All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

After arriving at Taketomi Island, we were taken by car to the water buffalo cart boarding area, and we were also able to rent bicycles at the same location. We were very satisfied with both experiences. Since we had made a reservation, everything went smoothly. We took the ferry that departed Ishigaki Port at 10:45 and returned from Taketomi Island at 14:10, but the popular restaurants were crowded, and we didn't have enough time to get in. The roads are sandy and there are many hills, so it can be a bit challenging for those who are not used to riding bicycles. On sunny days, I think it’s a good idea to have sunglasses and a hat.

竹富島に到着後、車で水牛車乗り場まで連れて行っていただき、レンタサイクルも同じ場所でできました。どちらも大満足でした。
予約してあったので全てスムーズに行きました。10:45石垣港発14:10竹富島発の船に乗りましたが、人気のレストランは混んで居ては入れないなど時間が足りないくらいでした。
道は砂が敷いてあり坂道が多いので、自転車に乗り慣れて居ない人には少し大変です。
晴れている日にはサングラスや帽子があるといいと思います。

Instead of following a single guide the whole time, the system allows you to follow your course number and navigate the route. Guides are waiting at each location, so there’s no need to worry about getting lost, and it felt free enough to act independently. The guide's stories were great as well.

However, it was unfortunate that the weather was bad on the day of the tour, and it was quite cold, so I wish I had dressed a bit warmer.

ずっと１人のガイドについて回るのではなく、自分のコース番号に従ってルートを回る仕組みになっていますが、各場所でガイドさんが待っていてくれますし、特に迷う心配もなく、個人行動しているくらいの自由さでよかったです。ガイドさんの話もよかったです。
ただ、残念だったのは当日、天気が悪く、かなり寒かったので、もう少し暖かい格好で行けばよかったです。

Sometimes younger guides will assist, but this time, an older gentleman guided us. It was impressive how he gently and leisurely guided us, even including some words that were hard to understand (I think everyone was able to grasp the meaning from the surrounding context). I was also moved by the intelligence of the island's most handsome (handsome water buffalo) Pīsuke. I didn't use this service when I visited Taketomi Island before, but I'm glad I did this time! I'm very satisfied! ☆

若い方が案内してくれることもありますが、今回はおじーが案内をしてくれました。
ところどころ、理解できない言葉もはさみつつ（前後の文章からみんなイメージして理解していると思う）やさしくのんびり案内してくれたのが印象的。島一番のイケメン（イケ水牛）ぴーすけの賢さにも感動。以前竹富島にきたときには利用しなかったのですが、利用して正解！大満足です☆

I used this service during my first visit to Taketomi Island. The cost performance was good, and I was very satisfied. I went to several famous restaurants on the island, but to be honest, I didn't understand why they were popular. (They weren't delicious...)

初の竹富島観光で利用させていただきました。
コスパも良く大変満足でした。
島で有名な店(食事する所)に何店か行きましたが、そこは正直なんで流行ってるのか分からなかったです。(美味しくない…)

I stayed for just half a day to visit Iriomote Island in the afternoon. I made a reservation in advance, which allowed me to enjoy Taketomi Island smoothly. I was unsure whether to rent an electric bike, but a regular one was sufficient.

午後に西表島に行くために、半日だけの滞在。
先に予約しておいてスムーズに竹富島を楽しめました。
レンタサイクル電動か迷いましたが、普通で充分でした。

The content of the tour was as I expected, both good and bad, but above all, the weather was pleasantly mild, neither too hot nor too cold.

I had quite a bit of free time after crossing to Yufu Island, but I was able to search for crabs and other creatures in the tidal flats and take photos of the mangroves, so it turned out to be okay.

Unexpectedly, I learned that I could walk back from Iriomote Island, so I didn't take the cart and walked back through the tidal flats.

I was able to take some great photos, it felt nice, and above all, it was a valuable and interesting experience.

ツアーの内容自体は思っていた通りで、良くも悪くもという感じでしたが、何より天気が暑くも寒くもなく気持ちよかったです。
由布島に渡ってからのフリーの時間がけっこう余りましたが、干潟でカニや生き物を探したり、マングローブの写真を撮ったりできたので、結果的にはokです。
思いがけず、西表島に歩いてでも帰れることを知ったので、牛車には乗らず、干潟を歩いて戻りました。
とてもいい写真が撮れたし、気持ちよかったし、何よりいい経験ができて面白かったです。

I was able to fully enjoy my first visit to Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island with an efficient tour! We went cycling on Taketomi Island, and there were bicycles with child seats, so our family of four had a great time!

