All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

This was my second tour of the three islands: Iriomote Island, Yubu Island, and Taketomi Island. Unfortunately, we weren't blessed with good weather again, and like last time, it was a cold tour... But to be honest, everyone should go on this tour!!

This time, the bus driver on Iriomote Island was a great storyteller, making the ride really enjoyable. We were laughing a lot. On the other hand, the boatman for the water buffalo cart on Yubu Island, who was very entertaining last time, seemed to be doing a half-hearted job this time, possibly because it was raining, which was disappointing.

I also think there’s room for improvement regarding the lunch we had on Yubu Island. However, the convenience of having hotel pick-up and drop-off, along with the fact that the boat didn’t rock, made it a great experience overall. Above all, I believe this tour is so engaging that you won’t have a moment to feel bored.

2度目の西表島、由布島、竹富島の3島めぐりツアーでした。
今回もお天気には恵まれず、前回同様寒いツアーにはなりましたが・・・
はっきり言ってこれはみなさん行くべきです！！
今回は西表島のバス移動の運転手さんがお話上手でとっても楽しかった。ウケまくりでした。
逆に由布島の水牛車の船頭さん(？)は、前回はとてもお話上手の方の楽しい方だったのですが、今回は雨も降っていたこともあってやっつけ仕事っぽく残念でした。
あとは由布島でいただく昼食も改善の余地があると思います。
ですがホテルへの送迎付きで便利だし船も揺れないし、なにより退屈する暇は無いほど充実しているツアーだと思います。

The morning ferry rocked like a roller coaster, making my heart race with excitement! I was healed by the water buffaloes on Iriomote Island and Yufu Island, enjoyed a fun guide on Taketomi Island while searching for star sand. It was a healing journey!

朝のフェリーは、ジェットコースターなみ揺れて、ハラハラドキドキ！
西表島、由布島の水牛に癒されて、竹富島でガイドさんの楽しいガイドで、星砂探して、
癒される旅でしたー！

It's an overnight ferry. Since I had originally used this reservation service before, I made the reservation from here. The check-in was smooth, and since the sea wasn't rough, I was able to rest.

夜行フェリーです。
もともとこちらの予約利用したことがあるのでこちらから予約いたしました。
スムーズに受付できまして、海も荒れていなかったので休むことができました。

I received polite advice at SUP and had a fun experience. Although we couldn't go to the Blue Cave for snorkeling, the weather was nice, and I got to see sea turtles, which made for a delightful time.

ＳＵＰでは丁寧にアドバイスをいただき、楽しく体験できました。
シュノーケリングは青の洞窟には行けませんでしたが、お天気も良く、ウミガメにも会えて楽しい時間を過ごさせていただきました。

Since I hadn't been exercising much lately, my legs started to shake towards the end. Honestly, going down without trekking poles was tough, and I now wish I had rented some. I was so focused on keeping up that I didn't have much time to enjoy the scenery, so I realized that preparation is essential. Still, reaching Jomon Sugi was an amazing experience.

日頃あまり運動もしていなかったので、最後の方は足がガクガクになりました。ストック無しでの下山は正直キツかったので、やはりレンタルすれば良かったと今になって思います。
ついていくのに必死で、あまり景色を楽しむ余裕がありませんでしたので、やはり準備は必要だなと思いました。それでも、縄文杉まで行けた事は最高の体験でした。

We were blessed with good weather and had a great time enjoying the ox cart and the guide's folk songs, surrounded by blooming bougainvillea and deigo flowers. The timing was perfect.

お天気にも恵まれ、牛車もガイドさんの民謡も楽しみながら、ブーゲンビリア、デイゴの花も盛りの中、良い時間を過ごせました。時期的に良かったです。

Even though it's late March, is it scorching hot in Taketomi Island?! For Tokyoites who are still not used to the heat, riding in a covered water buffalo cart while listening to the guide's stories and the sound of the sanshin was the best experience for a leisurely island tour.

This tour, which includes transportation between Ishigaki Port and Taketomi Port, as well as a shuttle bus and water buffalo cart sightseeing, is a great deal. We took the ferry departing from Ishigaki at 2:30 PM and returning from Taketomi at 5:00 PM, which was just the right timing.

