The beauty of Samoa’s natural environment has left Japanese tourist Momoko Nagatani mesmerised.

She spent a week in the country and told the Samoa Observer that the beauty of its natural environment struck her.

“I love the nature, it’s so beautiful here. If anything, I would not want Samoa to over-develop, and I think Samoa should stay the same – and not change from what they have right now,” she said in an interview.

Ms. Nagatani first heard of Samoa from her friend, who works here in the country, and consequently flew over for a visit.

“I have a friend who works here in Apia so I thought its a really good opportunity to come visit. Because Samoa is a bit far from my country and it’s not very popular country to spend the holidays for us that’s why I visit,”

Thanks to her seven-day adventure in paradise, she plans to return to Samoa, and is also determined to get a traditional Samoan tattoo when she returns.  

“Before coming to Samoa, I wanted to get a tattoo because of how pretty and it’s just that it looks really nice. If I come back again, I will definitely get that tattoo,” she said.

The Samoan way of life – from tasting the traditional cooked food of taro and palusami to sleeping in a fale – has been a new kind of experience, which she says she will cherish.

“I saw how they cooked food the traditional way and then I tasted taro and palusami, it was a great experience,” she said, after observing and participating in the Samoa Tourism Authority cultural show.

A trip to the famous Lalomanu beach was also on the cards for the Japanese. 

“We also drove to the beach at Lalomanu and we spent a night in an open fale, which was a great thing, because I heard it was a big (thing) for Samoans.”

And with her departure from Samoa not far away, she enjoyed the comforts of the Taumeasina Island Resort, while going through the numerous photos she has taken of her Samoan adventure. 

“I am a photographer back home and I will be taking a lot of photos here, which I love so much,” she added. 

In her first visit to Samoa, she has tried to make the best of each experience, even during the rain! 

“It’s been so great, the only thing about it was the rain, but it was still great even with the rain, Samoa is still so pretty in the rain,” said the 39-year-old who lives in the Japanese city of Fukuoka.