All Reviews for Japan Winter Tours 2025

I will visit the Gassho-zukuri villages, and Shirakawa-go is definitely the largest and most photogenic place. On the way, you can enjoy waterfalls and canyons along the White Road. There are express buses from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go, but this tour was convenient for beginners as it allows you to explore various spots.

合掌造りの集落を回しますが、やっぱ白川郷が一番規模も大きく、フォトジェニックな場所です。行きのホワイトロードでは滝、渓谷を満喫できます。白川郷へは、金沢から高速バスが出ていますが、初心者には色々回れる本ツアーは便利でした

I traveled to Okinawa with two friends in March for a two-night, three-day trip. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see much of the beautiful ocean due to the weather. However, on the last day, which was our whale watching day, the weather was perfect. The guide was very friendly and made the experience enjoyable.

At first, I was worried that we wouldn't see any whales, but we were able to see them clearly. It was also memorable to see a mother and baby whale together.

There were many people on the boat, including not only Japanese tourists but also a lot of foreign tourists, such as those from China. Since it had been rainy for several days, the waves were a bit high, and it seemed that more than half of the foreign tourists were seasick. However, our group had no issues. I tend to get motion sickness easily, so I took some medication beforehand, which helped. I recommend that anyone who is worried about seasickness take some medication as well.

Overall, it was a satisfying tour with good weather and no seasickness.

3月に友人と３人で利用しました。２泊３日の沖縄旅行でしたが、天候に恵まれずあまり綺麗な海を見れていませんでした。最終日のホエールウォッチングの日だけとてもよく晴れました。ガイドのお兄さんも、とってもフレンドリーで楽しかったです。
最初は、クジラが見れなかったどうしようと思っていましたが、しっかりと見ることができました。また、親子のクジラを見ることができたのも印象深かったです。
船には多くの人が乗っていて、日本人だけでなく中国人観光客など外国人が多かったです。雨の日が続いていたこともあり、若干波が高かったこともあり外国人の観光客の方の半分以上が船酔いしていたようでしたが、私たちグループは問題ありませんでした。もともと、酔いやすいタイプなので事前に酔い止めを飲んで防げたので、心配な方は酔い止めを服用するといいと思います。
船酔いすることもなく、いい天気で楽しいツアーだったので満足です。

I met a whale. I was able to take great photos and videos with my smartphone. I found myself wanting to get closer, see it bigger, and for longer, but I was satisfied to see its back swimming multiple times and to witness it spouting water. I was worried about seasickness, but I had no problems at all. I would like to participate again.

クジラに会いました。スマホで写真も動画もばっちり取れました。もっと近くで、もっと大きく、もっと長く、と欲が出ますが、何度も泳いでいる背中を見て、潮を吹くところも見られたので満足です。船酔いが心配でしたが、全く問題ありませんでした。また参加したいです。

Encountered a mother and baby whale. The captain can tell how fast they dive underwater! The boat runs parallel to the whale, and when it dives and comes up again, it often appears very close to the boat. Of course, being a professional, that's to be expected, but I was thrilled to spend quite a long time with the mother and baby whale, sometimes as close as 20 to 30 meters from the boat.

The catamaran was sturdy against the waves, but it rocked quite a bit until we got closer to the Kerama Islands. According to my partner, nearly half of the passengers were using bags for motion sickness. The only ones left on the upper deck, cheering, were middle-aged men. I, who felt no motion sickness at all, had an emotional whale watching experience.

親子のクジラに遭遇。
水中に潜っているスピードが船長さんはわかるんですねぇ！
クジラと並行して船を走らせるのですが、クジラが潜って次に出てくる時に、殆ど船の近くに出現するんです。
勿論プロだから、と言ってしまえばそうなんでしょうが、ずいぶんと長い時間を親子のクジラと一緒に、しかも近い時には船から20～30ｍの近さで見られて感激しました。
揺れに強いカタマラン船でしたが慶良間諸島に近づくまでに結構揺れて、私の相方に言わせればほぼ半数近くの方々が袋を口にされていたそうです。
揺れの大きな屋上デッキに残って歓声を上げていたのは、すべて中高年の男性ばかり。
全く酔いのなかった私は、感動のホエールウォッチングでした。

There were quite a few foreign tourists on the tour. The boat was rocking quite a bit, but I didn't see anyone getting seasick. The guide was really good at spotting whales, and it was great to see a mother and calf whale. It was my first time whale watching, so I'm glad I got to see them.

