All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

It's a shame the weather wasn't clear. I was healed by the cuteness of the water buffalo. The golden chrysalis was surprising! It was impressive.

お天気がカラッととはいかなかったのが残念。水牛の可愛さに癒されました。金色のサナギが驚き‼️印象的でした。

The staff's prompt and friendly service.
Although it was a short time, it was an experience of island time.
Since it was a whirlwind trip, this kind of relaxed time was perfect for us.

スタッフの迅速で親切な対応。
短い時間でしたが、島国時間の体験。
弾丸旅行だったので、こんなのんびりした時間が私たちにはピッタリでした。

It was a very fulfilling tour where I could feel the atmosphere of each island! I was a bit disappointed that the meal was a bento, but there were plenty of highlights to see!

島それぞれの雰囲気を感じることができ、とても充実したツアーでした！
食事はお弁当なので、少しガッカリでしたが、見所満載でした！

The water buffalo can hold about 20 people, so depending on your seat, you might not be able to hear the guide's explanations at all. If you're sitting towards the back, you won't even feel like you're riding the water buffalo. I wanted to take a photo while riding, but it was impossible.

水牛は、20人くらい乗れるので
席によっては全然ガイドさんの説明が聞けない
後ろの方は水牛に乗ってる感じもしない。
乗ってるところの写真を撮りたかったけど無理でした

I used this for a family trip. The locals were warm, and I had a great experience. I was very satisfied to buy pineapples cheaply on Yufu Island.

家族旅行で利用しました。
現地の皆さんも温かく、良い経験ができました。
由布島でパイナップルを安く買えて大満足です。

There were some negative reviews, which made me a bit worried, but in reality, it wasn't like that at all. The staff were very pleasant!

However, riding the bicycle can be quite tiring (^^; There are many sandy areas that can get your tires stuck! I wonder if an electric bike or a water buffalo would have been better (´ω`；).

口コミに悪い意見もあり
少し心配していましたが
実際はそんなことなく
スタッフの方々も感じが良かったです！

ただ自転車結構疲れます(^^;
砂地が多くタイヤとられます！
電動や水牛の方が
よかったのかな〜とは
思いました(´ω`；)

I was able to smoothly enjoy the island-hopping tour. During the bus ride from Iriomote Island to the water buffalo cart boarding area, the driver's unique commentary was great, and the staff with the water buffalo cart entertained us with folk songs, making the trip enjoyable. Renting a bicycle to explore Taketomi Island allowed me to take it easy and go at my own pace, which was wonderful.

3島巡りをスムーズに観光する事が出来ました。
西表島から水牛車乗り場へのバス移動の際、運転手さんのユニークな案内も良かったし、水牛車の係りの方も民謡を聞かせてくださり、旅を盛り上げて頂き楽しく過ごす事ができました。
自転車を借りて竹富島巡りはのんびりと自分のペースで過ごせて良かったです。

Since I was traveling with my elderly grandparents, I was looking for a tour-type island-hopping experience rather than going individually. I was able to enjoy Taketomi Island, which I was most looking forward to, and I was also satisfied with visiting Iriomote Island and Yubu Island together. The weather wasn't very good, but the mangrove cruise and the water buffalo were impressive. While I can't say it was completely relaxing, I was able to spend a fulfilling day at a relatively leisurely pace. I'm glad I allocated a longer time for Taketomi Island.

高齢の祖父母も一緒の旅行でしたので、個人ではなくツアータイプの離島めぐりを探していました。
一番期待していた竹富島も楽しめましたし、西表島と由布島も一緒に行けて満足できました。
天候はあまりよくなかったのですが、マングローブクルーズと水牛が印象的でした。
のんびりゆっくり…とは言い切れませんが、それなりにゆっくりしながら充実した一日を過ごせました。竹富島は長めの時間にしておいてよかったです。

I’m not good at deciding on courses myself, so I decided to ask for help here.

