All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

The guide's storytelling was wonderful! The water buffalo had names and were so cute. They are smart and hardworking, and I could feel the bond between the guide and the water buffalo.

The mangrove tour at Nakagawa was done by boat. The guide provided various explanations, and I felt the vitality of the mangroves. I learned that the dead trees sink underwater and never float back up. It was incredibly mystical! The tour guides were all knowledgeable and had emotions, which was lovely. I felt that the experience was very worthwhile for the price, and I'm glad I participated.

ガイドさんの口談が素敵でした！水牛に名前が付いていて可愛いです。賢くて働き者、ガイドさんと水牛の絆を感じました。
仲間川のマングローブツアー、船で周ります。ガイドさんに色んな説明をしていただき
マングローブの生命力を感じ枯れた木は水下に沈み二度と浮き上がらないそうです。
凄く神秘的で！ツアーのガイドさんは、誰も物知りで感情があり素敵です。料金からは凄くお得感があり参加して良かったです。

I visited Iriomote Island for the first time. The weather was bad, so we had to skip Barasu Island and switch to trekking, but it was the right decision, and I had an amazing experience. I was very happy to be able to experience the same place that Debi from Itte Q visited!

The guide was fantastic and very kind, and he really made the experience enjoyable. Matsuchan, our guide, made me feel great, and even though I was scared, I jumped into the river and successfully went trekking at the age of 52. The stories about the real life of Matsuchan and the locals, as well as tales from the island's elders, were fascinating. The mangrove canoeing was also incredible and very beautiful. You absolutely should experience it!

西表島は初めて訪問しました。気候が悪くバラス島は無しになり、トレッキングに変更になりましたが、変えて正解で最高な体験ができました。イッテQでデビ夫人が行かれた所と一緒の場所を体験でき、とても嬉しかったです！
そして、ガイドさんが最高で優しく、盛り上げてくださいました。ガイドの松ちゃんがとても良い気分にさせてくれて、怖かったけど川に飛び込んだり、無事に52歳ですがトレッキングする事ができました。松ちゃん達が住んでいるリアルな話や、島のおじいの話など面白かったです。マングローブのカヌーも最高でとても綺麗でした。絶対に体験した方が良いです！

From the morning gathering to the evening dispersal, the guidance was clear, and the ferry ride was enjoyable. The mangrove tour lasted a full hour, and the explanations made it fun. Since it was quite windy, wearing a hooded jacket might be a good idea. The water buffalo cart ride was a unique experience, and I appreciated hearing about the characteristics of the water buffalo. During the bus ride, the driver shared stories like a guide, which was entertaining and brought laughter and applause.

We had lunch on Yubu Island, where the local flavor was present. Although there weren't many dishes, the buffet style left us feeling full. The cute canned brown sugar caramel we bought as souvenirs was delicious. After exploring, we headed to Taketomi Island. There are rental bicycles available, but if there are many tour guests, you might not be able to use them. Since there is plenty of time for exploration, those who are unsure about walking should prepare by doing some walking beforehand. The beautiful beach, nature, and traditional houses allowed us to relax and enjoy a fulfilling day.

早朝集合から夕方解散まで
案内もわかりやすくフェリー移動
マングローブ遊覧じっくり1時間案内説明で楽しめました　風が強かったのでフード付きの服がいいかも　水牛車も貴重な体験で水牛の特徴などお話し聞けて良かったです　バス移動では運転手さんがガイド並みにお話しされ　それが面白くて笑いと拍手が起きます
由布島でランチ　地域色あり品数は多くはありませんがバイキング形式で満腹になりました　お土産で可愛い缶入りの黒糖キャラメルが美味しかったです　散策後　竹富島へ　レンタサイクルありますがツアー客が多いと利用できないかも　散策する時間が多いので歩きに不安な人はウォーキングして準備しといた方がいいです　綺麗なビーチと自然と家並みでのんびりゆったりとした気持ちになり充実した1日を過ごせました

I was able to efficiently visit three islands, each with its own unique charm. The transportation was smooth, and the guide's stories were interesting and enjoyable. The Okinawan cuisine for lunch was even more delicious than I had imagined. Overall, it was a fulfilling experience that made me think about which island I would like to visit again next!

