All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

It was my first time participating, and I had a great day! I was worried about the weather, but somehow the rain stopped on Balas Island, and the sea was beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience with SUP. I was able to take a lot of photos, which added to my memories. It was a fulfilling tour, and I would love to participate again if I have the chance.

初めての参加でしたが1日とても楽しかったです！天気も心配していましたがなんとかバラス島では雨もやみとっても海が綺麗でした。
SUP初体験でも十分楽しめました♫
写真もたくさん撮っていただけて思い出が増えました。
充実したツアーでまた機会があれば参加させて頂きたいと思います。

I decided just before departure, but I was able to make a smooth reservation and fully enjoy my first visit to Taketomi Island on the day. I enjoyed the ox cart ride with the brother's sanshin and singing, and at the end, we also took some photos.

出発直前に決めましたが、スムーズに予約が取れ当日も初の竹富島を満喫できました。
牛車もお兄さんの三線と歌を楽しみ、最後に写真も撮っていただきました。

The mangrove cruise was disappointing because we couldn't go upstream due to low tide, but it was nice to have various explanations about the types of mangroves.

I enjoyed riding the water buffalo cart, feeling the sea breeze while listening to the stories from the guide and the sound of the sanshin, which made for a relaxing time.

On Taketomi Island, I rode a bicycle to enjoy the island's scenery and ended up getting caught up in searching for star sand.

The only downside was that at Yubu Island, during the typical tourist photo opportunity, we had to wait a long time in the intense sunlight with poor ventilation and no shade. I think photo sessions should be limited to those who want to take pictures. After lunch, we had less than 30 minutes for sightseeing, so I felt that the time spent waiting was a waste. It was disappointing to not have enough time to see the places I wanted to visit on the island.

マングローブクルーズは干潮時に当たった為、上流の方まで行けなくて残念でしたが、マングローブの種類など色々説明があって良かったです。
水牛が一生懸命引いてくれる水牛車に乗り、海風を感じながら、おじさんの話や三線を聞き、のんびりした時間が過ごせました。
竹富島では自転車で島の景色を見ながら回って歩き、最後は星砂探しに夢中になってしまいました。
ただ一つ残念だったのは、由布島で観光地に良くある記念撮影の時に強烈な日差しの中、風通しも悪く日陰もない中を長々と待たされた事です。写真撮影は撮りたい人だけにした方がいいと思います。昼食を食べた後、観光する時間が30分もなかったので、あの待たされた時間がもったいなかったと思いました。島を観て回りたくても時間がなく観たい所が見れずに終わってしまい残念でした。

I finally got to ride a water buffalo and enjoyed the leisurely pace of time on Taketomi Island. The driver also provided a lovely service by singing Okinawan folk songs, which was wonderful. I would love to visit again to see the water buffaloes.

念願の水牛に乗って、竹富島のゆっくり流れる時間を堪能しました。
運転手の方が沖縄民謡歌を歌ってくれるサービスもありとても良かったです。
水牛たちに会いにまた訪れたいです。

We used this service as a family of three. After arriving at the airport at 10:15, we rented a car and headed to the ferry terminal for the islands. The outbound trip was on a small boat, while the return was on a large ship. After arriving at Taketomi Island, we took a bus to the center. After checking in, we waited about 15 minutes. When our name was called, we boarded the water buffalo cart. It was a slow and leisurely ride. Before we knew it, the tour was over. We rented bicycles and visited Nagomi Tower, Nishi Sazaki Bridge, and Kaiji Beach, and then it was time for the last ferry. We had a fulfilling half day from the 13:05 meeting until just past 17:00.

家族３人で利用しました。10:15に空港到着後、レンタカーを借りてから、離島ターミナルへ。
往路は小ぶりな船。復路は大型船でした。竹富島に到着してからバスで中心部へ。受付をして待つこと15分程。名前を呼ばれ水牛車へ。ゆっくり、のんびり廻ります。あっと言う間に周回終了。自転車を借りて、なごみの塔、西桟橋、カイジ浜を廻ったら最終便の時刻。13:05の集合から17時ちょい過ぎまで充実した半日を過ごせます。

I participated on the 12th during my stay from August 11th to 14th. We left early in the morning, and the boat ride was quite rocky, which made both my child and me a bit anxious. I'm glad I took motion sickness medication. The water buffalo I wanted to ride allowed us to leisurely experience the essence of Okinawa. I thought it would have been nice if there were lunch boxes prepared for children.

