All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

I was able to efficiently explore the islands on my first trip to Ishigaki Island. It was great to stop at Taketomi Island and travel the way we wanted.

初めての石垣島旅行で離島巡りを効率的にできました。竹富島で途中下船して自分たちのやりたい様に旅ができて良かったです。

I participated with my three-year-old grandchildren.
We had a lot of fun with the mangrove boat, glass-bottom boat, and water buffalo cart.

3歳の孫たちと参加しました
マングローブの船
グラスボート
水牛車
と盛りだくさんで、とても楽しかったです

The day before, my daughter wasn't feeling well, so I was worried, but once we were in that situation, all concerns about her health disappeared.
Her first snorkeling experience was more amazing than I had expected. I never imagined there would be such wonders in the underwater world!
Thank you very much.

前日まで娘の体調がすぐれなかったので、心配でしたが、あのシチュエーションに体調不安はどこへやら。
初めてのシュノーケリングは思ってた以上に驚くものでした。海の中の世界ではあんなことやこんなことがあるなんて！
ありがとうございました

I highly recommend experiencing it at least once! Not only is it quite fun, but the spontaneous interactions with the locals create wonderful shared moments... I believe everyone has their own unique way of enjoying it.

一度は是非体験してみては如何でしょう⁈
結構楽しいだけでなく
島の方々とのふとした交流がまた素敵な時間を共有できて…
皆さんの楽しみ方は無限だと思います

I was able to efficiently explore Mishima. I recommend it for first-time visitors or those with limited time. The guides on Iriomote Island were also very skilled and provided great assistance.

効率よく三島巡りができました。初めて訪問する場合や時間が無い場合におすすめします。西表島のガイドの方々の案内もとても上手でよかったです。

Thank you for discovering the nature of Iriomote (Amur Falcon), the water buffalo cart to Yubu Island, and the wonderful cycling tour of Taketomi Island. Next year, I will walk around Taketomi Island all day.

西表の自然（アンムリワシ）発見、由布島への水牛車ありがとう、そして竹富島を自転車で観光素晴らし。来年は、一日中竹富島を歩いて廻ります。

The bus driver, who was also the guide for the mangrove tour, was driving alone, and I could feel their effort. I think it was good because I was able to hear some enjoyable stories.

バスの運転手、マングローブの運転手が一人で運転しながらガイドをしていたので頑張りが伝わって来た。楽しい話も聞けたので良いと思う。

Among the many remote islands, I was able to enjoy a compact and well-planned sightseeing experience. It was my first visit to Ishigaki Island, and I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of the nature and scenery of the Yaeyama Islands, as well as the unique charm of each island. I absolutely recommend it.

On the ferry to Iriomote Island, I paid 500 yen for a premium seat, and the view from next to the captain's seat was amazing. I was moved to be able to take commemorative photos.

The mangrove forest made me truly feel like I was in a tropical paradise, and the water buffalo on Yubu Island were incredibly cute. The relaxed atmosphere and the songs played on the sanshin added to the ambiance.

On the glass-bottom boat in Taketomi, I was able to see many fish, including the clownfish. Everything was just fantastic.

離島がいくつもある中で、計画的にコンパクトに観光ができました。初めて訪れた石垣島でしたが、八重山の自然と景色の美しさ、それぞれの島の良さを堪能することができました。絶対オススメです。西表島に渡る船では500円出してプレミアムシートにしましたが、船長席の脇から眺める景色は最高でした。記念撮影をさせていただき感動でした。
マングローブの林は南国に来た実感が湧き、由布島に渡る水牛もとても可愛いらしかったです。のんびりとした時間が流れ三線での歌も雰囲気を盛り上げてくださいました。
竹富のグラスボートではカクレクマノミ始め沢山の魚を見ることができました。とにかく全て最高でした。

The shuttle service to the hotel allowed us to efficiently visit Iriomote Island, Yubu Island, and Taketomi Island all in one day.

I don't think I could have planned such an efficient trip on my own.

The water buffalo on Yubu Island really gave me a sense of being in a foreign land, and it was a lot of fun.

Renting a bicycle on Taketomi Island was definitely the right choice! Although our stay was a bit short and we couldn't stop by any shops, I was very satisfied with visiting the beaches I wanted to see, including the Star Sand Beach!