3つの島を効率良く巡りながら、それぞれに違う魅力を味わえました。移動はスムーズで、案内の方のお話も興味深く楽しく、沖縄料理の昼食も想像以上においしかったです。全体を楽しんだ上で次はどの島にもう一度来ようかなと思える、充実した内容でした！

I was able to visit Iriomote, Yufu, and Taketomi all at once! Yufu is a very small island, and there wasn't much to do, so I spent my time collecting seashells! The rental bicycles in Taketomi were in such bad shape that my rear end hurt and I was surprised they were on the verge of a flat tire, but now it's a funny story!

西表、由布、竹富といっきにまわれました！
由布はとても小さい島で、することがなかったので、貝がらひろいしてました！
竹富のレンタル自転車がボロボロすぎて、おしりも痛くてパンク寸前でびっくりしましたが、いまでは良い笑い話です

I participated with my younger sister. The content was very good, but the weather was unfortunate, so I give it four stars. I had heard that the weather in January can be bad, so I wasn't too disappointed when it rained, but I think the beaches of Taketomi Island would have been even more wonderful if the weather had been nice. Still, the mangrove tour had a cover on the boat, so we were able to enjoy the sightseeing without getting too wet.

We were able to ride the water buffalo cart twice, and it was fun to cheer on the water buffalo pulling the cart while listening to the sanshin and songs. During the island tour, I noticed that many young people, both locals and non-locals, were working, and it was clear that everyone loves this environment, which made me feel warm inside.

妹と参加しました。内容はとても良かったのですが、お天気が残念だったので星4つです。
1月は天気が悪いと聞いていましたので、雨が降ってもそれほどがっかりしませんでしたが、竹富島のビーチはお天気が良ければもっと素晴らしかったと思います。それでもマングローブ遊覧は船にカバーがかかっていて、ほとんど濡れずに観光できました。
水牛車には2回乗ることができましたが、車を引いてくれる水牛さんを応援し、三線と歌を聴かせていただき楽しかったです。島の観光では地元出身もそうでない方も若者が沢山働いていて、皆この環境が大好きなんだなと伝わってきてこちらも暖かい気持ちになりました。

I was able to efficiently visit Iriomote Island, Yubu Island, and Taketomi Island in one day, and I was very satisfied. The bus driver guide on Iriomote Island was very entertaining. I highly recommend it.

一日で西表島・由布島・竹富島に効率よくまわることができて、大満足でした。西表島のバスの運転手さんのガイドがとても面白かったです。おすすめです。

Since the mangroves follow the same route for both the outbound and return trips, I was able to see both sides. It was fun listening to the explanations too! You can buy souvenirs on Yufu Island!

マングローブは行きと帰り同じところを通るため両側見ることが出来た。解説も聞いていて楽しかった！お土産は由布島で買えるよ！

A wonderful day even if the weather was bad the first hours of walking (rain). The misty forest, the big old and mysterious trees and the little world of the moss are so beautiful and well preserved! We were two with the guide (who speaks English contrary of what is written on the website). Read that some people had problems with the guide but he has done the job seriously. Yes he walks quickly sometimes, but we have no choice: we need to go down for the last bus. The problem is the bus schedule (which should pass one hour later), definitely not the guide! So he knows exactly what he's doing, we walked quite well and we finally arrived 10 minutes before the bus departure! If you feel that you are not in condition to walk quickly in hard mountain road (the last kilometers) it's better to give up this activity, and please don't try it without a guide during winter because we saw a few irresponsible guys underestimating the dangers of nature (no crampons on icy path, no warm clothes, walking late...)! Personally, I like this kind of guide who looks severe at the beginning, but little by little you discover that he just ask you to do what you need to do. He is kind too: giving some of his hot miso soup for lunch, taking lots of beautiful photos for you (because I must say it's hard to take photos by yourself, no time to fool around), giving very useful crampons for walking in the snow (two minutes to put it on your shoes), talking with you... Finally it was an amazing natural and human experience!

Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy, but I was comforted by the guide's humorous storytelling and the water buffalo (Apar-kun). It was so relaxing!

