All Reviews for Sightseeing Tours

I visited in early June 🏝️ and the tour guide on the sightseeing bus in Iriomote Island 🚌 was very entertaining. The explanation about the mangroves was thorough and easy to understand. The water buffalo 🦬 that took us from Iriomote Island to Yubu Island was very adorable and worked hard to pull us along 👊. The songs and stories along the way were also fascinating! It was fun. I chose a free plan for Taketomi Island, but walking to the center was quite tiring 🚶‍♂️, so I relied on the bus shuttle that was available when we arrived at the port. For some reason, I rode a water buffalo again on Taketomi Island 🦬, and it was so cute to see it walking on land 🎵. There was also a shuttle back to the port, making for a meaningful day visiting three islands from early in the morning 😁. It was great 👍!

6月初旬に訪れました🏝️ 西表島の観光バス🚌のガイドさんのトークが面白かったです。
マングローブも丁寧で分かりやすい案内をしていただきました。西表島から由布島に渡る水牛🦬さんが、とても愛らしく？頑張って引っ張ってくれました👊その途中の唄やお話しも興味津々！楽しかっです。竹富島はフリープランにしたけど、やはり中心部まで歩くのは🚶‍♂️しんどいので港に着くとバスの送迎があったので頼りました。竹富島でも何故かまた水牛に乗りました🦬　陸を歩く姿も愛くるしかったです🎵　帰りも港まで送迎があり、朝早くから一日有意義な3島めぐりになりました😁良かったです👍

I had an experience that I usually can't have. I enjoyed the guidance and explanations during the bus ride on Iriomote Island, not to mention the ox cart ride.

普段できない体験をさせていただきました。
牛車はもちろんのこと、西表島のバスの運転中の案内・説明には楽しませていただきました。

The weather was cloudy, and unfortunately, there was heavy rain in some areas, but at Kabira Bay, we were miraculously able to enjoy the beautiful Ishigaki blue under clear skies.

It was a tour that included lunch, and we had a delicious hamburger lunch at the restaurant, making it an excellent value for the cost.

The driver and guide were both wonderful, and I highly recommend this tour for those who do not plan to explore Ishigaki Island by rental car.

天気は曇天、所々でザーザー降りのあいにくの天気ではありましたが、川平湾では奇跡的に晴れて美しい石垣ブルーを堪能する事が出来ました。

ランチ付きのツアーで、レストランで美味しいハンバーグランチもいただけ、コストパフォーマンスとしては最高でした。

ドライバーさん、ガイドさんの対応も素晴らしく、レンタカーで石垣島を観光しない方には絶対お勧め出来るツアーです。

Even though it was cloudy, the sea was beautiful.
It was my first time in Ishigaki Island. With Veltra, I could take a bus to famous spots without having to drive, which made me feel relaxed and at ease.
I also used it when I was in Okinawa.
Thank you very much.

くもりでも海は綺麗でした。
初めての石垣島。ベルトラさんは有名な場所にバスに乗って、車も運転せずに連れて行ってくれるので、気持ちもゆっくり安心していられます。
沖縄本島の時も利用しました。
ありがとうございました。

It was a fulfilling day efficiently visiting three islands: Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island in just one day. I felt that 90 minutes was a bit short for both the meal and exploring Yufu Island.

1日で西表島、由布島、竹富島の3つの島を効率良く巡れて充実した1日でした。
90分の中で食事と由布島の巡るのは少し時間が足りなかったように感じました。

The tour was unique with smooth transportation. The water buffalo cart is highly recommended, but the speed varies depending on the horse you ride.

スムーズな移動でツアーならではでした。水牛車は本当におすすめですが、乗る馬によりスピードに差があります。

It was great to be able to tour Ishigaki Island on a sightseeing bus, with a guide providing detailed explanations. Kabira Bay was especially beautiful. The glass-bottom boat had an additional fee, but I highly recommend it.