ツアーは外国人の方がわりと多めだったかな？船はけっこう揺れてたけど、酔ってる人は特に見当たらなかったですね。ガイドさんがホエールをめっちゃ探してくれて、親子のホエールも見れてよかったです。初めてのホエールウォッチングだったので見れてよかったです。

I was able to see parent and baby whales and jumping scenes!! I experienced a bit of seasickness, but it was an emotional experience tour.

親子のクジラやジャンプシーンも見ることが出来ました！！少々船酔いしましたが、感動の体験ツアーでした。

I heard that you couldn't see it the day before, but I was able to see it when I boarded. Also, the guide and captain did a great job searching, and we were able to see it multiple times, which was fantastic.

前日は見れなかったと言っていたが、私が乗った時には見れました。
また、ガイド＆船長が良く探して何度も見ることが出来て大変良かったです。

I thought it would just be about seeing the illuminations, but it was better than I expected. The comfort of the open-deck bus, the highway drive, and the guide's announcements made the 45 minutes fly by. There were also items like blankets and knee covers, which helped with the cold. I would like to recommend this to acquaintances.

イルミネーションを見るだけと思っていたけど、予想以上によかったです。オープンデッキバスの快適さ、高速道路ドライブ、ガイドさんのアナウンスなどがあってあっという間の45分間でした。カイロやひざ掛けなどもあり、寒さも何とかなりました。知人に薦めたいと思いました。

I was told by a friend who loves Okinawa that when the sea is rough, the chances of encountering whales increase because they are active in the water. That was exactly the case; there were huge waves about 3 meters high, and we were able to see a mother and calf whale.

However, many people were vomiting. Those who are prone to seasickness might want to think twice about going.

海が荒れているときはクジラが海の中で運動しているから遭遇率は上がるって沖縄好きの友人に言われました。
まさにその通り、３ｍくらいの大波ですごい揺れでしたが母子クジラが見れました。

ただ人間は嘔吐多数でした。
船酔いの自身のない人は自重した方がいいかもしれません。

This was my first experience with whale watching. The day before, I received kind and detailed instructions about the meeting place over the phone, which made everything go smoothly.

Just to be safe, I took anti-nausea and motion sickness medication, and I was fully prepared for departure! The guide shared four methods to avoid getting seasick: 1) Look at distant, stationary objects like islands. 2) Don't yawn. 3) Talk a lot. 4) Sleep.

After practicing these tips, we arrived near the Kerama Islands in about an hour. Suddenly, the guide shouted loudly that a whale had been spotted, and there was applause and cheers. We chased after a solitary humpback whale, catching glimpses of its tail a few times, and even saw it jump at the end. However, it was a bit disappointing that everything was at a distance and lacked the thrill I had hoped for.

According to the guide, the weather was nice and the waves were calm today, yet nearly 20% of the participants still got seasick. I think those who are unsure should carefully consider whether to participate. I also got sunburned, and the marks from my watch were quite noticeable. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Despite that, I had a very enjoyable time. Thank you!

ホエールウォッチング初挑戦。前日に電話で親切、丁寧に集合場所を教えて頂いて、スムーズに行くことができました。
念のため、吐き気止め、酔い止めを服用し、準備万端、いざ出航！
ガイドさんから、酔わないための4つの方法がありました。①島などの遠くの動かないものを見る。②あくびをしない。③よくしゃべる。④寝る。
これらを実践しながら1時間ほどで慶良間諸島付近に到着。
しばらくすると突然ガイドさんが、大きな声でクジラ発見‼︎と吠え、拍手喝采。単独のザトウクジラを追いかけて、数回、尾を見て、最後にジャンプまで。しかしながら、どれも距離が遠く、迫力に欠けたのが残念でした。
ガイドさんいわく、今日は天気も良く、波も穏やか、と言いつつも、2割近くの方が酔っていました。自信のない方は、よく考えて参加を決めた方が良いと思います。日焼けもし、時計の痕がくっきり。日焼け止めも忘れずに！
それでも、とても楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。ありがとうございました。

I was able to see the whales clearly. I was satisfied to see their tails multiple times. However, the boat sways quite a bit, so I think it's important not to let your guard down just because you are used to motion sickness from regular cruises or sightseeing boats. If you participate, you should definitely take measures against seasickness. Especially on the return route after whale watching, you should not let your guard down.

By the way, it seems that there is no drink service on this tour, so I think it's better to bring your own drinks.