無駄のないツアーで初めての西表島、由布島、竹富島を満喫できました！
竹富島ではサイクリングをしましたが、子供乗せ自転車もあったので家族4人で楽しめました！

We participated as a couple in January. There were only two participants. It was a rainy day, and we climbed with remnants of snow. It was very hard, but with encouragement from our guide, Tecchan, we somehow made it to Wilson's stump. My wife was already exhausted, but it seemed she gained energy from Wilson's stump, and after that, she was able to climb to Jomon Sugi safely. The fog was thick, and we could only see the silhouette of Jomon Sugi, but it was still wonderful. On the way back, our guide, Tecchan, took some fun photos for us. I want to go again.

1月に夫婦で参加しました。参加者は2名だけでした。雨模様で、残雪が残る中の登山でした。とってもハードでしたが、ガイドのてっちゃんの励ましもあって、なんとかウィルソン株までたどり着きました。妻は、すでにヘロヘロでしたが、ウィルソン株からパワーをもらえたようで、その後は元気が出て、無事、縄文杉まで登ることができました。霧がひどくて、縄文杉はシルエットだけでしたが、それでも素晴らしかったです。帰り道は、ガイドのてっちゃんが楽しい写真を撮ってくれました。また行きたいです。

The meeting place at Ishigaki Port was easy to find, and we received our tour tickets and boarded the ship. I was worried that it might be rocky due to the bad weather, but we arrived at Iriomote without any issues. The sightseeing on Iriomote Island was done by boat and bus, while Yufu Island was explored on foot with water buffalo. On Taketomi Island, we toured by water buffalo and bus. It was great that we could efficiently visit all the sightseeing spots. However, the guidance for the return ship on Taketomi Island was a bit unclear.

石垣港の集合場所もすぐにわかり、ツアーチケットをいただき乗船
天気が悪かったので、揺れるかなと心配しましたが、特に問題なく西表に到着
西表島は船とバスでの観光　由布島は水牛と徒歩での観光
竹富島は水牛とバスでの観光　全て観光名所を効率的に回れて良かったです。※竹富島で帰りの船への案内が分かりにくかったです。　　

First, we took a bus to visit Hoshi no Suna and Kondoi Beach, which took about 30 minutes. The stories about Taketomi Island during the ride were quite funny.
Next was the water buffalo tour. The guide's explanations were excellent, and I laughed a lot (though it was a bit hard to understand due to the accent). Still, I was surprised by how intelligent water buffalo are. It was amazing that the leading was done not by the guide, but by the wisdom and experience of the water buffalo. Thank you, water buffalo!

　まず、バスを利用して星の砂、コンドイビーチ等を訪れ約３０分くらい、車中での竹富島のお話、結構笑わせます。
　次は水牛観光です。ガイドさんの説明、これもうまい、うまい、大笑いしました。（多少、訛りでわかりずらかったですが）それにしても、水牛は、大変賢い動物だと思いました。道中、先導はガイドではなく、水牛の知恵と経験でおこなっているのに、びっくりです。水牛さん、ご苦労様でした。

I stayed in Miyanoura, and thanks to the direct bus service, I was able to relax! With the guide's thoughtful assistance, I was able to see Jomon Sugi safely. Thank you very much. The miso soup I had for lunch warmed both my body and heart. I really appreciate all your help!

宮之浦に宿泊しましたが、直行便のバスのおかげでゆっくり休めました！
またガイドさんの気配りのおかげで無事縄文杉を見ることが出来ました。
ありがとうございます。
お昼に頂いたお味噌汁で体も心も暖まりました。
大変お世話になりました！

I was torn between the Jomon Sugi course and the Shiratani Unsuikyo, but I made the right choice by opting for Shiratani Unsuikyo since I wasn't confident in my leg strength! The shades of green were incredibly beautiful, and I felt like I wanted to come back just to experience this scenery again. The tour guide was also a great person, and since they explained the highlights along the way, I was able to walk leisurely and have a fun time. I was also happy that it turned into a private tour, perhaps because it was the off-season (^ ^).