8月11日〜14日の滞在で、12日に参加しました。
朝早くに出発で、行きの船は朝のせいか結構揺れて私も子供もちょっと不安でした。酔い止め飲んどいて良かったです。乗ってみたかった水牛は、のんびり沖縄らしさを味わえました。お昼ごはんのお弁当？は、子供用の用意とかあれば良かったなぁと思います。

The water buffalo course was a lot of fun, and it was inexpensive, including the ferry. I was surprised that they also offered free luggage storage and a complimentary bus shuttle.

水牛コース楽しかったですかったです、フェリーも込みでお安いです。荷物も無料で預かって下さりバスも無料送迎付きでびっくりしました。

I signed up for a one-day tour to fully enjoy my first visit to Iriomote Island! I was worried about the typhoon, but it was clear and sunny on the day! I was healed by the great nature, and the beautiful sea that I usually can't see was truly amazing!! I took a lot of photos, and it became a wonderful memory! The staff were kind and great people! It was a day packed with everything I wanted to do!! I will come again ^_^

初めての西表島で満喫する為に
一日ツアーに申し込みました！
台風が不安でした、当日は
快晴でした！
大自然に癒され、
普段見るのことの出来ない
綺麗な海にほんと最高でした！！
いっぱい写真をとって
頂き、いい思い出になりました！
スタッフさんも優しくいい人でした！
やりたい事を詰め込んだ
一日になりました！！
また来ます^_^

It was my first time in the Yaeyama Islands, and I was glad to be able to explore multiple islands at once. Cycling in the sunshine was fun, but it was hot. Writing a comment longer than 50 characters is tough.

初めての八重山諸島でしたが、まとめて島巡りができて、良かったです。晴れてサイクリングは楽しかったが暑かった。。50文字以上のコメントは厳しいですね。

It seemed like a typhoon was approaching, but I was very satisfied with the schedule adjustments made for us. I was happy that they took a lot of photos and sent them to us later. It was great not to worry about carrying my smartphone while walking along the mountain paths and through the mangroves. It became a wonderful summer memory!

台風が来そうでしたが、一部スケジュールを変えていただき、大満足でした★
写真をいっぱい撮ってくれて、あとで送っていただけたのが嬉しかったです。
山道を進んだりマングローブを進んだりするのでスマホを持ち歩く心配がないのが良かったです。夏の思い出になりました！

I had a great time efficiently visiting three remote islands for the first time. I was able to enjoy sightseeing without feeling rushed.

During the ferry ride, I was on the deck, but the wind was quite strong, so it might have been better to sit inside. I was satisfied with exploring Taketomi Island freely by renting a bicycle.

初めての離島を3島を効率よく回れて楽しかったです。時間もせわしないこともなく観光ができました。
移動時間のフェリーではデッキにいたので風がすごすぎるため、中に座った方が良かったかもしれないです。竹富島はレンタサイクルで自由に散策できて満足でした。

You can see the Milky Way clearly with the naked eye, something you can never see in the city!
There are even more stars captured in the photos.
With such a price for creating the best memories, you definitely won't regret going!
I highly recommend it since you can't take these photos yourself.
I would love to use this service again when I come back to Miyako Island.
Thank you!

都心では決して見ることができない天の川が肉眼でクッキリ見えます！
写真には更にたくさんの星が写っています。
最高の思い出が形に残るのに、このお値段、絶対に行って損はないです！
自分では絶対に撮れない写真なので、オススメです。
また宮古島に来るときは利用したいです。
ありがとうございました！

I thought it would be a busier tour, but I was able to take my time and really enjoy the mangroves. The guide's explanations were clear and enjoyable, which was great.

The view from Nishizaki Pier on Taketomi Island, which I've always dreamed of visiting, was just as wonderful as I expected, and I was very satisfied.

The Okinawa zenzai I had on Taketomi Island, with its fluffy ice and brown sugar syrup, was exquisite❣ I had a full day of fun.

