All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

Riding a water buffalo cart and visiting Taketomi Island had been my long-time dream, and this time, both dreams came true at once! The hotel and port transfers, explanations at the port, and guidance along the way were all smooth, and I didn't feel any stress at all. The staff at each facility we visited were very friendly and seemed accustomed to dealing with tourists. I was a bit anxious about not being able to choose the lunch menu, but it had a good amount of Okinawan ingredients and was delicious! Since I used a rental bicycle on Taketomi Island, I was able to explore at my own pace and decide my return time, which was great. I think this course is highly recommended for those visiting remote islands for the first time!

水牛車に乗る事と竹富島に行く事が長年の夢だったので、今回一気に夢が叶いました！
ホテルと港の送迎、港での説明、途中の案内もスムーズで何もストレスを感じませんでした。
途中お世話になった各施設のスタッフの方々も、観光客慣れされてるようでとても親切でした。
昼食のメニューが選べないのが不安だったのですが、適度に沖縄食材が入っていて美味しかったです♪
竹富島ではレンタサイクルを利用したので、マイペースに回れて帰りの時間も自分で決められて良かったです。
初めて離島巡りをされる方にはオススメのコースだと思います！

I was worried about muscle pain since I went to Jomon Sugi the day before, but I was fine. The moss was a beautiful, deep green, and I was truly moved by it. The scenery with light streaming in was wonderful and fantastical. This course ends after a short walk into the mossy forest in half a day, but if the itinerary allows, I would have liked to go further to enjoy even denser moss at a leisurely pace. Since my flight was in the afternoon, I felt that a full-day course would also be appealing for next time.

前日に縄文杉まで行ったので筋肉痛が心配でしたが大丈夫でした。緑色がとても濃い綺麗な苔で感動します。光が差し込んだ風景は素晴らしく幻想的です。このコースは半日で苔むす森に少し入ったところで終了ですが旅程が可能ならもっと先まで進んで更に濃い苔を眺めてゆっくりしたかったです。飛行機が午後だったため次回は１日コースも魅力的だなと感じました。

It was mostly trekking in the rain, but I was extremely satisfied! In mid-November, it was rainy, but the climate was warm. However, during breaks, it can get cold from the rain and sweat, and since the weather is unpredictable, I recommend being well-prepared! I think a folding umbrella, waterproof clothing, trekking shoes, gloves, and a light are essential. Since the distance is considerable, if you're feeling anxious, having a trekking pole can make it a bit easier.

Of course, Jomon Sugi was great, but I was surprised by Wilson Cedar! I think women will involuntarily exclaim!

The highlight was the guide! I was able to meet a wonderful guide and truly had a fun time! Thank you so much! I will definitely visit Yakushima again, so I hope to see you then! ✨

ほぼ雨の中でのトレッキングでしたが、大大大満足でした！
11月中旬で雨でしたが、気候は暖かかったです。ただ、休憩中は雨と汗で冷えるのと、天候がわからないので、装備はしっかり整えて行くことをおすすめします！折りたたみ傘、防水性の服、トレッキングシューズ、手袋、ライトは必用だと思います。距離があるので、不安な方は、ステッキがあると少しは楽だと思います。

縄文杉はもちろんよかったですが、ウィルソン杉は、びっくりしました！女性の方は思わず声をあげると思います！

一番はガイドさんです！とっても素敵なガイドさんにお逢いできて、本当に楽しい時間を過ごすことができました！おいちゃん、ありがとうございましたm(__)m
また是非屋久島へ遊びに行きますので、その時にはまたお願いします✨

I participated in a family trip with 11 people to celebrate my mother's 60th birthday. The shuttle service to the hotel was very helpful, especially since we had small children with us.

I really enjoyed the mangroves, the water buffalo cart, and Taketomi Island; it felt like a different world from Japan. The water buffalo was very large, relaxed, and adorable! I would love to use this service again when I want to see them. Thank you for this experience!

母の還暦のお祝いで11人大家族旅行で参加しました。ホテルまでの送迎があり子供が小さいためとても助かりました。
マングローブも水牛車も竹富島も日本ではない感覚でとても楽しめました。
水牛はとても大きくのんびりさんで可愛かったです！また会いたくなったら利用させていただきたいです。今回はありがとうございました。

Jomon Sugi is tough, and I was quite intimidated, but it's definitely a worthwhile experience, so if you're going to Yakushima, you should definitely go. The trolley path is indeed long, but the scenery is wonderful and breathtaking, and there is a lot of beautiful moss, so I personally didn't get bored. On the contrary, I was filled with negative ions and adrenaline, and it was fun. They say Yakushima has a lot of rain, but being blessed with good weather might have contributed to my enjoyment. I thought trekking in the rain might feel long. Also, being able to reach the trailhead without any transfers from the accommodation is a merit of this tour. There are some steep paths where you have to choose which rocks to step on, but the sense of achievement when you reach Jomon Sugi is quite significant! I think if you wear comfortable trekking shoes and get plenty of sleep, it will become a fun lifelong memory!

縄文杉は辛い、大変だとかなりびびってましたが絶対に価値のある体験なので屋久島に行くなら是非とも行くべきです。確かにﾄﾛｯｺ道は長いですが
景色が素晴らしく絶景ですし、綺麗な苔がたくさんあるので私は特に飽きませんでした。むしろ、ﾏｲﾅｽｲｵﾝとｱﾄﾞﾚﾅﾘﾝがでまくりで楽しかったです。屋久島は雨がとても多いといいますがお天気に恵まれてたのも楽しめた要因かもしれません。雨のなかのﾄﾚｯｷﾝｸﾞは長く感じてしまうかもと思いました。また宿から乗り換えなしで登山口まで行けるのもこのﾂｱｰのﾒﾘｯﾄです。途中、どの岩を選んですすめばいいのかみたいな険しい道もありますが縄文杉にたどり着いた達成感はかなりのものです！
はきなれたﾄﾚｯｷﾝｸﾞｼｭｰｽﾞとたっぷりの睡眠をとれば楽しい一生の思い出になると思います！

The experience of riding a water buffalo cart and exploring the mangroves was enjoyable and quite a culture shock! I felt that the stay on Yubu Island was a bit too long, but overall, I think it was a good plan.

初めての水牛車やマングローブ探索はカルチャーショックがあって楽しめました！
由布島での滞在時間が長過ぎな気もしましたが、全体を通しては良いプランだと思います。

Ishigaki Island has many rental car companies, and they often provide shuttle services to hotels, with spacious hotel parking available. Among the many options for local tours, Dream Tourism offers shuttle services even in resort areas if you stay at designated hotels, which is great for families with children! If you plan well, you can do some sightseeing in the city after arriving in Ishigaki Island and then return. Since I had various activities planned on Taketomi Island, it was helpful to be able to leave the stroller at the island counter. My child loves vehicles, so we took many modes of transportation: bus → boat → glass-bottom boat → van → ox cart → bicycle → bus → boat → bus, and we were satisfied with the beautiful sea, fish, and the warmth of the people. If you don't rent a car, I recommend Dream Tourism. Depending on the time, there may be waiting periods, so it's good to adjust the arrival time of the tour shuttle bus to the port and the departure time. I chose the 9:20 departure, which was about 15 minutes from the port arrival to the boat departure.

