All Reviews for 1-Day Tours

The trip was well organised and we visited number of different places. The scenery was beautiful despite the weather. All the places we visited, we were meant to see Mt Fuji, however it was too cloudy, which was a shame. But that cannot be helped. The tour includes going to the 5th station of Mt Fuji, however there was snow there so we were only allowed to go up to the 1st station. There we could see Mt Fuji through the clouds. The 4D simulation ride of Mt Fuji was lovely, you could see Mt Fuji in all the seasons. The lunch was delicious with good sized portions.

Overall the weather let us down but I cannot fault the tour.

A veteran guide accompanied our group of five women, including myself, and although it rained from the start, we were treated to many insightful stories and jokes, making our walk enjoyable throughout. Thanks to the guide, we were able to keep going until the end without losing motivation, and I learned a lot. The greenery after the rain was vibrant and beautiful. Hokkaido has a lot of nature, but this place had a completely different charm. I think the scenery is worth the 22-kilometer round trip.

私を含めた女性5人のグループにベテランガイドさんがついてくださって、スタートしてからは雨のお天気でしたが、身になるお話をたくさんしてくださり、そしてジョークも織り交ぜで終始楽しく歩くことができました。ガイドさんがいてくださったおかげで、最後までくじけず歩くことができましたし、とても勉強になりました。雨が降った後の緑はとても生き生きとしていて素晴らしかったです。北海道にも自然はおおくありますが、全く違った良さがありました。往復22キロあるいてでも見るべき景色かと思います。

I spent a day at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) on a bus tour from Tochigi Prefecture, and on the next free day, I participated in a sightseeing tour of Kyoto with Shinki Bus.

I arrived at the meeting place an hour early in the morning. The guide was already waiting and kindly asked if I was there for the tour, which put me at ease. The bus was very noticeable with large letters spelling "LIMON" on a yellow background.

The first sightseeing spot, Fushimi Inari, was very crowded from the morning, but the guides, wearing yellow happi coats and holding flags, stood out well. The bus was equipped with USB jacks and Wi-Fi, which was helpful.

I thought it was nice to have many foreign participants this time.

栃木県から別のバスツアーで、USJで1日過ごし、次のフリー日に、神姫バスツアーで京都観光に参加。
　朝、1時間前に集合場所に到着した。すでにガイドさんも待機され、気さくに観光参加ですか？と声をかけられ、こちらも安心。
バスは、黄色の地に大きな文字でLIMONと書いてあり目立ちました。
　観光1箇所目の、伏見稲荷は、朝から大変混雑、しかし誘導は、黄色のはっぴに旗でやはり大変目立った。
バス車内は、USBジャックとWi-Fi装備で助かりました。
　外人さんの参加が、多くたまにはいいかなって、思いました。

It has been 15 years since my last visit to Okinawa. I wanted to visit famous spots like Churaumi Aquarium, but I thought it wouldn't be cost-effective to rent a car for a solo trip or transfer by bus to the northern part of the island. While searching for tours, I discovered this one. I was a bit worried because the tour price was low and included admission tickets, but after participating, I found myself thinking, "Is this price really okay?" within about 30 minutes, as it turned out to be an amazing tour.

I have participated in various tours both domestically and internationally, but the smile of our bus guide, Naruemi, was wonderful, and the driving of our driver, Kinjo, who was introduced as resembling Ken Shimura, was very careful and comfortable. You could feel the effort and hospitality to keep participants engaged from start to finish. I would highly recommend this tour for first-time visitors to Okinawa.

Thanks to this tour, I had a very enjoyable day!

The current situation regarding the Okinawa base issue, which people from the mainland tend to approach cautiously, was educational, especially with the Uchināguchi (Okinawan dialect) class and cultural customs that felt like a social studies field trip. We also did dance stretches to Okinawan songs. The guide's quick costume change for the sweet potato girl dance was delightful. Even as a solo participant, I had a lot of fun.

However, I do have a couple of suggestions for improvement.

- Regarding meals at Churaumi Aquarium: Since I participated in a tour during a holiday period, we had free time for lunch at the aquarium, but there were very few restaurants, and it was extremely crowded. I had to wait about 20 minutes to place an order, which made it difficult to enjoy a leisurely meal, and I hardly had any time to explore the aquarium. I felt that for tours during holiday periods, it would be better to include a stop at a recommended steak restaurant for an additional fee, or if bringing food and drinks into Ocean Expo Park were allowed, an announcement in advance would have been appreciated.

- About the Okashi Goten (Sweet Shop): While it was nice to see the production process, I felt that since there is a location on Kokusai Street, it might not be necessary to go out of the way for it. Instead of visiting Okashi Goten, I would have preferred to arrive at Ryukyu Village a bit earlier or have time to visit Kouri Tower on Kouri Island.

After returning to the mainland, I happened to hear "Yui Yui," and it brought back memories of the bus tour, making me smile a little.

This was a great tour for those who want to focus solely on visiting the famous spots in Okinawa.

