All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

The mangrove tour in Iriomote Island was great, especially with the boatman's stories that were both educational and enjoyable. We also rode a water buffalo cart to Yubu Island 🐂, and it was wonderful when they sang Okinawan folk songs while we were on the cart! On Taketomi Island, we explored on bicycles 🚲, enjoying the beautiful sea, and I had a very fulfilling time. As a side note, an electric bicycle would have been even better 💦. I think first-time visitors will have a fantastic time participating in these activities! 😃

西表島のマングローブ観光（船頭さんのお話が勉強にもなり良かった）、由布島迄水牛車🐂に乗ったり（水牛車に乗ってる時に沖縄民謡？を歌ってくださったのがとても良かった！）竹富島では自転車🚲であちこち回り綺麗な海を見たり、すごく充実した時間を過ごしました。余談ですが、電動自転車なら尚良かった💦
初めて行く方は参加されるとすごく楽しめると思います😃

I was grateful to the guide throughout the trip. More than seeing the Jomon Sugi, I was moved by the fact that we were able to go and come back safely. Of course, the Jomon Sugi was breathtaking. The explanations were very insightful, and the pacing was just right, so I didn't have any muscle soreness the next day. If I have the opportunity again, I would appreciate your guidance.

終始ガイドさんに感謝でした。
縄文杉を見れたことより、無事に行って戻って来れたことに感動でした。もちろん縄文杉は圧巻でした。
腑に落ちるような解説やペース配分がかなり良く、翌日も筋肉痛になりませんでした。
また機会がありましたらよろしくお願いいたします。

The forecast predicted clear skies in the morning. While walking, I started to sweat, and when I took a break, the weather felt refreshing. It felt like water was overflowing from everywhere, nourishing the earth. I saw the stumps of cedar trees cut down by humans, and it was a powerful reminder of nature's ability to regenerate. The view from Taiko Rock was breathtaking. I truly felt the life of Yakushima. Since it was during Golden Week, there were quite a few people, but I was glad I made the trip.

午前中は晴れ予報。歩いていると汗ばみ、休憩するとひんやりする天気でした。至るところから水が溢れ、大地を潤している、そんな感覚でした。人間が切り落とした杉の切り株、そこから再生しようとする自然の力、太鼓岩からの景色も圧巻。屋久島の命を感じました。ゴールデンウィーク中だったので人は多めでしたが足を運んで良かったと思いました。

Without local options like these, I would have been wondering where to go! I was very grateful for them! The water buffalo cart and mangrove exploration were great, and the tropical, old-fashioned atmosphere of Taketomi Island was wonderful!

こういう現地オプションがないと、何処行こうか⁉️ってなってしまうので、大変ありがたかったです‼️水牛車やマングローブ探検とか竹富島の南国古風なたたずまい良かったです‼️

I was wondering how it would be during the busy GW period with 10 hours of tracking, but the guide's navigation was spot on, and I didn't have any trouble finding restrooms. I was able to see not only the Wilson tree but also the main Jomon Sugi in abundance! On the way back, just before reaching the goal, I was welcomed by a heavy rain that truly felt like Yakushima. It turned out to be a day where I was really glad I went to Yakushima. My legs were exhausted, but I still made sure to visit Shiratani Unsuikyo the next day.

GWの混雑期かつ10時間のトラッキングでどーなるのかと思ってましたがらガイドさんのナビゲーションが的確で、トイレに困ることもなく、ウィルソン株はもちろん、メインの縄文杉もたっぷり見ることができました‼️帰りはゴール直前にこれぞ屋久島という大雨に歓迎され、本当に屋久島行ってよかったと思える一日になりました。脚はボロボロでしたが、翌日も白谷雲水峡にしっかり行ってきました。

I debated for a long time whether to hire a guide or go on my own, and I ended up making a reservation. In the end, hiring a guide was definitely the right choice. The pacing, encouragement, conversation, and service were all top-notch. The miso soup during lunch and the hojicha served during the coffee break were refreshing! Thank you for the wonderful memories.