石垣島はレンタカー会社が多く、ホテルまでレンタカー会社が送迎してくれたり、ホテルの駐車場も広かったりするので、現地集合現地解散が多い中、ドリーム観光さんは、指定ホテルならリゾート地区でも送迎ありなのが子連れには嬉しいです！うまく調整すれば帰りは石垣島着いてから市街地観光して、戻ることが出来ます。竹富島は色々動く予定だったので、離島のカウンターでベビーカー預けられて助かりました。乗り物好きな子なので、バス→船→グラスボート→バン→牛車→自転車→バス→船→バスと沢山乗り物に乗り、綺麗な海、魚、牛、人の温かさに触れ満足です。レンタカー借りない日ならドリーム観光おすすめです。時間によっては待ち時間も出るので、ツアーの送迎バスの港への到着時間、出航時間を調整すると良いです。私は港着から船発まで15分くらいの9:20発にしました。

I took the morning flight to Taketomi Island. After a short bus ride, I explored the island by renting a bicycle. I chose a bike with a seat for children. The weather was nice, there were few people, and I made some wonderful memories.

朝の便で竹富島へ。バスで少し移動した後レンタルサイクルで島巡りへ。自転車は子供向けの座席がついたものをチョイス。
天気もよく、人も少なく、とてもよい思い出が出来ました。

The 10-hour hike was truly a courageous endeavor, but I can wholeheartedly say it was worth it. It rained all day, and there was hardly any sunshine, but our guide explained various things about Yakushima and shared stories, which made the experience enjoyable until the end. The guide's brightness and gentle consideration, along with their enthusiasm, really helped us along the way. The nature of Yakushima is also wonderful, and the pleasant feeling of being surrounded by moss and water is something you can't experience anywhere else. I want to go again, and I would definitely like to request the same guide next time.

10時間はとっても勇気のいる登山でしたが、行ってよかったと心から思えます。
その日は一日中雨が降り、日差しもほとんどない中歩きましたが、ガイドさんが屋久島について色々なことを解説やお話ししてくださったので、最後まで楽しく過ごせました。
ガイドさんの明るさと優しい気遣い、そして勢いで引っ張っていただきました。屋久島の自然も素晴らしく、苔や水に囲まれる心地よい感覚は、他では味わえません。
また行きたいので、その時も是非お願いしたいです。

I went with a friend. Although we made a reservation the day before, they handled it smoothly, which was great.

We got to try water buffalo and rent bicycles, but the reception was crowded. The gift of star sand was a nice surprise, and I was really happy about it!

The weather was nice, and it was great to relax!

友達と二人で行きました等
前日予約でしたが
スムーズに対応してもらえてよかったです

水牛、レンタサイクルでやらせてもらいましたが
受付が混んでいました
星の砂のプレゼントはらら
嬉しかったです(^^)

天気もよく
ゆったりできてよかったです！

I intended to enjoy the atmosphere of Taketomi Island while leisurely watching the speed of the water buffalo, but they stopped frequently, waiting for their "marking" (laughs). My expectations were not met. Well, they are living creatures, so that's to be expected. It seems like there is a set course, and they really only walk a short distance. I think it would be the same no matter which company you use.

If I had to say, using this service means you can only use this company's boat. They will take you to the boarding area according to the boat's departure time, but you can't enjoy the scenery at the dock leisurely. This is because the boat schedule is fixed. If you don't catch the right boat, there is quite a gap until the next one. If you want to conveniently use boats from other companies, I think it would be easier to book a boat individually and sign up for the water buffalo tour separately. You can go without a reservation. There is a bus waiting that will take you to the water buffalo boarding area. They also provided a ride back. It may be a bit more expensive, but that way you can ride any company's boat, which is more convenient. I was staying at Hotel Nikko Yaeyama, so I found the shuttle service appealing, but since I had a rental car and the parking at the island terminal is cheap, the shuttle might not have been that attractive. Even if I wanted to get a ride back from the island, the shuttle bus only departs at 2:30 PM at the earliest. I took the local bus back. It's a nice place to visit for a memory (though I didn't go to Hoshizuna Beach).

水牛さんの歩くスピードを楽しみながらゆっくり竹富島の雰囲気を味わうつもりで行きましたが、すぐ止まるし、マーキングとやらの排泄待ち（笑）。期待は裏切られます。まあ、生き物ですからそんなものです。コースは決められているようで、ホントに歩いてもすぐの距離しか歩きません。たぶん、どの会社を利用しても同じだと思います。
　強いて言えば、こちらを使えば当然こちらの会社の船しか利用できません。船の出る時間に合わせて乗り場まで送ってくれるのですが、船着き場でゆっくり風景を楽しんだりできません。それは船の時間が決まっているからです。ちょうどの船に乗らないと、次の船まで間隔がかなりあるからです。他の会社の船も便利に使おうと思ったら、個人で船に乗って、個人で水牛観光に申し込んだ方が便利だと思いました。予約なしに行っても大丈夫です。バスが待っていて、水牛乗り場まで送ってくれますから。帰りも送ってくれていました。割高になりますが、そのほうがどの会社の船にも乗れますし便利です。私は日航八重山に泊まっていたので送迎を魅力に思いましたが、レンタカーがあったし、離島ターミナルの駐車場は安いから、送迎は魅了的ではなかったかも。島から帰ってきて送ってもらおうと思っても、送迎バスは早くて14時30分発しかない。私は路線バスで帰りました。記念に行くには良い程度です（星砂海岸までは行っていません）。

I felt that our guide, Mr. Manabe, was very kind. He introduced us to various aspects of Jomon Sugi. Thank you for the hospitality with the miso soup during lunch. I'm glad I came to Yakushima. Thank you, Mr. Manabe.

ガイドの真辺さんが優しくしてくれていいなと感じました。縄文杉についていろいろ紹介してくれました。昼飯の時、味噌汁のおもてなしをしてくださいましてありがとうございした。屋久島にきてよかった。真辺さん、ありがとうございました。

You can efficiently enjoy island hopping.
At the Ishigaki Island ferry terminal, you can pick up tickets for boats and meals before departing on your own.
First, take a comfortable, spacious high-speed boat for 40 minutes, followed by a Nakama River cruise on Iriomote Island, and then visit Yubu Island with water buffalo, where you can enjoy a meal.
The meal was an Okinawan bento, and the atmosphere was enhanced by the song "Tears Soaked with Tears" at the water buffalo experience.

From Iriomote to Taketomi, it was over 30 minutes on a smaller boat, and it was hot.
After that, we took a glass-bottom boat, but it was disappointing due to the poor sea conditions after the typhoon.
We chose to take a bus on the island due to concerns about rain, but there was too little time for free exploration in Taketomi.
We only had about 15 minutes, which was unfortunate as we couldn't enjoy visiting the lovely souvenir shops or having tea.
My daughters, who chose the rental bicycle plan, were able to select their preferred ferry times (16:00, 17:00, 17:40) and enjoyed themselves until the last ferry. I was envious.
If you're confident in your physical stamina, I recommend this option.
By the way, the 16:00 ferry was the same comfortable high-speed boat as in the morning, while the 17:40 ferry was a smaller boat, but it had a cool cabin below.

離島めぐりを効率よく楽しめます。
石垣島の離島ターミナルで船や食事などの切符を受け取って各自で出発。
最初は新しくて広い快適な高速船で40分、西表島の仲間川クルーズ、水牛で由布島、食事。
食事は沖縄料理のお弁当で、水牛では涙そうそうの歌付きで雰囲気ありました。

西表から竹富までは小さめの船30分以上、暑かったです。
その後グラスボート、台風後のコンディションの悪い海なのが残念でした。
島内は雨を警戒してバスを選択しましたが、竹富自由散策の時間が少なすぎます。
15分くらいしかなく、素敵なお土産店巡りとかお茶とかの時間は取れず残念でした。
同行の娘たちはレンタサイクルプランでしたので、好きな船便（16時、17時、17時40）が選べて、最後の便まで楽しんでから戻りました。羨ましかったです。
体力に自信があるならこちらをお勧めします。
因みに16時は朝と同じ快適な高速船。17：40は小さな船でしたが下に涼しい船室があったそうです。

This time, my spouse and I participated in this tour. According to the guidebook, there was a comment that "seeing Jomon Sugi requires a long hike, which is tough," and both my wife and I felt anxious about whether we could reach Jomon Sugi, which made us hesitate to join at first. However, my wife said, "If we're going to Yakushima, we definitely want to see Jomon Sugi," and we decided to take on the challenge.