15年ぶりの沖縄。美ら海等の名所には行きたいけれど一人旅に
わざわざレンタカーを借りたり、バスを乗り継いで北部まで行くのは
費用対効果が合わないなとツアー検索していたところ、こちらのツアーを発見。
入場券込でツアー料金も安価なので心配はありましたが、参加して30分ほどで
別の意味で「この価格で大丈夫?」と思ってしまうほど、最高のツアーでした。

国内外様々なツアーに参加してきましたが根路銘バスガイドさんの笑顔が素敵で
志村けんさん似と紹介されていた金城運転手さんの運転はとても丁寧で乗り心地良くて
最初から最後まで参加者を飽きさせない工夫・おもてなしの心が感じられ
初めて沖縄へ行く方にはお勧めしたくなるツアーでした。

おかげざまでとても楽しい一日になりました!

内地の人間が話題に出すのも慎重になる沖縄基地問題の現状、
うちなーぐち(沖縄弁)講座や風習は社会科見学のようで勉強になりました。
また沖縄の歌に合わせたダンス・ストレッチ。
ガイドさんの早着替えでの紅芋娘の踊り。一人参加でも、すごく楽しかったです。

ただ2つほど、改善要望もあります。

・美ら海水族館での食事について
連休時期のツアー参加だったため、美ら海水族館で自由に昼食をとるのですが
レストランの数が少なく、とてつもなく混雑。注文に20分待ち等でゆっくり
食事ができず、館内もほとんど見る時間が取れなかったので
連休時期のツアー時は別料金加算でも良いのでお勧めステーキレストラン立ち寄り、
もしくは海洋博公園に飲食物持ち込みOKであれば、事前に持参等のアナウンス
対応があれば良かったなと感じました。

・お菓子御殿について
製造工程が見られたのは良かったのですが・・・
国際通りにもあるのでわざわざ行かなくてもいいかなと感じました。
お菓子御殿に行く代わりに琉球村にもう少し早く到着、もしくは古宇利島で
せっかくなら古宇利タワーにも行く時間等が欲しかったなと感じました。

内地に戻ってきて、たまたま「ゆいゆい」を耳にしたとき
バスでのことを思い出し、少し頬が緩みました。

沖縄の名所だけ集中してまわりたい方にはおすすめの良いツアーでした。

Our customized tour with Fuji-san was amazing, as we had only one full day in Kyoto I was worried we wouldn't get to see everything. Not only did we do everything we had on our list, but he took special interest in showing us things for our young children (ages 3 and almost 6) that we hadn't considered doing, such as the Toei Movie studios lot. My son LOVES Power Rangers, it was the highlight of his trip, and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the female heroine of the samurai show. He suggested a better order of doing things, so that we could see certain sights before they became too crowded. When we admired the view of Kyoto from the mountainside, he took us to a nearby temple with panoramic views of the city. He knew great spots for taking the best photos, and where to eat. He was kind and patient with our rambunctious children, and explained the history and meaning behind EVERYTHING, from the statues to the temple bells. In addition, the van we rented was spacious, comfortable, and impeccably clean. I would definitely book with VELTRA again, and would give Fuji-san the highest rating possible for his knowledge, patience, sweet demeanor and excellent English. Thank you Fuji-san for an unforgettable day!

We were picked up by our guide at around 4:30 AM at our accommodation and headed to the entrance of Shiratani Unsuikyo. Along with the two of us, there were five others in our group, making a total of seven participants.

Since we started in complete darkness with headlamps, we couldn't enjoy the scenery at all. About 1.5 hours into the hike, when we stopped for breakfast at a mountain hut, it finally became bright enough to see our surroundings.

We passed through the mossy forest that inspired "Princess Mononoke," jumped at Taiko Rock, and enjoyed our lunch at the Wilson Cedar stump.

Once we reached the trolley path, it became monotonous and very boring.

The Jomon Cedar was truly magnificent, but we could only view it from a wooden deck under construction, so we couldn't get as close as I had hoped. Even taking photos from a distance didn't convey the impressive scale.

I understand it's for protection, but honestly, I wish we could have gotten a bit closer.

Also, I think the course that covers both Shiratani Unsuikyo and Jomon Cedar in one day would be tough for those who don't usually exercise. There was someone in our group who seemed to be in pain with their knees.

There were many rocky areas, and the stairs had significant height differences, putting a lot of strain on the knees.

On the way back, while some people took a shortcut on the trolley path to catch a bus, we decided to follow our guide back via the mountain-crossing Unsuikyo route. It took about 1.5 hours longer than taking the bus, but I was glad we did it because I wanted to see the Unsuikyo scenery in the daylight.

If you exercise regularly, as long as you go at your own pace, it shouldn't be too tough.

