a small space, you can see the whole world.

8

CHUUK

Culture & Charm[Snorkeling]Thanks to the blessings ofnature!

[Underwater Museum]

Chuuk Lagoon is an atoll with shallow waters
and clear, calm waves, making it a perfectplace for snorkeling. The beautiful ocean withcolorful fish is just a few steps away. If you area beginner, a professional instructor will behappy to help. All the equipment you need forsnorkeling and diving is available for hire on
the island.

Visit the world’s largest
wreck diving mecca
Chuuk Lagoon is a popular spot called an “underwater
museum” and is known as the world’s best shipwreck
diving destination, attracting many divers from all over
the world. A total of 80 wrecks, including battleships,
tankers and cargo ships, lie on the seabed.
With so many wrecks, there is rarely a crowd of divers
in one spot allowing divers to take their time and enjoy
fantastic diving. The wrecks are now the home of a wide
variety of fish, so you can encounter schools of fish andalso kaleidoscope-like colorful coral reef.

[Swimming with dolphins]

Maybe they have telepathy?

To Do List

Experience the world of what
James Cameron, the director of
the movie “Titanic” has seen
During the Japanese occupation, Chuuk Lagoon (formerly
Truk Islands) was a strategic place for the Japanese navy
with a huge base and many ships anchored there. Even
now, 70 years later, an enormous number of wartime
artifacts still remain in the wrecks, telling the story ofJapan and the islands of Micronesia.
The most famous wreck in the atoll is the Fujikawa Maru,
a former Japanese naval aircraft ferry, and it is over
130m long. The ship has been preserved in its originalform and divers can even enter the wheelhouse andengine room. Some of the scenes of the sunken Titanic
were filmed on these wrecks, including the Fujikawa
Maru. As a side note, James’s autographed t-shirt is on
the wall of a bar on Weno Island which he often visited.

[Fishing]

Catch a big fish at one of theworld’s best fishing spots
From catch-and-release recreational fishing to gamefishing like catching marlin, you can enjoy a variety offishing experiences. Bottom fishing, bait casting andtrolling are the options depending on the season, fishingmethod and time of day. Fishing is one of the mostpopular activities among visitors to Chuuk. You can catch
Giant Trevally every day. You can also joinfishing tournaments which welcome
tourists.

[Kimishima Atoll]

Miracles of crystal clear waterand big fish
A story beyond time and space between Heian Maruin Chuuk Lagoon and Hikawa Maru in Yokohama
The 160m long Heian Maru is one of the largest wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon. The
Heian Maru, a naval special submarine tender, was attacked by US forces andsank to the bottom of the sea. Amazingly, the ship is actually a sister ship ofthe Hikawa Maru, an item classified as Important Cultural Property of Japan,
which has been moored in Yamashita Park (Naka-ku, Yokohama). Because thetwo ships were built from same drawings, they are identical in shape. They
were named after Hikawa Shrine and Heian Shrine. After seeing the HeianMaru in Chuuk Lagoon, it would be interesting to see the Hikawa Maru inJapan for comparison. You can feel the history of Japan and the FSM hidden inthese two ships.

[Star Watching]

The world’s largest
360-degree planetarium!
Star watching on a deserted island is just like visiting theworld’s largest and most beautiful planetarium. Shootingstars are rare in the city, but here they appear so oftenthat you can hardly keep up with your wishes. You can
see the three-dimensional view of constellations suchas the Milky Way and even the Southern Cross clearly,
although the time of its appearance varies according to
the season.

If you visit Jeep Island, you’d better visit
Kimishima Atoll. You can enjoy both diving andsnorkeling in water with a visibility of at least
80m. Return to nature and play with the fish
swimming around you. You can see schoolsof bluefin trevally, barracuda, and sometimes
manta rays, whale sharks, blue marlin, giantgroupers over 2m long, black whales andmore!

Take a legend home with you!
Handicrafts that tell stories

Discover more fascinating islands
Fonomu Island

Pisar Island

The island is situated near the
open sea and is larger than theother islands, offering visitors amore dynamic deserted island
experience. The vast shallow waterand the white sandy beaches are
particularly beautiful.

Fonomu Island is anotherplace where you can stayovernight and enjoy adeserted island lifestyle.
This island is larger than
Jeep Island and offers amore spacious atmosphere.
There are two private rooms
for couples to make it feellike a beach resort. You will
be surrounded by beautiful
coral, the sea and starrynight sky.