縄文杉コースと悩みましたが、脚力に自信がなかったので白谷雲水峡をチョイスして正解でした！緑の色合いも最高に美しく、この景色を味わうためにもう一度来たいと思いました。
ツアーのガイドさんも良い方で、見どころを解説しながらなので、のんびり歩け、楽しく時間が過ぎていきました。シーズンオフだからか、プライベートツアーになったのも嬉しかったです(^ ^)

The Jomon Sugi was certainly the highlight, but thanks to our guide's explanations, I learned about the rare vegetation and thoroughly enjoyed the great outdoors! The round trip of 22 km and 10 hours of hiking left my legs sore the next day, making it hard to walk, but it's a healing place that makes me want to go back again.

縄文杉はもちろん目玉でしたが、ガイドさんの説明のおかげでめずらしい植生を知り、大自然を満喫できました！
往復22km、10時間の歩き登山はさすがに翌日は足がバキバキで歩くのもやっとでしたが、また行きたいと思える癒しの場所です。

I am a student at a technical college. We had a somewhat unusual school trip where we disbanded in Kumamoto and took four days to return to our hometown, Fukui. There are many places I want to visit along the way, like Universal Studios Japan, Beppu Onsen, and Hiroshima. However, I thought we should go to places we might never visit again in our lives. That's when I started researching and came across the idea of Yakushima. So, four of us students applied for this tour.

We started in the dark with flashlights in hand. It rained on and off along the way. I thought it was supposed to be cloudy according to the weather forecast, but I realized the terrifying nature of Yakushima's climate change. During the tour, we were able to see the sunrise. Since it was the off-season, we could take a lot of photos. During the busy season, other tour groups create lines, making it difficult to take pictures.

I won't describe my impressions of the Yakusugi trees because that would take away from the experience. It's something that can't be conveyed in words; you have to experience it to understand.

As students, we wanted to keep travel costs low. However, I thought this wasn't the place to be stingy, so after arriving in Yakushima, I rented a raincoat and hiking boots from a rental shop. This was a fantastic decision. It would have been a mistake to wear my own sneakers, as they would have gotten wet instantly. Even if it was sunny, there were still puddles left (and some deep ones too).

Another piece of advice... portable toilets? I didn't use them, but it's definitely better to have them available. I brought two bottles each of tea and sports drinks. We also drank spring water along the way. Additionally, a sports towel is necessary since you'll sweat a lot.

The guesthouses we stayed at before and after the tour were different, but it was reassuring that we could store our large luggage on the tour bus. On the day of the tour, I participated with just one backpack.

We ordered our lunch during the tour meeting when we landed in Yakushima and paid for it, so we didn't have to prepare breakfast before the hike or lunch along the way.

Well, that's about it. Although we were students with zero hiking experience, we were able to create unforgettable memories. Thank you very much. For those who will be applying for the tour, I hope you enjoy it. It will undoubtedly become a lifelong memory.

高専の学生です。熊本で解散をして、地元、福井に4日間かけて帰ってこい。という、ちょっと不思議な修学旅行。熊本から福井まで、USJとか別府温泉とか広島とか、いろいろ行きたいと思う場所はある。けど、人生でもう来れないかもしれないという所に行こう。そう言って調べ始めてたどり着いたのが屋久島という案だった。そしてこのツアーに学生4人で応募。
朝真っ暗な状況で懐中電灯片手にスタート。途中で雨が降ったり止んだり。天気予報では曇りだったのになぁ…と思いながらも、屋久島の気候変動の恐ろしさを実感しました。ツアー途中では日の出も見れました。閑散期だけあって、たくさん写真撮影も出来ました。繁忙期は他のツアーの人達が列を作るのでなかなか写真撮影が出来ない。とのこと。

屋久杉を見た感想を述べてしまうと面白みがなくなってしまうので省略します。これは言葉では伝えれません。体験しないと分からないものだと感じました。

さて、学生という訳でなるべく旅費を安く済ませたいもの。しかし、ここはケチるところじゃないやろ、って思って屋久島入ってからレンタルショップで借りたのがレインコートと登山靴。これは素晴らしかったです。大正解でした。自前の運動靴だと一瞬で濡れてしまいます。晴れていたとしても水たまりは残ります。(深い水たまりも沢山ありました)