ガイドさんに朝4:30頃に宿でピックアップしてもらい、白谷雲水峡の入り口へ。
私達2名の他に、グループで参加している人たち5名と合わせて7名での行動。

白谷雲水峡は真っ暗な中ヘッドライト装着での進行のため景色は一切楽しめず。
スタートして1.5時間後ほど経ち、山小屋で朝食をとるころにようやくまわりが見えるくらいに明るくなる。

もののけ姫の題材となった苔むす森を通ったり、太鼓岩でジャンプしたり楽しみながらウィルソン杉の切り株のところで昼食。

トロッコ道になってから単調で非常に退屈。

縄文杉はとても偉大だったけど、作成途中の木製デッキの上から眺めるだけで
おもったよりも近づけなかった。遠目に写真をとってもイマイチ迫力は伝わってこない。

保護のために仕方ないのだろうけど、もう少し近づけたらよかったなぁ、、というのが正直な感想。

また、普段運動していない人にはこの白谷雲水峡と縄文杉を一日で周るコースは辛いと思います。グループ内でも膝を痛そうにしている人がいました。

岩場が多く、階段も段差が大きいので膝への負担が大きいです。


帰りはトロッコ道からショートカットしてバスに乗って帰る人もいるなか、
私たちはガイドさんについて行って山越え雲水峡ルートで帰ることに。
バスで帰るより1.5時間くらい時間はかかるが、
雲水峡の景色を明るい中で見たかったので行ってよかった。

普段から運動をしていれば、マイペースで進む限り辛くはありません。

This tour was very interesting! As we were without a car in Okinawa, with this tour we were able to visit most of Okinawa's famous spots especially Churaumi aquarium and had traditional Okinawan lunch for a very reasonable price, considering the fact that the normal admission fee for the aquarium is around 3000 yen. Moreover, on each stop we received small presents from the tour guide, which is very pleasing! Also there was an English audio guide so we have learned some of interesting facts about Okinawa.
Overall this tour was very good and well organized, everything on time and the tour guide and bus driver were very kind! we have brought our own stroller and the driver was taking it out and folding it back on every stop, for what we are very thankful!
I definitely recommend this tour!

I was able to smoothly explore a dream world that is completely different from my everyday life. The mangrove cruise was very cold, but everything was beautiful, from the water buffalo cart to the scenery of Yufu Island and the charming streets of Taketomi Island. The bus driver during the transfers was also very entertaining, and I was able to see a crested serpent eagle. For those who want to take their time to see each attraction, it might feel a bit rushed, but I think it's a tour that is packed with experiences that don't feel short at all.

自分が普段生活しているところと全く違った 夢の世界を、段取りよく廻らせてもらうことができました。
マングローブクルーズは非常に寒かったんですが、水牛車といい、由布島の景色といい、竹富島の可愛らしい街並みといい、全てが美しかったです。
途中移動のバスの運転手さんもとても面白かったですし、カンムリワシも見ることができました。
それぞれをゆっくり見たい人には物足りないかもしれませんが、短時間と思えないほど 満載のツアーだと思います。

We did not find Fuji but instead Taiji our guide who has helped to turn bad weather into an interesting trip. We visited the Kimono museum, traditional Japanese noodles house with fresh organic ingredient from the farm (and Horse Sushi I know!) and end the trip with shopping spree in Gotemba before being dropped off at the hotel. Special thanks for extra Japanese vocab and help with contact in Kyoto.

Levin, our tour guide was excellent. He was friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable throughout the trip. He made made the day a total delight.

It is completely commercialized, and while the cows, which were imported from Taiwan, are carefully raised and trained for tourism, I found the driver of the cow shed who honestly explained everything to be likable. Hearing about how they work together as companions while sharing meals and living together gave me a different feeling when I got off the ride.

完全に観光化されたものであり、台湾から輸入した牛を大切に育て観光用に教育したものではあるが、返って正直に説明してくださる牛舎車の運転手に好感が持て、寝食一緒に仲間として働いているという話を乗車中に聞いて下車するときには違う感情で見れた。

Our group consisted four adults including two 6'3 250 lb guys. Our driver, Fuji, was an absolute pleasure; well spoken, well prepared, insightful and courteous. We were picked up in a Toyota Century - a $100,000 luxury sedan. As a car enthusiast this was a delight as it's something we don't get stateside and the only V12 made by Toyota (outside of Formula 1!). We were very comfortable in the car. I had written up a plan of sites to see, Fuji commented on each location and we pared it down to 6 chosen locations.

What we saw in our 6 hour tour was easily 2 days worth of content. We started the day at Kennin-ji to see the dragon and walk the grounds, then headed towards Arashiyama via Uzumasa (Fuji recommended). In Arashiyama we saw the Tenryu-ji temple then walked along the Bamboo Forest road, we split for the monkeys and an owl cafe. Then took in the Katsura River and the general beautiful scenery with some shopping and headed for Kinkaku-Ji by way of Ninna-ji. Then we went to Fuji's secret overview spot with a glass tea house. From there we walked the 1001 Buddha statues in Sanjusangendo where Fuji gave history lessons on the deities, the religious text/background and archery competition famous to the area. Finally we were dropped off in Gion to walk Shirakawa-Minami Dori and observe the geisha and folks in costume with the beautiful scenery.