Chuukese traditional way of saying I Love You

Love StickA long time ago, Chuukese people lived in houses made of
woven palm leaves. Each man had a long stick with a jagged
end. These sticks, called love sticks, were carved in a different
shape for each man, so that when he met a woman he liked, hewould show her the stick and she would remember the shape.
At night, he would go to her thatch hut and push the carved
stick through the wall to snag her hair and see how she would
react. The woman could then feel the shape of the stick andwould pull it if she wanted to say ‘yes’ or would push it back to
say ‘no’. This was how a man and woman became a couple.
Today, this custom no longer exists. If you find a small version
of a love stick in a souvenir shop, get it for your loved one andtell them this story.

Charm against evil spirits

Devil Mask

There once lived ghosts who did bad things on the island. People
made devil masks to ward them off. The ghosts were scaredof the masks and ran away and never came back. Since then,these masks have been displayed in many places in Chuuk toward off evil spirits. It is believed that a pair of devil masks, one
male and one female, must be used together for them to beeffective.

9

Swimming with dolphins is one of the mostpopular activities. When you go out to thesea by boat, you’ll meet a pod of curious
dolphins that will spin around in the water,
and play with you. They have remarkablecommunication skills that make you wonder ifthey are telepathic. When there are no waves,it will be easier to spot the dolphin’s dorsal
fins.

Chuukese Legend
Once upon a time, a horrible ogre lived on a hill on theisland of Patta, looking down on the cape of the island.
This cape was an important part to cross from one side of
the island to the other. The ogre was so feared because hewould snatch any goods carried by people trying to get tothe other side of the island.
One night an old lady, who could not bear the situation
anymore, brought her two turtles and had them dig into thehard rock under the cape from both sides.
The turtles worked hard all night and finally managed toconnect the tunnel.
Thanks to the turtles, people were able to use the tunnel totravel back and forth without going through the dangerous
cape. The legendary tunnel still exists today and is used by
the people on the island.

CHUUK Visitors Bureau
Address : PO Box 1142, Weno, Chuuk, FSM 96942
Tel : +691-330-4133
Mail : chuukvb@mail.fm
URL : https://visitchuuk.wixsite.com

10About POHNPEI
Pohnpei

POHNPEI

Palikir Pss

Paradise of mountains, sea and rainbows

Mwand Pass
SokehsIslandAirportKolonia
SokehsPehleng
Pass

Nett
Madolenihm
Llduduhniap Falls

Kitti
Sahwartlk Falls Keprohi Falls

WonderNan Madol

Whether you are an explorer, nature lover, diver or surfer, Pohnpei
Island offers something for every style of traveler. Activities of excellent
quality are available here—diving, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, surfing,swimming in the sea on deserted islands, hiking, exploring a World
Heritage site, viewing waterfalls, joining a local food tour and more.
Pohnpei means ‘upon (pohn) a stone altar (pei)’. The capital of the FSM,
Palikir, is located on Pohnpei Island, which is approximately 20km indiameter and surrounded by an emerald green sea. The island is known as
the “Flower Garden of the Pacific” because of the abundance and beautyof its flowers. It has the highest mountains of the FSM and the rainfall is
one of the highest in the world, making this small island home to over
40 rivers and the lush rainforests. The intricate coastline surrounded bymangroves creates numerous water currents that carry nutrients into thevast lagoon.

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Nan Madol, the mysterious
ancient coral reef city
Explore a megalithic civilization
with many wonders and legends!
Here in Pohnpei there is a megalithic civilization registeredas a World Heritage site that is not so well known. Its nameis Nan Madol, meaning ‘between heaven and earth’. Nan
Madol is the largest archaeological site in the Pacific region.
According to radiocarbon analyses by archaeologists, Nan
Madol was constructed over a period of about 1000 years,
from the 6th to 16th century. It is situated in the southeast end of Pohnpei consisting of 95 artificial islands, overa huge area in a vast shallow sea. Each of the artificial
islands had its own role—palaces, royal residences, tombs,
guardhouses and meeting houses. It is said that people used
to come and go by canoes. In 2016, the ruins were added to
the UNESCO World Heritage sites and have become a mustsee destination for anyone visiting Pohnpei.