To conclude, while the distance is indeed long, the ascent was not as difficult as we had imagined, and Jomon Sugi is absolutely worth seeing. I highly recommend this challenge to anyone who is unsure.

On this tour, we were able to take a dedicated bus from the hotel to the trailhead, which was a great help as we didn't have to wait for the bus after descending. There were about 30 people in total on the bus, but we were divided into four teams, each led by a guide, and our team had seven members. In the first half, we walked along the trolley path, and in the second half, we climbed a steep mountain path that included quite challenging stairs. Along the way, we were moved by the famous three giant cedars, Wilson stump, and the Great Cedar, as well as many unnamed giant stumps and moss-covered rocks, taking photos and listening to the guide's explanations, which made the journey to Jomon Sugi feel less painful. I believe this was also thanks to the guide's pacing and the timing of our breaks.

When we finally faced Jomon Sugi, I was overwhelmed by its size and presence, and the closer I got, the more I felt moved to witness it in person. On the way back, while I had to be careful not to trip on the mountain path, the trolley path felt monotonous and long, making me wish I could descend that part quickly by trolley.

As a bonus, we encountered Yakushima deer and Yakushima monkeys along the way, and for a moment, we experienced a sudden downpour like a rain shower. It truly was a day where we could fully experience Yakushima.

今回夫婦でこのツアーに参加しました。ガイドブックによると「縄文杉を見るには長距離の山登りで大変」とのコメントがあり、家内も含め縄文杉まで辿り着くことが出来るのか不安を覚え、当初参加を躊躇していました。しかし「屋久島まで行くならやはり縄文杉を見たい」との家内の一言でチャレンジすることに。結論からいうと、距離は確かに長いものの、上りは思っていたほどでもなく、縄文杉は絶対に一見の価値あり、迷っている人には是非挑戦をお勧めします。
このツアーではホテルから専用バスで登山口まで行くことが出来たのですが、これは下山後にバスを待つ必要もなく、思った以上に助かりました。バス全体では30数名でしたが、それを４チームに分け、それぞれガイドさん１名が引率する形で我々のチームは７名でした。前半はトロッコ道をひたすら歩き、後半はかなりきつい階段も含めた山道を登るのですが、その途中で次々に出てくる有名な三大杉、ウイルソン株、大王杉等は勿論、名もない巨大な切り株や、苔むした岩々等を見て感動し、夢中で写真を撮ったり、ガイドさんの説明を聞いている間に、それ程苦痛も感じず縄文杉にまで到達。これはガイドさんのメンバーをみたペース配分や、休憩のタイミングのお陰もあるかと思います。対面した縄文杉はその大きさといい、存在感といい、近づけば近づくほど圧倒され、目の当たりに出来たことに感動を覚えました。帰り道ですが、山道部分は転ばぬよう注意して一生懸命降りていけばいいのですが、トロッコ道部分は単調な為、ひたすら長く感じ、この部分だけはトロッコで一気に下りてしまいたいと思ってしまいました。
尚、おまけですが、途中屋久鹿や屋久猿とも出くわしたり、一瞬ですが通り雨のようなスコールが降ってきたりと、本当、屋久島を丸ごと体感出来た一日でした。

I participated with my girlfriend. Although the weather wasn't very good, it was a satisfying tour that provided a very valuable experience. Without a specific time limit, we enjoyed a water buffalo tour and a rental bicycle tour, spending about four hours on the island, relishing the leisurely water buffalo sightseeing and the freedom of exploring the island on bicycles. In the morning, there were many people, but as the evening approached, the crowds thinned out, so for those who want a more relaxed experience, I recommend going later in the day. Also, you should definitely visit the shallow beach; it will surely become a wonderful memory, so you should bring your swimsuit.

彼女と参加しました。
天候があまり良くない日でしたが、とても貴重な体験が出来て満足なツアーでした。
滞在時間を特に決めずに私達は水牛観光＋レンタサイクルのツアーを体験し、のんびりとした時間の水牛観光と島内を自由に回れるレンタルサイクルを満喫したので、4時間程島に滞在しました。
午前中は人が多く夕方になるにつれて人が減ってきていたのでよりのんびりしたい人は遅めの時間がオススメです。
また遠浅の浜のビーチは是非いった方が良いです。
きっととても良い思い出になるので水着は持って行くべきです。

I was picked up at the hotel around 5 AM and we started the hike around 6 AM! For the first two hours, we walked along the trolley path. Walking in the green forest while basking in the morning sun felt wonderful. We took two bathroom breaks along the way. They even prepared a sheet for us to sit on so our clothes wouldn't get dirty.

After about two hours, the trolley path ended, and we entered the mountain trail. From here, the path became steep. We arrived at Wilson's stump around 10 AM! It was a popular spot, so there were many people. We were shown an angle that looks like a beautiful heart and took some photos.

After walking for about an hour, it was time for lunch. Our guide made us warm miso soup! After that, we passed by the Great Cedar and the Couple Cedar and arrived at Jomon Cedar around noon. I was simply amazed by its majestic appearance! The guide took many commemorative photos for us, and then we began our descent. Having trekking poles might make the descent easier. Since we were able to descend a bit early, we went down to the river. After dipping our feet in the cold water to recover from fatigue, we walked back along the trolley path and arrived at the trailhead around 5 PM.

It was about a 12-hour schedule, but I was completely satisfied with the tour, feeling the negative ions of the forest and the power of Jomon Cedar! The guide was very knowledgeable and showed us great angles for taking beautiful photos, which was wonderful! Thank you very much!

朝５時頃にホテルでピックアップしてもらい、６時頃に登山開始！
始めの二時間ほどはトロッコ道をひたすら歩きます。周り一面緑の森の中、朝日を浴びながら歩くととても気持ちよかったです。途中２回ほどトイレ休憩をしました。地面に座っても服が汚れないように、シートまで用意してくれていました。
二時間ほどでトロッコ道が終わり、山道に入ります。ここから一気に道が険しくなります。
10時頃ウィルソン株に到着！人気のスポットなので人が多かったです。きれいなハートに見えるアングルを教えてもらい、写真撮影をしました。
そして、一時間ほど歩いて昼食の時間。ガイドさんが温かい味噌汁を作ってくれました！
その後、大王杉・夫婦杉を通って12時時頃に縄文杉到着。その雄大な姿にただただ感動しました！ガイドさんに記念写真をたくさん撮ってもらい、下山。下山には、ストックがあると楽かもしれません。少し早く下山できたので、川に降りました。冷たい川に足をつけて疲労回復した後、またトロッコ道を歩いて17時頃登山口に到着。
約12時間ほどの日程でしたが、森のマイナスイオンと縄文杉のパワーをもらい、大満足のツアーでした！ガイドさんも知識豊富で、写真がきれいに撮れるアングルなども教えてもらい、とてもよかったです！ありがとうございました！

In the morning, I was picked up at the hotel around 8 AM and after about an hour's drive, we arrived at the entrance of the Kumotsukyo Gorge. When I told the guide that I had gone on the Jomon Sugi tour the day before, they adjusted the walking pace to be a bit slower for me.