Fuji's insightful comments to each site were well appreciated, his VIP treatment with drop off/pick up was a boon for our more handicap party members and the ability to adjust the tour (bathroom, food, etc.) was well worth the extra expense over a comparable tour bus. His suggested locations and activities gave us a behind the scenes look in Kyoto as well as the typical iconography in the area. We will happily use this service again in our next trip.

For a group of 3 or more individuals this type of tour makes good financial sense and the convenience over a tour bus or larger grouped setting is invaluable.

After the tour departed, we received a call from a passenger who was late, and we waited at the meeting point in Namba. Although the regulations clearly state that this would be considered abandonment of the tour, perhaps due to the kindness of the tour guide, we waited for 27 minutes and started late.

There was no booing from the other passengers, including families with children, and the mood was quite pleasant as we set off. Many of the tour participants were foreigners, and languages like English and Tagalog were being spoken on the bus, creating an exotic atmosphere that felt like we were traveling abroad.

The three spots on the course had changed completely from my visit several decades ago, allowing for a refreshing sightseeing experience. Although the schedule became a bit tight to recover from the late start, there was no sense of urgency, and we had enough time to enjoy the sights.

However, on the way back, we encountered a major incident on the highway, resulting in a significant traffic jam. The tour guide was visibly stressed as the vehicle had another schedule to adhere to. I had reserved a Shinkansen ticket for two hours after the tour ended, but due to the delay, I had to run to catch the train at the platform, just making it to the rear boarding gate safely.

This will likely become a memorable part of my enjoyable trip. I rated my experience as "average" because while the delays in departure and return were not the travel company's fault, I believe that if the tour guide had checked the post-tour schedules of the current passengers and provided appropriate advice rather than focusing on adjusting the next tour, it could have earned a "highest" rating.

(Please understand that I am not criticizing the tour guide's response; I am simply sharing the perspective of a passenger who was anxiously checking the time on the bus.)

ツアー発車後乗り遅れた客から連絡、難波の集合場所で待機、規定では前途放棄とみなすと明記してあるも、添乗員さんの優しさか、待つこと27分、遅れてのスタートでした。
遅れてきた子供連れファミリーにブーイングもなく和やかなムードでの出発となりました。
ツアー客は外国人の方が多く、英語、タガログ語などが社内で飛び交い、エキゾチックな雰囲気でまるで外国旅行をしているようなムードでした。
コースの３スポットは数十年前の訪問時とは全くイメージが変わっており、新鮮な気持ちで観光できました。
遅れたスタートのスケジュール回復のため、若干タイトな行程となりましたが、時間的にはそんなに切迫感もなく、十分拝観することが出来ました。
ところが帰路ハップニング、高速道路で事故があっており、大渋滞に巻き込まれてしまいました。当該車両は次のスケジュールもあり添乗員さんはその対応に大変な様子でした。
私は少し余裕をみてツアー終了後2時間の新幹線を予約していましたが、ツアーの遅れで新幹線ホームで走りやっと後尾の乗降口でセーフとなりました。
これも楽しい旅の思い出になりそうです。
体験談での評価を「普通」とさせていただいたのは、出発遅れや帰着遅れは決して旅行会社のせいではありませんが、バスの次ツアーの調整よりも、現ツアー客のツアー後のスケジュールを確認し、適切なアドバイスを頂けたら「最高」の評価になったと思います。
（決して添乗員さんの対応を非難しているわけでなく、車内で時計をみながらやきもきしていた一乗客の意見として拝読いただければ幸甚です。）

We are on board at the first stop and it take about two n half hour to pick up other travelers in different hotel.. we are arranged to sit at the last row of the bus.. we are feel uncomfortable even me vomit in the bus.. lucky one of my friend have a small plastic bag for me.. ask for the tour leader who doesn't know English.... can't communicate :((
Pineapples stop only allowed us to stay 45 min, not enough time to try on the food.. after that take 2.5 hours time to go back hotel..,.haiz！！

Our experience with this tour was great and everything went as planned except the weather wasnt at its best so we were not able to see the mountain as much as we wouldve liked. Even tho that was indeed the case for our tour, it was still spectacular to see mt fuji from where we were.

Our first stop was at the lake, this was hands down the best view of the mountain from my opinion. The reflection of the mountain against the lake was breath taking and it woke us up instantly after the bus ride to get there. It took about 1.5 hours to get there from shinjuku to the first stop. I took most of my pictures here, really beautiful scenic stop and makes you appreciate the nature.

When it was time to visit fifth station where the hikers usually begin their journey, the weather was not permitting so we started at first station. That was noted in the itinerary so dont be too disappointed. This stop wasnt too exciting but it was a good stop for the restroom.

The next favorite stop is the 4-d ride of mt fuji. Ot was near an amusement park so we also got to see one of the roller coasters that is in the gunniess world record, i believe they mentioned it was the steepest drop. I cringed when i saw it! Crazy ride! But anyway the 4d ride was really fun. We were split into two groups and we went first. Got to see a mini movie almost but the ride made it feel like you were actually there.

