All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

I've ridden a water buffalo cart several times before, but the satisfaction really depends on the stories told by the guide. This time, the guide's simple yet charming storytelling and the performance on the sanshin perfectly matched the slow life atmosphere I was looking for, and I was very satisfied. There was also a cute incident where the buffalo wouldn't move, which turned into a fun memory and made for a great experience.

水牛車は初めてではなく、数回乗ったことがありますが、添乗するおじいの話によって満足感が左右するものです。今回のおじいは、私の求めるスローライフな雰囲気を味わうに丁度良い朴訥なしゃべりに三線の演奏、とても満足のいくものでした。途中牛が動こうとしないという可愛いハプニングもありながら、それがかえって楽しい思い出になり、良い思い出になりました。

It was a compact half-day tour featuring a mangrove forest cruise and a water buffalo cart ride, and it exceeded my expectations, leaving me very satisfied.

During the mangrove forest cruise, the captain's witty storytelling made learning about the mangrove ecosystem and the animals living there enjoyable and educational. After the cruise, we took a bus to the water buffalo cart boarding area, where the driver's entertaining narration provided us with various insights about Iriomote Island, making the travel time very enjoyable.

On the way to Yubu Island via the water buffalo cart, we listened to live performances of the sanshin while receiving explanations filled with love for the water buffalo. I learned that water buffalo have an intelligence level comparable to that of a five-year-old child and that each buffalo has its own unique personality, which made them even more endearing and soothing to me.

For those with limited time, I highly recommend this tour, which captures the essence of Iriomote Island. I can confidently say that you will not regret it.

マングローブ林のクルーズと水牛車がメインのコンパクトな半日ツアーでしたが期待以上に大満足な内容でした。
マングローブ林のクルーズでは船長さんの軽妙な語り口でマングローブ林やそこで暮らす動物たちの生態を楽しく教えていただき大変勉強になりました。
クルーズ終了後はバスで水牛車乗り場まで向かうのですが、その道中も運転手さんの楽しい語り口で西表島について色々教えていただき大変楽しい移動時間でした。
そして水牛車で由布島に向かう道中は行きも帰りも三線の弾き語りを聞きながら、水牛愛にあふれた解説をうかがうことが出来ました。水牛は5歳児程度の知能があるとのことで、またそれぞれの水牛には特有の性格があるとのことで、益々水牛が可愛く思えて癒されました。
時間が限られている方には西表島のエッセンスが盛り込まれたこのツアーを強くお勧めします。決して後悔されることはないと断言できる内容でした。

I made new discoveries on the tour of Iriomote Island, the sightseeing in Yufu Island, and the tour of Taketomi Island. I believe there are still more to come, right? I want to go to Ishigaki Island again. Maybe next time, I'll play golf on Kohama Island?

西表島のツアー、由布島観光、竹富島ツアーと新しい発見。まだまだこれからもっとあると思いますね？これからも、石垣島に行きたいと思ってます。今度は、小浜島でゴルフですかね？　

A 3-night, 4-day trip to Miyako Island.
It was my first time in Okinawa and my first solo trip to Miyako Island.
I hadn't decided much about what to do, but I absolutely wanted to do some stargazing photography!
I made a reservation for the first night just in case the weather turned bad.
However, the first night was filled with clouds, so I couldn't take any photos.
In the end, the weather wasn't good the next day either, but I was able to do the photography on the last night.
Thank you for accommodating the date change so graciously!

The stars were truly beautiful and moving!
Although there were a few clouds, I was able to see shooting stars and the Milky Way!
I received various pose suggestions during the shoot, and the photos turned out wonderfully.

Yesterday, when I returned home, the photos arrived via LINE.
I was so moved (ˑˆᴗˆˑ)
I had some anxiety about participating alone, but I'm glad I did.
It became the greatest treasure of this trip.
I would love to request your services again when I go to Miyako Island.
Thank you so much!