ガイドさんをつけるか自力で行くかどうか直前まで悩みに悩み、予約しました。
結果、ガイドさんをつけて大正解でした。
ペース配分や声掛け、トークにサービス、どれをとっても最高でした。
お昼ご飯でのお吸い物、コーヒーブレイクで提供してくださったほうじ茶、体に染みました！
素敵な思い出をありがとうございました。

I was able to enjoy Taketomi Island while riding a water buffalo and listening to the performance of the sanshin. As mentioned in other reviews, there wasn't much time for strolling. It was less than an hour, so it was just enough time to walk to the Nishi Sanchu and return to the bus stop.

水牛で街を回りながら、三線の演奏を聴くことができて、竹富島を堪能することができました。他の方の口コミにもあるように、散策時間はあまりありませんでした。１時間もないくらいだったので、歩いて西桟橋行ってバス乗り場まで戻ってきて、ちょうどいいぐらいでした。

I participated in this as a solo traveler. I was anxious since I had no trekking experience, but the members on the day I joined were mostly inexperienced as well, and the guide maintained a slow and steady pace that made it easy to walk. There were five people in my group.

The guide took photos at the main spots and even provided miso soup during lunch (which I think depends on the guide), so they were very attentive and accommodating.

1人旅で参加しました。トレッキング経験がなく不安でしたが、私が参加した日のメンバーはほぼ未経験で、ガイドさんのペースもゆっくり一定で歩きやすかったです。1グループ5名でした。

主要スポットで写真を撮ってくださったりお昼ごはんのときにお味噌汁をくれたり(ガイドさんによると思います)、至れり尽くせりでした。

I had a wonderful time on Iriomote Island and Yubu Island. The mangrove tour was relaxing as we slowly made our way down the river, with the guide explaining various things along the way. It was very soothing to see the mangroves and birds.

The time spent riding a water buffalo to Yubu Island was enjoyable while listening to the sound of the sanshin. It felt extraordinary! On Yubu Island, I was able to touch the water buffalo and take commemorative photos, which was great.

The staff's guidance was smooth, and the reception and the bus driver's (guide's) responses were excellent, allowing me to enjoy the experience from start to finish.

西表島、由布島をとても満喫できました。
マングローブツアーは、ゆっくり川を進みながら、ガイドさんが色々と説明してくれます。 マングローブや鳥などを見ながらとても癒されます。
水牛に乗って由布島へ行く時間は、三線の音色を聴きながら楽しく過ごしました。非日常！ 由布島では、水牛に触ることができて、記念写真も撮れて良かった。

スタッフさんの案内の流れがスムーズで、受付やバス車内の運転手(ガイドさん)の対応が良く、最初から最後まで楽しめた。

We visited Miyako Island during Golden Week with our family of four, including our two daughters. We've been to Miyako Island many times and have done snorkeling at various places, but this time, the sea turtle snorkeling we booked here was the best we've ever experienced! ✨

There were three staff members for just the four of us, which made us feel safe and provided a luxurious experience. ✨ Veteran guide Yamachan was incredibly trustworthy and reassuring, swimming with the kids the whole time, showing us magic tricks underwater, helping us find sea turtles, and sharing interesting stories. He was truly a professional! ✨

Souchan, who is relatively new to Miyako Island, was also very attentive throughout, taking lots of wonderful photos for us, and we were very grateful. ✨ The adorable Manachan worked hard to teach us about the underwater world, which we really appreciated. ✨

During our stay in Miyako Island, we unfortunately faced cloudy skies, rain, and cold weather, which was a bit disheartening, but thanks to the staff, we were able to see beautiful fish underwater and even met sea turtles, which made us very satisfied. ^ ^

The sea turtles waited for us to see them swim up to the surface, allowing us to observe them up close, and our family was thrilled! ✨ We also got to see both the clownfish and the different patterned clownfish! ❣️

In the past, snorkeling was challenging because I had to keep an eye on the kids and couldn't fully enjoy it, but this time, Yamachan was really attentive and assured us, "Leave it to me!" which made us feel at ease. His words, "I'll definitely help if anything happens!" seemed to resonate with the kids, and they were able to swim joyfully and freely throughout the experience.