3月下旬とはいえ、竹富島は猛暑？！　まだ暑さに慣れていない東京人にとっては、屋根付きの水牛車に乗って、案内人の話や三線の音色を聞きながらゆっくり島巡りができて最高の経験でした。
石垣港⇔竹富港⇔送迎バス+水牛車観光のこのツアーはおトクです。私達は午後14:30石垣発＆竹富発17:00のフェリーで、時間的にちょうどよかったです。

The guide was kind and attentive, and despite my foot pain, I was able to keep up. It was a place I wanted to visit at least once in my lifetime, so I am very satisfied.

ガイドさんも優しく丁寧で、足の痛みを抱える私も何とか付いていくことができました。一生に一度は行きたい場所でしたので、非常に満足しています。

The scenery was of course amazing, but the tour guide was the best. They had a wealth of topics to discuss and shared them in such an interesting way that I forgot my fatigue and was able to enjoy the trekking.

絶景はもちろん最高でしたが、ツアーガイドさんが最高でした。
話題豊富でしかも面白く話してくれて、疲れを忘れてトレッキングできました。

We participated by splitting into a bus team and a free (bicycle) group. The forecast was cloudy with rain, and there was occasional light rain on Taketomi Island. I brought a raincoat but didn't need to wear it. The sea at Nishi Sanchu Bridge seemed beautiful. To visit all the highlights, you need plenty of time, and the last ferry was at 5 PM.

バスチームとフリー（自転車）に分かれての参加。曇雨予報で竹富島は時々小雨。カッパ持ってったけど着なくて大丈夫でした。西桟橋の海が綺麗だったようです。見どころを全部行くには時間がたっぷり必要で、フェリーは最後の17時でした。

On a day with cloudy and rainy forecasts, the strong winds made the ferry ride to our destination quite bumpy, causing even adults to feel seasick and scared. However, we calmed down during the mangrove tour, enjoyed a ride on an ox cart, and the kids were thrilled to see the large Papilio butterfly and the golden chrysalis at the Yufu Island Butterfly Garden. The bus tour was well-paced with informative explanations, allowing us to efficiently explore the area. It rained while we were on the boat, but elsewhere it was just cloudy, so we managed to have a fun time. It would have been perfect if it had been sunny.

曇雨予報の日、風が強く行きのフェリーが揺れまくり大人も船酔いand怖さで大変でした。その後のマングローブ遊覧で落ち着き、牛車も楽しめ、由布島蝶々園の大きなオオゴマダラと金色のサナギに子供大喜びでした。バスツアーはテンポよく説明もあり効率よく周れました。船中に雨が降りましたが、他はなんとか曇だったので楽しく周れました。晴れなら最高でした。

I slept like a baby. Staff was great getting on and getting off

Guide Mitsuhashi provided an accurate and insightful tour. He made every effort to avoid crowded times, and at Jomon Sugi and the Wilson stump, it felt almost like we had the place to ourselves. It was truly moving!

ガイドの三橋さんが的確なガイドをしてくださいました。混み合いそうなタイミングを極力避けてくださり、縄文杉やウィルソン株ではほぼ貸切なんじゃないかというくらいの空き具合、感動でした！

There were some hits and misses with the guide, and honestly, my guide wasn't very good.

Disappointments:
While the guide would stop at key points to explain things, they would immediately start walking again after finishing the explanation, leaving no time for taking photos. We arrived at the entrance before 5 PM, so we had plenty of time, and I wished there had been more time for photography.

There was no announcement about how many minutes the break would be, and the guide prioritized their own schedule, waiting until they finished their meal. While walking, the guide completely ignored the participants behind them, not noticing if anyone was lagging or even falling. They walked ahead without considering the participants' conditions, making it difficult to take water breaks.

Additionally, when using trekking poles on the stairs, it was hard to walk behind the guide because they would stick the poles out behind them.

However, there were certainly parts where having a guide was helpful, especially for pacing and knowing where the rest points were. For those who are not used to hiking, it's safer to have a guide.