On the way to the moss-covered forest, there were many places with abundant moss. Since it had rained overnight, the moss in the forest was nicely damp. The course to the moss-covered forest was not as strenuous as I had expected, and even children around kindergarten age were able to climb it. Along the way, we encountered a little deer! After about two hours, we arrived at the moss-covered forest. As far as the eye could see, there was a green forest! It truly felt like the world of Princess Mononoke, and I was moved!

We had lunch a little further at Tsuji Pass. The guide made warm miso soup, which was a comforting break. The path from the moss-covered forest to Taiko Rock had steep inclines and rocky areas, making it quite challenging. However, the view from Taiko Rock was beyond my imagination, and I was really glad I walked the tough path! If you have the time, I definitely recommend going all the way to Taiko Rock!

朝は８時頃にホテルでピックアップしてもらい、車に一時間ほど揺られて雲水峡の入り口に到着。前日に縄文杉のツアーに行ったことをガイドさんに伝えると、歩くペースも少しゆっくりに合わせて下さいました。
苔むす森に行く道中にも、たくさん苔の生えている場所があります。夜中に雨が降ったので、森の苔もいい感じに湿っていました。苔むす森までのコースは思ったよりもしんどくなく、幼稚園ぐらいの年の子でも登っていました。途中で小鹿ちゃんに遭遇！そして、約二時間ほどで苔むす森に到着しました。見渡す限り緑の森！本当にもののけ姫の世界が広がっていて感動でした！
そこから少し先の辻峠で昼食。ガイドさんが暖かい味噌汁を作ってくださって、ほっと一息。
苔むす森から太鼓岩までの道は、急な上り坂や岩場があって結構きつかったです。
でも、太鼓岩からの景色は想像以上で、険しい道のりを歩いて本当によかったと思いました！
もし、時間に余裕があるのなら、ぜひ太鼓岩まで行かれることをオススメします！

The cruise, gliding through the wind while seeing plenty of mangroves, was very pleasant. There were no other customers, so we got to enjoy a bit of luxury with a private experience. The water buffalo was very smart, and I was surprised. It was adorable.

たくさんのマングローブを見ながら風をきって走るクルーズはとても気持ちよかったです。ちょうどほかのお客様がいなく、貸し切りでちょっと豪華な感じを味わえました。
水牛さんはとても賢くて、びっくりしました。かわいらしかったです。

This time, I participated with my girlfriend. It was almost my first experience with mountain climbing, so I was a bit anxious. At first, I thought the group of eight people was a bit large, but we were able to change the order of the line and had enough time to talk with the guide individually. The 11-hour duration didn't feel long at all; we were able to see various types of cedar trees along the way to Yakusugi and enjoyed walking. It rained a little during the hike, but when the rain stopped, the moss around us sparkled beautifully with water droplets, which was amazing. Since Yakushima is known for its frequent rain, I was worried about rain during the hike, but I was able to enjoy it nonetheless. The guide was very approachable, and I was able to take many photos and learn a lot about Yakushima beyond just the tour, which made me very satisfied. Since Yakushima is not a place I can visit often, I don't know when I will go again, but if I have the chance to visit Yakushima again, I hope to join this trekking tour and discover different charms of Yakushima.

今回、彼女と2人で参加させていただきました。登山自体ほとんど初めての経験で少し不安もありました。ツアーのグループは8人で少し多いかなと最初は思いましたが途中列の並び方を変えたりしっかりとガイドさんと話せる時間が1組1組あったかなと思います。11時間という長時間を感じさせないほど、屋久杉までの道中も色々な杉などを見ることができ、楽しみながら歩くことができました。途中少し雨が降ってきましたが、雨が上がるとそこら中にある苔が水滴で綺麗に光っていて凄く良かったです。屋久島は凄く雨が降りやすい地域とだけあって、登山中の雨を心配していたのですが、それさえも楽しむことができました。ガイドさんとの距離も近くたくさんの写真を撮っていただいたりツアー以外の屋久島のことまでたくさんのことを教えていただき大満足でした。屋久島自体なかなか行けるところではないので次いつ行けるか分からないですが、もしまた屋久島に行くことがあればこのトレッキングツアーに参加して、今回とはまた違う屋久島の魅力を見つけられたらいいなと思っています。

I went on a trip! Just the two of us, traveling with my 10-year-old son. Unfortunately, Dad couldn't join us this summer because he couldn't take time off, and my son dislikes walking with a mom who only talks. This is my son's exciting tour diary.

The tour started at 4:30 AM in front of the hotel. I was worried whether my son would wake up, but he woke up perfectly, perhaps because he was so excited. As the sky began to brighten, we arrived at the Arakawa trailhead with the sound of the bus stopping. I was feeling excited, while my son was full of anxiety. Here, we met our guide, who was from Yakushima and had a very reliable and kind smile. My son’s anxiety slowly started to ease with that smile... well, it didn’t completely go away.

After some warm-up exercises and taking photos, we set off! The first part was a long, long trolley train path. The green-filled trolley path seemed to stretch on forever. The scenery and bridges that appeared along the way provided nice breaks. I focused on thinking about fun things as we walked. After a long walk, we took a short break at the Kosugidani settlement, where we munched on some snacks we brought. The guide mentioned that he had come here on a school trip when he was a child! It’s not that long ago, but you can really feel the passage of time.

We resumed walking, and the guide discovered wild strawberry leaves along the way, saying, "Actually, monkeys eat them!" Just then, my son pointed and exclaimed, "Oh, over there!" He spotted red berries that no one else had noticed. The guide quickly rewarded him with a caramel for his discovery—what a great way to encourage him! This seemed to be the moment my son started to come alive.

As we continued, our eyes became attuned to the forest, and we began to make various discoveries. We became sensitive to the smells in the air. Ah, we are walking in nature! It felt like a soft green veil was gently wrapping around us. However, the distance we had to walk was just as long as I had imagined.

Just when I thought I couldn't go on anymore, we reached the entrance to the Okubo trail. The cold, delicious spring water there was amazing! We took a short break, used the restroom, and finally entered the Okubo trail! At this point, excitement outweighed fatigue!

However, we couldn't let our guard down from here. As someone in my late 40s who doesn’t usually exercise, I was starting to feel it in my legs. Plus, the mountain path was slippery, so I had to be careful! Sensing my struggle, my son... no, a deer came to check on me, saying, "It's okay. Take it slow. You got this." The roots of the trees deeply embedded in the forest gently held my feet to prevent me from falling.

Before long, we arrived at Wilson's stump. I was really tired by this point, so it was a perfect spot to rest. I left it to the guide and got a lovely heart mark. By the way, many people have made discoveries here, but for some reason, there are a lot of heart marks in Yakushima. There are hearts on fallen tree stumps and even near stones on the ground. It's just too cute!

With determination, we climbed over one more mountain from Wilson's stump! The steep incline was tough, and just when I felt like I might fall again, it was time for lunch. The miso soup given by the guide warmed my body. After resting enough, we resumed walking!! And finally, we encountered Jomon Sugi! Words can't express how overwhelming it was, but I felt a warmth filled with compassion that I had never experienced before. Jomon Sugi has been watching over us for thousands of years, silently protecting us. I was so happy to take a photo with my son here.