あいにく、天候は曇りでしたが、ガイドのユーモアたっぷりの語りと水牛(アーパー君)に癒されました。まったり！

It was a winter snorkeling experience, but since I was wearing a wetsuit, I hardly felt the cold and was able to enjoy it comfortably. Unfortunately, we couldn't go to the Blue Cave due to the weather conditions, but our guide, Sugimori, explained the situation thoroughly each time and I felt that safety was given ample consideration. He made sure to check on each participant as we progressed, which allowed me to feel secure during the experience.

冬のシュノーケリング体験でしたが、ウエットスーツを着用していたため寒さはほとんど感じず、快適に楽しむことができました。天候の影響で青の洞窟には行くことができず残念でしたが、その都度ガイドの杉森さんが状況を丁寧に説明してくださり、安全面にも十分配慮されていると感じました。参加者一人ひとりの様子を確認しながら進めてくださったため、安心して体験することができました。

A luxurious trip visiting three islands in one day. It was a solo journey, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The driver on Iriomote Island was the best! The guiding while driving was absolutely wonderful! I was also able to rent a bicycle on Taketomi Island that day, so I spent my time efficiently. The lunch that included a meal was delicious as well.

1日で3島巡り。贅沢な旅でした。ひとり旅でしたが、大変満喫できました。
西表島のパスドライバーさん、最高！運転しながらのガイドが素晴らしすぎた！
竹富島でも当日自転車が借りられたので、時間を無駄なく過ごせました。
お昼つきのランチも美味しかったです。

The guide was a friendly person and taught us a lot of interesting facts about mangroves. It was all new information for me, and I learned a lot. I was concerned about the cold weather in January, but on the day of the tour, the weather was great, and the breeze in the mangroves was gentle, making it very pleasant.

ガイドのお兄さんが気さくな方で
マングローブの豆知識をたくさん教えてくれました
初めて聞く知識ばかりでとても勉強になりました
1月で寒さや天気を懸念していましたが
当日はとても天気もよく、マングローブの中は風も緩やかで
とても心地よかったです

This time, I was taken care of by Matt-chan on the tour. During the car ride, I was able to hear various stories about the history and nature of Iriomote Island, which deepened my understanding and allowed me to enjoy the sightseeing even more.

In the morning, we went to Yubu Island. We traveled back and forth by water buffalo. I learned that water buffalo hardly sweat, so there was no animal smell at all. They were smart, gentle, and incredibly cute. They were even cuter than I expected, and I ended up buying a lot of water buffalo merchandise at the souvenir shop on Yubu Island.

For lunch, we ate at a restaurant recommended by Matt-chan, and in the afternoon, we enjoyed a mangrove canoe experience. They took tour photos with the mangroves in the background. The canoe did get my backside wet, but I was able to take a shower at the end. Since it was winter, the water was a bit cold, but as long as I wore a long-sleeved shirt, I didn't feel cold even with the wind blowing. Surrounded by the wide river and mangroves, I felt the pleasant breeze and negative ions, fully enjoying the great outdoors. It was the best!

今回、担当のまっちゃんさんにツアーでお世話になりました。車の移動中には西表島の歴史や自然についてのお話をいろいろ聞けて、理解が深まりより西表島観光を楽しむことがでしました。

午前は由布島へ。水牛で往復しました。水牛は汗をほぼかかないそうで、全く獣臭がなくて賢くて穏やかでとっても可愛かったです。
思っていたより可愛すぎて、由布島のお土産屋さんで沢山水牛グッズを買ってしてしまいました。

お昼には、まっちゃんさんおすすめのご飯屋さんで昼食をとり、午後からはマングローブカヌーを楽しみました。
マングローブを背景にツアー写真を撮ってくださいました。カヌーはお尻がぬれますが、最後にシャワーを浴びれました。冬なので少し水は冷たいですが、長袖を1枚着ていれば風が吹いても寒くなかったです。
マングローブに囲まれた広い川の真ん中で心地よい風やマイナスイオンを感じ、大自然を満喫できました。最高でした。

You can efficiently visit places like Yufuin Island, which are difficult to access on your own, without wasting time. I did a preliminary visit on this tour and then spent a relaxing day on Taketomi Island the next day.

自力では行きにくい由布島なども無駄なく非常に効率よく廻れます。このツアーで下見をして、翌日竹富島でゆっくり一日過ごしました。

I was able to experience the extraordinary by riding a water buffalo cart and seeing the mangroves that can only be found on Iriomote Island. I had a relaxing and enjoyable time.