We want to do more activities with the staff here, so we will definitely come back to Miyako Island next year! Thank you so much! 😊

娘2人含む家族4人でGWに訪れた宮古島。
宮古島には何度も来ているし、シュノーケリングも色々なところでやってきましたが、今回こちらで予約したウミガメシュノーケルが今までで一番最高でした✨
私たち4人に対して、スタッフが3人もいてくれて安心&贅沢な時間✨
ベテランのやまちゃんは、信頼度＆安心感が抜群で、子どもたちと一緒にずーっと泳いでくれて、海の中で手品を見せてくれたりウミガメを見つけてくれたり、おはなしも面白くて、本当にプロ中のプロでした✨
宮古島に来て日の浅いというそうちゃんも、終始丁寧な対応をしてくれて、素敵な写真もたくさん撮ってくれて、感謝感激✨
可愛いまなちゃんも、海の中のことを一生懸命教えてくれてとても好感が持てました✨
宮古島滞在中、あいにくの曇天＆雨、そして寒い日で落ち込んでいましたが、お陰さまで海の中は綺麗に魚も見れましたし、ウミガメにも会えて大満足でした^ ^
ウミガメは泳いで水面にあがってくるまで待たせてくれたので、間近で見ることができて家族で大興奮✨
隠れクマノミも柄違いのクマノミも見ることができました❣️
今までのシュノーケルは、子どもの面倒を見たり目を離せなかったりで親はゆっくり堪能できなかったけど、今回はやまちゃんが本当に付きっきりで「任せてください！」と言ってくれたので安心できました。
「何かあったら絶対助けるからね！」の言葉が子どもたちにも響いたようで、終始楽しく伸び伸びと泳げたそうです。
ここのスタッフの方とまたアクティビティをしたいので、必ず来年も宮古島に来ます❗️
本当にありがとうございました😊

I usually don't have any mountain climbing experience, so I was worried, but I was able to participate enjoyably! The guide shared interesting trivia about the Yakusugi trees along the way, which I found fascinating!

普段、登山経験がなくて心配でしたが
楽しく参加できました！
ガイドさんが途中途中で、屋久杉の雑学などをお話ししていただいて興味深かったです！

I participated with two elementary school students (4th grade and 1st grade). The round-trip bus from the port made it convenient. Even though it was during Golden Week, we were able to ride the water buffalo cart with almost no wait. There wasn't enough time to explore everything, but it was nice to be able to return without too much stress, especially with kids.

小学生2人(4年、1年)と参加しました。港からのバスも往復ついていて、楽でした。GWでしたが、水牛車にもほぼ待たずに乗れました。あれもこれも散策するには時間が足りませんが、子連れならあまり無理せず帰れて良かったです。

I went on an island-hopping tour from Ishigaki Island. The route included Iriomote Island, Yubu Island, and Taketomi Island.

On Iriomote Island, I was amazed by the mangroves we saw from the boat. After that, we crossed to Yubu Island by water buffalo cart and enjoyed lunch before visiting the botanical garden. Going further in, the gelato at Yubu Island Tea House on Manta Beach was fantastic!

On the way back, we rode the water buffalo cart again to return to Iriomote Island, where we took a boat to Taketomi Island.

In Taketomi Island, we enjoyed a village tour while being rocked by the water buffalo cart. It was a full-day tour, and that relaxed atmosphere is definitely worth repeating!