宮古島への3泊4日の旅。
初めての沖縄。初めての宮古島への1人旅でした。
あまり何をするか決めていない中で、この星空撮影だけは絶対にしたかったのです！
お天気が悪かった場合に備えて、初日の夜で予約しました。
ただ、初日は雲がいっぱいで撮影できず。
結局、翌日もお天気が良くなかったので、最終日の夜に撮影して頂くことができました。
日にちの変更に快く対応して頂きありがとうございました！

星空は本当に美しくて感動しました！
少し雲がかかっていたものの、流れ星も天の川も見ることができました！
撮影の時のポーズも色々とアドバイスをくださって素敵な写真になりました。

自宅に戻った昨日、写真がLINEで届きました。
もう感動です(ˑˆᴗˆˑ)
1人での参加は不安なこともありましたが、お願いして良かったです。
今回の旅の最高の宝物になりました。
また宮古島に行く時はお願いしたいです。
本当にありがとうございました。

Although the rainy season was approaching, we were able to enjoy ourselves as a family in the pleasant weather that wasn't too hot. Riding on a water buffalo cart while listening to folk songs was the best experience.

梅雨入り間近でしたが、快晴で暑すぎず家族で楽しむことができました。水牛の牛車に乗りながら民謡を聴けたのは最高でした。

I was drawn by the water buffalo, and I took a leisurely stroll around Taketomi Island, enjoying the sound of the sanshin and beautiful singing. It was a wonderfully healing and enjoyable trip.

水牛の真栄くんに引かれて竹富島の中をのんびり散歩､三線の音色に素敵な歌声､最高に癒される楽しい旅でした。

I participated in a solo trip to Miyako Island for the first time. The guide was very friendly and easy to talk to, and the assistance was great, making it a very enjoyable experience. I also encountered a sea turtle, and they took beautiful photos, creating wonderful memories. Thank you very much.

初めての宮古島でひとり旅で参加させて頂きました。
ガイドの方がとてもフレンドリーでお話ししやすく、アテンドも良くとても楽しめました。
ウミガメとも出会え、綺麗に写真を撮ってくださって、とても良い思い出となりました。
ありがとうございました。

I was looking for a half-day tour that would allow me to return on an evening flight, so I really appreciated the early morning tour. The mangroves in Iriomote were impressive! We were able to take our time exploring while receiving explanations on the boat, which allowed us to take photos from various angles.

The water buffalo ride to Yufu was more amusing and cute than I expected. It seems that each water buffalo has its own personality; the one I rode was a boy who tended to slack off by looking around while walking. It seemed like he deliberately walked slowly or stopped. When he stopped, I had to tap his rear with a fly swatter to signal him to move. I was told that this one takes longer to cross to the shore, so I got to ride him the longest! The guide mentioned that customers are lucky to have this one.

Traveling while listening to the melody of the sanshin was a very heartwarming experience. The lunch we had in Yufu was also incredibly delicious! This tour requires very little physical effort, so even in the hot Okinawa weather, I think elderly people and those with children would be very satisfied!

夕方の便で帰れる半日ツアーを探してたので、朝早くからのツアーはとても有り難かったです。
西表のマングローブは見応えがありましたね！
船で説明を受けながらゆっくりまわっていただけたので左右見ながらあちこちの写真を撮る事も出来ました。
由布までの水牛は思ってたよりオモシロ可愛い♡水牛にも性格があるらしく、私が乗った子は途中で周りを見ながら歩くのをサボるタイプの男の子でした。笑　わざとゆっくり歩いたり止まってるみたいです。止まった時はハエ叩きでお尻をペンペン、合図して歩かせてました。この子は岸に渡るまで時間がかかるから1番長く乗っていれる子！お客さんラッキーですよと言われました。
さんしんのメロディを聴きながらの移動はとてもほっこり良い時間を過ごせます。
由布でいただいたランチの味も凄く美味しいです！
このツアーは体力を使う事がほとんどない為、暑い沖縄ですがご高齢の方や子連れの方も大満足できると思います！！

The buffalo cart ride across the island was relaxing and gave me a laid-back feeling. The sightseeing on the island with the buffalo cart was delightful, especially watching the clever buffalo.

水牛車での島渡りはのんびりとして、ゆったりとした気分でした。水牛車の島内観光は、賢い水牛の様子が可愛かったです。

This time, I visited Miyako Island for the first time on a family trip. With the rainy season starting, I was worried about whether we could take photos under the starry sky due to the clouds on the day of the shoot. However, they contacted us early and suggested changing the schedule. The next day, there were still many clouds, but luckily, during the shooting time, we could see a sky full of stars! Thanks to their support in suggesting poses and understanding the atmosphere we wanted to capture, the photos turned out really wonderful. Additionally, they played music during the shoot, which helped create a relaxed atmosphere. We were lucky to even capture a shooting star in the photos! I highly recommend the starry sky night tour!