Where did the huge stones comefrom and how did they get here?
The architecture of numerous stacks of huge, hexagonalbasalt columns on top of each other remains on theartificial islands. The quarries were more than 10km awayfrom the site. How did people transport such huge stones,
some weighing up to 5 tons? Unfortunately, the details arestill unknown. According to one theory, the stones werehung from rafts by ropes and submerged beneath the water,
just like the story of stone money on Yap Island. If they put
the stones on their canoes, they would’ve sunk. How were
they brought and assembled? It is still unclear.

11

Stones flew in the sky!
A space where heaven (God) and earth (people) are linked

Is this where the Ryugu Castle
was?

Nan Madol means space between gods and humans. As the traditional story goes, oneday, two brothers arrived in Pohnpei by canoe from the west with many servants, seeking
a place to build a political and economic center. After several false starts, the brothers were
finally able to find an ideal place and the construction began. According to the legend, theconstruction of many artificial islands was too difficult for the men to complete on theirown, so God was called upon to help. When the brothers recited the spell, stones flew one
after the other and fell on into their allocated locations. It is believed that the vast ruins
were built in this way, and even today, the islanders regard this place as being special andsacred.

Nan Madol is also believed to be the model of Ryugu
Castle from a Japanese fairy tale “Urashima Taro”.
Local elders say the legend of this sacred city thatsank to the bottom of the sea is similar to Ryugu
Castle’s story. Some even say the legend tells thatthe old name of an island near Nan Madol was“Uranoshima”.

Highly valued members of society
The current Nahnmwarki, or the village chief, can betraced back to the king of Nan Madol. Most parts ofPohnpeian society are still divided into 12 hierarchies
with Nahnmwarki, at the top. As in the otherstates, residents pay respect to their superiors also,
members of the tribe support each other. Thanks tothis tradition, there was an abundance of food which
may be one reason most had no difficulty making
a living. This made everyone a valued member ofsociety.

12

Culture & Charm

Must-try foods in Pohnpei
Local Food & Drink
Pohnpei Pepper

Immense richness of the sea andmountains
Explore the bounty of nature

The secret of the rare and aromatic, Pohnpei
pepper, is that people on the island grow and carefor them using no pesticides or chemical fertilizers andhandpick the peppercorns one by one. Be sure to taste pepper
dishes, such as pepper tuna steak during your visit, it also makes
a great souvenir.

Pohnpei Island is situated right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
and has a typical oceanic climate. Since the island is surrounded by
the sea, there is a pleasant breeze and the temperature rarely rises
above 35°c. The annual precipitation is about 10,000mm with 300
rainy days, making it one of the wettest regions in the world. As aresult of this enormous rainfall, over 40 rivers and waterfalls havebeen created, forming beautiful and rich mountain forests. The
island is blessed with water, greenery and a wide variety of flowers,
fruits, plants and animals.

Karat Banana, the king of
bananasThere are about 50 varieties of bananas in
the FSM, some unique to this region. One
species called Karat is particularly delicious. It
looks black on the outside, but from the insidecomes a dark yellow, creamy flesh with a reddish tinge.
When you scoop it with a spoon and eat it, you will taste thesweet, rich banana-flavor. Serving chilled with a squeeze oflime on top makes it an excellent dessert.

Let’s try out a sakau bar

Mountain Side

Relieving your stress at spiritual places
filled with the negative ion power ofwaterfalls

Kepirohi Falls
This is the most popularwaterfall of all, on theisland of Pohnpei. As you enter the jungle along the riverfrom the island-circle road, you will encounter a waterfallwith a large volume of water. It’s refreshing and beautiful
to see a huge amount of water splashing down on the 20m
high basalt rock face. The basin of the waterfall is a naturalswimming pool with freshwater fish swimming around. If
you have time, it’s not a bad idea to spend half a day at thewaterfall full of negative ions.