Everything went smoothly and on time, and I was able to enjoy myself without any worries like, “Is this the right destination?”

The bus driver on Iriomote Island was the best. The lunch on Yubu Island was delicious. On Taketomi Island, I chose the bus tour and water buffalo ride. There were times when I thought, “Wait, we’re leaving already? I want to stay here a little longer…” but it was a great day packed into about 9 hours.

I definitely want to ask for help again!

自分でコースを決めるのが苦手なので、こちらでお願いすることにしました。

時間通りに、スムーズに活動でき、「行き先はここかな？」等という不安なく、安心して楽しむことができました。

西表島のバスの運転手さん、最高でした。由布島のランチ、美味しかったです。竹富島では、バス観光&水牛を選択しました。え？もう出発？もう少しここにいたいな…という時もありましたが、約9時間の中に、ぎゅぎゅっと詰まった良い１日でした。

是非またお願いしたいと思います！

Although the weather was bad with rain and winds at 10 m/s, the boat ride was smooth and there were no issues. I was able to closely observe the mangroves unique to the Yaeyama Islands from a well-equipped boat designed for rain protection. The tour included a water buffalo cart ride to Yubu Island, a scene familiar from television, and it was enjoyable as a guest. On Yubu Island, the sight of the largest butterfly in Japan, the Papilio garamas, fluttering around was elegant and beautiful! The mangrove walking path is also well-maintained.

On Taketomi Island, I leisurely enjoyed my time exploring the Okinawan village by water buffalo cart and on foot. I returned to Ishigaki Island at 4:15 PM and took a photo with Yoshitaka Gushiken—what a thrill! The popular tour had a well-organized schedule, which was reassuring. It was unfortunate about the unpredictable weather. Lunch was somewhat disappointing compared to the delicious meal from the previous day. It would have been perfect if there had been more choices.

雨混じりで１０ｍ風速で悪天候であったが、ボートでの移動も揺れ少なく、
問題なかった。八重山諸島特有のマングローブも雨対策の完備したボートで
近くで観察できた。テレビでお馴染みの由布島への水牛車風景巡りであったが
お客主賓で楽しかった。由布島では日本で最も大きい蝶、オオゴマダラが飛び交う姿は、優雅で美しい！マングローブ遊歩道も整備されている。
竹富島では沖縄集落を水牛車と徒歩散策でゆったり時間を楽しんだ。
石垣島へ帰ったのが4時15分、具志堅用高と写真を撮り万歳！
人気のあるツアーで手慣れたスケジュールは安心できる。
天候不順は残念。昼食は前日美味しい食事だったので、やや不満足でした。
もっとチョイスが出来れば満点。

The weather wasn't very good, which was disappointing, but it was an easy tour. I would like to try going in the summer next time. I want to choose a plan with a bit more activities next time.

天気があまり良くなく残念なところもあったが手軽なツアーでした。次回は夏に行ってみたい。次回はもう少しアクティビティーの高いプランを選んでみたい

We came to Yakushima for a 3-night, 4-day trip with 7 members who had previously gone mountain climbing together. The group consists of members in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and the eldest is 79 years old. There was a strong desire among the members to visit Yakushima for the last time in their lives, which led to the planning of this tour. With both first-timers and those who had visited 2 or 3 times, we struggled to decide on a destination and ended up signing up for a one-day island tour of Yakushima.

We were surprised when the guide came to pick us up at the guesthouse. A foreign guide in Japan?? However, they provided attentive service and offered fascinating explanations about the mangrove trees that grow in seawater, the rare species, the beach where sea turtles lay their eggs, and we walked through the woods in light rain to see the thousand-year-old cedar at Shiratani Unsuikyo, where we had lunch. The Yakushima macaques, which are not afraid of humans, and the slightly smaller Yakushima deer were also introduced to us. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their first experience in Yakushima. Finally, we soaked in the ocean hot spring, creating wonderful memories.