The lunch was pretty good as well, theres definitely better food in japan but it was good for what is provided. It was buffet style so they will make sure youre not starving. We had curry, salad, soup and a variety of noodles and meat.

Over all it was truly a good experience. If you are planning on visiting japan i would say a trip to mt fuji is a must do!

I had an unexpected long vacation due to work. Living in a cold place, I really wanted to escape to a warm location, so I chose Okinawa. Even acquaintances in Okinawa said, "That's a route we don't usually take," as it is the northernmost point. The lunch was better than I expected, but I wish I could have enjoyed the meal a bit more leisurely. One request: the audio guide through the earphones... the quality was not great? Even at the lowest volume, the sound was distorted, and I couldn't hear half of it. I think it would be good to check it once.

仕事の関係から急きょ空いた、長期休み。
寒い所に住んでる私は、とにかく‼暖かい場所へ逃げたく…沖縄を選びました。
沖縄の知人でさえ、『あまり、行かないようなコースだね』との話の…最北端。
lunchも、思っていたより良かったです…が、もう少しゆっくりお食事したかったかな。
ひとつ…お願いですが、案内の流れるイヤホーン…
質が…いまいち？　一番最低音量にしても、音がわれてしまい、半分も聞き取れなかったです。
一度確認されたらいかがかなと思います

I was satisfied that I could visit all the places I wanted to!

Since I was going to Kouri Island, I wanted to explore not just the beach but also other areas.

The audio guide was too loud, so I stopped listening halfway through...

Also, this isn't an issue with the tour company, but the person sitting behind me, who I think was Chinese, kept burping repeatedly, which was uncomfortable (laughs).

But overall, I was very satisfied with the tour! It was so much fun! Thank you very much! ✨

私的に行きたいところを全て回れて満足です！

古宇利島にせっかく行くので
ビーチだけじゃなくて
他のとこも回りたかったのと

音声ガイドの音がデカすぎて
途中聞くのやめたのと…

あとはツアー会社の問題ではないですが
後ろの席の中国人？の方が何回もゲップをしててずっと同じ席なのが苦でした(笑)

でもツアー自体は全然満足！
とっても楽しかったです！
ありがとうございました✨

On the day of our visit, although it was sunny, there were quite a few clouds until sunset, and I was worried about whether we would be able to see the stars. However, the clouds cleared up enough for us to finally look through the telescope we had been longing for. That day, at "Haimurubushi," we were able to see Betelgeuse, Sirius, the Trapezium, and Jupiter. (From the observatory, we could also faintly see Canopus.) The starry sky tour guide at the observatory was exceptional. After showing us three stars that were already rising through the telescope, she quickly showed us "4D2U" while we waited for Jupiter to rise. She used the short time very effectively to explain the arrangement of the stars and the formation of galaxies. 4D2U is a 3D celestial map that you view with special glasses, and the guide skillfully manipulated the 3D images, rotating and zooming in on the stars while explaining them. Her storytelling was excellent, and the 3D celestial map made the structure of the galaxy and the vastness of the star world very clear, which was incredibly interesting beyond my imagination. Even if the weather had been bad and we couldn't see the stars, I think we would have been quite satisfied with just the 4D2U experience at Haimurubushi, as the star guide's explanations were clear and easy to understand. The telescope at "Haimurubushi" was large and impressive, and just being inside the dome was quite moving. We were fortunate with the weather and were able to look through the telescope, witnessing the moment when the large telescope opened its mirror, slowly changing angles with mechanical sounds, and the romantic moment when the dome ceiling opened. Observing the bright light of the stars through the telescope made me feel a sense of excitement, as if I had returned to my childhood. Although it wasn't perfectly clear that day and the clouds kept moving, I was very grateful that the star guides adapted the tour content based on the conditions of the sky. As someone from Honshu, I was unaware of the seasonal changes between dry and rainy seasons, but I learned that Ishigaki Island experiences the rainy season until around March. According to the taxi driver, January and February often have cloudy and rainy weather, making it quite rare to see a beautiful starry sky. Conversely, during the dry season in summer, there are fewer clouds and rain, so the chances of seeing the stars are much higher. We also thought it would be nice to come back in the summer. Lastly, outside of the activities, I wanted to see the Southern Cross, which the star guide had introduced, so after the tour, I went out to an open area to look for it at midnight. Unfortunately, the low part of the sky was hazy, and I couldn't find it. I definitely want to come back to Ishigaki Island to see the Southern Cross.