Pahn Takai Waterfall
and Cave
A challenging 30-minute hikethrough the rainforest jungle leads
you to the beautiful waterfall
and cave of Pahn Takai, meaning‘under the rock’. You will climb up
and down on a path like an animal
trail. The waterfall is about 50m
high and the cave is situated rightbehind the waterfall which is morethan 300m across, connecting toan old battlefield. The power ofnature is so impressive that it’sworth the effort to get there.
13

Sakau is a drink made by pounding the rootsof the pepper plant on a basalt stone, soaking
it in water, wrapping it up in hibiscus bark andthen squeezing it. It was originally a drink servedin religious rituals, important events and festivals.
In recent times, drinking sakau is a part of many people’s
daily life. It does not contain any alcohol, but has an anesthetic
effect, which makes you feel good and calm. There are manysakau bars in Pohnpei, so it’s worth a try.

Discover Pohnpei, the Flower
Garden of the Pacific
Step outside your hotel and you will see
more than 600 species of trees, tropical
shrubs and flowers in bloom. Everywhere
you look you will find a wide variety oftropical plants, such as orchid species,
including Hong Kong orchids, hibiscus, irontrees, eucalyptus, honduran mahogany,
papaya, bananas, coconuts and plumeria.

Making mwaramwar(flower headdresses)
When visiting Pohnpei try wearing a mwaramwar,a headdress made of colorful flowers andleaves, which has been a fashionable icon of
the island. People on the island wear thesefor ceremonies such as welcome parties andweddings, and also as an accessory in everyday
life. Mwaramwar is a fashion item that uplifts
the feelings not only for women but also for men. It
is very sustainable as it will easily biodegrade after use.

Pohnpei Surf Club

[Surfing][Ant Atoll]

Must-visit destinationfor every surfer

Must visit Ant Atoll which is
known as No. 1 for its beauty!

Pohnpei Surf Club, a surf camp on Pohnpei Island, hasbeen selected as the world’ best surf camp by Surfer
Magazine.
The island offers the perfect waves that will satisfy
professional surfers. It is also famous as a filming location
for magazines and DVDs. Some Japanese surfers are
enthusiastic about visiting Pohnpei every year. Evensurfers from the North Shore of Hawaii flock to thesewaters. The water is quite beautiful and the waves areamazing.

Ant Atoll is a small uninhabited atoll located in the open
sea. Once you have overcome the hurdles to get there,
you will be rewarded with white sandy beaches andemerald blue waters, the most miraculous sea in the
FSM. Blue sky, blue sea, white clouds and green atoll—all
perfectly match and amplify its charm. In addition to its
beauty, the atoll is home to many colorful tropical fish
and you can enjoy snorkeling and diving with dolphins,
stingrays and sharks.

Sea Side

Pohnpei Island has so much to offer Why not enjoy the sea too!

Pohnpei is also a great placefor diving!
The island is surrounded by mangrove forests whichgive nutrients to the sea. The number of fish, including
barracuda and other migratory fish, is the highest in
Micronesia during the summer. You will see reef fishswarming over the pristine coral with a high chance of
spotting schools of fish.

From small to big fish, Pohnpei
offers a wide variety of fishingexperiences.
Even beginners can try catching a variety of fish, fromcoral reef fish to giant trevally and tuna. Bottom fishing,bait casting and trolling are the options
depending on the season, fishingmethod and time of day. Fishingis one of the most popular
activities among tourists
visiting the FSM. A numberof tournaments are held eachyear in which tourists canparticipate.

Would you like to meet The God of eels?

In some river areas of Gifu and Yamagata prefectures in Japan,
local people don’t eat eels which are considered to be divine
messengers. Here in Pohnpei, eels are also considered to besacred divine messengers. Maybe because of this, no one catches
them and the eels in this waterfall basin are surprisingly thick andlarge.

POHNPEI Visitors Bureau
Address : PO Box 1949, Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941
Tel : +691-320-4851/4823 Fax : +691-320-4868
Mail : pohnpeivisitorsbureau@gmail.com
URL : http://www.nan-madol.com/

14

KOSRAE

The perfect balance between spiritual
forests and cheerful smiles!

About KOSRAE
KosraeAirportTafunsakVillage

Okat Harbour

Lelu
Lelu Village

Explore sparkling
Kosrae Island
known as the“Jewel of
Micronesia”

Lelu Harbour

Tofol
VillageTafunsakWalungVillage
Utwa

Maiem

Utwa
Harbour

Maiem
Utwa Village
Village

Kosrae Island, a small island known as the “Jewel of Micronesia”
for the sparkling beauty of its coral reefs. The island is located in
the easternmost part of the FSM and is famous for its magnificent
nature, including the world’s most pristine mangrove forests andtropical rainforests. It is also known as the “Coral Kingdom” as over
200 different species of vibrant corals are growing all around theisland. Here, even if you don’t do any water sports, you can still enjoy
the nature and friendly smiles of the islanders. There are even more
fascinating places, such as the forests full of spiritual legends.