今回、家族旅行で初めて宮古島を訪れました。
梅雨入りもあり撮影当日は雲が多く、星空のなかでの撮影ができるか不安でしたが、早めに連絡をくださり日程の変更を提案していただきました。翌日も雲が多く心配でしたが、運良く撮影時間には満天の星空がみえました！どんな雰囲気で撮りたいか、ポーズの提案など色々とサポートしていただいたおかげで本当に素敵な写真に仕上がっていました。また、撮影中は音楽を流してくれていたのでリラックスした雰囲気で撮ることができました。写真には、流れ星も写っていてラッキーでした☆
星空ナイトツアー、ぜひおすすめしたいです！

The weather was great, and I was able to see many sea turtles! Kometchi-san taught me various facts about sea turtles, which was very educational. I also received information about recommended spots in the area, which was very helpful. Thank you!

天気にも恵まれ、たくさんの海亀を見ることができました！こめっちさんが色々とうみがめの知識を教えてくれたので勉強にもなりました。
また、周辺のおすすめスポットなどの情報もいただき、とても参考になりました♪
ありがとうございました！

It was certainly beautiful to see with the naked eye, and I really felt it was worth going because I got such wonderful photos! During the shoot, they played music and suggested poses, allowing me to have a great time. 😊

肉眼でも綺麗なのはもちろんな事、とても素敵な写真を撮っていただき本当に行ってよかったなと思いました！
撮影中も音楽を流してくださったり、ポーズを提案してくださり楽しい時間を過ごすことができました☺️

I was quite anxious during my first kayaking experience, but the instructor was very kind and taught me well! It was also really enjoyable to talk about Ishigaki Island and nature! The mangroves I saw for the first time were very mystical and beautiful! I definitely want to experience it again!

初めてのカヤックでは不安が強かったのですが、インストラクターさんがとても親切に教えて頂きました！石垣島のことだったり、自然のことだったり、お話もとても楽しかったです！
初めて見るマングローブはとても神秘的で素敵でした！
また必ず体験したいと思います！

I made a reservation for the second day of a two-night, three-day schedule in Ishigaki Island. It was a packed experience starting early in the morning, so I was exhausted on the way back. It was very convenient that they provided transportation from the morning meeting point to the hotel and also back to the hotel after the activities. I was torn between this plan and one that included a tour of Taketomi Island, but I’m glad I chose this plan because it allowed me to relax a bit after returning to Ishigaki Island until the evening.

石垣島２泊3日スケジュールの2日目に予約しました。朝早い時間から盛りだくさんの体験だったので、帰りはぐったり。朝の集合からホテルに送迎くださり終了後もホテルまで送迎をお願いできたのがとても楽でした。
他のプランで竹富島を巡るプランと迷いましたが、石垣島に戻ってから夜まで少しゆっくりできたのも、このプランで良かったです。

Thank you for not only teaching me how to take photos of the starry sky with my iPhone but also for the starry sky photography tips. I really appreciated receiving the photos within two days. It became a wonderful memory from my trip to Miyako Island, and I would love to use your services again. Thank you!

星空フォトだけでなくiPhoneでの星空の撮り方なども教えてくださりありがとうございました。
写真も2日ほどで送ってくださり大変助かりました。
宮古島旅行でのいい思い出になり、また利用したいです。
ありがとうございました。

I went on a mangrove kayak tour by myself, and even in the car, I was able to hear valuable stories about Ishigaki Island. It was my first time kayaking, but they kindly and thoroughly taught me, and the photos they sent were really beautiful, creating wonderful memories! Thanks to all the guides. It was also my first time snorkeling, and I wasn't very good at it, but it became a great memory. Thank you very much!

一人旅で、マングローブカヤックツアーに行きましたが、車の中でも石垣島の貴重なお話を聞かせてくださったり、カヤックは初めてだったのですが、親切丁寧に教えてくださって、送って下さった写真も本当に綺麗でいい思い出になりました！
ガイドの皆さんのおかげです。
シュノーケルも初めてで、ヘタクソでしたが、いい思い出になりました。ありがとうございました

I was able to meet a sea turtle and swim together at a very close distance. We also went to a place with a lot of coral, where I could see many colorful fish up close!