ガイドによる当たり外れがあり自分のガイドは正直あまりよくはなかったです。
不満点
要所で止まって説明してくれるものの説明終わったらすぐ歩き出す為に写真撮影する時間がなかった。帰り入り口には5時前に着いており十分時間に余裕があったのでもう少し撮影する時間を取って欲しかった。
休憩時間が何分というアナウンスがなく、ガイドの食事終了までなどガイド都合優先だった。
歩いている際に後ろを全く気にしてない為に参加者が遅れていても転んでいても全く気がつかない。参加者の様子を考慮しないで歩いていくので給水しにくかった。
階段でトレッキングポールを後ろに突き出すのでガイドの真後ろだと歩きにくい。

ただしガイドがいないとペース配分や休憩ポイント等わからない部分もあるので助かった部分も当然あります。登山慣れしてない方はガイドを付けた方が無難です。

I participated in a one-day tour. I requested a pickup service, but it seems that during busy periods, the pickup may not be available the day before. Since I didn't have a rental car, I was very grateful for the pickup service.

In the morning, we did SUP at Ingyā, and in the afternoon, we went snorkeling at Turtle Bay, which was packed with activities. Our tour guide, Yume-chan, was very kind, and my child was able to participate with peace of mind!

The underwater scenery was truly beautiful, and we were able to see turtles up close, which was very cute. Thank you very much!

１日ツアーに参加しました。
送迎付きをお願いしましたが、混んでいる時期だと前日に送迎不可になることもあるようです。レンタカー無しだったので、送迎していただけて大変ありがたかったです。
午前中にインギャーでSUP、午後からタートルベイでシュノーケリングと盛りだくさんでしたが、ツアーガイドのゆめちゃんには親切にしていただき、子どもも安心して参加できました！
海の中は本当に綺麗で、カメさんも近くで見る事ができて、とても可愛かったです。
ありがとうございました。

The weather was nice, and our guide was very cheerful and fun. Every moment from the talks inside the tour until it ended was enjoyable! There are other tours available, and I'm looking forward to participating in those as well! Even those who can't swim are well taken care of, so anyone can join with peace of mind!

天気も良くて担当ガイドの方もすごく明るく楽しい社内の中のトークからツアーが終わるまでの全ての時間が楽しかったです！
また違うツアーがありますので、そちらの方も参加するのが楽しみです！
泳げない方でもしっかり対応してくださるので誰でも安心して参加できます！

In the morning, the weather was nice, and while cruising through the mangroves in Iriomote Island and crossing to Yubu Island by water buffalo cart, a pleasant breeze was blowing, making it a very enjoyable experience. Riding the water buffalo cart was a first for me, and the sound of the boatman's shamisen added a charming touch, allowing me to savor a relaxed atmosphere.

When we took the ferry to Taketomi Island, it started to rain, and since I had signed up for a cycling course on the island, I was worried. However, the rain stopped partway through, and I was glad I could cycle around the island. I was able to reach the sea, so I felt it was a good choice to go with the cycling course.

I definitely want to visit again when the weather and climate are nice.

午前中は天気も良く、西表島でのマングローブを船で周る時と、由布島へ水牛車で渡る時は、心地いい風も吹いててとても気持ちよく過ごせました。水牛車も初めての体験で、船頭さんの三味線も情緒があって、ゆったりとした雰囲気を味わえて良かったです。
竹富島へフェリーで渡る時に雨が降ってきて、島でサイクリングのコースを申し込んでいたので、心配してましたが、途中から雨も止み、自転車で島をまわれて良かったです。海の方まで行けたので、サイクリングのコースにして良かったと思いました。
またぜひ、気候と天気の良い時に訪れたいなと思いました。

I had some anxiety due to lack of exercise, but I challenged myself because I wanted to see it at least once. The guide, **san, said, "If you only look through the lens, it's a waste! I want you to engrave it in your memory," and that love for Yakushima really came through in those words. I completely agreed with that. The guide was incredibly thorough, even teaching us about aftercare for muscle soreness.

I was fortunate to have great companions on the climb, and we had a lot of fun and were able to descend safely. The sense of accomplishment was immense✨️.

I've gained another unforgettable experience.

Thank you very much🙏.