Oh, and I heard that next year the viewpoint will change, so this year’s scenery will be different from next year’s. We were able to take our time at Jomon Sugi and truly enjoy this wonderful encounter. My son seemed to be smiling too. Just seeing that expression made me feel satisfied. At the beginning of our walk, he was mumbling, but from the middle

行ってきました！10歳の息子との2人旅。今夏、パパはどうしても休めないということで残念ながら不参加、口だけママと歩くの嫌い～息子のどきどきツアー記です。
ツアー出発はホテル前を朝4時30分。息子が起きてくれるか不安な朝を迎えましたが気持ちが高ぶっているのかばっちり起きてくれました。
空が白み始め、バスの止まる音とともに荒川登山口に到着、高まる気持ちのママ、不安だらけの息子。ここで今日一日お世話になるガイドさんと顔合わせです。ガイドの方は屋久島出身の方でとても頼りになる笑顔の優しい方でした。その笑顔に息子も不安がちょっとずつ・・・うーん、なかなかほぐれません。
準備運動をして写真をとっていざ出陣！。最初は長い長いトロッコ列車道。
緑たっぷりのトロッコ道、歩みを進めても進めてもどこまでも続きます。途中途中で出現する風景や橋が、気持ち休めにいい味を出してくれます。ここは、もーひたすら楽しいことを考えて歩みを進めました。ひたすら歩いてたどり着いた小杉谷集落で小休止。そこで持参のお菓子をポリポリ。ガイドさんが子供の頃は、ここに修学旅行にいらしたのですって！それほど前ではないのに、時の流れを感じますね。
歩き再開、ガイドさんが途中で野イチゴの葉っぱを発見、「実は猿に食べられちゃうんですよ～」といったそばから、息子が「あっ、あそこに！」と指さした先に赤い実が。誰も見つけられなった発見にすかさずご褒美のキャラメルを差し出すガイドさん、乗せ上手！ここからかな～息子がイキイキし始めたのは。
さらに歩みを進めると、目が森になれ、色々な発見ができるようになります。空気のにおいにも敏感になってきます。ああ、大自然の中を歩いている！やわらかい緑のベールが私たちを優しく包んでくれる気持ちがします。しかし、歩く距離は想像通りに長い。
もーだめ～と思ったころに大株歩道入り口が。そこの湧水の冷たくておいしいことと言ったら！！しばし小休止、トイレを済ませ、いよいよ、大株歩道入り口に突入！ここまでくると、疲れよりワクワク感が！
ただし、ここから気を抜いてはいけません。40代後半で、ふだん何も運動していない私はそろそろ足に影響が出始めています。さらに山道は滑りやすいので要注意！そんな私を察してか、息子が・・・いやいやシカが様子を見に来てくれました「大丈夫だよ。ゆっくりで。しっかりね」と。森に深く張った木々の根っこたちも転ばないようにそっと足をホールドしてくれます。
ほどなくウィルソン株に到着。あー疲れたと思った辺りだったので本当にいいところに存在してくれています。ここはガイドさんにお任せして素敵なハートマークをゲット。そうそう、みなさんも沢山発見なさってますが、なぜかハートマークが多い屋久島です。切り株の倒れたとろこにも着地の足元付近にある石にもなぜかハート。かわいらしさがたまりません！
ウィルソン株から根性を出してもうひとやま越えます！急こう配、きつい、またまた倒れそうになってくるタイミングで昼食、ガイドさんにいただいたお味噌汁が体にしみわたります。体を十分に休めてから、歩き再開！！で、で、でついに、縄文杉のお出ましです！言葉にすると紙面からあふれてしまいますが、触れたことのない慈愛にあふれた暖かさを感じました。縄文杉は何千年も私たちを見つめ、あえて語らず守ってくれています。ここで息子と撮った写真、うれしかったなぁ。
そうそう、来年は見晴らし台の位置がかわってしまうとのこと、今年は今年の風景を来年はまた新しい風景で楽しめそうです。縄文杉の場ではゆっくりと時間もとれ、十分にこの熱い出会いを楽しませていただきました。息子もなんだか笑顔です。この表情だけで満足ってわかる。歩き始めの頃はごにょごにょいっていたのに本当に途中から文句ひとつ言わなくなったのもの。屋久島、縄文杉、ありがとうございます!
縄文杉としばし語らい、きちんとお礼の挨拶をして、いざ下山です。早く降りることが出来たならば、川で足を冷やす時間がとれる！との声掛けに、息子の歩く足の速いことといったらありません。下山中、彼はずっとガイドさんのそばでした。ふー。完全に体力負けです。
目的の沢につき、足場を探したら・・・うぉー水が冷たいー！生き返る―！パパ、無事で戻ってきましたよー。
不安だらけでスタートしたツアーでしたが、ガイドさんや一緒のパーティになった方の優しさ、励ましの声に触れ、疲れながらも最後まで歩くことができました。屋久島の優しさ、厳しさ、空気、香り、感触は行ってみないとわからないものだと心底感じました。息子の強さも知ることができ、本当に素敵な1日を過ごすことができました。
どきどきしながらこのツアーに参加させていただいたこと、本当に正解でした。ありがとうございました。

When you think of Yakushima, you think of Jomon Sugi! Encouraged by my enthusiastic husband, I signed up for this tour despite my anxiety about hiking. Although we are in our 20s, both my husband and I are not very active and have no prior experience with hiking or trekking. However, thanks to this tour, we were able to meet Jomon Sugi safely!

We departed around 5 AM. Since we stayed in the Anbo area, which is close to the trailhead, we were lucky to have a pickup that was about 30 minutes later than those staying in the Miyanoura area. The trailhead was further away than I expected, and because vehicle access is restricted, the tour took us directly to the trailhead without needing to switch to a shuttle bus, which I felt was a significant advantage.

Now, we set off from the Arakawa trailhead. My husband and I formed a group with six other people of similar age (the guides organized this for us), and we began walking. The first hour was on a somewhat uneven trolley path. It was a bit difficult to walk because you had to watch your step to avoid slipping. After that, we walked for about two hours on a relatively easier trolley path, which was the most enjoyable part. The trolley path is about 8 km long, and as we walked deeper into the forest, we could enjoy the changing scenery.

However, there were several bridges along the trolley path without railings, which might be a challenge for those with a fear of heights. I’m not particularly good with heights either, but I pushed through for the sake of seeing Jomon Sugi. After reaching the end of the trolley path, we walked about 2.5 km on a mountain trail to reach Jomon Sugi.

This section involved more ups and downs, and it took us about two hours to cover the 2.5 km mountain trail. Personally, I preferred the mountain trail over the trolley path. Being able to check my footing and progress step by step made the hiking experience more enjoyable. Of course, there were tough spots, but the stunning views along the way, including Wilson's stump and the Great King Cedar, helped ease the fatigue. Finally, when we encountered Jomon Sugi, it was even larger than I had imagined, and I was overwhelmed by its presence! We spent about 15 minutes resting and admiring Jomon Sugi before having lunch a little further down. Eating in the great outdoors was truly delicious. The warm herbal tea the guide provided helped cool us down after sweating, which was a nice touch. At this time, a Yakushima deer came quite close, and we were all charmed by its adorable appearance.

The descent went quickly, but we had to be careful to avoid falling. The guide said, "Climbing requires stamina, while descending requires concentration," and that was absolutely true. Although we started to feel tired on the way down, we kept walking without losing focus. Our group descended faster than the others, so we took a break by the Anbo River, dipping our feet in the stream. It was the guide's suggestion, and it felt great to cool our feet and rest. Having a guide meant we didn’t have to worry about our pace, and we could learn about Yakusugi and the history of Yakushima while walking, making it a very meaningful day.