WonderFeel the spiritsof the mystical forest!
Explore the hidden worldof Yela forest on Kosrae
Yela forest is not accessible by land, so visitors must travel
by boat at high tide through the mangrove forest, firstto a way station and then walk through a wetland. The
adventure continues when the boat goes up the river withthe sun shining through the trees. The fantastical Yela forest
is a protected area and is home to some species of rarebirds.

Amazing! Ka trees
When you walk through the Yela forest, you will comeacross strange shaped trees called “Ka”. This tree is anendemic species only found in this place around the world,
and it is a symbol of Kosrae's vitality. The trees were once
used to make canoes, but because of their rarity, it is now

15

forbidden to cut them down. The distinguishing feature ofthis tree is its magnificent roots that are 3 to 4m long. If
you tap on the roots, you will hear a mysterious knocking
sound as if there is a spirit inside the thick roots. Many of
the roots have very unusual shapes.

Legend of the dwarfs
There is a legend that dwarfs used to live in the forest of
Yela. According to the legend, these dwarfs used to help
an old man who lived in the forest to build canoes. Whenyou visit Kosrae, you must come to this forest and listen to
the mystical whispers of the spirits as you purify your mind
while forest bathing.

Jungle Treks to Menke Ruins
Treks to the Menke Ruins are also fun. You will get your feet wet crossing
mountain streams, meet monitor lizards up to 2m long and find mysterious‘rainbow trees’ which have trunks of seven colors. It’s like an adventure tour.
The jungle will be more beautiful after the rain with the rainbow trees turning
into bright colors. You will also see rare plants such as pinecone gingers which
can be used as shampoo.
Impressed by the rainbow trees
in the rainbow country!

More than 100 sacred worship places
at Menke Ruins
Menke Ruins, built around 1400, may be theoldest ruins in Micronesia. One of the features
is that Menke existed as a place of worshipping
Sinlaku, the goddess of the breadfruit tree.
There are more than 100 stone-piled altars
of about 3.6m in width in the jungle. Unlike
Nan Madol which was built with basalt stones,
Menke was built with river stones. There are still
many unanswered questions about the purpose anduse of each ruin, which are still under investigation by
American research teams. It is said that the role of Menke
Ruins ended in the 1800’s when Christianity was introduced to the island.

Lelu Ruins, a Marvel of the Pacific
The ruins are believed to have belonged to an ancient kingdom that ruled
the whole of Micronesia around 1400. It features 6m high stone walls builtwith huge basalt stones piled on top of one another to enclose the area.
Inside the walls there are canals, waterways, tombs and living spaces.
The origins remain a mystery thus being known as a “Marvel of the
Pacific”. Lelu Ruins is quite similar to Nan Madol Ruins on Pohnpei, but as
Kosrae is situated at the easternmost part, they may have been built fora defensive purpose.

16

KOSRAE

Culture & Charm
Welcome to the Coral Kingdom
Popular marine activities

When you make your way to the island of Kosrae, you must try at least one marine activity.
The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and clear, blue waters so you can enjoy a wide
variety of marine activities—scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, SUP (stand up paddleboard),
kayaking and sunset cruises.

Sunset cruisewith the view of Sleeping Lady

Let’s explore dense mangrove forests
on a canoe tour

Experience a two-hour cruise around Lelu Bay while watching the sunset
over the Sleeping Lady, a mountain range looking like a sleeping woman
which includes Mt. Finkol, the highest peak on the island. The tour includes
light meals and drinks.

The tour begins at Utwe harbor and will take you out of the big bay into
the narrow maze-like mangrove channels. Then a jungle cruise through thedense mangrove forest will start. The light and shadow of the mangroves
reflected on the water surface will be like a kaleidoscope.

The only place to diveand snorkel in the “Coral
Kingdom”
No matter where you dive—on the east,
west, north, or south of the island—you
will find over 200 different types of pristinecorals in the sea of Kosrae, known as theCoral Kingdom. The visibility of the blue
waters is astonishing. It is always at least
30m and sometimes over 100m dependingon the day. What makes this place unique isthe very large untouched corals which growupward in colonies close to shore.