クジラはしっかりと見れました。何度も尻尾を見ることができ、満足できます。ただ、船は非常に揺れますので、「通常のクルーズや遊覧船で船酔いには慣れている」と思って油断するのは禁物だと思います。参加するならしっかりと船酔い対策はするべきです。特にクジラを鑑賞した帰りの航路で油断してはいけません。
ちなみに、このツアーには飲み物のサービスなるものはないようですので、飲み物を持参したほうがいいかと思います。

I was a bit anxious because I easily get car sick, but I took motion sickness medication and was careful with breakfast, so I was able to enjoy the trip without feeling sick.
There were three whales: a mother and her two calves, and the baby whale was practicing jumping while the male whale performed dynamic jumps repeatedly, which was incredibly exciting! They were so close that I forgot to take out my camera.
I joined the tour at my request, and when I got home, my husband said, "I will never forget today," which made me very happy. I'm glad I participated.

車酔いしやすいので少し不安でしたが、酔い止めの薬を飲み朝ご飯も気をつけたので酔うことなく楽しめました。
母子と雄クジラの3頭がおり、赤ちゃんクジラが一生懸命ジャンプの練習、雄がダイナミックなジャンプを何度もしてその迫力に大興奮！　あまりにも近くてカメラを構えるのを忘れてしまいました。
私の希望で参加したツアーでしたが、帰ってから旦那に「今日のことは一生忘れないだろう」と言われとても嬉しくなりました。参加してよかったです。

I participated with my son. In the morning, at the meeting place, I was informed that our online reservation had been canceled, which was very unpleasant. Since it was said that we would be taking a boat that is strong against swaying, I let my son board without giving him motion sickness medication, and he ended up feeling quite seasick. However, he seemed very excited to encounter a whale. The staff were very refreshing and left a good impression, but my son experienced more seasickness on the way back. I would have appreciated it if there had been a note suggesting that those who are anxious should take medication, or if medication could be sold for a fee.

私は息子と参加させていただきました。
朝、集合場所にてインターネットでの申し込みがキャンセル扱いとのことで
非常に不愉快な思いもしました。
揺れに強い船で行くと言うことだったので息子に酔い止めの薬を
飲ませずに乗船させたところかなりの船酔いになり気分がすぐれなかったようです。
クジラに関しては遭遇できて大興奮していたようです。
スタッフの方はとてもさわやかで好印象でしたが
息子は帰路にてまた船酔い。
できれば注意書きなどで不安な方は薬の服用を進めるなり
有料でもいいので薬の販売をしていただければ嬉しかったなと思いました。

We participated as a couple with our 0-year-old child.

1. I thought it would be completely fine if we prepared a baby carrier.

2. For an hour and a half after starting, we couldn't see any whales. The boat was rocking a lot, and I started to feel a bit nauseous. I regretted not taking motion sickness medication. I recommend taking motion sickness medication.

3. It was a long travel time of an hour and a half to see the whales, and then just over an hour on the way back. I couldn't sleep much and got quite tired.

As a result, I was satisfied because we were able to see a large whale right in front of us.

0歳児の子供と夫婦で参加しました。

１、赤ちゃんは抱っこひもを用意しておけば、まったく問題ないと思いました。

２、スタートしてから1時間半クジラが見えず。また揺れが大きかったので気持ち悪く
　　なりかけました。酔い止めを飲まかったことをちょっと後悔。酔い止めの服用を推奨

３、1時間半の行きとクジラを見た後の帰りの1時間ちょっと。移動時間が長くあまり寝る
　　こともできず、かなり疲れました。

結果として、大きなクジラが目の前で見られたので満足です。

We all got excited searching for where the whales would appear, and it was thrilling! The tour guides also helped to create a lively atmosphere, and their stories were interesting.

どこからくじらが姿を現すのか皆さんで探して盛り上がりましたし、どきどきでした！添乗員の方たちも盛り上げてくださり、お話も面白かったです。

The weather was nice, but the sea was rough, like a roller coaster. There were small children on board, but they all got seasick. Since we boarded the boat after breakfast, motion sickness medication is a must. We were able to see the whales properly, but we returned to land early.

天気は良かったのですが、海が荒れててジェットコースターのようでした。小さな子供もいましたが船酔いで全滅でした。朝食後船に乗るので酔い止めは必須です。ホエールはちゃんと見ることができましたが早々に陸に切り上げとなりました。

I was glad to encounter five whales and see them up close until the end. The dive's tail fin was beautiful. The rain forecast was wrong, and the afternoon downpour waited for us, making it the best whale watching experience. As expected, the skills were top-notch, and thanks to that, I was able to create the best memories.