ホテルまでの送迎もあり1日で西表島～由布島～竹富島と３島を効率よく回れました

自分でプラン立ててたらなかなかここまで効率よく回れないと思いました

由布島の水牛がとても異国を感じさせてくれて楽しかったです

竹富島は自転車借りて正解！少し滞在時間が短かったのでお店などには寄れなかったけど行きたかった海岸や星の砂のビーチを巡れて大満足です！

There was a lot of moving around, and I felt that the time spent at each sightseeing spot was a bit lacking. It might be good for those who want to efficiently visit many places in one day.

移動が多く、それぞれの観光時間が少し物足りなく感じました。効率よく一日でたくさん回りたい方にはいいかもしれません。

Canoeing and snorkeling were both my first experiences in life.

Regarding canoeing, the location was a subtropical jungle, and it felt like we were navigating through a river surrounded by mangroves.

Snorkeling was an event where we entered the beautiful sea and swam while observing cute coral reefs and fish. The guide was incredibly kind and gently pointed out the highlights, allowing us to enjoy ourselves without any prior planning. Even if you can't swim, you can still enjoy snorkeling, so I highly recommend it.

I had an amazing experience doing something I normally wouldn't get to do, and it completely cleared away my usual stress. I would love to participate again.

カヌーに乗るのもシュノーケリングをするのも人生初めてでした。
カヌーについて、場所は亜熱帯のジャングルで、マングローブに挟まれる川を潜り抜ける感じでした。
シュノーケリングは美しい海に入り、泳ぎながら可愛い珊瑚礁と魚を見るイベントでした。
ガイドの方がすごく親切で、優しくポイントを教えてくれて、事前に何も考えずに遊びに行けます。泳げなくても、シュノーケリングを楽しめられますから、非常におすすめです。
普段体験できないことを最高に体験できて、普段のストレスを一掃しました。
また参加したいと思います。

It was raining, and the boat to Iriomote Island was rocking quite a bit, but when I boarded the mangrove cruise ship, the rain lightened up and it was great to open the windows for viewing. The boat got close to the sights, and the guide was very clear and informative, which was wonderful. The water buffalo on Yubu Island were also interesting, and the guide's stories were entertaining, but it seemed that from the very back seat, the voice didn't reach very well, so I recommend sitting at the front!

雨が降っており、西表に行く船はよくゆれたがマングローブのクルーズ船に乗った時は、小雨になり窓を開けての見学はとても良かったです。近くまで船が寄ってくれ、ガイドの方も分かりやすくとてもよかったです。
由布島の水牛も、ガイドさんの話が面白くてよかったが、一番うしろの席だと声はあまり届かなかったようなので、一番前がお勧めですね♪

The explanation before the activity was thorough, and everyone was kind, allowing us to enjoy the activity with peace of mind. Additionally, we got to hear stories about the unique animals of Iriomote, which made it all the more enjoyable.

アクティビティ前の説明も丁寧で、みなさん優しく安心してアクティビティを過ごせました。
さらに西表特有の動物のお話とか聞けて、色々楽しかったです。

I was able to efficiently visit three remote islands.
(I think it would have been difficult for an individual on their first time.)
This is a recommended tour for first-timers.

離島３島をとても効率よくまわることができました。
（初めてで個人ならば難しかったと思います。）
初めての方におすすめのツアーです。

I was grateful for the shuttle service from the hotel. Although there was no tour guide, I had no trouble and was able to enjoy sightseeing smoothly. It was nice that I could use the bus to visit the village and Kaiji Beach during my free time on Taketomi Island.

ホテルから送迎があるのが有り難かったです。
添乗員は居ないけど困ることはなくスムーズに観光出来ました。
竹富島はフリータイムでしたがバス利用で集落やカイジ浜に行けたので良かったです。

The bus driver's storytelling was excellent.
The stories were so engaging that the atmosphere in the bus was lively.

This was my first time visiting, and although it was a whirlwind one-day tour,
everyone was very satisfied, especially since it was my mother's wish to go.