ウミガメに会えて、とっても近距離で一緒に泳ぐことが出来ました。サンゴが多くあるところにも行き、たくさんのカラフルなお魚と間近で見ることができました！

The mangroves of Iriomote Island, which feels like Japan yet not quite Japan, are definitely worth seeing. The Yubu Island tour also embodies the essence of traveling to the remote islands of Okinawa. I traveled with my parents in their 70s, and they were extremely satisfied as it was their first time visiting the remote islands of Okinawa. By the way, I also had children aged 1, 2, and 4, and except for the 1-year-old, the other kids were running around excitedly. It was fantastic.

日本であって、日本ではない西表島のマングローブは一見の価値観有りです。
また、由布島ツアーもこれぞ沖縄離島旅猿という感じ。
７０代の両親を連れての旅行でしたが、初めて沖縄離島を音ずれた両親は大満足の様子でした。
ちなみに、１歳、２歳、４歳の子供もいましたが、１歳の子供以外ははしゃぎまわってしました。
最高でした。

The mangrove boat tour had a relaxed schedule, allowing us to cruise while enjoying the beautiful mangroves. We traveled to Yubu Island on a water buffalo cart, and the butterflies in the botanical garden on Yubu Island were particularly stunning. This tour was enjoyable for everyone, from children to the elderly, even for those who may not be very physically active. It would have been even better if the weather had been sunny, but the rain stopped on Yubu Island, making it comfortable and not too hot.

マングローブのボートツアーの時間もゆったりあって、沢山のマングローブを眺めながらクルージングができ、由布島までは水牛の牛舎に乗って、行ききし、由布島の植物園の中の蝶々がとくに綺麗でした。そんなに体力に自信のない人も、子供からお年寄りまでのんびり楽しめるツアーでした。これで晴れてたらもっと最高でしたが、由布島では雨も止み、暑すぎずに過ごしやすかったです。

The weather was very nice, and I was able to enjoy the places I wanted to visit and the scenery I wanted to see! I would like to take my time exploring the places I liked on my next trip. ^_^

とても良いお天気で、行きたい所や見たい景色を楽しむことができました！
今回気に入ったところを、次の旅行でまたゆっくりまわりたいと思います^_^

It was a trip for two people aged 72 and 79, and from the departure at Ishigaki Port to the return, all aspects of the journey were wonderful. The lunch was also delicious. I unconditionally recommend this tour to anyone considering it.

72歳と79歳の二人旅でしたが、石垣港の出発から帰港まで、全ての行程の内容・対応が素晴らしかったです。ランチも美味しかったです。ツアーを検討されている方に無条件にお勧めします。

On my second visit to Iriomote Island, I was finally able to land on Barasu Island, which I had longed to visit. However, I received a notice the day before that the cave experience was canceled due to not enough participants, and it was replaced with snorkeling, which my partner was disappointed about (but I was lucky because I actually wanted to go snorkeling, haha). We were able to see three sea turtles, and thanks to our guide Matsuko-san's attentive guidance, we had a fun day. I would give it five stars, but since it was different from my initial booking, I will give it four stars. Overall, I was very satisfied with the tour.

西表島２回目にして、念願のバラス島に上陸することが出来ました。ただ前日に鍾乳洞体験が人数が集まらない為、中止との連絡が来て、シュノーケリングに代替になり、相方が残念がっていました(実は自分はシュノーケリングしたかったのでラッキー笑)しかしウミガメも３頭も見れたし、ガイドのまつ子さんの丁寧な案内で楽しく一日過ごすことができました。私としては星５つですが、やはり最初の申し込みとは変更になってしまったので星４つとさせていただきます。ツアーとしては大満足でした。

I learned about mangroves for the first time in detail. Thanks to the knowledgeable guide, I had a great time.

マングローブのことをはじめてちゃんと知りました。
詳しいガイドさんのおかげでとっても楽しめました。

Right after we dove in, there was a sea turtle right there, and by the end, we were able to swim with over ten of them up close!

Perhaps because it was high tide, the sea turtles came quite close to the shallow areas, so we could snorkel comfortably within a range where we could stand. Neither my husband nor I can swim well, but the life jackets kept us floating nicely, allowing us to enjoy ourselves without worry!

The instructor, Komecchi, was very fun and kind, and we were able to get along well with the other participants, which made us very satisfied! We also had over 20 wonderful photos taken, and we were grateful for all the recommendations for spots in Miyako on our way back. Thanks to that, we had a fantastic time in Miyako Island! If we have the chance, we would love to do it again.