屋久島と言ったら縄文杉でしょう！と意気込む主人に押される形で、登山が不安な私はこちらのツアーを申し込みました。20代ではありますが、夫婦揃って運動不足、普段から登山やトレッキングの経験がない素人です。しかしこちらのツアーに参加したことで、無事縄文杉に出会うことができました！

出発は朝5時頃。登山口から近い安房エリアに宿泊していた為、宮之浦エリアに宿泊されている方々よりも30分ほど迎えが遅かったようでラッキーでした。
登山口までは思ったよりも遠く、しかも車両の乗り入れが制限されていることもあり、ツアーはシャトルバスに乗り換えず直接登山口まで行けるので、まずここが大きなメリットだと感じました。
さあ、荒川登山口から出発です。私たち夫婦は他の6名の同世代の方々とグループになり(ガイドさん達が勝手に編成してくれました)、歩き始めました。
最初の1時間は、足場のあまり良くないトロッコ道が続きます。しっかり足元をみていないと、滑る危険があるので少し歩きにくかったです。その後約2時間は比較的歩きやすいトロッコ道を歩きます。ここが一番楽でした。トロッコ道は約8kmありますが、段々と奥に歩いていくに従って森が深くなり、景色の移り変わりを楽しむことが出来ました。
ただトロッコ道に何本もかかる橋の中で、柵がない橋がいくつかあり、高所恐怖症の方にはちょっとした試練かもしれません。私もあまり得意ではないので、怯えながらも縄文杉の為にがんばりました。
さて、トロッコ道の終点、大株歩道入口から山道が2.5kmほど歩くと、縄文杉です。
本格的にアップダウンが始まり、時間にして約2時間でこの2.5kmの山道を歩きました。
個人的には、トロッコ道よりも山道の方が好きでした。自分で足場を確認し、一歩一歩進むことで登山をしている実感が湧くので楽しかったです。もちろんきつい場所もあるのですが、ウィルソン株や大王杉といった、縄文杉までの道の途中で出会える景色がとても素晴らしかったので、疲れを癒しながら登山できました。ついに出会えた縄文杉は思ったよりも大きく、その存在感に圧倒されました！15分ほど休憩しつつ縄文杉を眺めて過ごし、少し下ったところでお昼をとりました。大自然の中でのご飯は本当においしかったです。ガイドさんがくれた温かいハーブティーも汗がひいて体が冷えるのを防いでくれて嬉しかったです。またこの時に屋久鹿がかなり近くまで寄ってきてくれて、可愛い姿に皆で癒されました。下りはどんどん進みますが、転倒などに気を使う必要があります。ガイドさんが「上りは体力、下りは集中力」と言っていましたがその通りです。下りは疲れも出てきますが、集中力を切らさず歩き続けました。
私たちのグループは他のグループよりも早く下ってきたので、安房川におりて沢に足をつけて休憩しました。ガイドさんの提案でしたが、足を冷やして休ませることができ良かったです。ガイドさんがいると歩くペースを考える必要がないですし、屋久杉のこと、屋久島の歴史なども聞きながら歩くことができるので、とても有意義な1日でした。

Yakushima, a place I had always wanted to visit at least once in my life, took over six hours to reach from Tokyo by plane, bus, and boat! After much hesitation, I decided on a spontaneous two-night, three-day trip to Yakushima. Due to the ferry schedule, I could only spend half a day on the first and last days, so I booked a tour for the morning to afternoon of the last day. On this day, a triple typhoon was approaching Kanto, and there was a high possibility that both the ferry and the plane would be canceled. Despite this, I thought, "No! Even if I can't go home or make it to work tomorrow, I will go trekking!!!" and set out in a rather anxious state (laughs). The day before had been sunny, but it turned out to be the first rain in a month? (light rain), which made the moss look even more beautiful. The plan included rental trekking gear, which turned out to be a good choice. The specialized shoes didn't put a strain on my feet.

I carefully stepped up each "stone" on the steep path. There were hardly any flat or dirt-only paths. I had to keep my eyes on my feet to avoid falling, so I focused on "which stone to step on next!" I was drenched in sweat and quite exhausted, but before I knew it, I arrived at the moss-covered forest. The beauty of the forest and water, along with the negative ions, was incredible. In the moss-covered forest, I felt like I could just gaze at the scenery forever. The water was also drinkable. I deducted one star because the pre-trip packing list mentioned "long sleeves," but since it was a light hike, I ended up sweating a lot and short sleeves would have been fine (the guide was wearing short sleeves). It also mentioned "snacks (light meals)," but there were no breaks or places to sit except in the moss-covered forest, so I had no opportunity to eat. Additionally, since I was focused on my footing, I couldn't fully enjoy the scenery, and I wished there had been a bit more time to stop along the way. But I suppose that's to be expected for a half-day trip. If you have the time, I definitely recommend spending a full day there. Seeing deer and monkeys in their natural state in Yakushima is truly moving. It's worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. By the way, miraculously, our ferry and plane resumed service, and we made it home safely!

人生で一度は行きたかった屋久島、東京から飛行機+バス＋船＝6時間超！！なかなか決意がつかない中、二泊三日で突発屋久島旅行が決まりました。初日と最終日は船の時間により半日しかいれないため、最終日の朝～昼にこちらのツアーを申し込み。この日は、関東にトリプル台風到来で、船も飛行機も欠航になる可能性大と言われる中「いや！帰れなくても、明日会社行けなくても、トレッキングには行く！！！」という、精神状態穏やかでない状況で挑みました（笑）前日まで晴天だったのですが、なんとこの日は、1か月ぶり？の雨だったようで（小雨です）、苔たちが一層きれいに見えるとのこと。トレッキンググッズレンタル付きのプランだったのですが、付けて正解でした。専用シューズだと足に負担がかかりません。
とにかく急な「石」の段を１つ１つ踏みしめて登っていきます。平坦な道、土オンリーの道はほぼありません。足元をずっと見てないと落ちそうなので「次はどの石を踏もう」と集中しました！汗だく、びしょ濡れで結構きつかったのですが、あっという間に苔むす森着。森と水の美しさ、マイナスイオンはハンパじゃないです。苔むす森では、ボーっとしていつまでも眺めていられる感じです。水もそのまま飲めます。☆星１つ減らしたのは、事前の持ち物リストに「長袖」とありましたが、軽く登山なので汗だくになり半袖でもよかったこと。（ガイドの人は半袖でした）「お菓子（軽食）」とありましたが、苔むす森以外は休憩ないし座るとこもないので食べるきっかけないです。あとは、足元見て歩くので景色を堪能できず、途中途中もう少し立ち止まれる時間があったらなと思いました。半日だから仕方ないのでしょう。時間があれば、ぜひとも1日使って行くべしと思いました。屋久島は、シカやサルの自然の姿そのままを見れるのは感動します。一生に一度は訪れる価値ありです。ちなみにご利益があり、私たちの便から船も飛行機も
再開するという奇跡が。。無事帰れました！！

Since I was able to take a summer vacation, I immediately agreed to my daughter's suggestion to go to Yakushima, a place I had never experienced before. I secured a 3-night, 4-day trip and hotel for the summer vacation, and after doing some research, I decided to request the local participation tour from VELTRA, as the Jomon Sugi tour seemed very challenging. Since I have no experience in mountain climbing, I signed up with climbing gear included. After arriving at Yakushima Airport, I received a brief explanation, and the rental items like climbing shoes, raincoats, and backpacks were brought to the hotel, allowing me to try them on and choose my shoes. I also borrowed proper climbing socks since the ones I had were not suitable.