I have created more memories with my mother on this trip. ♡

バスの運転手さんのお話が上手。
〇み〇ろ並みのお話で、車内盛り上がりました。

今回、初の上陸、駆け足での1日のツアーではありましたが、
「行きたい」と言ってくれた母の立っての場所という事もあり、
同行者全員大満足でした。

母との旅の思い出がまた増えました♡

There is a walking course in Yufushima, and I was truly able to enjoy nature surrounded by tropical trees! The lunch was also delicious Okinawan cuisine.

由布島の中は散策できるコースがあり、まさに南国の木々に囲まれた自然を満喫できました！昼食も沖縄料理で美味しかったです。

I was able to efficiently explore each island in a short amount of time while truly experiencing their charm. I would like to request this again.

短時間で効率良く回りながら、それぞれの島の魅力もちゃんと感じることができました。またお願いしたいです。

I was able to relax on Iriomote Island and Taketomi Island in just one day. The colors of the sea and sky were wonderful, so I've decided to go again in June. Next time, I want to experience the sunset and stargazing.

1日で西表島と竹島をゆったりできました、海や空の色が素晴らしく6月に再度いくことにしました。
次回はサンセットや星空観察など体験したいと思います。

It was very beautiful!
The person was very friendly, and we were able to take photos in a fun atmosphere!
I think I will ask again when I come to Miyako Island!

とても綺麗だった！
とても気さくな方で楽しい雰囲気で撮影することが出来ました！
また宮古島に来た際はお願いしようと思います！

I participated with four friends, and it was fun to feel the power of nature in the mangroves while canoeing. The weather was great, so we were able to snorkel in the best conditions and create wonderful memories! The instructors were friendly and easy to talk to, which was nice! Thank you very much! ^_^

友達4人で参加しましたー、カヌーはマングローブの自然のパワー感じれて楽しいかったですし、晴れたので最高のコンディションでシュノーケリングできていい思い出ができました！インストラクターのお兄さん達も話しやすくて明るくてよかったです！ありがとうございました^_^

I was very satisfied that all the places I wanted to visit were included. It was a plan that would have been impossible to organize on my own; truly a professional from the area.

行って見たかった場所がすべてそろっていて大満足でした。個人で計画は無理なプランさすが現地のプロです。

You can efficiently explore Mishima in one day, and there are plenty of highlights to see. I recommend it for those visiting Yaeyama for the first time.

The boat from Ishigaki to Iriomote can be quite rocky for a while after departure, so be cautious. Now, it feels more like a roller coaster ride, which is amusing.

Yufu Island feels like a paradise of tropical plants and butterflies. The lunch was also delicious.

If I come to Taketomi Island again, I think I will rent a bicycle.

１日で三島を効率よく回ることができ、しかも見どころ沢山。初めて八重山に行く方にオススメです。
石垣から西表に向かう船は、出発からしばらく凄く揺れるのでご注意。今となっては、ジェットコースター感覚でご愛敬という感じ。
由布島は熱帯植物と蝶々の楽園という感じ。お昼ご飯もおいしかった。
竹富島は、今度来ることがあればレンタサイクルを借りようと思う。

I participated in this trip because I wanted to see the islands of the Yaeyama Islands during my first visit to Ishigaki Island.

It was great to efficiently tour Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island in one day.

The lunch on Yufu Island was delicious, featuring a variety of Okinawan dishes. It was also fun to leisurely cross while listening to the sanshin and songs on the water buffalo cart.

On Taketomi Island, I chose the free walk plan, but I took a shuttle from the port to the village to tour the area by water buffalo cart, which was relaxing. After that, we went to see the ocean, so I missed the 4 PM boat and took the 5 PM boat instead. I was able to enjoy a lot of sightseeing, which was very nice.