当日、晴れてはいるものの日暮れまでやや雲が多く、星が観られるかなー、と心配をしていましたが、なんとか雲もそこそこ晴れ念願だった天体望遠鏡を覗かせてもらうことが出来ました。この日『はいむるぶし』で見せていただけた星はベテルギウス、シリウス、トラペジウムと木星でした。(天文台からうっっすらとカノープスも見えました。)天文台の星空ツアーガイドのお姉さんの手腕が素晴らしく、この日は最初にすでに昇っている星を３つ天体望遠鏡で見せて下さったあと、木星が昇るのを待つ間に『少し駆け足で』4D2Uを見せて下さったのですが、短い時間をすごく効果的に使って星の配置や銀河の成り立ちを説明して下さいました。4D2Uというのは特殊なメガネをかけて鑑賞する3D天体図のことで、星空ガイドのお姉さんが立体映像を自在に引いたり寄せたり回転させたりしながら星々の説明をして下さいました。お話しが上手なのと天体図が立体的に飛び出して見えることで銀河の構造や星の世界の果てしなさがとてもよくわかり、想像を超えて面白かったです。もし運悪く天気が悪くて星を見ることが出来なくても、4D2Uとはいむるぶし見学だけでもかなり満足出来たのではないかと思ったほど星空ガイドさんの説明は上手でわかりやすかったですし、天体望遠鏡『はいむるぶし』は大きくてかっこよくて、ドームの中に入れただけでもかなりの感動がありました。今回は天気に恵まれ天体望遠鏡を覗かせていただけたので、大きな望遠鏡が反射鏡を開く様子や機械音をたててゆっくりと角度を変える様子、そして天井のドームが開くロマンあふれる瞬間を見ることが出来ました。天体望遠鏡を覗いてハッキリと大きく見える星の光を観察した時には子供の頃に戻ったようなワクワクを感じましたよ。この日は快晴というわけではなく、雲が動き続けていたので、星空ガイドのみなさんが空の様子を見ながら臨機応変にツアーの内容を変えて対応して下さったこともとても有り難かったです。本州の人間である自分には乾季雨季の感覚が無く盲点でしたが、石垣島は3月頃まで雨季なのだそうです。タクシーの運転手さんによると、1月2月は曇天雨天がとても多く星空が綺麗に見えることはかなり少ないそうです。逆に、乾季である夏は雨や雲が少なく、高い確率で星空を見ることが出来るのではないでしょうか。私達も今度は夏にまた来たいなあと思いました。最後にアクティビティ外の話しですが、星空ガイドさんが紹介されていた南十字星を見たくてツアー終了後の深夜 南中時刻に合わせて星の見える開けた場所まで出かけましたが、この日は空の低い位置は霞がかかっていてとうとう見つけることが出来ませんでした。南十字星を見るためにも、また石垣島に来たいと思います。

After reading many reviews some positive and negative, we decided to try this Hop on Hop off bus ride. We (group of 10) started late due to our distance from Tokyo Station. As we got off the station we asked around to finally get to Mitsubishi building which one cannot miss its signage. It was freezing cold that day on 25th and we did our first ride through the first to last stop on the blue line. It was interesting as we listened to the introductions of the places we passed by through the ear recorder in the language we preferred. Personally, I felt I gained more knowledge as the voice introduced the places we passed through in the comfort of the open decker bus. We then took the purple line to Ginza /Tsukiji. By the time we reached Tsukiji, some shops started closing at 1.30pm. It is best to go early in the morning . We were left with not much time to visit Asakuse instead we took the last bus to go round to view the Tokyo Rainbow bridge in the night. It was a different sight when viewed in the night with all the llightings. I am very sure when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom next week, it is a good idea to take this hop-on hop-off bus as we passed the cherry trees which was budding then.

We are going to recommend our friends who will be visiting Tokyo to try out this bus as it is money well spent to enjoy the whole of Tokyo in a day.

Despite being late March, the day of the tour was marked by thick clouds and strong winds, which meant we had to spend our time at Kawahira Park and the tea time (originally a scenic café) without much enjoyment.

The only highlight was the Yonehara Tropical Rainforest. We took a short 10-minute stroll through the rainforest, and the well-maintained pathways made it safe for older visitors.

We departed from the bus terminal at 2 PM with a group of 11. We made stops at four locations, including a café, and returned to the bus terminal at 5:30 PM, arriving 20 minutes early due to the bad weather. The afternoon course does not go via the airport.

The guide was kind, and we were able to comfortably visit the attractions, so it wasn't bad at all. However, I believe that poor weather inevitably lowers the overall satisfaction.

　３月下旬にもかかわらず、ツアー当日は、厚い曇り空と風が強かったので、せっかくの川平公園もティータイム（本来は絶景カフェ）も時間を持て余してしまいました。
　唯一、良かったのは米原熱帯原生林でしょうか。原生林を１０分程度散策しますが、歩道が整備されているので年配の方でも安心です。
　１１人で１４時にバスターミナルを出発。カフェを含めて４箇所を下車観光し、バスターミナルに戻ってきたのは１７時３０分。お天気が悪かったので２０分早く到着しました。午後コースは空港を経由しません。
　ガイドさんも親切で、快適に見所を回れるなど、決して悪いくはないのですが、お天気が悪いとどうしても満足度は低くなると思います。

The trip was interesting. However, unfortunately we did not get to go to the 5th station due to the weather. We were disappointed.