運動不足で不安はありましたが、一度は見てみたいとチャレンジしました。
ガイドのき**さん、レンズを通してばかりだと、勿体ない！目に焼き付けて帰って欲しいと、屋久島愛が伝わる一言。まさに、その通りだと思いました。凄く丁寧にガイドは勿論のこと、筋肉痛のアフターケアまで教えてくださいました。
一緒に登った仲間にも恵まれ、とても楽しく、無事下山することができました。達成感は物凄かった✨️
心に残る体験が1つ増えました。
本当に、
ありがとう御座いました🙏

The guide was worried because the ages in this group were varied, but we all started walking with the goal of completing the course together. I was encouraged by the sight of older participants walking energetically, which helped me finish the course. Thanks to the guide and everyone in the group. Great job, everyone! ✨

ガイドさんがこのグループは年齢がばらばらなので、と心配されてましたが、とにかく全員で完歩をめあてに歩きはじめました。私よりご高齢の方が元気に歩いている姿に、励まされ完歩できました。ガイドさん、グループの皆さんのおかげです。お疲れ様でした。✨

The snorkeling guides were Makocchan and Soutakun! Both were cheerful and friendly, and their explanations were easy to understand, making it enjoyable and reassuring even for first-timers.

The snorkeling location changed due to sea conditions, but it turned out to be a great decision! I was thrilled to swim with sea turtles, which was a dream come true 🐢✨✨ I got so excited that I almost drowned... haha.

And for my first time on a SUP, we went into the mangroves. The quiet and surreal scenery was breathtaking... it was incredibly healing!! ✨✨

I did fall off the SUP a few times, but that just added to the fun, and I made some amazing memories. ☺️

Thank you so much, Makocchan and Soutakun! I definitely want to go again! When I do, I hope to have you as my guides again! 🤘

シュノーケリングのガイドはまこっちゃんSUPはそうたくん！
どちらも明るくて気さくで説明もわかりやすく、初めてでも安心して楽しめました。

海の状況でシュノーケリングの場所は変更になりましたがそれが大当たり！！
念願の海亀と一緒に泳げて感動🐢✨✨
興奮しすぎてあわや溺れるかと…笑

そして初めてのSUPはマングローブの中へ。
静かで幻想的な景色が広がって…
めっちゃ癒されたーーーッ！！✨✨

しっかりSUPから落ち、掴みは👍
それも含めて楽しくて最高の思い出ができました。☺️

まこっちゃん、そうたくん
本当にありがとうございました😊
また絶対行きたいです！
その時はまたガイドよろしくーー🤘

This was an activity I wanted to experience at least once. The water buffalo crossing the sea is really cute. I had a wonderful experience on Yufujima as well. The jungle cruise on Nakama River was also fantastic.

１度は体験したいアクテビティでした。海を渡る水牛はホントに可愛いです。由布島でも素晴らしい体験出来ました。
仲間川のジャングルクルーズも最高でした。

We were probably grouped by age, and there were eight people from the same generation. We spent 10 hours together, got to know each other, and I saw them a few times the next day and had conversations with them. The guide paid close attention to everyone, which allowed us to trek with peace of mind. I'm glad I was able to accomplish one of the things I want to do before I die.

たぶん年代別にグループ分けされていて、同世代8人でした。10時間も一緒に過ごして、顔見知りになり、次の日も何回かお見かけして話をしたりしました。
ガイドの方はみんなの様子をよくみてくださって、安心してトレッキングをすることができました。
死ぬまでにやりたいことの１つを実行できて良かったです。

The guide, who was a water buffalo driver, was skilled and made the experience enjoyable. They explained the island's traditional events and culture, as well as current issues and challenges, which provided a great experience.

水牛運転手な方のガイドが
上手で楽しめました。
島の伝統行事や文化、
現在の問題点や課題まで説明して
くれて良い経験が出来ました。

It was a wonderful island-hopping experience! I was worried about getting seasick on the boat from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote Island, but that was not a problem at all. The tour was conducted on time for everything, and we had enough time to look at souvenirs. On Taketomi Island, you can choose the return boat at either 4 PM or 5 PM, but I definitely recommend the 5 PM option. If you take the 4 PM boat, you won't have enough time for sightseeing. I feel like there are more star sands than there were 20 years ago!

とても素晴らしい離島巡りでした！石垣島〜西表島までの船に酔わないか心配でしたが、そこは全く問題なかったです。
ツアーは全て時間通りに行われました。お土産を見る時間もちゃんと取れました。
竹富島では帰る船を16時or17時で選べますが、絶対17時がいいです。16時だと観光時間が足りません。20年前より星砂が増えた気がします！

I had a photo shoot on the 17th! Despite the last-minute reservation, they responded quickly, which was a great help. It was my first time having my picture taken, and I was nervous, but they explained everything thoroughly and suggested poses, allowing me to enjoy the shoot! The photos I received are also very beautiful, and I am extremely satisfied! Thank you very much!