他にもアドバイス…。。簡易トイレでしょうか。使いませんでしたが必ずあった方がいいですね。
お茶とスポーツドリンクは2本づつ持っていきました。途中で湧き水も飲みました。
あとはスポーツタオル、汗かくので要りますね。

ツアー前と後で泊まる民宿が違ったのですが、大きな荷物はツアーのバスの中で保管しておいて貰えるので安心でした。当日はリュック一つで参加しました。

お弁当は屋久島に上陸した時のツアーミーティングで注文をしてお金を払ったので、当日、登山前の朝ごはんと途中のお昼ご飯は、特別僕らが用意する必要ありませんでした。

ま、そんなもんでしょうか。
登山経歴0の学生達でしたが、一生の思い出を作ることができました。
ありがとうございました。
これからツアー申し込まれる方、どうぞ楽しんできてください。一生の思い出になること、間違いないと思います。

I personally enjoy participating in tours, so I had a great time with the easy-to-understand itinerary! I got to walk in the sea on a water buffalo cart at Yufu Island, take a water buffalo cart through the village at Taketomi Island, see star sand on a sightseeing bus, and I was able to do everything I wanted to do (^^). Depending on the hotel, I was able to arrange pick-up and drop-off both ways, which made it very convenient ♩. I was satisfied with the price and itinerary ☆. I made wonderful memories in just one day!

個人的にツアーを参加するのが好きなので、分かりやすいツアー行程で楽しかったです！
由布島で海の中を歩く水牛車、竹富島で集落の水牛車、観光バスで星の砂を見てお土産もらえて、やりたいこと全部出来ました(^^)
ホテルにもよりますが、行きも帰りも送迎が付けれましたし、楽々でした♩
値段と行程で満足でした☆
1日で楽しい思い出が出来ました！

Due to joining the tour midway through the cruise and needing to take a tender boat, the timing was earlier than planned. However, thanks to the schedule adjustments, we were able to enjoy the sightseeing smoothly. Thank you very much.

クルーズの途中での参加でテンダーボートに乗る都合で時間が予定より早くなってしまいましたが、スケジュール調整していただきスムーズに観光出来ました。ありがとうございました。

We hadn't exercised at all, and after visiting Taiko Rock by ourselves the day before, we were exhausted and faced the Jomon Sugi trekking with incredible muscle pain. Thanks to the guide's fun explanations and kind advice, we were able to see Jomon Sugi! ✨ I'm really grateful! ✨ The miso soup served for lunch was also very delicious! Thank you very much! ✨ I highly recommend it! ✨

全く運動をしておらず、前日に太鼓岩に自分達で訪れた後で、疲労困憊、ありえないほどの筋肉痛で臨んだ縄文杉トレッキングでした。　ガイドさんの楽しい説明や親切な助言で何とか縄文杉を見ることができました✨
本当に感謝です✨
お昼に出してくださったお味噌汁もとってもおいしかったです!
ありがとうございました✨お薦めです✨

The explanations about mangroves and living creatures were clear and enjoyable. It was a tour with a long free time on Yubu Island, so I was able to see various plants throughout the island. The water buffaloes were cute! The ice cream, cake, and coffee at the café on the island were excellent.

マングローブや生き物の説明がわかりやすく、楽しかったです。由布島での自由時間が長いツアーだったので、島全体の植物を色々見ることができました。水牛がかわいい！島にあるカフェのアイスとケーキ、コーヒーが最高でした。

I was satisfied with how efficiently everything was organized! Since some time is spent on travel, I think it's good to get a feel for the place on the first visit and then take your time on your favorite island during your next visit!

無駄なくキッチリ周る感じで満足でした！
ちょっと移動時間に時間が取られるので、初回はこれで雰囲気を掴んで
次回訪問時には気に入った島にゆっくりするのも良いと思います！

After looking into it, I decided to go with this option because it was cheaper than going on my own. Above all, the staff took care of all the arrangements, including tickets, so I could enjoy myself without any worries.

Taketomi Island is definitely a place you should visit if you're coming to Ishigaki Island (o^^o).

Thank you for the wonderful time!