During my first visit to Yakushima, I wanted to see as much as possible in my short two-night, three-day stay, so I chose this challenging course. (laughs) I had only done a six-hour mountain trek once before and had no experience, and since I usually work in an office, I was filled with anxiety, but I managed to get through it!

Unfortunately, the weather on the day in Yakushima was rainy all day, with temperatures around 3° to 5° near the summit, and the footing was somewhat poor. There were several times I thought I couldn't go on! However, the sense of accomplishment after walking for 12 hours was immense.

Even with my Gore-Tex rainwear, I ended up getting wet inside, so I was really glad I brought a change of clothes.

The guide was very helpful, sharing information about Yakushima and pointing out highlights along the way. That day, my group had the tour all to ourselves!

Other guides were handing out snacks, so there might be some differences depending on the guide (laughs).

When it was raining, the view from Taiko Rock was completely obscured, and everything was white. That was a bit disappointing, but it was definitely worth seeing with my own eyes.

I noticed a few people from other tours who had to retire along the way, so I think whether you can complete it or not varies by individual. However, if you can handle a six-hour mountain climb, I believe you can reach the goal without retiring.

As for Jomon Sugi, it is now surrounded by nets, and you can only see it from a very far distance, which was disappointing.

I ran into some local guides at a bar, and they mentioned that this course is chosen by only about 20 out of 300 people, making it an athlete's course (laughs). If you're considering this, keep that in mind and prepare yourself, and you might find it manageable!

Next time, I want to take my time and enjoy the nature of Yakushima even more, as it is such a wonderful place!

初めての屋久島で、二泊三日という短い滞在の中、できるだけ多く見たいと思い、こちらの過酷なコースを選択しました。（笑）
トレッキング経験は6時間程度の山を1度したきり、全くなく、普段はオフィスワークな為、不安しかありませんでしたが、何とかなりました‼︎

当日の屋久島の天気はあいにくの一日中雨で、気温も山頂付近で3°〜5°とゆう悪天候の中、足場も多少悪く、何度かもう無理！と思いましたが、12時間歩いた後の達成感は、非常に大きいです。

ゴアテックスの上下レインウェアでさえ、無力で中は濡れてしまったので、着替えを持っていって本当に助かりました。

ガイドさんも屋久島のことや、歩きながら見どころなどを伝えていただいて、ありがたかったです。
この日は、私のグループだけで貸切でした！

他のガイドさんは、差し入れなどを配ったりしていたので、ガイドさんによって個人差はあるかもしれません（笑）

雨などが降っていると、太鼓岩からの景色は全く見えず、真っ白でした。
そこが少し残念でしたが、自分の目で見る価値はかなりあります。

途中すれ違う際に、他のツアーの方でリタイアされる方も何名かいらっしゃったので、できるかできないかは、個人差があるかなと思いますが、6時間程度の山登りができる方であれば、リタイアすることもなく、ゴールできると思います(^^)

縄文杉までは、ネットが張られていて、パンフレットなどで見る距離感ではなく、非常に遠くからしか見れなくなっているので、そこが残念でした。

地元のガイドさん達と飲み屋で遭遇しましたが、こちらのコースは、300人中20人程度しか選ばないアスリートコースだそうです（笑）
迷われている方はそれを踏まえて覚悟して行くと、頑張れるかと思います！

今度はもっとゆっくり余裕を持って、屋久島の自然を見たいなと思うくらい、素敵な場所でした‼︎

I was able to efficiently explore Ishigaki Island until my departure time at the airport and make good use of my time. I also enjoyed a delicious lunch. I hope there will be a similar tour in the afternoon that aligns with the arrival at the airport around noon.

帰りの空港出発の時間まで効率よく石垣島をめぐり時間を
有効に使えました。
お昼も美味しく頂きました。
昼空港到着に合わせて、午後発の同様のツアーがあれば
と思います。

We, who cannot drive, decided to head north on this bus tour. At Ryukyu Mura, we played with some of Japan's largest butterflies, and at Nago Pineapple Park, we enjoyed rides and had fun beyond just the aquarium. Above all, being able to sleep while traveling is the best!

車を運転できない私たち、こちらのバスツアーで北部に向かうことにしました。
琉宮城は日本最大級の蝶とたわむれ、ナゴパイナップルパークはライドに乗って移動し、水族館以外も楽しめました。なにより眠っていけるのが最高です

Blair & Jessica the tour guides were wonderful & really appreciate Jessica thoughtfulness in informing us of the availability of muslim prayer room at the Ninja Village. Thanks & regards.

Okinawa's Oishi Forest is particularly dangerous when it rains due to poor footing. The Churaumi Course offers plenty of rocks and beautiful scenery to enjoy. Our guide was a handsome guy with blue eyes; his Japanese was a bit hard to understand, but we managed just fine. The buffet was really delicious. Overall, it felt a bit rushed due to time constraints, but I had a great time. Since it was cloudy, I think the views would be even better on a sunny day.