17日に撮影をしました！
直前の予約にもかかわらず、すぐに対応していただき助かりました。
写真を撮ってもらうのは初めてで緊張していましたが、丁寧に説明してくださり、ポーズも提案していただけたので、楽しみながら撮影することができました！
届いた写真もとても素敵で、大満足です！
ありがとうございました！

I participated alone and joined a group of five, including our guide.

Our guide, Kiyota, made jokes and engaged each of us in conversation, creating a friendly atmosphere throughout the tour.

Additionally, at various points, he took photos for each group, paying attention to posing and angles, and he did a great job. I really appreciate it! 🙏

Unfortunately, the weather was rainy, but it turned out to be a fun trekking experience. ✨

Thank you very much!

私は１人での参加で
ガイドさん含め５人で回りました。

ガイドの清田さんが、
冗談を交えながら
皆さんそれぞれに話を
振ってくださったりして
和やかな雰囲気で
回ることができました。

あと、ポイントポイントで
各グループごとに
写真を撮ってくださったのですが
ポージングや角度までこだわって
上手に撮っていただき、感謝です🙏

天気はあいにくの雨でしたが、
楽しいトレッキングになりました✨

ありがとうございました。

This was my second time participating, and I definitely recommend joining if you travel to Ishigaki Island. You can explore efficiently without wasting time, and it's easy since there's no driving involved.

二度目の参加でしたが、石垣島に旅行したら是非とも参加をおすすめします。
無駄なく効率良く回れますし運転もないから楽です。

At first, I was a bit anxious about the 22-kilometer journey, but once I participated, I found that the combination of the flat trolley path and trekking made it challenging yet achievable. We set off early in the morning, and although we needed flashlights, it turned out to be a great experience. The sunrise we saw along the trolley path was incredibly beautiful.

Our guide shared humorous anecdotes while explaining the history and knowledge of Yakushima and the Yakusugi trees, making the trekking enjoyable. I also appreciated the explanations of various cedars and plants beyond the famous sites.

With appropriate breaks and adjustments to our walking order based on the guide's experience, our team, which had older members, was able to reach the goal without difficulty. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing Wilson Cedar, the Great Cedar, and Jomon Cedar, and this time we also got to see the trolleys working on the trolley path, as well as wild monkeys and deer, which left me very satisfied.

初めは22キロの道のりに不安もありましたが、実際に参加してみると平坦なトロッコ道とトレッキングの組み合わせで、楽ではないですが完歩することが出来ました。
出発は朝早く、懐中電灯が必要でしたが、それも良い経験で、トロッコ道の途中で見る朝日も非常に綺麗でした。
ガイドの方もユーモアを交えながら屋久島、屋久杉の歴史や知識を解説してくれて、楽しくトレッキング出来ました。
名所の他にも色々な杉や植物の説明も楽しかったです。
適度な休憩とチーム内の歩く順番の調整などガイドの方の経験値で年齢層の高いチームで
したが、無理なくゴール出来ました。
ウィルソン杉や大王杉、そして縄文杉と十分に堪能で出来、今回はトロッコ道で作業するトロッコや野生の猿や鹿も見ることが出来て、非常に満足しています。

My third-grade son loves guides. We thoroughly enjoyed the history of Yakushima and the fun of the forest. I want to go to Yakushima again in the summer.

小学校三年生の息子はガイド大好きです。屋久島の歴史、森の楽しさを十分感じました。まだ夏の時、屋久島へ行きたいです。

Crossing the island by water buffalo cart was a charming and wonderful experience. I was also impressed by the extensive mangroves. The bus driver's stories on Iriomote Island were very informative as well. Thank you very much. It was a bit disappointing that the weather was gloomy.

水牛車での島渡り、趣があり、素敵な体験ができました。
広範囲のマングローブも感動しました。
西表島のバスの運転手さんのお話もとても参考になりました。
ありがとうございまました。
天気がぐずついていたのがちょっと残念でした。