５匹のクジラに出合えて、最後までまじかで見れてよかった。ダイブの尾びれもビューテフル
雨の予報も外れて、午後のスコールも待ってくれて、最高のホイールウオッチングでした。さすが自負するだけの腕は最高、お陰様で最高の思い出作れました。

We were blessed with great weather and calm waves, making it the perfect conditions to encounter whales multiple times. We were able to see performances like spouting and tail slapping, and the breach where the whale jumps with its body out of the water was particularly impressive. I think we were lucky to witness something that is not often seen. Unfortunately, I couldn't take good photos, so I would like to find another opportunity to go again.

お天気にも恵まれ、波も穏やかで絶好のコンディションの中、何度もクジラに出会うことができました。潮吹きやテイルスラップなどのパフォーマンスも見られ、なかでも上体を水面に出してジャンプするブリーチは大迫力でした。なかなか見られないものとのことで、ラッキーだったと思います。残念ながらうまく写真を撮ることができなかったので、また機会を見つけて行きたいです。

I couldn't find them for the first hour and was about to give up when, surprisingly, two appeared. Moreover, they were a couple on a date! Luckily, the whales even jumped sideways like a bridge, and I could clearly see their white bellies. There were three other boats, but this one was the best! That's because we were allowed to sit at the front deck, which was incredibly thrilling!

However, be careful with the payment! Most people paid in cash on-site, but if you book here, you pay by credit card, so it's best to double-check on-site. The receptionist told me that the reservation for Alan1 was also cash payment on-site, so I paid in cash. Later, when I showed the confirmation of the credit card payment on my phone, the cash I paid was refunded. Be cautious of double payments!

最初の1時間あまり見つけなかったので、諦めたところ、なんと２頭も現れました。しかもカップルでデート中だそうです。ラッキーなことに、鯨が橋のように横ジャンプもしてくれて、白いお腹もはっきりと見えました。他３艘の船も有ったが、この船が一番よかったです！なぜなら、先頭の甲板に座らせてもらえますので、迫力がすごすぎます！
ただ、支払いは気をつけた方がいいです！他の方はほとんど現地で現金払いだったのですが、ここで予約するとクレジットで払うので、現地で再確認した方がいいです。受付の人にはAlan1の予約も現地現金払いと言われて、そのまま現金で払いましたが、後で携帯でクレジットカードの支払い確認を見せたら、払った現金が戻ってきました。二重払いには要注意です。

It was closer than I imagined, and I was really excited for the first time in a while! The staff were kind and created a fun atmosphere, making it a wonderful memory! I highly recommend it! ☆

想像以上に近くて、久々にテンションあがりました！！
スタッフの方々も親切で楽しい雰囲気をつくってくださり、とても良い思い出になりました！
オススメです☆

The day I participated, the morning course was canceled due to high waves. I joined the afternoon course, and I was able to see something, but I got really seasick and it was quite painful.

For those participating, don't forget to take measures against seasickness! And make sure to get plenty of sleep!

私が参加した日は午前中のコースが中止になるくらい波が高かったようです。
私は午後のコースに参加しましたが、何とか見ることができました。ですが、すごく船酔いをしてしまい苦しい思いをしてしまいました。

参加される方は船酔い対策を忘れずに！そして充分な睡眠を忘れなく！

On January 2nd, we set off on our first family trip to Okinawa. We participated in a whale watching tour. The ride to the hotel was filled with excitement as we headed to the local port. However, I was honestly skeptical about whether we would actually see any whales. But... we did see them!! And a mother and calf too!! They were spouting water and jumping... it was amazing. I heard that February and March are particularly good months for whale watching, so I definitely recommend that anyone traveling to Okinawa should participate. Just a heads up, the boat does rock quite a bit, so it might be a good idea to take some motion sickness medication (laughs).

1月2日　初めての沖縄旅行に家族で出発しました。
ホエールウオッチングツアーに参加しました。
宿泊するホテルまでのお迎え⇒現地港までワクワクな気持ちでした。
でも、クジラなんて本当に見えるのか本当は半信半疑でした。
しかし・・・見えました！！それも親子！！　
潮を吹き、ジャンプし・・・すごかったです。
2月3月は、特に見ごろだと聞きましたので、是非沖縄旅行をされる方は
参加されるといいと思います。
ただ、船はかなり揺れますので、酔い止め薬は飲んでいた方がよいかも（笑）

I was really excited when I saw a whale jump up close for the first time in a long while. It was incredibly powerful. This is an activity unique to winter in Okinawa, and I absolutely recommend it. The self-proclaimed handsome staff were very attentive and provided a pleasant experience. It felt like a great deal.