石垣島発離島巡りに行ってきました。
西表島〜由布島〜竹富島のルート。
西表島では船でマングローブを見学して圧巻され、水牛車で由布島に渡って昼食後に植物園見学。奥に行ってマンタビーチにある由布島茶屋のジェラートも最高！
帰りはまた水牛車に揺られながら西表島に戻って船に乗り竹富島へ。
竹富島では水牛車に揺られながら村内観光。
ほぼ1日がかりのツアーでした。
あのゆったり感はリピート必須です。

On Iriomote Island, we took a mangrove tour by boat. It was fascinating. We crossed to Yubu Island on a water buffalo, and there were various types of water buffalo, which was enjoyable. On Taketomi Island, we could explore the town by bicycle, which was also fun. But the best experience was definitely riding the water buffalo.

西表島ではマングローブツアーを船でします。興味深かったです。由布島へ水牛でわたるのですが、いろいろなタイプの水牛がいて楽しかったです。竹富島は自転車で町を回れて楽しかったです。やっぱり一番は水牛に乗る体験でした。

The water buffalo was very smart, and sometimes luck comes your way! Listening to the sanshin while being blown by the wind, swaying in the ox cart on the way to Yufu Island! It was the best, thank you, water buffalo!

水牛さんは大変お利口でした、運がつく事もあります！風に吹かれながら三線を聴き、牛車に揺られ由布島へ向かう！最高でした、ありがとう水牛さん！

Although the sky was unfortunately cloudy and there was a bit of rain, I had a very enjoyable time. The experience of swaying on a water buffalo cart while crossing to Yufushima became a wonderful memory. Next time, I would like to go again on a sunny day!

あいにくの曇り空と、少し雨もパラつきましたが、とても楽しく過ごせました。水牛車でゆらゆら揺られ由布島に渡った経験はよい思い出になりました。今度は晴れた日にまた行ってみたいです！！

The water buffalo cart to Yubu Island was really great. I was also healed by the driver's (guide's) sanshin performance. The mangrove tour, bus, and ferry, and the stories from each guide were enjoyable too!

由布島への水牛車はすごく良かったです。
運転手（ガイド）さんの三線演奏にも癒されました。
マングローブ遊覧、バス、フェリー、それぞれのガイドさんの話も楽しかったです！

It was a smooth experience during the Golden Week. I checked in at the counter at the remote island terminal before the scheduled time and boarded the boat. It took about 15 minutes to get to Taketomi Island. From there, we transferred to several cars and headed to the waiting area for the water buffalo. We were guided in order. The water buffalo guide was very good at talking, and we leisurely progressed while listening to her play the sanshin. They also took free photos, and if you liked them, there were paid versions with a frame available. The quality of the photos with data was good, so we purchased them for our family. There wasn't much time for free exploration, so we returned to the meeting point early and just relaxed afterward. From start to finish, all the staff we encountered were very pleasant. Thank you for the wonderful memories!

GWでしたが大変スムーズでした。離島ターミナルのカウンターで時間までに受付し、船に乗船。竹富島まで15分ほど。そこから数台の車に分かれて乗り換え、水牛の待つ場所へ。順番に案内されます。水牛ガイドのお姉さんがとても話し上手で、三線の弾き語りを聴きながらのんびり進みます。無料の写真も撮っていただき、気に入れば台紙付きの有料タイプも。データ付きで仕上がりが良かったので我が家は購入しました。フリータイムで巡れる時間はあまりなかったので早めに集合場所まで戻り、あとはまったり。スタートから最後まで、出会うスタッフの方々とても感じが良かったです。素敵な思い出をありがとうございました！

I rode in an ox cart for the first time! It was a graceful moment while listening to the shamisen! I didn't rent a bicycle on Taketomi Island, but I think those with good stamina can enjoy a walk.

初めて牛車にのりましたー。
三味線聴きながら、優雅なひと時でしたよ！
竹富島では自転車をレンタルしませんでしたが、体力ある方ならお散歩で楽しめると思います。

I was concerned that spending one day on three islands would mean less time on each island, but in reality, I was able to have an enjoyable experience on each one. For lunch, I had "karasoba," a soul food from the Yaeyama Islands, where you can choose toppings in a buffet style.