On the day of the tour, I woke up at 3:30 AM, picked up two bento meals at the front desk at 4:00 AM, and finished one meal in my room. By 4:30 AM, I boarded the welcoming bus, picking up fellow participants one by one as we headed to the trailhead. After glimpsing the pink clouds covering the sea side as the night turned to dawn, we ran straight into the mountains. Upon arriving at the trailhead, our group of over 20 people split into three teams, each guided by a guide. After warming up, we started climbing at 6:00 AM, walking continuously along the trolley path. We then ascended the winding mountain path with tree roots. We took breaks at key points, received explanations, and kept walking. Blessed with good weather, we walked through the deep green illuminated by sunlight filtering through the trees, making it comfortable as the island's scorching sun did not reach us. The others were very considerate of me, the oldest in the group. My daughter encouraged me when my pace slowed down a bit.

The Jomon Sugi is said to be 7,000 years old, and I thought that it might not be so different from me if it were human, as I savored the same air. I have both a photo of me exhausted and a commemorative photo with my daughter at the summit. We returned the same way we came, and I think I was a bit faster on the way down since it was the same path. When I started to feel tired and thought, "Is it not over yet?" I had the chance to dip my tired feet in the riverbed. The cold, clear stream soothed my hot feet, and I realized through this experience that comfort requires some hardship. My feet felt lighter, and I was able to return safely to the trailhead.

The next day, my thigh and calf muscles were sore, and I couldn't help but let out a cry while going up and down the stairs. It had been a long time since I experienced such immediate fatigue the very next day. As a side note, when I stepped on the scale later, I found I had gained 2 kilograms but lost 3.5% body fat. If this has such an effect on body fat, I am determined to walk or climb mountains from now on to welcome a healthy 70s. Overall, I am grateful for the tour and the guides who made it possible for an ordinary senior like me to experience mountain climbing.

夏休みが取れたので屋久島に行きたいとの娘の提案に南の島は未体験の私は即のりました。夏休みの3泊4日の便とホテルを確保して、いろいろ調べたのですが、縄文杉ツアーはとても難しそうだったんで現地参加型のVELTRAさんでお願いすることにしました。特に山登りの経験もないので山登りグッズ付きで申し込みました。屋久島空港に到着後簡単な説明を受け、登山靴、レインコート、バックパックなどのレンタル品はホテルまでもってきてくれ実際に履心地をしっかり見ていただきマイシューズにすることができました。靴下も手持ちのものが本格のものでなく登山靴下まで貸していただけました。ツアー当日は3時半起き、4時にフロントで2食の弁当受け取り1食分は即お部屋で完食しました。4時半には出迎えのバスに乗り、同乗者を順にのせて登山口にむかいます。星がまたたいていた夜が明け空がピンク色の雲で覆われた海側を垣間見たあとはひたすら山の中に向かって走ります。登山口到着後乗り合わせた20数人のグループは3班に別れ一名ずつのガイドさんに引率していただきます。準備運動をして6時登山開始です。ひたすらトロッコ道を歩き続けます。その後木の根っこの蛇行した山道を登ります。要所要所で休憩、説明をうけひたすらあるきます。好天に恵まれ、木漏れ日の差し込む深い緑を歩くので,島のジリジリと焼けつく日差しは届かず快適でした。最年長の私を気遣って皆さんよくしていただけました。娘も速度が少し鈍り勝ちになった私を後からガンバレとはげましてくれました。　
　縄文杉は　2017才とのことですが人間にしたら私と変わらんかも知れんなあと思いながら同じ空気を味わいました。疲れ果ててへたり込んでいる写真と娘と二人登頂記念の写真の両方がのこりました。帰りも同じ道を降りるのですがやはり来た道ですから速度はいくらか早まったと思います。疲れがでて”まだ終わらんか？”と思ったころ河原におりて疲れた足を浸す機会がありました。ほてった足を冷たい清流が癒やしてくれて、楽を味わうには苦が必要なんやと実体験から納得しました。足も軽くなって無事登山口にもどってくることができました。　翌日太ももの付け根、脹脛の筋肉が痛く、階段の登り降りに思わず悲鳴がもれます。いやあすぐ翌日から疲れが出るのは本当に久しぶりの体験でした。後日談ですがかえって体重計に乗ったら2キロ増の体脂肪3,5減でした。体脂肪にこんなに効果あるんやったらこれからウオーキングか山登りして元気な70代を迎えたいなあと意気込んでいる次第です。とにかくなにできそうもない普通のシニアの山登りを実現させていただいたツアーとガイドさんに感謝・感謝の旅でした。

Shiratani Unsuikyo, the setting of Princess Mononoke. The lush green trees, the ancient Yakusugi that evoke a sense of history, and the moss that enriches the forest's greenery. The deeper you venture into the woods, the more a mystical world, reminiscent of the movie, unfolds before you.

Particularly breathtaking is the area just past the moss-covered forest. You can enjoy untouched nature that has remained unchanged since ancient times, feeling a weight of nature that you wouldn't experience on a typical hike. Just as we arrived at the moss-covered forest, it began to rain, but even that transformed the forest into something enchanting. The moss glistened with dew, the greenery came alive, and you could enjoy a different expression of the forest compared to sunny days.

Our guide was very kind, and we had a great time. The bento we had near the final destination was also very delicious.

By the way, since it was my first time in Yakushima, I was torn between joining the Yakusugi tour or this one, but this hike was definitely fulfilling. While the Shiratani Unsuikyo trail is 5km, going to see the Yakusugi would be four times that at 20km... I recommend this hike for those who want to enjoy hiking!

もののけ姫の舞台となった白谷雲水峡。青々と生い茂る木々、歴史を感じさせる数々の屋久杉、森の緑を豊かにする苔たち。森の奥に進めば進むほど、映画で見たような神秘的な世界が広がっていました。

特に圧巻なのは苔むす森を過ぎた辺りから。太古から変わらない手付かずの大自然を堪能でき、通常のハイキングでは味わえないような、自然の重みを感じることができました。ちょうど私達の時は苔むす森に着いたあたりから雨が降り始めたのですが、その雨すらも森を魅力的に変えます。苔が露で光り、緑が生き生きとよみがえり、晴れのときとはまた違った森の表情を堪能することができます。

ガイドさんもとても親切で、楽しく過ごすことができました。そして最終地付近で食べたお弁当はとても美味しかったです。

ちなみに初めての屋久島だったので屋久杉ツアーとどちらに参加するのか迷ったのですが、こちらでも歩き応えは十分でした。白谷雲水峡の工程が5kmなのに対して、屋久杉を見に行くとなるとその4倍の20kmとか。。ハイキングを楽しみたい人にはこちらをおススメします！

I participated to finally ride the water buffalo cart. Perhaps due to the large number of participants, we departed on a large boat. The waves were quite rough on the way to Iriomote Island, and I got seasick. After 50 minutes, we arrived and switched to a cruise ship for the jungle cruise. After returning upstream, we transferred to a bus to move to the water buffalo cart boarding area on Yubu Island. Listening to the sound of the sanshin, we saw the hardworking water buffalo pulling a cart. I'm glad I could ride it and that I came here.

On Yubu Island, during our free time, we explored the island until it was time for the return water buffalo cart. The lunch was not bad if you didn't have high expectations, and I was full. It was so hot that the air conditioning was a treat.

From Iriomote Island to Taketomi Island, we smoothly traveled on a small high-speed boat. It didn't shake much, and I dozed off a bit.

On Taketomi Island, we took a bus to Hama Beach and collected star sand. Then we rode the water buffalo cart around the island. The water buffalo were more relaxed than I expected.

