Johor Bahru — or simply JB — is one of those places that constantly surprises you!
Often overshadowed, tourists consider it just another “transit city” on their way between the more famous Singapore and Malaysian’s capital Kuala Lumpur.
What they don’t know is: JB has much more to offer than just fast metros and border control!
JB is that city where a moment you’re sipping kopi in a street café, the next you’re staring at a glass temple or wandering through a mall so massive it feels like a city!
Right across the causeway from Singapore, JB is chaotic, colorful, and full of weird little gems that most travelers totally overlook.
Just first time I crossed this city, I stumbled onto something unexpected — a secret garden, a giant pineapple, a 3D museum… trust me, it’s never boring!
In this curiosity article, I gathered for you 7 fun, quirky, and downright surprising facts about Johor Bahru that will likely change your view of this often bypassed corner of the world! 🙂
Let’s dive right in!
7 Incredible Fun Facts about the Johor Bahru
1. Johor Bahru Has Southeast Asia’s
Largest IKEA Store
IKEA Tebrau, in Johor Bahru, is the largest IKEA stores in Southeast Asia, with over 46,000 square meters of space.
Opened in 2017, it quickly became a popular stop not just for locals, but also for many Singaporeans crossing the border on weekends.
The store includes 54 showrooms, each set up like a real home to help you picture how things might look in your own space. With nearly 8,000 products on display, there’s a wide range — from large furniture to small storage and kitchen items.
It’s also built to handle a crowd: there are 1,771 parking bays, and plenty of room to move around even on busy days. Inside, there’s a restaurant serving familiar Swedish dishes like meatballs, salmon, and their well-known almond cake — a nice break in the middle of shopping.
Overall, IKEA Tebrau is a good example of how retail spaces in JB are growing not just in size, but also in how they mix shopping, food, and lifestyle in one place!
2. The City Was Once Called “Tanjung Puteri”
Before Johor Bahru became the bustling city we know today, it went by a much humbler name: Tanjung Puteri.
With “Tanjung” meaning cape (a piece of land jutting into the sea) and “Puteri” meaning “princess”, Tanjung Puteri roughly translates to “Cape of the Princess” — a poetic name likely tied to local folklore or royal associations.
Nestled along the Johor Strait, it was once a peaceful fishing village, where life moved slowly and the skyline was nothing but coconut trees and wooden boats.
Everything changed in 1866, when Sultan Abu Bakar — later known as the Father of Modern Johor — took the reins.
With a bold vision, he renamed the settlement Johor Bahru (meaning New Johor) and began transforming it into a modern administrative capital.
Under his leadership, the city saw the construction of palaces, mosques, government buildings, and road networks — many of which laid the foundation for what JB would become over the next century.
3. Johor Bahru is the Fastest-Growing City in Malasya
Did you know that Iskandar Malaysia, which includes Johor Bahru, is three times the size of Singapore?
As Malaysia’s largest special economic zone, it’s become a magnet for mega investments — pulling in a whopping RM43 billion in 2023 alone, with RM31 billion coming from foreign investors.
Why the hype?
Location plays a huge part: JB sits just across the causeway from Singapore, and that proximity means seamless economic spillover.
Many companies find it strategic (and cost-effective) to set up in JB while still tapping into the Singaporean market.
And this seems to be just the beginning.
The region is currently undergoing a transformation with multiple mega development projects aimed at turning JB into a global tech and logistics hub.
A shining example is Forest City — a futuristic, partially man-made island being developed as a tax-free zone tailored for AI, fintech, and green tech industries.
Massive upgrades are also happening in port infrastructure, transit connectivity, and public amenities, all of which are designed to accommodate the region’s rapid growth.
With its strategic location, lower costs, and government-backed incentives, Iskandar is becoming Southeast Asia’s rising star for innovation and investment — a perfect example of how being next to a giant like Singapore can create its own kind of gravity!
4. Experience Convenient Transportation with redBus
One of the coolest things about Johor Bahru is how ridiculously easy it is to get there from Singapore — you can literally hop on a bus and cross an international border in under an hour!
Every day, thousands of people make the journey via cross-border buses, with travel times ranging from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. It’s one of the busiest land crossings in the world, used by over 300,000 commuters daily!
There are multiple pick-up points in Singapore — like Queen Street Terminal and Golden Mile Complex — and platforms like redBus make taking a bus from Singapore to JB super convenient, fast and stress-free.
Of course, you’ll need to go through immigration twice (Singapore exit and Malaysia entry), but it’s usually a quick process with eGates or manual counters.
Fun bonus? Some of these buses come with reclining seats, power outlets, and even personal entertainment screens — not bad for a border hop!
For less than the price of a coffee in Singapore, you can be eating nasi lemak in JB within the hour 😉
5. Johor Bahru Has Stunning Natural Attractions
6. JB Holds the Annual Chingay Parad,
a 150-Year-Old Tradition
That Feeds Your Soul (Literally)
Every year in Johor Bahru, the streets come alive with drums, lanterns, lion dances, and a whole lot of heart during the Chingay Parade — a vibrant tradition that’s been celebrated for over 150 years!
This isn’t just any parade. It features five deities, each representing one of JB’s major Chinese dialect groups — Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, and Hainanese — marching together in a powerful display of multicultural unity and harmony.
But what truly makes this event magical is the community spirit. Locals line the streets not just to watch, but to serve — handing out free water, snacks, and even tissues to parade-goers. It’s not unusual to receive a kind smile and a packet of peanuts from a total stranger.
With music echoing through the city and incense floating in the air, the Chingay Parade is more than a celebration — it’s a moving symbol of JB’s deep-rooted culture, kindness, and communal pride.
7. Johor Bahru was almost Singapore
Did you know Johor Bahru and Singapore were once part of the same sultanate? Long before the modern borders we know today, both regions were under the rule of the Johor-Riau Sultanate.
But things changed in the 19th century, when the British came in and carved out territories. Singapore became a crown colony in 1867, while JB remained under the Johor Sultanate’s rule — preserving its royal legacy.
That’s why JB is still known today as one of Malaysia’s last active royal cities. The Johor Royal Family remains deeply influential, with the Istana Bukit Serene (the Sultan’s official residence) proudly overlooking the city. Royal traditions, architecture, and ceremonies are very much alive here — giving JB a regal charm you won’t find in most modern cities.
Conclusions 🙂
And here we are at the end of our fun journey through the curiosities of Johor Bahru! 😄
I hope you enjoyed the ride and discovered a new side of this vibrant city just a bus ticket away from Singapore! (Btw, if you are thinking to visit both cities, be sure to check out also our Complete Guide to Visit Singapore!) 🙂
Which fun fact did you find the most surprising? Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear what caught your eye! 😊
Do you know other curiosities about the Nile that you would like to share with us?
Let us know in the comments below! 😀
Hereafter I will leave you a few articles that you might be also interested in checking out:
- 7 World-Class Museums You Never Heard Of
- Destinations of the World: Discover More Cool Destinations!
- Travel Italy: All you Need to Discover the Bel Paese!
Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article!
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