私たちは以前に山登りをやっていたメンバー7名3泊4日で屋久島へ来ました。
79歳を筆頭に、70代・60代・50代のメンバーです。メンバーの中からどうしても人生最後に屋久島に行きたいと言う声が上がり企画したツアーでした。初めての方、2・3回目の方の参加で行く場所に悩み屋久島の1日島内観光ツアー
に申し込みました。最初民宿に迎えに来られたガイドさんに驚きました。日本で外人のガイドさん？？とでも細やかな対応で、興味深い説明、海水で育つマングローブの樹と珍しい種、ウミガメが産卵する浜、小雨の中、木々の中を歩いて千年杉まで行き昼食を食べた白谷雲水峡、人間を怖がらない屋久さる、少し小さい屋久鹿、説明を交えて案内して下さいました。みんなが初めての屋久島を堪能しました。最後に海中温泉に入り、とてもいい思い出が出来ました。

I thought it would be a tough day since it was a tour of Mishima, but I was able to enjoy it leisurely! Even though it was just one day, it turned out to be a meaningful day with so much to see.

三島巡りだったのでハードだと思いましたがゆったりと満喫できました！一日でありますがこれだけ回れ有意義な日になりました。

The weather was great on the day of the trip, making it a wonderful journey. The shuttle service was shared with other groups, but the staff was efficient, and I had no complaints. The tour started and ended in Ishigaki Island, visiting Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island, and it had a well-organized schedule that allowed us to fully enjoy the islands. If I had gone on my own, I wouldn't have been able to cover so much in one day. I look forward to using Veltra again for my next enjoyable trip.

当日は天気が良く素晴らしい旅になりました。
送迎はほかの団体客と同乗でしたが担当者さんはキビキビしていて別段不満はなかったです。
石垣島発着で西表島、由布島、竹富島を周遊するツアーでしたが、ツアーならではの無駄のないスケジュールで離島を満喫しました。
個人で行ったらこんなに効率的に回れず１日で周るのは無理でした。
また次回もベルトラを利用して楽しい旅をしたいと思います。

I participated with two friends.
Since the moon wasn't out, the Milky Way looked really beautiful!
I also had the optional wings drawn, and I absolutely love them!!

友達と3名で参加しました。
月も出ていなかったのでとてもキレイな天の川が写りました！
オプションの羽も描いてもらって、すごくお気に入りです!!

I was anxious because it was raining, but the guide taught us how to enjoy it in our own way, and I was very satisfied! Since we walk quite a bit, I feel that the level of satisfaction can really vary depending on the guide's abilities.

雨が降って不安でしたが、雨なりの楽しみ方もガイドさんに教えてもらい非常に満足でした！けっこう長く歩くのでガイドさんの力量次第で満足度もけっこう変わる気がします。

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour around Mishima. I was picked up from the hotel in the morning and finished around 4 PM, after which I was taken back to the hotel. It was a great value tour since you can enjoy a full day. My day in Ishigaki was filled with a sense of fulfillment.

三島めぐりをしっかり楽しめました。朝からホテル迎えで、4時すぎに終了してホテルまで送ってもらいました。１日たっぷり楽しめるのでお得なツアーでした。石垣島の
１日は、充実感でいっぱいです

The day I had reserved was cloudy and the tour was canceled, but I was able to reschedule for the next day and successfully participated in the tour. Additionally, I was given recommendations for great spots in Miyako Island, and I enjoyed the best views that weren't in my original plan! I would like to join the tour again when I come back to Miyako Island.