大石林山は特に雨だと足元が悪く危険です。
美ら海コースで十分岩も景色も堪能できます。
ガイドさんは青い目のイケメンさんで、日本語は少しわかりにくいですが不自由はなくすごせました。
バイキングはすごくおいしかったです。
全体的に時間が足りず駆け足な感じですが、楽しかったです。
曇りだったので、晴れると景色がもっといいんだろうなと思います。

Since we stayed near the port, we took a stroll to the meeting place.

We greeted the statue of Gushiken in the port. The sea was a beautiful blue and crystal clear, allowing us to see the bottom.

Off to Taketomi! We arrived in about 30 minutes.
From the port of Taketomi, we took a bus.
First up was the water buffalo cart, gently swaying while enjoying the pleasant background music of the sanshin. The guide's stories were also very informative.
Next, we went cycling, visiting various sightseeing spots on the island and stopping by cafes along the way.
Everyone seemed to be heading back to Ishigaki Island.

I think it's a great recommendation for those visiting Taketomi for the first time!

港近くに宿泊だったのでお散歩がてら集合場所へ＾＾

港内の具志堅像にご挨拶ｗｗ
港の中でも海は真っ青で透き通っており底が見えます＾＾

いざ竹富へ
３０分ほどで到着
　　　↓
竹富の港からバスで移動
　　　↓
まずは水牛車
のんびり揺られながら三線の心地良いBGM♫
ガイドさんのお話も勉強になります
　　　↓
お次はサイクリング
島内の観光ポイントをまわりながら途中でカフェ巡り
　　　↓
各々石垣島に帰るって感じです

初めて竹富へ行かれる方にはオススメかと思います(*^^)v

I had never been to the northern part of Okinawa before, and this was my first time visiting the northernmost point. The bus and seats were comfortable, making for a pleasant ride. The view from Cape Hedo was amazing, and at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, I was able to catch the dolphin show at just the right time, but the two hours flew by. Overall, it was a fun tour, and I would like to visit again to enjoy a leisurely stroll.

沖縄北部にはこれまで行ったことがなく、今回初めて最北端に行きました。バスも座席も乗り心地が良く、快適でした。辺戸岬からの景色も素晴らしく、大石林山では自然の不思議さを感じ、散策で心癒されました。1時間ではすべてのコースを歩くことができず、また、改めて訪問して、ゆっくり散策を楽しみたいと思います。美ら海水族館では、イルカショーをタイミングよく見れましたが、2時間があっという間でした。全体的に楽しい時間が過ごせたツアーでした。

I participated alone, but the tour was structured in a way that allowed me to move to each boarding point with my own tickets for the boat, water buffalo, and bus, so I didn't have to worry too much about others. Each stop had a well-defined schedule, allowing for an efficient island tour! I chose the rental bicycle plan on Taketomi Island, but it was such a beautiful place that I decided to forgo the rental bicycle (there's no refund for the rental) and walked almost all the way around Taketomi Island. Each island had its own personality, and it was a lot of fun!

一人参加でしたが、ツアーは船、水牛、バス等のチケットを持って各乗り場へ自分で移動する形式でしたので他の方にあまり気を使わず参加することができました。
各滞在場所も時間がきちんと確保されて降り効率よく島巡りをすることができました！
竹富島はレンタルサイクルのプランを選択したのですが、あまりにも素敵な場所でしたので、レンタルサイクルは辞め(レンタルサイクル分の返金はありません)徒歩で竹富島をほぼ一周しました。
どの島も個性があり大変楽しかったです！

I participated alone.

I was prepared for the rain, but it continued to fall without stopping, and there were many times when I almost lost heart.

However, just before I thought I couldn't go on anymore, our guide seemed to know exactly when to share information about the forest and took breaks, which helped me regain my strength each time.

The miso soup that was provided during lunch while we were getting drenched in the rain was incredibly delicious! It revived me.

Meeting Jomon Sugi was an emotional experience, but more than anything, I felt a great sense of achievement for walking for 10 hours straight.

In the end, I couldn't properly thank our guide, Matsuda, but I truly appreciate it. The stories about the forest were enjoyable, and thanks to the careful pacing, I was able to complete the hike.

I will visit Yakushima again. I hope it will be sunny next time.

ひとりで参加させていただきました。

雨は覚悟のうえでしたが、ほぼ止むことなく降り続き、何回も心が折れかけました、、

しかし、ガイドさんがもう無理だ！ってなるちょっと前を見計らったかのように、森の説明をいれてくれたり、休憩をはさんでくださり、そのたびになんとか持ち直すことができました。

雨に打たれながらの昼食タイムに差し入れてくださったお味噌汁！最高に美味しかったです。あれで生き返りました。

縄文杉に会えた感動もひとしおでしたが、なにより10時間歩き続けられた達成感が得られました。

最後、ガイドの松田さんにきちんとお礼も伝えられませんでしたが、本当にありがとうございました。いろいろしてくださった森の話、楽しかったです。きっちりペース配分してくださったおかげで、歩ききることができました。

また屋久島に遊びきます。
次は晴れますように、、