Mintal "Little Tokyo" Japanese Heritage Sites, Davao del Sur: How to Get There

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Davao del Sur

Davao Region · Mindanao

Capital: Capital: Digos
Cities and municipalities: 1 city · 9 municipalitiesAlso in Davao del Sur: Davao City (independent city)
Languages: Languages: Cebuano · Ata Manobo · Obo · Tagabawa · Kalagan · Matigsalug · Filipino · English

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Tourist Spots

🎟️ Entrance:
₱50 registration; local guide required, ₱500 per group of up to 5 (2021 prices)
🕒 Best time:
Early morning for the sea of clouds; dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Bus from Davao City to Santa Cruz, then habal-habal up to Barangay Jose Rizal. Coordinate with the Santa Cruz tourism office first.
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🧭 Getting there:
In Insular Village, Lanang, near the airport road.
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🕒 Best time:
Morning
🧭 Getting there:
On J.P. Cabaguio Avenue, Agdao, about 3–4 km from downtown by taxi or jeepney
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🧭 Getting there:
Inside Philippine Women's College, Juna Subdivision, Matina.
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🕒 Best time:
Daytime
🧭 Getting there:
Jeepney from downtown Davao City toward Mintal/Calinan; the city's Furosato Japanese Heritage Tour covers these sites
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🕒 Best time:
Daytime
🧭 Getting there:
Taxi from downtown Davao City to Catalunan Grande, about 30 minutes
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🕒 Best time:
Weekdays
🧭 Getting there:
Downtown Davao City, Poblacion District; taxi or jeepney
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🕒 Best time:
Late afternoon to evening
🧭 Getting there:
Walk or taxi within downtown Davao City
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🕒 Best time:
Morning
🧭 Getting there:
Jeep or car to Malagos in Calinan district
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🧭 Getting there:
In the Matsuo Compound, Calinan district; jeepney from the city to Calinan.
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🎟️ Entrance:
₱250 per person including guide, helmet, headlamp and fees (2021 prices)
🧭 Getting there:
Coordinate with Barangay Saliducon before visiting; tours are guided.
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🕒 Best time:
Any time; avoid Mass hours if just visiting
🧭 Getting there:
Downtown Davao City on San Pedro Street, walking distance from City Hall and Rizal Park
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🕒 Best time:
Late afternoon
🧭 Getting there:
Taxi from downtown Davao City to Shrine Hills, Matina/Ma-a, about 20 minutes
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🎟️ Entrance:
₱100 (2012 prices)
🕒 Best time:
Dry season; avoid after heavy rain
🧭 Getting there:
Bus from Davao City to Santa Cruz, then habal-habal to Barangay Darong/Sibulan
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🎟️ Entrance:
₱50 registration; local guide required, ₱500 per group of up to 5 (2021 prices)
🕒 Best time:
Dry season
🧭 Getting there:
Bus from Davao City to Santa Cruz, then habal-habal to Barangay Sibulan. Coordinate with the Santa Cruz tourism office first.
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🕒 Best time:
Dry season; the trail is muddy after rain
🧭 Getting there:
Habal-habal from Santa Cruz to the Sibulan area, then a trek with a local guide (older reports give about 3 hours via Kapatagan or 6 hours via the Sibulan trail). Ask the Santa Cruz tourism office for the current route.
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Beaches

🎟️ Entrance:
₱25 entrance, ₱160 pumpboat (2021 prices)
🕒 Best time:
Dry season, calm seas; day trips only (overnight stays were not allowed as last reported)
🧭 Getting there:
About an hour by bus from Davao City to Bato, Santa Cruz, then a mangrove boardwalk and a short pumpboat ride from Bato port
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Camp Sites

🕒 Best time:
Mar–May; climbs need permits and a guide
🧭 Getting there:
Jump-off at Kapatagan (Davao del Sur) or Kidapawan (Cotabato)
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🎟️ Entrance:
₱50 registration; guide/porter ₱250/day (as last reported, 2010)
🕒 Best time:
Dry season (Feb–May)
🧭 Getting there:
Jeep from Davao City to Calinan, then a ride from Calinan Public Market to the jump-off at Purok 6, Sitio Utan, Barangay Tamayong. Coordinate with the Davao City tourism office first; the city said in 2018 that climbing Mt. Apo via Talomo is not allowed.
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Pasalubong & Delicacies

Davao-made chocolate, cacao and dried mangoes
Store set up with DTI XI for local makers: Cacao de Davao and Malagos chocolate products, EngSeng dried mangoes, plus Mindanao-inspired crafts and clothing.
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Durian
The king of fruits: creamy, sweet and famously pungent. Davao's signature.
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Durian bar and durian otap
Soft durian yema bars and other durian treats from the Lola Abon family's second brand, including a durian take on otap. Walk-in visitors can usually taste before buying.
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Durian candy and yema
The original Davao durian candy, made since 1956 from Lola Abon's pastillas recipe. The shop also sells durian jam, dried durian, durian otap and piyaya, mangosteen candies and langka yema.
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Durian jam and durian chocolate
Mix of locally made food souvenirs (durian jam, durian chocolate, durian candy, yema, durian cubes, Lola Abon's pastillas) alongside crafts made by PWD groups.
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Durian sans rival
Layers of crisp meringue and cashew with buttercream made from real durian; mild enough for first-timers. The bakery also makes a durian cheesecake.
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Malagos Chocolate
Award-winning single-origin chocolate made from Davao cacao.
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Mindanao handicrafts (malong, batik bags, native instruments)
Long-running souvenir arcade for malong tube skirts, batik-design bags, rattan bags, shawls, indigenous fabrics and musical instruments, plus antiques.
Pomelo
Large, sweet Davao pomelo, easy to carry home.
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Tablea and durian products
Local cacao tablea for hot chocolate plus durian products from Davao City processors, sold at a center opened by the City Agriculturist's Office in 2023.