もっと忙しいツアーかと思っていましたが、じっくりマングローブを見てきました。ガイドさんの説明も分かりやすく楽しくて良かったです。

憧れの竹富島、西桟橋からの眺めは思っていたとおりの素晴らしさ大満足です。

竹富島で食べた沖縄ぜんざい、フワフワの氷と黒糖シロップがぜんざいと絶妙❣ 1日たっぷり楽しめました

First of all, it was fun‼️

The access points for SUP and the limestone caves are in the jungle by the roadside, which really gets your excitement up. We went up the river, walked partway, played at the waterfall, and when we returned to where we had left the SUP and canoe, it was shallow. It might have been a little mishap, but we were able to feel the nature around us. The guide was polite, took a lot of photos, and was skilled, so thank you very much!

まず、楽しかったです‼️

SUPや鍾乳洞へのアクセスポイントが、車道の脇のジャングルの中
これだけでテンション上がります。
川を上って、途中から歩いて、滝で遊んで、SUP、カヌーを浮かべておいた所に戻ると、、、浅くなってる
引潮だったんです。ちょっとしたハプニングかもしれませんが、自然を感じることができました
ガイドの兄さんは、丁寧で、沢山の写真を撮ってくれて、腕も良くて、ありがとうございました

I participated on July 30th, starting at 8:30 PM. I was a bit worried because it was still a little bright past 8 PM, but by the time we started shooting, the stars were beautifully visible. Before the shoot, they lifted our spirits by saying things like, "It's rare for it to be this clear" and "It looks like we can take some beautiful photos." When it was time to shoot, they also gave us advice on how to pose, and the shooting went very smoothly. At the end, they shared recommendations for spots in Miyako Island, and I really felt it was worth participating! I definitely want to ask for their help again when I go to Miyako Island! Thank you very much!

7月30日、20時半から参加しました。
20時過ぎても少し明るく心配でしたが、撮影する頃には星がとても綺麗に見えました。
撮影前に『こんなに晴れるのは珍しい』『綺麗な写真が撮れそうです』など、こちらの気持ちを盛り上げてくれ、いざ撮影へ。
ポーズの仕方もアドバイスしてくれ、とてもスムーズに撮影が進みました。
最後に宮古島のおすすめスポットなども教えてくれ、参加して本当によかったと思いました！
また宮古島に行く時にはぜひお願いしたいと思います！
ありがとうございした！

I was a bit skeptical about whether we would look this beautiful in the photos, but first, I was amazed by the starry sky around us that day! I thought this was going to be great, so we headed to the shooting location. I was surprised to see some of the shots taken on-site! Then, when we received the wonderful photos of the starry sky with us in them a few days later, I was so excited! It was truly amazing! Moving over the rocky area in the dark was a little scary, but it was a very satisfying tour. Thank you!

こんなに綺麗に写真に写るのかなぁと、半信半疑でしたが、
まず、当日の周辺の星空に驚愕！
これは期待大だなと思い、撮影場所に向かいました。
その場で写したモノを少し見せてもらってビックリ！
そして、後日送られてきた、素晴らしい星空と写る自分たちを見て、テンション上がりました！
本当に素晴らしかったです！
足元暗い中、岩場に移動するのが少し怖かったですが
すごく満足できるツアーでした。
ありがとうございました！

The starry sky was amazing! The photos I received later have been edited, but it's disappointing that my face and head look unnatural. Maybe the editing skills aren't very good.

星空は最高でした！
後日頂いた写真は、加工しておりますが、顔や頭などが不自然な感じになってたりで、残念です。加工技術が下手ですかね。

I rode a water buffalo cart for the first time! This time, I was guided by Yuki, who had a hibiscus flower attached. The water buffaloes, who aren't fond of the heat... thank you for your hard work even on such a hot day! At Hoshi no Suna Beach, I collected a lot of star sand. I also received a souvenir, so I'll keep it together. Next time, I plan to come during a cooler season and take my time exploring the island. Thank you to all the staff at the tourist office for your help in the heat.