水牛車に乗ったり、西表島でしか見られないマングローブを見たり、非日常が体験出来ました。
ゆっくりのんびり、楽しくすごせました。

A one-year-old calf was happily playing with the water buffalo. A young elementary school boy got stuck in the mangroves. The lunch buffet was enjoyed by the older kids, but it might be a good idea to bring something for the little ones aged 0-3.

水牛に一才の末の子が喜んでいました。
小学生の男の子にマングローブ刺さります。
お昼ご飯のバイキングは上の子たちは食べでしたが、小さい0-3歳くらいの子は何か持参した方がいいかもです。

My first trip to Ishigaki Island, and I arrived at the airport just before noon. Since hotel check-in is at 3 PM, I wondered what I should do after arriving. While casually searching on VELTRA, I found this tour.

The meeting time was at 2:30 PM. It included a shuttle service, a ride on a water buffalo cart, and free time for exploration. The return ferry from Taketomi Island was at 5 PM. When you think of Ishigaki Island, you think of water buffalo carts. The timing was just right, so I made a reservation four days before departure.

From the airport, I took a leisurely bus to the meeting point at the ferry terminal. At the tour desk, I showed my voucher and received my boarding ticket, and they provided detailed guidance on the meeting place, a photo of the boat I would be taking, and how to return.

Before the departure time of the ferry, I was able to have lunch and browse for souvenirs. The shuttle service from Taketomi Island was smooth, and I quickly boarded the water buffalo cart.

The ride on the water buffalo cart was incredibly relaxing. The blue sky, red flowers, white sand, and the gentle eyes of the water buffalo all brought me peace. I'm really glad I went.

初めての石垣島旅行、空港到着はお昼前。ホテルチェックインは15時だし、着いたら何しようかな?と何気なくVELTRAで検索したところ、今回のツアーを見つけました。
集合は14時半。送迎付きで水牛車に乗って、自由散策。竹富島からの帰りの船は17時。
石垣島といえば水牛車。時間もちょうどいい感じ。出発の4日前に予約しました。
空港からはのんびり路線バスで集合場所のフェリーターミナルへ。ツアーデスクでバウチャーを見せて乗船券を受け取ると、集合場所、乗る船の写真、帰る方法など、丁寧に案内がありました。
行きの船の出発時間まで、ランチを食べたり、お土産を見たりできました。
竹富島到着からの送迎もスムーズで、早速水牛車に乗り込みます。
水牛車はとってものんびり。青い空、赤い花、白い砂、水牛のつぶらな瞳、全てに癒されました。本当に行って良かったです。

Everything is arranged for you, so it's easy. It's a great tour for first-timers. The premium seats on the boat are an additional 500 yen, but since the seats are completely different, it would be fine to use them if the regular seats are crowded.

すべて段取りしていただけるので楽です。初めての方には良いツアーです。
船のプレミアムシートは＋500円ですが、シートがぜんぜん違うので普通席が混みあっている場合は利用しても良いでしょう。

Although the weather was a bit uncertain at the end of the year, it became my best memory! While gently swaying with the cows, I truly felt that I had arrived in Ishigaki, accompanied by the sounds of the sanshin.

年末のお天気微妙ななかの参加でしたが、一番良い思い出になりました!ゆっくりと牛さんに揺られながら三線の音色とであー石垣に来たなと実感

I participated in the SUP + snorkeling experience tour. I learned SUP from Hiro, who speaks in a lively Kansai dialect. He kindly taught me how to paddle and gave me tips, so once I got the hang of it, I was able to paddle freely and had a lot of fun!

We were blessed with great weather, and they took many photos, which made me very satisfied!

For snorkeling, I was taught by Hana. Since it was my first time swimming in the ocean, I was a bit anxious, but she led me with a float and took care of my well-being, allowing me to swim with peace of mind.

I was amazed by the clarity of the water during my first snorkeling experience! There were so many colorful fish, and I even got to see a sea turtle and take photos with it. It became a wonderful memory!