予約した日が曇りで中止になったのですが、次の日に変更していただき、無事ツアーに参加できました。また、宮古島のおすすめスポットも教えていただき、予定に無かった最高の景色を楽しめました！また、宮古島に来るときはツアーに参加したいと思います。

I finally got to visit Yakushima, a place I've always wanted to go. As a beginner in mountain climbing, I signed up for this tour. Normally, you can only reach the Arakawa trailhead by bus, but this tour picked me up from my accommodation and took me directly to the trailhead by charter bus without needing to switch buses, which was very convenient. The guide was friendly, and even though I participated alone, they actively engaged with me, allowing everyone to enjoy the climb together. During the trekking, I learned about not only Yakushima but also the lives of various participants, which was enlightening! The guide was also happy to take photos for us. The miso soup served during lunch was very delicious. On the way back, I was quite exhausted and had much less energy to talk than on the way there, but I truly felt it was worth it. The scenery leading up to Jomon Sugi was all wonderful. I would like to return in a different season, and I would love to use this tour again!

人生で一度は行ってみたかった屋久島へ。登山初心者の為このツアーを申し込みました。通常では荒川登山口まではバスで行くしかないそうですが、このツアーは宿に迎えに来てくれ、そのままバスに乗り換えせずに登山口までチャターバスで連れて行ってくれ、とても便利でした。ガイドの方もフレンドリーで、私は一人での参加でしたが、積極的に話しかけてくださり、他の参加者の方とみんなで楽しく登山をする事ができました。トレッキング中は屋久島の話以外にも、いろいろな方の人生が聞けて、勉強になりました！ガイドの方は写真撮影も快くしてくれました。お弁当の時間に出していただいたお味噌汁がとてもおいしかったです。帰りは疲労で大変で、話す気力も行きよりだいぶなくなりましたが、笑本当に行ってよかったです。縄文杉にたどり着くまでの景色も全てが素晴らしかったです。また違う季節に戻ってきたいと思います。その際も、このツアーを利用したいです！

The weather in November on the Sakishima Islands is just perfect, neither too hot nor too cold. My elderly mother was able to enjoy it without any strain. The water buffalo are very cute and reliable. It was clear that the staff really cares for the water buffalo.

天候に恵まれての11月の先島は暑すぎず寒すぎずとてもいいですね。高齢の母も無理なく楽しめました。水牛　とても可愛くて頼もしいですねスタッフがとても水牛たちを大事にしていることが伺えました。

We were guided by Mr. Sasaki, who is said to have over 1,000 mountain climbing experiences. In a slightly chilly spot, he made us freshly prepared miso soup with iriko, which warmed our hearts. He also had creative ways to keep the trekking interesting. We are grateful that he led eight of us, each with different paces, on the 22 km journey and that we all returned safely! Thank you for your care and support.

1,000回以上登山経験があると言われる佐々木さんに案内頂きました
少し寒く感じられるところで、出来立てもイリコ出しのお味噌汁を作って下さり心から温まり、トレッキングを飽きさせないような工夫もあり、
22kmもの道のりをペースの異なる8名を引っ張り全員無事帰ってこれて感謝です！お世話になり有難うございました。

The beautiful sea of Taketomi Island was healing just to look at. The water buffalo were cute, and the guidance was great. It was all an incredibly wonderful memory. Thank you very much! I want to participate again!

竹富島の美しい海は見ているだけで癒されました。水牛がかわいかったし案内も良かったです。全てが最高に良い思い出です。ありがとうございました！また参加したいです！

Since I was traveling with my elderly father, I chose this course to minimize physical strain as much as possible.

The bus tour and the water buffalo cart course were both compact and very good.

The staff members' talks were also interesting and enjoyable.

I would like to use this service again if the opportunity arises.

高齢の父親との旅行でしたので、なるべく身体に負担がかからないようにと思い、このコースを選びました。

バス観光も水牛車で巡るコースもコンパクトでとても良かったです。

担当のスタッフの方々のトークも面白くて楽しかったです。

また、機会があったら利用したいと思います。

I saw such a beautiful starry sky for the first time. It was so stunning that it didn't even feel like the same sky in Japan. I was worried about the unstable weather, but as expected, the reservation was postponed. However, the next day, I was informed that the stars would be visible, and I was able to see a beautiful starry sky. The photos turned out even better than I expected, and I was very satisfied. They also recommended some spots in Miyako Island, which I visited the next day. That place was wonderful as well. Thank you for your attentive service.