水牛車に初めて乗りました！ハイビスカスをつけて貰っていた結くんに今回は案内してもらいましたよ。暑いのが苦手な水牛さんたち・・・こんな暑い日にも、お仕事お疲れ様です！ありがとう！星の砂海岸では、沢山星砂を拾いました。記念品でもいただけたので、一緒に入れておきます。今度は暑く無い時期に来て、ゆっくり島を回ってみようと思います。
観光所のスタッフの皆さんも暑い中、ありがとうございました。

It was an emotional experience to see the Milky Way for the first time in my life, and it was even better to capture that moment with my family of three. I received a lot of information about Miyako Island, and when I actually visited, the food was delicious. Thank you!

生涯初めて天の川を見ることができたのも感動でしたが、その瞬間を家族三人で残すことができて最高でした。宮古島情報も多々おしえて頂き、実際行ってみたらとてもおいしかったです。ありがとうございました！

The tour departs at 14:30.
As soon as we arrived at Taketomi Island, we enjoyed a glass-bottom boat (with air conditioning! Apparently, this is the only company that offers it so far). There were no other guests, so we had the boat to ourselves.
After that, we enjoyed a water buffalo cart ride, and the tour ended around 16:15.
It was too hot to feel like going outside, so we waited for the bus to the port in the waiting area (which also had air conditioning).

It was quite a good deal and a lot of fun.

14:30発のツアー。
竹富島に到着してすぐにグラスボート（エアコンあり！今のところこの会社だけだそうです）。他の客はいなくて貸し切りで楽しめました。
その後水牛車を楽しんで、終了は16時15分くらい。
暑すぎて外に出る気にならず、そのまま港へのバスを待機所で待ちました（エアコンあり）。

かなりお得で楽しめました。

I was worried about the clouds, but during the shoot, we could see the Milky Way beautifully, and we got five great shots. The kids ended up taking pictures better than I expected, and the photos turned out really nice. It was great to receive recommendations for various shops and spots on Miyako Island for my first visit. Thank you very much.

雲が心配でしたが 撮影時は綺麗に天の川も見えて、5カットとっていただきました。子供も思った以上に上手に撮影でき、とてもいい写真になりました。初めての宮古島で色々なオススメのお店やスポットを教えていただきよかったです。ありがとうございました。

The price felt like a good deal, and we were able to thoroughly enjoy the streets of Taketomi Island and Kondoi Beach with the water buffalo cart. Next time, it might be nice to have a plan to stay all day.

お値段的にお得感があり、水牛車も竹富島の街並みやコンドイ浜を十二分に楽しめた。
今度は一日中居るプランでも良いかも

I participated alone this time, but they were very considerate towards individuals! The guides were also very kind and even though they seemed busy, they responded with care! This experience made me want to join another tour on a different occasion! I highly recommend it!

今回は一人で参加しましたが、一人の人に対しても配慮のある対応をしてくれました！またガイドの方々もとても優しく忙しそうにしていても丁寧に対応してくれました！また別の機会別のツアーに参加してみたいと思わせていただきました！おススメです！

I have been to Ishigaki Island several times, but I wanted to conquer other remote islands as well, so this time I signed up for a full-pack tour to thoroughly enjoy Iriomote Island. The most fun part was the limestone cave. The authentic limestone cave, which is different from Ishigaki Island, was an adventure with headlamps. It was refreshing to explore in the darkness while listening to the sounds of water and the chirping of birds!

石垣島は何度か行ったことがありましたが、他の離島も制覇したくなり今回西表島をがっつり楽しむためにフルパックのツアーを申し込みました。1番楽しかったのは鍾乳洞です。石垣島とは違う本格的な鍾乳洞はヘッドライトをつけて冒険します。暗闇の中で水の音や鳥の鳴き声を聞きながら冒険するのは新鮮でした！

The one-day tour was so much fun!! In the morning, we went stand-up paddleboarding to see a waterfall. There was a cave nearby, and we had an adventure there for about 30 minutes. After that, we had lunch at a diner. The soba was delicious. In the afternoon, we went to Miracle Island. I'm the type that gets seasick easily, but the boat was big and didn't rock at all!! The coral at Miracle Island was incredibly white and breathtaking.