Enjoy the luxury of stillness
on Sunday in Kosrae

Christian Sunday

With a population of about 6,600, almost
all residents are devout Protestants. On
Sundays, shops and restaurants are closed.
The Sabbath is considered to be a day of“no work” so they refrain from work as well
as household chores such as cooking andwashing, while the people go to church.
Eating Kosraean traditional soup cooked the
day before for breakfast is a long-standing
custom. The beautiful hymn melodies sung atchurch will refresh your mind. Bright smilesof the friendly residents and children are just
as wonderful. The abundant nature and thesmiles will give you plenty of relaxation!

Discoverthe art of coral reefs
at Dwarf Forest
A must-visit diving spot is
Dwarf Forest, which wasnamed after the legendary
dwarves which are believed
to live in the Yela forest.
You will dive under the
mangrove forest, but thewater is incredibly clear and the corals
grow in colonies, which will look like castles
or pyramids, or even the artwork of Gaudi’s
Sagrada Familia.

Coconut trees are a gift from God!
People on the island use Coconut trees foreverything in their lives. The liquid insideyoung coconuts is so rich in nutrients that it
can be called a ‘natural sports drink’. As thecoconuts mature, the liquid turns into coconutoil. Firstly, the oil is used to make fire, the basisof life. It is also used in cooking and as a hairconditioner. In addition, the hard part around thecoconut meat is used as a bowl to serve meals. In
other states, even alcohol is made from these trees. The
leaf of the tree itself is used as building materials for houses, the trunk forpillars and the leaves for roofs. It is a versatile plant that has nothing towaste.

Snorkeling in asecret spot
You can also snorkel in the Utwe lagoon,
which is one of UNESCO’s Biosphere
Reserves. This is a secret spot originallydiscovered by local tour guides, where you
can snorkel safely in the shallow waters of
the inland sea. In addition to the colorfulfish and corals, you can also see amazingroots of mangroves while snorkeling, which
will be a precious experience. You canalso take a boat to the open sea and enjoy
snorkeling at the diving spots.
17

To Do List

Green banana paper
products
People on the island produce
environmentally friendly products thesedays, which are now popular souvenirs.
Paper is made from banana stem
fibers using the Japanese paper making
technique, and wallets, pouches and letter
writing sets, etc. are made from this paper.

KOSRAE Visitors Bureau©Matt Shepherd

Address : PO Box 659, Tofol, Kosrae, FSM 96944
Tel : +691-370-2228 Fax : +691-370-3000
Mail : Mail: visitkosrae@gmail.com
URL : http://www.visitkosrae.com

Legend of theKushushu petal

According to legend, whena couple found out that they
couldn’t get married because of theirparents’ disapproval, they split a petal in half to keep
as a memento of their last meeting. Since then, thepetals of the Kushushu flower have been split in half.

Must-try foods when you visit Kosrae
Local Food & Drink
Kosrae soup

It is like a tropical version of porridge and very tasty.
The ingredients are coconut cream, rice and tuna.
Because of their religious culture, Kosraeans prepare
the soup on Saturday and eat it on Sunday, whichis the same way as the Japanese traditional Osechi
dishes.

Tangerine

Kosraean tangerines are said to have been broughtfrom Kagoshima, Japan in the 1920s. The peelremains green, so you may think they are not ripeeven though they are ready to eat. It’s sweet andvery juicy. Interestingly, Kosrae is the only island
within the FSM where they are found.

Breadfruit and umu (earth oven)cooking

There are many ways to eat breadfruit—baked,
steamed or made into chips—and all are delicious.
There are two accounts for the origin of the name:one is that it looks like bread when steamed, and theother is that it is often eaten like bread in everyday
life. Umu is a traditional Micronesian method of cooking
pork, fish and starches wrapped in coconut leaves andsteamed on hot stones placed on the ground. When
breadfruit is cooked this way, it turns out to have asoft and fluffy texture.

Fafa

Fafa is one of the local dishes loved by the peopleof Kosrae. First, they put steamed taro and bananasin a special bowl and pound it with a wooden pounder.
The mixture is then shaped into small balls. It is served withsweet syrup made from coconut milk. This is a very nutritious and delicious
Kosraean specialty. You must try it!