SUP+シュノーケリング体験ツアーに参加しました。
SUPはノリのいい関西弁のひろさんに教えていただきました。親切に漕ぎ方やコツを教えてくれたので慣れてくると自由に漕いだりして楽しく体験できました！
天気にも恵まれたくさん写真も撮ってくれて大満足です♫

シュノーケリングははなちゃんに教えていただきました。海で泳ぐのは初めてだったので少し不安もありましたが、うきわでリードしてくれたり体調を気にかけてくれて安心して泳ぐことができました。
初めてのシュノーケリング体験で、海の透明度にびっくりしました！色鮮やかな魚がいっぱいいて、ウミガメも見ることができ、一緒に写真を撮っていただきました。
いい思い出になりました！

We participated as a family of five. Since it was cold, we dressed quite warmly, but while walking, we ended up getting hot and sweating. However, when we stopped for a moment, it became cold again. We rented raincoats, but wearing a fleece under the raincoat was sufficient. My gloves were also too warm, so I think using work gloves would be better. There were more ups and downs than I expected, which made me a bit anxious at first, but our guide taught us how to walk, move our feet, and breathe, so I was able to trek with peace of mind. Along the way, we enjoyed discussions about plants and explanations about cedar trees.

After walking for about two hours, we found a restroom and used it. On the way back, we retraced the same route, but I felt quite a strain on my knees going downhill. The next day, I had muscle soreness, but the Kumozu Gorge was incredibly mystical and beautiful, so it was a very satisfying tour. It was also nice that there were fewer people since it was winter.

家族5人で参加しました。寒いと言うことで結構厚着していきましたが歩いてると暑くなってしまい汗をかきましたがちょっと止まると今度は寒くなってきます。
レインコートレンタルしましたが
フリースにレインコートて十分でした。手袋もあつかったので軍手の方がいいかとおもいます。思った以上にアップダウンがあって最初不安になりましたが
ガイトさんが歩き方や足の運び方、息づかいを教えてもらったので安心してトレッキングできました。途中植物の話や杉の説明などしてもらえるので楽しめました
2時間ほど歩いたところにトイレがあり利用しました。
帰りは同じルートを戻りますが
下りはひざにかなり負担をかんじます。
次の日は筋肉痛になりましたが
雲水峡はとても神秘的で美しかったので大満足のツアーでした。
冬なので人が少なかったのも良かったです

I had a really great time. There were so many places I wanted to see, and I felt like there wasn't enough time, so I would love to join this tour again. It was packed with highlights. Riding the water buffalo three times was truly wonderful. I'm glad I chose this tour.

本当に楽しかった。時間が足りなくてみたい所あったので、またこのツアーに参加したいと思うほど盛りだくさんでカナリ見所全て詰まっていた。水牛に3回乗れたのは本当に良かった。このツアーを選んで良かった

This time, I participated in a tour for SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding) and sea turtle snorkeling! The tour guide, Hiro, explained everything in a very friendly and easy-to-understand manner, so I was able to get on the board right away, even as a beginner! He also took a lot of photos for us, and we were blessed with great weather, which made it very enjoyable✨

During the snorkeling, I was able to see many beautiful fish, corals, and sea turtles in the stunning ocean🐢. I got to see them up close and even took pictures together! Since it was the end of January, the temperature was a bit low and it was a little chilly, but the tour was very fulfilling as we learned a lot about the ocean around Miyako Island.

Thank you to our tour guides, Hana and Tecchan😌!

今回はSUP or カヌーと、ウミガメシュノーケリングのツアーに参加させていただきました！
SUPはツアーガイドのヒロさんがとてもわかりやすくフレンドリーに教えたくださり、初めてでもすぐに乗ることができました！写真も沢山撮ってくださり、お天気にも恵まれとても気持ちよかったです✨
シュノーケリングは、とっても綺麗な海で沢山の魚やサンゴ、そしてウミガメを見ることができました🐢とっても間近で見ることができて、写真も一緒に撮ることができました！1月末の為気温も低く、少し寒かったですが、宮古島の海の知識を教えてくださったりとても充実したツアーでした。
ツアーガイドのはなちゃん、てっちゃんさんありがとうございます😌

I participated with my daughter!!
It was my first time in Miyako Island and my first experience with stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), but thanks to Hiro, who spoke in Kansai dialect and taught us patiently while keeping the atmosphere lively, I was able to enjoy it without falling in until the end! 🌟
The blue sky started to appear halfway through, and the sea looked so beautiful, creating wonderful memories! Thank you very much! 🌷