あんなに綺麗な星空を見たのは、初めてです。
同じ日本の空とは思えないほど、美しかったです。天気が不安定で心配してましたが、予想通り、予約は延期になりましたが、翌日、なんとか星が出ると連絡をくださり、綺麗な星空が見れました。写真も予想以上の仕上がりで大満足しました。宮古島のオススメスポットも教えてくださり、翌日に行ってきました。そちらも素敵な場所でした。丁寧に対応していただき、ありがとうございました。

Upon arrival at Yakushima Airport, the staff came to the airport for a meeting and provided guidance on what to prepare and the pickup location for the day. Since it was the middle of a three-day weekend, there were many participants in the tour. The large bus was almost full. We were divided into groups of about eight, with one guide assigned to each group. It was a fulfilling trekking experience with explanations of various highlights and appropriate breaks. The instant miso soup we had for lunch was very delicious.

屋久島空港到着時に、スタッフの方が打ち合わせに空港まで来てくれて、準備する物や当日のピックアップ場所などの案内をして下さいました。
三連休の中日だったため、ツアー参加者は大勢。大型バスがほぼ満席になっていました。８人づつ程のグループに分かれ、ガイドさんが一人づつ付いて下さいました。いろいろ見どころの説明をしながら、適度な休憩もとりながら、充実したトレッキングとなりました。昼食時にいただいた、インスタント味噌汁はとてもおいしかったです。

The day I signed up was unfortunately cloudy, and the event was canceled, but they rescheduled for the next day, and we were lucky to have clear skies (it was said to be the first clear day in two weeks). I was moved to see the Milky Way and a sky full of stars! We were already excited as a family before taking the photos, thinking that those pictures weren't edited but real. However, since I was only focused on taking the pictures, I hadn’t thought about poses at all, but they suggested poses, and we were able to take great photos! ☺️

Everyone else was quite young, so I was a bit worried about whether my mother, who is turning 60, would be okay, but there were no issues, and the shoot went smoothly! After it was over, they kindly shared recommendations for places to visit in Miyako Island.

As a note, I think it would be good to ask about when to expect contact in case of cloudy weather and about parking at the shooting location, which is quite dark, especially for those driving (it might be mentioned somewhere, but I couldn't find it).

Taking photos against such a beautiful starry sky is challenging for amateurs. Since this was a trip to celebrate my mother's 60th birthday, I hoped it would become a lifelong memory, and my mother was very happy as well. I recommend this experience to people of all ages!

申し込んだ日はあいにくの曇りで中止だったのですが、次の日に変更してくださり無事に晴れ（2週間ぶりの晴れだったそうです）天の川と満天の星空が見れたことに感動！あの写真は合成でなく本当だったんだ…と撮る前から家族で感動していました。しかし、撮るということだけしか考えていなかったので全くポーズなど考えていなかったのですが、ポーズを提案してくださり無事に撮ることができました☺️
私達以外は若い方達だったので、還暦の母でも大丈夫かな…と思っていたのですが全く問題なくスムーズに撮影できました！
終わった後も宮古島のオススメの場所を教えてくださったりと終始親切な対応でした
注意事項としましては、曇りの場合何時頃に連絡があるのか、撮影場所は真っ暗なので車で行かれる方は駐車場はどうなのかをお聞きした方がいいと思います（どこかに書かれているかもしれませんが私は見つけられませんでした）
こんな綺麗な星空をバックに写真を撮るというのは素人には難しいものです。母の還暦祝いの旅行ということもあり、一生の思い出になることを…と思い申し込んだのですが、母も大変喜んでくれました。どの世代の方にもオススメします！

I disembarked at Ishigaki Island from the cruise ship and switched to this tour by Ishigaki Island Dream Tourism, which was a great decision. It was a full course tour of Taketomi Island with multiple activities, and everything was well coordinated, allowing us to enjoy the tour without any unnecessary waiting time according to the schedule. The counter inside the remote island terminal was also kind and attentive. I want to enjoy this company's tour again next time!