18

The United Airlines “Island

AccessNagoyaOsaka
Fukuoka

Hopper” from Honolulu to Guam

3.5 hour flight from airports in Tokyo, Nagoya, OsakaTokyo

could be the world’s most scenic

and Fukuoka to Guam. Change planes at Guam airport

flight. The view from the plane isand fly onward to Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei or Kosrae.

beautiful and spectacular. The blue
waters and white sandy beaches ofTravel Time
HawaiiGuam
Yap

Pohnpei
Chuuk

Guam ⬅➡ Chuuk : About 1 hour and 40 minutes

Kwajalein

Kosraethe islands made of coral reefs are

Guam ⬅➡ Yap : About 1 hour and 35 minutes
Guam ⬅➡ Pohnpei (via Chuuk) : About 2 hours and 30 minutes

Majuroso fantastic that they seem to beout of this world.

Guam ⬅➡ Kosrae (via Chuuk and Pohnpei) : about 3 hours and 30 minutes

8 Tips to Enjoy the FSM
1. Don't forget to take the necessary steps for travel!

5. Bottled water is safe for drinking

Your passport must be valid for at least 120 days plus the number of days you wish
to stay in the country, and a visa is not required for stays of less than 30 days.
When leaving the country, you will have to pay the following departure taxes in eachstate, so make sure you have enough US dollars left in your wallet.
Yap: $10 (US$) Pohnpei: $20 (US$)
Chuuk: $20 (US$) Kosrae: $15 (US$)*As of March 2021

Tap water is not suitable for drinking except in some areas. Use filtered drinking waterprovided by the hotel or bottled water sold in shops.

2. Exchange your money into US dollars before youenter the country!
The US dollar is the currency of the FSM. You cannot exchange yen into US dollars in
the country, so be sure to have US dollars ready before arriving. Credit cards are
accepted in hotels, tour companies and tourist attractions, but are not accepted inmany small shops and restaurants.

6. Beware of entering private property without
permission
Most of the land in the FSM is privately owned, except for some of the downtown areas
and main roads, and entering private property without the owner’s or manager’s
permission will be viewed as rude and disrespectful. To visit sightseeing spots aroundeach island, you should join a tour organized by a tour company or hotel, or hire a tour
guide. If you follow the local rules, people will be friendly and welcoming.

7. Dress appropriately

Tipping is not customary among local people, but it is common for tourists to leave atip. The accepted standard is $1 for each bed making in a hotel, and $1 to $2 to beleft on a table after dinner at a restaurant.

Light clothes, such as T-shirts, are recommended. The temperature in the FSM does notdrop much throughout the year. Women should refrain from wearing mini-skirts or
shorts, as exposing their skin is considered taboo. Sarongs will be handy. For outdoor
activities, bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. It is bad manners to wear only
swimwear in public, except in certain places such as tourist beaches and on boats.
When you leave the beach or boat, you should wear shirt and trousers or a towel.

4. Be careful when taking photographs

8. Watch out for littering

Do not point your camera at people, private houses and other things related to theirprivacy. Always follow the instructions of your tour guide and obtain people’s
permission when taking photographs.

Littering in public places such as streets and parks is against the law in Yap State, and if
you are found littering, you will be fined. In any case, it is important to travel in anenvironmentally conscious manner.

3. Tip appropriately!

Basic information

TimedifferenceElectricity

The FSM has two time zones.
Yap and Chuuk are UTC +10 hours (Japan time +1 hour)
Pohnpei and Kosrae are UTC +11 hours (Japan time +2 hours

Standard 110V and US type outlets are used
(Japanese type outlets can also be used)

Telecommunications
Television, fixed line telephone, cellular phone, fax and Internet (FSM Telecom) services are available across Micronesia.
Visit Telecom's information page below, which provides information on restaurants, hotels, etc. in the country.
http://www.fm/*The ccTLD assigned to the FSM is “fm”.
A popular domain used by FM radio stations, etc. in the world
Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia in Japan
4-10-6, Meguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-0063, Japan
Tel : 03-6452-2540 *Office hours: 9:00-17:00(except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)
Fax : 03-6452-2541
URL : https://fsmemb.or.jp/