Snorkeling 🤿
I had a snorkeling experience during my school trip to Okinawa when I was a student, but I remember being disappointed because I couldn't breathe properly through my mouth and missed seeing the clear sea and colorful fish. However, thanks to Hana-chan, who taught us with a lovely smile, I was lucky enough to see a sea turtle, and I was able to turn that memory into a really great one! 🐢✨
Thank you very much! 🎀

sup🏄
母娘で参加しました！！
初めての宮古島、初めてのsup体験でしたが、関西弁のひろさんが丁寧に教えてくれてたくさん盛り上げてくれたおかげで、最後まで落ちずに楽しめることができました！🌟
途中から青空が見えてきて、海もとっても綺麗に見えて素敵な思い出になりました！
ありがとうございました🌷


シュノーケル🤿
学生の頃に修学旅行で沖縄に来た時もシュノーケル体験をしましたが、そのときは口呼吸がうまくできず透き通った海やカラフルな魚たちを見れずに残念だった記憶を、はなちゃんが素敵な笑顔で丁寧に教えてくれて、運良くウミガメも見ることができ、とってもいい思い出に塗り替えることができました！🐢✨
ありがとうございました🎀

Iriomote Island's mangroves were amazing. I was also able to visit Yubu Island, and Taketomi Island was comfortable for sightseeing with moderate temperatures, unlike in summer.

西表島マングローブ最高でした。
由布島にも行けて
竹富島も夏とは違い気温も適度で観光しやすかったです。

Iriomote, Yufu, and Taketomi had a warm climate and wonderful weather, making it a fantastic island-hopping experience. It was a great experience to leisurely explore the islands by water buffalo cart, which I had longed to do. I learned from the guide that water buffalo are gentle animals with intelligent personalities. I definitely want to travel to the Okinawan islands again.

西表　由布　竹富　気候は暖かくお天気も良くて素晴らしい三島巡りでした。
念願だった水牛車でゆったりと島巡りをしたのはとても良い経験になりました。
水牛が穏やかな性格で頭が良い動物だとガイドの方に教えて頂きました。
また　沖縄の島へ旅行したいと思いました。

I was picked up at the hotel.
We were able to board the ferry without much waiting after arriving at the terminal.
Once we arrived at Iriomote Island, we could immediately take a boat to the mangrove forest, and when we finished, a bus was waiting to take us to the next destination...
Everything went smoothly without any unnecessary waiting time, which I thought was great.
Although the weather wasn't very good, I had a lot of fun.

ホテルまでお迎えに来てもらいました
フェリーターミナル到着から乗船までさほど待つことなく乗船できました。
西表島に着いたらすぐ船でマングローブ林にいくことができ、終わったらバスが待っていて次のところに。。。
というふうに滞ることなく、無駄な待ち時間がなく過ごすことができたのでよかったと思います
天気があまりよくなかったのですがとても楽しめました

I enjoyed an island-hopping tour from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote, Yubu, and Taketomi Island. We explored the mangroves by boat, rode water buffalo, and were soothed by the sounds of the island's shamisen against the beautiful sea. We had a lunch buffet, and on Taketomi Island, we rented electric bicycles (which I really got into). I was worried about being able to ride them since I'm in my mid-50s and there are many hills, but it was so much fun to ride with the wind. I zipped around the island with my daughter, who is in her 20s.

体験ツアーで、石垣島→西表→湯布→竹富島と島めぐりを楽しめました。マングローブを遊船して、水牛に乗り島三味線の音が響き美しい海に癒されました。ランチヴィッフェを食べ、竹富島では電動自転車をお借りました（これがハマりました）50代半ばで坂道が多いので乗れるか心配だったのですが、風をきって走る楽しさ。20代の娘と一緒にスーイスーイと島をぐるっと周りました。

There is plenty of free time. I think it's a good opportunity since you might not have many chances to experience water buffalo. For those who have been to Amami, the mangroves might feel a bit lacking.

自由時間多めです。
水牛はあまり体験できないと思いますので、良い機会だと思います。
マングローブは奄美行ったことあるかたは物足りないかもしれません。