クルーズ船で石垣島に上陸したが、船のエスカッションから石垣島ドリーム観光社のこのツアーに乗り換えたが、大正解だった。アクティヴィティが複数ある竹富島フルコースだったが、各所キチッと連携が取れていてSCHEDULE通り余分な待ち時間も無くツアーを楽しめた。離島ターミナル内のカウンターも親切丁寧です。次回もこの会社のツアーを楽しみたい！

I highly recommend participating in this when you visit Taketomi Island! Riding a water buffalo to tour the streets lined with red-tiled roofs and white sand, typical of Okinawa, is the best experience. The guide had a shamisen and sang for us, which was another great highlight! The tour lasts about 30 minutes, so I think you can spend the remaining time exploring the beach or cycling around the island!

竹富島に訪れたら1度は参加オススメします！赤瓦のいえ、白い砂が一面に広がる沖縄らしい街並みを水牛に乗って観光するのは最高です。
ガイドさんが三味線を持っており、歌ってくれました。それも加えてよかったポイントですね！
30分ほどでツアーは終わるので、余った時間は、砂浜や自転車で島観光してもいいと思います！

My first trekking experience, wrapped in fluffy velvet and surrounded by Yakusugi, was incredibly healing and mesmerizing from start to finish! When I mentioned to the guide that I’m a self-proclaimed moss lover, we stopped in front of various mosses, and he shared fascinating stories that got me excited. The miso soup the guide made was deeply comforting and truly delicious. I had inquired about the transportation via email beforehand, and they responded with such kindness and thoroughness that I was genuinely grateful! Thanks to them, I was able to take home memories that feel like treasures. Thank you very much!

モフモフのベルベットにくるまれた屋久杉を愛でながらの初トレッキングは、終始癒され見惚れっぱなし！自称苔好きとガイドさんに話したら、様々な苔の前で足を止め興味深い話をして下さってワクワクしました。ガイドさんがいれてくれたみそ汁が、心身共に沁みてしみじみ美味しかったです。送迎の件で事前にメールで問い合わせしたところ、こちらが頭が下がるほど非常に親切丁寧に対応して下さって本当に有難かったです！おかげさまで宝物のような思い出を持ち帰れました。ありがとうございました！

I was looking for snorkeling in Barasu Island and chose this tour because it had very high reviews. The weather on the day was a bit iffy, but the underwater scenery was beautiful, and I saw a lot of fish. I have participated in other snorkeling tours before, but this one was different as we didn't disperse at the points; instead, we searched for fish together, and the guide provided proper assistance, which made me feel safe while swimming.

Additionally, I actually didn't have high expectations for the SUP experience in the mangroves of Iriomote Island, but it turned out to be very enjoyable. It was my first time, but they taught me carefully, so I felt secure doing it. I also got to take many beautiful photos, which made me very satisfied.

This is a fulfilling plan that allows you to enjoy two types of activities in one day, so I highly recommend it.

バラス島でシュノーケリングがしたく探していたら、こちらのツアーの口コミ評価がとても高かったので、選ばせていただきました。
当日は天気が微妙でしたが、海の中はとても綺麗でたくさんのお魚が観れました。
今まで何度か他のシュノーケリングのツアーに参加しましたが、ポイントで自由解散ではなく、一緒に魚を探したりきちんとガイドしてくださったので安心して泳げました。
そして実はあまり期待していなかった西表島マングローブのSUP体験がとても楽しかったです。初めてでしたが丁寧に教えてもらえるのでこちらも安心してできました。綺麗な写真もたくさん撮っていただけて大満足です。
1日で2種類のアクティビティが楽しめる充実プランなので本当におススメです。