調べてみると自分で行くよりもお安くてこちらに決めました。
何よりチケットなど手配をすべてスタッフさんがしてくれるので、迷うことなく何も考えずに安心して楽しめました。

竹富島は石垣島まで来たなら絶対行くべき島です(o^^o)

楽しい時間をありがとうございました。

The water buffalo cart ride lasts about 30 minutes, and it was well-organized, which was great. At first, I thought it was unnecessary, but it turned out to be surprisingly fun.

As for using a bicycle, if you want to see the Nishi-Sanbashi and the village, I think walking is better. However, if you're going to Kaiji Beach or Kondoi Beach, a bicycle is necessary.

I stayed for one night, but since bicycles need to be returned by 5 PM, I think I should have considered that.

It seems that for early morning ferries, you can take any of the Dream Tourism boats.

水牛車は30分ほどですが話がまとまっていて良かったです。
最初は要らないと思っていましたが、思いのほか楽しかったです。

自転車を利用するかですが、西桟橋や集落内を見たいなら徒歩の方がいいと思いました。
カイジ浜・コンドイビーチまで行くなら自転車等は必要です。

一泊しましたが、自転車は17時返却なので、
そこは検討すれば良かったと思いました。

船は早朝便等でも、ドリーム観光の船ならどれでも乗れるようです。

I was able to spend a relaxing time riding a water buffalo cart while listening to a live performance of the sanshin. I wanted to leave Taketomi Island in time for the hotel shuttle from Ishigaki Port, so I had plenty of time left and decided to go cycling at the last minute. I had two small children with me, but it was fine. The sea was incredibly beautiful and soothing.

水牛車に乗って、三線の生演奏を聴きながらゆったりした時間を過ごせました。石垣港からのホテル送迎の時間に合わせて竹富島を出たかったので、たっぷり時間が余ったため急遽サイクリングをしました。小さい子供二人連れでしたが、大丈夫でした。海がすごく綺麗で癒されました。

I was worried about the heavy rain, but miraculously it cleared up on Taketomi Island, and I was able to enjoy a bicycle tour! I was very satisfied to be able to explore the islands in just one day! I would love to participate again when I travel to Ishigaki Island. ^ ^

雨がひどくてどうなるかと思いましたが、竹富島では奇跡的に晴れて自転車巡りができました！
離島を1日でまわれてとても満足しました！
また石垣島に旅行した際には参加したいです^ ^

Walking in the rain was challenging for temperature regulation, but the raindrops sparkling in the forest were beautiful.
During lunchtime, the warm miso soup was soothing for my tired body.
Thank you!

雨の中歩くのは温度調節が難しかったですが、雨の森林は雫がキラキラ光って綺麗でした。
お昼時には暖かい味噌汁が疲れた体に沁みました。
ありがとうございました！

The beauty of the sea in Taketomi Island. The lifestyle. The leisurely water buffalo tours are wonderful. However, most dining places were closed, so there was only one open, which made it very crowded. It would be better if lunch was included, if possible.

竹富島の海の綺麗な事。暮らし。のんびりとした水牛観光。素晴らしいです。
ただ、食事の場所が殆どが休みだったので、一件しかやっていなかったので、
非常に混んでいました。できれば昼食付きの方が良いですね。

Mangrove viewing in Iriomote Island? Unfortunately, it was rainy. It was a morning tour, but the tide was a bit low. If you want to see the mangrove roots clearly, it might be better to go a little later. I think it varies by season, so it might be good to check in advance. I was glad to see the large tree (maybe a mangrove?) at a power spot we visited during the tour.

The water buffalo cart ride to Yubu Island was fun. I was surprised that there was a bathroom break for the buffalo along the way, but it added to the relaxed atmosphere.

The botanical garden on Yubu Island had heavy rain, which was a bit disappointing, but on the plus side, it was quiet with fewer people. However, I wished I had worn waterproof shoes since the ground was muddy.

For lunch, we had a bento box of Okinawan local cuisine. It was delicious.

In Taketomi Island, we went cycling. By this time, the rain had stopped, and the sun was hot on the star sand beach. Even though it was October, it felt piercing on the skin. It was so hot that we stopped for soft serve ice cream at a café about five minutes from the rental bike shop, and it was rich and tasty.