潜った直後からすぐそこにウミガメさんがいて、終わるまでには10匹以上はすぐ近くで泳ぐことができました！

満潮の時間だったからか、かなり浅瀬のところまでウミガメさんが来てくれたので、最後まで足のつく範囲でシュノーケリングができました。夫婦そろって全然泳げませんでしたが、ライフジャケットがかなりぷかぷか浮けたので、安心して楽しむことができました！

インストラクターのこめっちさんもとても楽しくて親切で、参加者同士でも仲良く過ごせて大満足です！素敵なお写真も20枚以上撮っていただき、帰りに宮古のおすすめスポットもたくさん教えていただきありがとうございました。
おかげで宮古島大満足でした！機会があればまたお願いしたいです。

If you want to meet sea turtles, I definitely recommend this place. Before participating this time, I joined other snorkeling tours but couldn't encounter any.

The instructor, Komecchi, was very thorough in his explanations and friendly, making for a very enjoyable time!!

Thank you very much.

ウミガメに会いたいなら絶対ここをオススメします。
今回参加する前にほかのシュノーケルにも参加しましたが出会う事が出来ず

インストラクター（こめっち）さんの説明も丁寧で愛想も良く、とても楽しい時間を過ごすことが出来ました！！

ありがとうございました。

I was nervous about whether I would get to see a sea turtle until the day of the event, but I was thrilled to encounter one right at the start! My elementary school daughter was also very satisfied with her first snorkeling experience! The instructor was cheerful and provided thorough guidance, which made me very happy. Thank you so much!

当日までウミガメに会えるかドキドキでしたが、開始早々に出会えて感激しました♪
小学生の娘も大満足の初シュノーケリングとなりました！
インストラクターの方も明るく丁寧にレクチャーいただき嬉しかったです。本当にありがとうございました^ ^

The starry sky was incredibly beautiful. I was very satisfied to see shooting stars as well. I'm glad the photos turned out stylish! I would love to request this again!

星空がとにかく綺麗でした。
流れ星も見れて大満足です。お写真もお洒落な感じに仕上げてくれて良かったです！またお願いしたいです！

My husband and I participated together. I was a bit nervous since it had been a while since I last went snorkeling, but the accompanying staff were very kind and made it a wonderful experience! We got to see many sea turtles and tropical fish, and I was thrilled to take lots of photos with the sea turtles. I definitely want to use this service again next time.

主人と2人で参加しました。久しぶりのシュノーケリングで少し緊張していましたが、同行スタッフの方が親切に対応してくださり、素晴らしい体験ができました！
海亀や熱帯魚にもたくさん会えて、海亀との3ショット写真もたくさん撮って頂き感激です。次回もぜひ利用させていただきたいと思います。

I made a reservation on the same day, and I'm grateful for the friendly service I received.

There are no streetlights, so you can enjoy a starry sky, which will definitely make for unforgettable memories.

Even if you can't think of poses, they will suggest some for you, so you'll get great photos. However, searching for "photo poses" and doing the poses you want might be more time-efficient and increase your satisfaction.

If you can bring props, that would be even better.
*Please check in advance whether bringing props is allowed.

当日に予約しましたがフレンドリーに引き受けていただき感謝です。

街灯がなく満点の星空を満喫できるので最高の思い出になること間違い無しです。

ポーズが思い浮かばなくても指定してくれるので良い感じに撮ってくれますよ。
ただ、「写真 ポーズ」などで検索して撮ってもらいたいポーズをする方が時間効率も良くなり、より満足度は上がるかと思います。

小物なんかも持参OKなら更に最高かと思います。
※持参OKかどうかは知らないので事前に確認して下さい。

I signed up for this tour on a whim, and it turned out to be a great decision!

The weather and temperature were just perfect, and the sea was illuminated by the starlight, revealing a sky full of stars☆

My daughter, who is shy and not used to being photographed, was a bit bewildered, but Ryota made her feel at ease, and we were able to capture wonderful memories.

I’m really looking forward to the finished photos! Thank you very much for this experience! 😊

たまたま目に飛び込んできたこのツアーに、直感で申し込みました。
結果、大正解！

ちょうどお天気も気温も良く、星明かりに照らされた海の上には、満天の星空☆

人見知り＆慣れない撮影に娘もとまどい気味でしたが、リョウタさんか和ませて下さり、ステキな思い出を切り取っていただくことが出来ました。

仕上がりがとっても楽しみです！
この度はありがとうございました(^^)