初めての石垣島旅行で、八重山諸島の島を見てみたくて参加しました。

西表島、由布島、竹富島を効率よく1日で観光出来て良かったです。

由布島でのランチも沖縄のお料理盛りだくさんで美味しかったです。
水牛車で、三線と歌を聴きながらのんびり渡るのも面白かったです。

竹富島ではフリーウォークプランを選びましたが、港で集落を水牛車で周る観光の送迎車で集落へ行き、ゆっくり水牛車で周りました。
その後、海も見に行ったので、16時の船には間に合わず17時の船に乗りました。
たっぷり観光出来てとても良かったです。

This is an efficient tour for first-timers. I understand that it's important to manage a lot of tourists smoothly, but it was a bit disappointing to hear comments like "Everyone is waiting!" or "Please take photos later!" in a somewhat harsh tone when some people were a little slow. On the day of the tour, the weather was bad; we managed to avoid the rain, but the strong winds made the waves high, and the high-speed boat was quite shaky. I took motion sickness medication, but I still felt a bit unwell. I think it's safer for those who get seasick to bring their own medication. I don't think it's possible to visit all three islands in one day on your own, so I believe this is a good tour. The bus driver and the mangrove guide were easy to understand and shared enjoyable stories.

初めての方には効率よく回れるツアーです
たくさんの観光客の方をスムーズに回す為なのはわかりますが、少し遅い方がおられると「みんな待ってますよ！」とか「写真は後にしてください！」など若干キツイ口調なのが残念だした　当日は天候が悪くなんとか雨は逃れたものの強風で波も高く高速船がかなり揺れて酔い止めを飲んでましたが少し気分が悪くなりました　船酔いされる方は薬を持って行かれた方が安心かと思います
個人では3島を1日で回れないと思うので良いツアーだと思います　バスの運転手さん、マングローブのガイドさんはわかりやすく楽しいお話でした

I didn't expect the water buffalo carts on Yubu Island to be so crowded. In the posters I often see, there's usually just one buffalo, so I was a bit surprised. It looked like they were racing.
I wanted to take my time to observe the changes in the tide at Nakama River.

　由布島の水牛車が、あんなに混んでいるとは思わなかった。よく見かけるポスター等では、一頭のみが多いので、少し驚いた。レースをしているようだった。
　仲間川は干満の違いが、分かるほど時間をかけてみたかった。

I participated with my 5-year-old child. There was no prior communication, and we were guided to board the bus at the hotel on time and check in at the travel agency counter at the terminal for the island trip. There, we received tickets for each attraction and stickers to wear on our chests before departure. There were staff members at various locations who provided proper guidance, so there were no issues at all.

We traveled to the island by boat. There are first and second floors, with the second floor being paid seating (500 yen for adults, free for preschoolers). Even in March, there were many tour guests, so the first floor was crowded, and we opted for the paid seating on the second floor. It’s recommended as you can also go out to the terrace and see the sea.

We enjoyed a slow ride on a water buffalo cart to Yubu Island. We savored the Okinawa time while crossing the transparent sea at a leisurely pace. My child said that the water buffalo cart was the most fun part of this trip.

On Yubu Island, we had 90 minutes to explore, but since that included meal time, we couldn’t take our time as much as we would have liked. If we had about two hours, we could have walked around the entire island a bit more, which was a bit disappointing. There are beautiful beaches, so I think bringing sandals, water for washing feet, and towels would make it enjoyable for children. There’s also a gelato shop with flavors like awamori, island lemon, and brown sugar-soaked rum raisin, which were all very delicious.

There’s a secret base (like a treehouse, swings, etc.), feeding the water buffalo, and many butterflies flying around, which was a lot of fun.

The mangroves on Iriomote Island were even more enjoyable with explanations provided. It was truly overwhelming, as there are mangroves everywhere; while there are mangroves on Ishigaki Island too, this was impressive.

You can go to the island on your own, but the tour took us around efficiently, which was helpful. It was particularly smooth with no waiting times.

For meals on Yubu Island (bento), children order on-site. There were options like curry and Okinawa soba, so there was no trouble finding something to eat, but I don’t think there was anything like a children's lunch. The bento was a mix of Okinawan cuisine, with many things I had never tried before, and it was delicious. Some items like tempura were cold, but since it was a group meal, I thought it was sufficient.

The bus back to the hotel departed an hour after we arrived at the terminal, so we took a taxi home. There are many shops near the terminal, so I think it would be nice to stroll around before heading back. For those who want to take the return bus, it seems you can apply at the counter on the day of the trip.

Thank you for the wonderful memories of a fun trip.