間近でクジラのジャンプを見たときは、本当に久しぶりに興奮した。すごい迫力である。
冬の沖縄ならではのアクティビティで絶対のお勧め。
自称イケメンのスタッフも、良く気が付き、気持ちの良い対応であった。
お得感満載である。

I was able to see them quite closely. It was interesting to see the two swimming together. Taking pictures with a camera is indeed difficult, so I recommend using burst mode or video. Also, if the waves are rough, it can be quite shaky, so if you get motion sickness, it's essential to have motion sickness medication.

かなり近くで見れました。２頭が連れだって泳いでいたのが興味深かったです。カメラで撮るのはやはり難しくて、連写かムービーがお勧めです。それに波が荒いとかなり揺れるので酔ってしまったら楽しくないですから、酔い止めは欠かせません。

I was really excited about it. The weather was bad, and I was worried that I might not see anything, but I was able to see the whale's back, tail, and spouting quite a few times. To ensure you don't miss the whales and to prevent seasickness, I definitely recommend doing whale watching from the front deck. Therefore, I think it's best to wear clothes that are comfortable, can get wet without concern, and provide warmth. Also, a raincoat is good for splashes.

It was quite rocky, possibly due to the weather, but I was fine since I took motion sickness medication early. You might feel more nauseous when the boat is stationary than when it's moving. (By the way, on the day I participated, it was about an hour and a half of travel, then an hour of watching, followed by another hour and a half of travel.) I recommend taking motion sickness medication well in advance rather than at the port.

Taking photos with a regular camera can be difficult for still images, so using burst mode or video is recommended. Therefore, it's a good idea to ensure your battery and memory are fully charged. I participated on December 30, but I heard that February is the season when you can see jumps, so I would like to participate again if I have the chance.

って思う程わくわくしました。
天候が悪く、もしかして見れなかったら…と不安になりましたが、背中や尻尾や潮を吹く所を割と何回も見ることができました。
鯨を見逃さないためにも、船酔い対策にも、ホエールウォッチングは是非、前方の甲板？ですることをお勧めします。ですので、服装は濡れても気にならなくて動きやすく、防寒対策されたものがベストだと思いました。あと、波しぶき対策にレインコートと。
天候の為か結構ゆれたのですが、早めに酔い止めを飲んでいたので大丈夫でした。船は移動中より、泊っている時の方が酔うかもしれません。（ちなみに私の参加した日は、１時間半の移動→１時間ウォッチング→１時間半の移動といった感じでした。）酔い止め薬は、港で飲むより余裕をもって飲んでおくことをお勧めします。
写真は、普通のカメラでは静止画像で撮ることが難しく、連写モードか動画がお勧めです。ですので、電池とメモリの残量は万全にしておいた方がいいと思います。
私は12/30の参加でしたが、２月がジャンプも見れるシーズンとのことで、機会があればまた参加したいです。

On the day of the event, there were many participants, and we split into three boats. It seems that all the boats encountered whales. On our boat, we had the opportunity to see the boat and the whales swimming alongside each other... or should I say, swimming in parallel? We also witnessed some impressive jumps, making for a lot of highlights. The staff's guidance was entertaining and very considerate, making the time spent traveling without seeing whales enjoyable as well. I was worried about seasickness, but after taking some motion sickness medication and gazing at the beautiful sky and sea, those worries disappeared. We were able to see the whales swimming very close to us, jumping and showing their tails, which created wonderful memories. This time, I participated with a friend, but if the opportunity arises again, I would like to join with my family next time.

当日は参加者が多く３つの船に分かれて出発。
どの船も鯨に遭えたそうです。
私たちの船では船と鯨が併走・・・いや　併泳？したり大きなジャンプが見られたりと見所が一杯でした。
スタッフの方の案内も面白くて、とても気遣いされていて、鯨が観られない移動の間も楽しかったです。
船酔いが心配だったのですが酔い止めを飲んで、きれいな空と海を眺めていたらそんな心配もなくなりました。
鯨は本当に近くを泳いでジャンプやテールを見ることが出来ていい思い出になりました。
今回は友人と二人で参加したのですが、また機会があれば今度は家族で参加したいです。