It was quick to get from Taketomi Island to Ishigaki Island.

It was a busy tour that covered three islands in one go, but I'm glad I chose this. The temperatures were too high to relax on each island. Since we could only stay a short time on Taketomi Island, I would like to revisit when the weather is milder.

念願の水牛車に乗るために参加しました。
参加人数が多いためか大型船で出発。
西表島への途中たいへん波が荒くて、船酔いしました。
50分で到着後、クルーズ船に乗り換えてジャングルクルーズへ。
川上から戻ってきてバスに乗り換え、由布島への水牛車乗り場へ移動。
三線の音色を聞きながら、まじめにキビキビ働く水牛さんの引く一輪車。
乗れてよかった、来てよかった。
自由行動の由布島。
帰りの水牛車が出る時間まで、島内散策しました。
お昼ご飯は期待しなければ、まずくはないレベルでお腹一杯に。
とにかく暑いのでクーラーがご馳走です。

西表島から竹富島へは小型高速船でスムーズに。
あまり揺れず、ウトウトと寝てしまうほど。

竹富島ではバスで皆治浜へ移動。星の砂を拾いました。
それから水牛車に乗って一周しました。
思っていたより水牛さんたちはのんびりしてました。

竹富島から石垣島へはすぐです。

一気に三島を巡った慌ただしいツアーでしたが、これを選択してよかったです。
気温が高過ぎて、各島でのんびりできる状態ではなかったし。
竹富島には短時間しか滞在できなかったので、もう少し気温が穏やかな時期に再訪したいです。

Most tours typically require prior confirmation via email or phone, but this tour had a representative waiting for us at the arrival airport. They confirmed the day's important details and what to bring, allowing us to participate without any worries. On the day of the tour, we were the only customers, and we had a dedicated guide just for the two of us. In the morning, they arrived right on time to pick us up and organized the schedule to ensure we made it to our return flight.

On the way to Shiratani Unsuikyo, we spotted monkeys and a mother deer with her fawn, which made our arrival even more exciting. There were a few slippery muddy spots along the trail, but while listening to our guide's stories, we walked safely and enjoyed ourselves, taking plenty of photos that became wonderful keepsakes. The spring water was very cold and known as "beautiful water," so we drank a lot of it.

Trekking while touching moss and trees and experiencing the scent of the forest was truly moving. Finally, we were also taken to the bath, which was a pleasant way to wrap up our journey. I highly recommend this tour.

だいたいのツアーは、メールや電話での事前確認が多いところ、こちらのツアーは到着の空港で待っていてくれて、当日の注意事項や持ち物等を確認し、不安なく参加することができました。当日は、他のお客様はいなく、私たち二人の専属ガイドさんでした。朝も、時間ちょうどに迎えに来ていただき、帰りの飛行機に間に合うよう、スケジュールを組んでいただきました。白谷雲水峡につくまでに、さるやシカの親子を発見し、わくわくしながら到着しました。途中少しぬかるみ滑るところもありましたが、ガイドさんの話を聞きながら、安全に楽しく歩け、たくさんの写真を撮っていただき、とても良い記念になりました。湧き水はとても冷たく、美人の水ということで、たくさんいただきました。こけや木に触れたり、森のにおいを感じながらのトレッキングは、とても感動的なものでした。最後に、お風呂にも送迎いただき、気持ちよく旅の締めくくりをいたしました。おすすめです。

I was able to efficiently visit Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island, and traveling by bus was very easy. It was nice to have the freedom to explore each area. However, as a solo participant, I found it quite awkward that seating was assigned during lunch. I think it would be even better if there were more consideration for solo travelers!

西表島、由布島、竹富島と効率良くまわることができ、バスでの移動もとても楽でした。
各エリアでは自由にまわれたので良かったです。
ただ、私は一人参加でしたがお昼の際に席が決められていたのはとても気まずかったです。
もう少し一人参加の人への配慮があるとなお良いと思いました！

I was hesitant to go to the remote island due to concerns about the weather, but I decided to go for it. On the first day of my stay in Ishigaki Island, I took the first flight in the morning, dropped my luggage at the hotel, and headed straight to Taketomi Island. The weather was sunny with occasional showers.

I chose the rental bicycle plan this time, and I think it was a good choice given that we had just under four hours of stay. We were able to cover most of the recommended course from the rental bike shop and had enough time at the points of interest. For those with a longer stay, I think choosing both the water buffalo cart and the rental bicycle would be good, but if you have to choose one, the rental bicycle is definitely recommended. The range of activities is vastly different.

Among the places we visited, the view from Nishi Sanchashi was the best, and it was very relaxing. There were some sandy paths that were a bit difficult to ride on, but it wasn't too bothersome. The hills were fewer than I had researched, which was nice. However, cycling during the day at this time of year is quite hot, so it's important to stay hydrated.

When returning the rental bicycle, we ended up waiting quite a while for the shuttle bus to the port, possibly because it was a busy time. It might be safer to return a little earlier than the designated time from the shop. Since our hotel was a bit far from the remote island terminal, the shuttle bus to the hotel was very helpful.

With the shuttle bus, round-trip ferry fare, and rental bicycle all included at this price, and the freedom to move around during our stay, I highly recommend this optional tour.

離島は天気が心配のため、行くのをためらっていましたが、思い切って行ってきました。
石垣島滞在初日に朝一の飛行機に乗り、ホテルに荷物を預け、竹富島に直行。
天気は晴れ時々スコールでした。
レンタサイクルプランを今回は選択しましたが、滞在時間4時間弱ではその選択は良かったと思います。レンタサイクル屋さんのおすすめコースを概ね回ることができ、ポイントでもそこそこ時間をとることができました。
滞在時間が長い方は水牛車とレンタサイクルの両方をチョイスするのも良いと思いますが、どちらかを選択するのであれば、レンタサイクルの方が断然お奨めですね。行動範囲が断然違います。
廻った中では、西桟橋からの景色が一番良く、のんびりできました。
所々砂交じりの道があり、走りづらいところもありましたが、気になるほどではありません。
坂道も下調べどおり少なかったのでよかったです。
ただ、この時期のお昼に自転車は暑いですね、水分補給だけはしっかりしないと大変です。
レンタサイクル返却時はちょうど混み合う時間帯だったためか、港までの送迎バスを結構待つ形となりましたので、お店の指定時間よりも少し前に戻った方が安心かもしれません。
滞在ホテルが離島ターミナルから少し離れた場所だったので、帰りは送迎バスでホテルまで送っていただき大変助かりました。
送迎バス＋往復船代＋レンタサイクルでこの金額でかつ滞在時間中は自由に行動でき、滞在時間も自分たちで決めることができるので、このオプショナルツアーはおすすめです。

You can efficiently visit Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island. I participated alone, but since we were in a reasonably large group, I didn't feel particularly anxious. Among them, Iriomote Island left a particularly deep impression on me. The bus driver and the guides were all very kind.

西表島・由布島・竹富島を効率よく回れます。ひとり参加でしたが、そこそこの大人数で行動するので特に不安はありませんでした。
中でも西表島は特に印象深かったです。
バスの運転手さんやガイドさんはみな親切でした。

The water buffalo carts in Yubu Island and Taketomi Island were both interesting, and time flew by. Since it was a hot day, choosing the bus tour instead of renting a bicycle was the right decision.

由布島での水牛車、竹富島での水牛車はそれぞれにおもしろく、時間がたつのが早く感じました。暑い日だったので、レンタサイクルにしないでバスツアーにして正解でした。