西表島でのマングローブ鑑賞？では、あいにくの雨模様。午前中のツアーでしたが、塩がやや引き気味の時間でした。マングローブの根っこをしっかり見たければもう少し遅い時間に行った方が良いかもしれません。季節によって変わると思うので事前にチェックした方が良いかもです。ツアーの中で見ることができたパワースポットのような場所にある大きな木（ヒルギ？）は見れてよかったと思いました。
由布島までの水牛車乗車は楽しかったです。途中、水牛自身のトイレタイムもあったりしたのにはびっくりでしたが、それを含めのんびりした雰囲気を味わえました。
由布島の植物園は大ぶりの雨になりちょっと残念でしたが、その分人が少なく静かな雰囲気でよかったかも。ただ足元がぬかるんでいるのではっ水の靴にすればよかったと思いました。
昼食は沖縄の郷土料理のお弁当。おいしかったです。
竹富島ではサイクリング。この時には雨も上がり、星砂の海岸では日差しが暑かったです。10月でしたが肌に刺さる感じでした。暑かったのでレンタサイクルやさんから5分くらい先のカフェでソフトクリームを食べましたが、濃厚でおいしかったです。

I was a bit anxious because I was the only one in my 50s on a tour of seven people, with everyone else being quite young. However, the guide was very polite and kind, providing various explanations and taking breaks along the way. This made it easy to spend the whole day walking long distances in the rain without it feeling burdensome. Thank you very much. I believe it's best to go on a tour to see Jomon Sugi unless you're very experienced.

7人のツアーで50代の私以外は若い方ばかりで不安でしたが、ガイドの方はとても丁寧で優しく、色々説明して下さりながら、所々で休憩もしながらのペースで進むので雨の中、長い距離も苦にならずに1日過ごす事が出来ました。ありがとうございました。縄文杉はよほど慣れた方でなければ、やはりツアーで行くのがいいと思います。

This was my first time using VELTRA, and I was a bit anxious, but the experience was smooth with no issues. The activities were enjoyable, and I was able to participate in a very relaxed manner, which made me very satisfied.

はじめてのVELTRA利用で、少し不安でしたが、
利用にあたっては、なにも問題なくスムーズでした。
アクティビティの内容もとてもゆったりした気持ちで楽しく参加できて
満足できるものでした。

Buffalo Kuro-chan worked really hard in the heat! The crew on the glass-bottom boat also explained everything clearly, which was very helpful! It was all a first-time experience for the kids, and they seemed to have a lot of fun! (^∇^)

水牛のクロちゃん暑いなかすごくがんばってくれました‼グラスボートの船員さんもいろいろ説明してくれてわかりやすかったです‼
どれも子供たちにとって初めての経験ですごくたのしそうでした‼(^∇^)

I thought it might be too ambitious to visit Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island in one day, but I was able to enjoy it with just the right amount of time. The weather was perfect that day, making it a wonderful memory. The mangroves of Iriomote Island and the water buffalo ride to Yufu Island were more fulfilling than I expected, and although it was a bit different from what I imagined, being swayed by the water buffalo while listening to the sanshin created a very pleasant island time. It was a bit disappointing that lunch was a little unsatisfying. The talk from the shuttle bus driver was also entertaining. I enjoyed Taketomi Island until the last minute by renting a bicycle. I was impressed by the clarity of the water at Kondoi Beach. Riding a bike allows you to explore the town at your own pace while easily finding photo spots, so I highly recommend it. For those with limited time, this is a compact and recommended plan.

1日で西表島、由布島、竹富島巡りは欲張りかなと思いましたがちょうどイイ感じの時間配分で楽しめました。当日は天気にも恵まれて最高の思い出になりました。西表島のマングローブと由布島に渡る水牛は思ったよりも満ちていてちょっと想像とは違ったけど水牛に揺られて三線聴きながらのゆったりした島時間はとても心地良かったです。お昼ご飯は少し物足りなかったのはちょっと残念。送迎バスの運転手さんのトークも笑えます。竹富島はレンタサイクルで時間ギリギリまで楽しみました。コンドイビーチの透明度にも感動。自転車だと町並みをゆっくり見ながら自分のペースで観光できるし、写真スポットも見つけやすくてお勧めです。時間が限られた旅の方にはコンパクトに回れるのでお勧めのプランです。