1日ツアーめっちゃ楽しかった！！朝はまず滝を見にいくサップをしました。その近くに洞窟があって30分ほど冒険をしました。そのあとはお昼ごはんで食堂でお昼ご飯。 おそば美味しかったです。 午後から奇跡の島にいきました。船酔いしやすいタイプですが、船は大きくて揺れませんでした！！奇跡の島のサンゴがとっても白くて感動モノです。

On the day of the visit, it rained, and I thought I was unlucky, but the mangroves were less affected by the rain, and the atmosphere in the limestone cave was different from a sunny day, allowing me to experience Iriomote Island in a unique way. Since I was already wet from the rain, I tried standing under the waterfall and swimming in the pool below it—activities I might not have done if it had been sunny. I'm glad I got to have fun doing those things.

当日は雨が降ってしまい、運がなかったのかなと思いましたがマングローブの中は雨の影響が少なくて、鍾乳洞も雰囲気が出ていて晴れの日とは違った西表島を体験できました。
どうせ雨に濡れているからと滝に打たれてみたり、滝つぼで泳いでみたり晴れてたらやらなかったかもしれないことをして遊べて良かったです。

I walked down a completely dark road with no streetlights, feeling very anxious, but what awaited me was a beautifully clear starry sky! I could see the Milky Way and shooting stars, and each star was so big that it was truly moving. Besides the photos, I received recommendations for great places in Miyako Island, which made for wonderful memories! I want to go see that starry sky again.

街灯が全くない真っ暗な道を進み、不安がいっぱいでしたが、待っていたのはとってもキレイな星空でした！天の川、流れ星が見れて、星ひとつひとつが大きくて感動しました。フォト以外にも、宮古島のおすすめの場所など教えていただき、とてもいい思い出になりました！またあの星空を見に行きたいです。

At the mangrove, I was able to get close to the waterfall and felt the fresh air in front of it. The only sounds were the chirping of birds, the wind, and the sound of the waterfall, which was very soothing. The limestone cave allowed me to walk through the jungle and pass through caves, making me feel like I was on an adventure. I love nature and often go to mountains and rivers, but the atmosphere of the tropical nature was completely different, and I was glad to make new discoveries.

マングローブでは滝に近づくことができ、滝の前では自然のきれいな空気を感じることができた。
鳥の鳴き声や風の音、滝の音しかないのでとても癒やされた。
鍾乳洞はジャングルを歩いたり、洞窟を抜けたりできて冒険したような気分になれる。
自然が好きで山や川によく行くんですが南国の自然は全然違う雰囲気に包まれていて新しい発見ができて良かった。

Thanks to the guide's seamless navigation, I was able to soak in the beautiful scenery of Balas Island under clear skies. On the way to the mangroves, I encountered a rather large hermit crab, and I was surprised to learn it was a natural monument. Paddling through the mangrove river on a SUP was an experience I won't forget. The large cave with a big opening allowed me to see the unique nature of this southern island.

ガイドさんのつつがない案内のおかげでバラス島は晴れてて景色の美しさに浸ることができました。
マングローブに行く途中には昼間なのに少しおっきいのヤドカリに会えて、天然記念物だと聞いて驚きました。サップでマングローブの川を進むのはなかなか体験できないので感動しました。
おっきな穴が開いた鍾乳洞は自然南の島の珍しい自然を見ることができました。

This time, my friend and I decided to explore the islands of Okinawa. Last year, we went to Ishigaki Island, so this year we visited nearby Iriomote Island. I wanted to go to Barasu Island, which is made of coral and not found in Ishigaki, so I joined this tour. I was really concerned about safety since we would be on the water, but when we arrived, it was much larger than I expected and the waves weren't strong, so I felt relieved. My friend and I were able to leisurely walk on the beautiful coral and enjoy our time in nature.

今回友人と沖縄離島めぐりをしようと決めて、去年は石垣島に行ったので今年は近くにある西表島に行きました。
石垣島にはないサンゴでできたバラス島に行きたくて、このツアーに参加しました。
海の上なので安全かどうかがすごく気になっていましたが、着いてみると思ってたより広くて波も強くないので安心しました。
友人と2人できれいなサンゴの上を歩いて自然の中にいる時間をゆったり過ごせました。