On Taketomi Island, there was a free walk plan, but thanks to a rental service at the port that accommodated us without a reservation, I was able to rent a bicycle on-site. I recommend renting a bicycle for those who want to visit multiple spots.

This plan is highly recommended for those who want to casually visit various islands and for beginners exploring the Yaeyama Islands.

1日で3島ということで、1島あたりの時間が少なくなることを懸念していましたが、実際はどの島でも魅力的な体験ができました。
昼ごはんは「からそば」という八重山諸島のソウルフードで、トッピングをバイキング形式で選ぶものでした。
竹富島ではフリーウォークプランでしたが、予約なしでも対応してくださる業者さんが港にいてくれたおかげで、現地で自転車をレンタルすることができました。行きたいスポットが複数ある方は自転車レンタルをおすすめします。
いろんな島に気軽に訪れたい行きたいという方、八重山諸島初心者の方にはとてもおすすめのプランです。

This is a tour that takes about 6 hours to explore Iriomote Island and Yufu Island, allowing you to efficiently see the sightseeing spots within a short time that would be difficult to achieve with individual arrangements. I truly felt that participating in this tour was a great decision. Another positive aspect was the round-trip shuttle service between the hotel and the remote island terminal.

西表島及び由布島を約6時間で巡るツアーですが、個人手配では実現できない短時間の中で効率よく観光名所を見ることができるツアーです。参加して良かったと心から思えるツアーでした。
ホテルと離島ターミナルの往復送迎対応があることも良い点でした。

The weather was favorable, there weren't too many people, and I was healed by the great nature of Yakushima. The explanations of the highlights, pacing, and photo opportunities were all excellent. The guide's attention to detail was truly wonderful. I would definitely like to request this again if the opportunity arises!

天候に恵まれ、さほど人も多くなく、屋久島の大自然に癒されました。
見所の説明、ペース配分、写真撮影等々
とにかくガイドさんの心配りが素晴らしかったです。
また機会があれば是非お願いしたいです！

I traveled from Hokkaido to the southernmost Yaeyama Islands. Even within Japan, I noticed differences in lifestyle and customs. Thank you for a wonderful trip.

北海道から最南端の八重山諸島に行きました。同じ日本でも生活用式、習慣の違いがわかりました。楽しい旅をありがとうございました。

It was my first snorkeling tour, and I was impressed by the clarity of the water. I saw a lot of fish and was very satisfied. The guide was also kind, which made it easy to enjoy. I would like to participate again.

初めてのシュノーケルツアーでしたが、海の透明度に感動し、魚もたくさん見れて大満足でした。ガイドさんも親切で安心して楽しめました。また参加したいです。

It was a very enjoyable snorkeling tour! The staff were kind, and I felt safe participating even as a beginner. The ocean was truly beautiful, and I was able to see many fish and corals, which was very moving. Additionally, I even encountered a sea turtle, making it an absolutely amazing experience! The explanations were thorough and easy to understand, and I was very satisfied with the photos they took. If you're going to go snorkeling in Ishigaki Island, I highly recommend this tour!

とても楽しいシュノーケリングツアーでした！
スタッフの皆さんも親切で、初めてでも安心して参加することができました。
海が本当に綺麗で、たくさんの魚やサンゴを見ることができ、とても感動しました。
さらにウミガメにも出会うことができて、本当に最高の体験でした！
説明も丁寧で分かりやすく、写真も撮っていただけて大満足です。
石垣島でシュノーケリングをするならぜひおすすめしたいツアーです！

I was able to experience the rich ecosystem of Ishigaki Island. I was moved by the underwater world filled with sea snakes, unusual fish I had never seen before, and colorful scenery.

石垣島の豊かな生態系に触れることができた。
ウミヘビや見たことの無いような変わった魚、カラフルな景色が水中世界に広がっていて感動をおぼえた。

I think the timing of my visit at the end of April, just before Golden Week, was perfect. The pleasant air, bright sunshine, and the tropical flowers in full bloom created a beautiful setting as we slowly moved along the narrow paths lined with traditional houses in a water buffalo cart. It felt like a different world. It was also nice that there were hardly any tourists from overseas.