5歳の子供と参加しました。
特に事前連絡はなく、当日ホテルで時間通りにバスに乗車し、離島行ターミナルの旅行会社のカウンターで受付するように案内されました。
そこで各アトラクションのチケットと、胸に貼るシールももらい出発。
各地に案内のスタッフさんがいて、きちんと案内してくださるので何も問題なかったです。

離島までは船で移動します。１階と２階とあり、2階は有料席です。（大人一人500円、未就学児は無料）
3月でもツアー客などが多く、１階は込み合っていたので２階の有料席に。テラスにも出て海の様子が見られるのでお勧めです。

水牛車にゆっくりと揺られて由布島へ。ゆったりとした歩みで透き通った海を渡る、沖縄時間を味わいました。子供は今回の旅行で水牛車が一番楽しかったと言っています。
由布島では９０分散策ですが、食事時間も入っているので、案外とゆっくりとはできません。２時間くらいあればもう少し島全部を回って歩けるのに、と残念でした。
綺麗な海岸もあるので、サンダル・足を洗う用の水・タオルを持っていくとお子様も楽しめると思います。
ジェラート屋さんもあり、泡盛や島レモン、黒砂糖漬けラムレーズン味などがありとても美味しかったです。
秘密基地（ツリーハウス風のもの、ブランコなど）、水牛への餌やり、蝶もたくさん飛んでいて、とても楽しかったです。

西表島のマングローブは、解説付きでさらに楽しめました。本当に一体マングローブだらけで石垣島にもマングローブはありますが、圧巻です。

自分で島にも行けますが、ツアーであちこち連れて行ってくださったので効率的に回ることができ、助かりました。特に待ち時間もなくスムーズでした。

由布島での食事（弁当）は子供は現地で注文です。カレーや沖縄そばなどがあり、食べるものには困りませんが、お子様ランチのようなものはなかったと思います。
お弁当は沖縄料理の詰め合わせで、初めて食べるものも多く、おいしくいただきました。天ぷらなど冷めているものもありますが、団体客のお弁当なので十分だと思います。

帰りのホテルまでのバスは、ターミナルに到着してから1時間後の出発だったためタクシーで帰宅。ターミナル付近はお店もたくさんあるので散策して帰るのもいいと思います。帰りのバス希望の人は、当日にカウンターで申し込めばよいようです。

楽しい旅行の思い出をありがとうございました。

It was a very satisfying tour that allowed us to fully enjoy the islands in just one day, departing from and returning to Ishigaki Island. The perfect schedule was clearly designed to be manageable, making it possible to experience everything we wanted to see and do.

石垣島出発、帰着で、1日で離島を満喫できた内容で、大満足のツアーでした。
明らかに個人では困難であろう無理のない完璧なタイムスケジュールで、見たいもの、やりたいことを全て満喫できました。

The weather in February tends to be cloudy, and on the day we participated, the sky was overcast and it started to drizzle in the afternoon.

Kayaking on the Miyara River was a relaxing experience as we enjoyed forest bathing in the mangrove forest with the SAP experience group. The snorkeling focused on the coral reefs, and we occasionally spotted some fish.

We received a message the day before, so we couldn't go to the Blue Cave.

For kayaking, there was water accumulating in the seating area, so I recommend wearing clothes that can get wet. Also, since you'll be changing footwear for both activities, beach sandals are better than shoes.

2月の天気は曇りの日が多いらしく、私たちが参加した日はどんよりした空模様で午後は小雨も降ってきました。
宮良川でのカヤックはSAP体験の方と一緒にのんびりマングローブ林で森林浴を楽しみました。シュノーケリングはサンゴ礁がメインで時々魚が見える感じでした。
前日に連絡があり、青の洞窟へは行けませんでした。

カヤックは座るところに水が溜まっていたので、お尻が濡れても大丈夫な服装で行かれることをお勧めします。あとどちらも履き替えるので靴ではなくビーチサンダルの方が良いです。

I'm glad I was able to visit various islands! The guide provided a lot of explanations about the mangroves, which was very good! It was a bit disappointing that we had the same water buffalo for both the outbound and return trips...

島を色々回れてよかった！マングローブはガイドさんご色々説明してくれて、とても良かったです！行きも帰りも同じ水牛だったのが、ちょっと残念でした。。