4月末のゴールデンウイーク前で、訪れた時期も良かったと思います。気持ちのいい空気と明るい日差し、南国の花が咲き乱れる中、伝統的な家屋が立ち並ぶ細い道をゆっくりと進む水牛車。別世界のような美しさでした。押し寄せる海外からの観光客が殆どいなかったのも良かったです。

I was really satisfied with the mangrove canoeing experience, just as I had imagined. They were considerate about taking photos so that not many other people were in them, and I have done quite a few activities, but I really enjoyed this one!

思い描いていた通りのマングローブカヌーができてすごく満足です。写真も他の人があまり映らないように配慮いただいたり、アクティビティは結構してきましたがとても楽しめました！

It was a fun day of snorkeling and canoeing!

We did snorkeling in the morning, had lunch in between, and then went canoeing in the afternoon. I was actually disappointed when the plan changed from the Blue Cave to Osaki due to bad weather, but I was very satisfied to see a sea turtle up close, which is quite rare even in the Blue Cave. Plus, it was nice that it wasn't too hot!

During the morning snorkeling:
- The instructor taught us carefully, so I was able to start with a float and then swim on my own and enjoy it.
- The water clarity at Osaki was high, allowing us to observe colorful fish, sea turtles, and sea snakes up close.
- We had the amazing experience of a sea turtle coming up for air right in the middle of our group.
- Looking back, I'm glad we experienced Osaki instead of the Blue Cave.

In the afternoon mangrove canoeing:
- Thanks to the humorous instructor, we had a great time.
- We were able to observe hermit crabs (maybe?).

Overall, it was a day full of extraordinary experiences that even beginners could enjoy safely! By the way, during the lunch break between the morning and afternoon sessions, we took a shower at a tour-related facility and then went to a recommended burger place that serves Ishigaki beef, which was also excellent.

As for other highlights, we saw the following from the car window:
- Sugarcane fields and their processing factory
- Ishigaki beef and Jersey cows
- Peacocks (they were spreading their feathers and making sounds)
- Pigs (maybe Agu pigs?)

参加して楽しいシュノーケリングとカヌーでした！

シュノーケリングは午前に実施して、お昼を挟んで、カヌーは午後に実施しました。
実は天候不良で予定していた青の洞窟から大崎に変更になりガッカリしていたのですが、青の洞窟でもなかなか遭遇しにくい？ウミガメを間近で見ることができて、大満足でした。しかも暑くなくて良かった！

午前のシュノーケリングでは、
・インストラクターが丁寧に教えてくれたので、浮き輪スタートでも途中から自力で泳いで楽しむことができました
・大崎の海の透明度が高く、カラフルな魚・ウミガメ・ウミヘビを間近で観察できました
・ウミガメが自分たちの輪の中に息継ぎしにくるという感動体験がありました
・今思うと青の洞窟でなくて、体験できた大崎で良かったです

午後のマングローブカヌーでは、
・ユーモアたっぷりのインストラクターのおかげで楽しめました
・ヤドカニ（？）の生き物も観察できました

全体を通して、
初心者でも安心して参加できる、非日常感たっぷりの一日でした！
ちなみに午前と午後の間のお昼では、ツアー関連の施設でシャワーを浴びた後、インストラクターさんのおすすめの石垣牛ハンバーガー屋さんに行きました。
こちらのおすすめも非常に良かったです。

その他見所ですが、車窓から次を見れました
・サトウキビ畑とその加工工場
・石垣牛とジャージー牛
・くじゃく（羽開いたり、鳴いてました）
・豚（アグー豚？）

I chose this tour because I'm greedy and wanted to do a lot. It was just as I expected, a packed tour that was enjoyable. I had so many things I wanted to do, and the day was fulfilling.

欲張りだから、沢山行けるこのツアーを選びました。
思った通り盛りだくさんのツアーで楽しめました。
やりたいことが沢山あって1日充実しました。