定期観光バスで、石垣島を周遊でき、ガイドさんの丁寧な説明もあり、とても良かったです。川平湾は、特に、綺麗でした。グラスボートは、追加料金でしたが、お勧めです。

I had a great time visiting the three islands of Iriomote Island, Yubu Island, and Taketomi Island in just one day. In particular, the island tour by water buffalo cart was a lot of fun. The sea was also very beautiful.

西表島、由布島、竹富島の３島を、一日で回れて、とても良かったです。特に、水牛車での島巡りは、とても、楽しかったです。海も、大変綺麗でした。

It was nice to relax. I think it's perfectly fine for those who lack confidence in their legs since you can avoid walking.

It was a place worthy of being a World Natural Heritage site.

のんびりして良かったです。
歩かずに済みますので足に自信の無い方でも全然大丈夫かと思います。

世界自然遺産に相応しい場所でしたね。

In January 2026, we arrived on the cruise ship, and it was a great help that the driver came to the parking lot right in front of us. It was my first time in Ishigaki Island, and thanks to the veteran driver’s guidance, we were able to have an efficient and meaningful sightseeing experience. We were blessed with good weather, enjoyed beautiful scenery, and were able to take memorable photos, which made us very satisfied. I was particularly moved by Kabira Bay. During the drive, the driver shared stories about the culture and customs, and took us to recommended places (popular power spots), which was a lot of fun. I appreciate the flexible response to our requests for specific destinations. Before going, I was unsure and anxious about whether to rent a car, but chartering a taxi through Veltra allowed us to focus on sightseeing, which was great. Thank you so much to the driver who took care of us at that time.

2026年1月　当日クルーズ船での到着でしたが、目の前の駐車場に来てくれ本当に助かりました。初めての石垣島でしたがベテラン運転手さんのガイドで効率よく有意義な観光ができました。お天気にも恵まれ綺麗な景色、記念撮影も叶い大満足です。特に川平湾には感動しました。移動中も文化や習慣をお話ししてくれたり、おすすめの場所(人気のパワースポット)にも案内してくださったり楽しかったです。こちらの希望地の要望にも応えながらも、柔軟な対応に感謝いたします。行く前はレンタカーにしようか迷い不安もありましたが、ベルトラでタクシーをチャーターしたことで観光に専念できて良かったです。あの時の運転手さん、お世話になり本当にありがとうございました。

It was a very well-thought-out schedule. I was able to visit three islands, and I gained a good understanding of the geographical relationships in the Yaeyama Islands. The guide's explanations were also educational. The performance of the sanshin on the water buffalo cart was great. The lunch exceeded my expectations, and I got to enjoy various Okinawan dishes. Although it was cloudy with light rain seasonally, I was satisfied. Thank you.

とてもよく考えられたスケジューリングです。3つの島に行け、八重山諸島の地理的な位置関係が良くわかりました。
ガイドさんのお話も勉強になった。
水牛車の三線演奏が良かった。
お昼ご飯も期待以上。沖縄料理をいろいろいただけました。
季節的に曇りと小雨でしたが、満足できました。ありがとう。

The water buffalo was amazing! The lunch at Yufushima was also very delicious. It was great to see mangroves for the first time.

水牛最高でした🐃　由布島でのランチもとても美味しかったです🍽️ 初めて見るマングローブも良かったです。

Thank you for taking me to the sightseeing spots. I saw online that it says, "Take a tour of the island's attractions like Kabira Bay and Tamatorizaki Observatory with a bus guide! Lunch included at a restaurant with a great view!" However, I would like a bit more detailed information about the places we will be visiting.

観光名所連れて行っていただきありがとうございます。
ネットで、「川平湾や玉取崎展望台など島の名所をバスガイドの案内でひと巡り！眺めの良いレストランでランチ付き！」と書いていますが、行く場所を、もう少し詳しく記載してほしいです。

I chose this course because my flight was in the evening. It was the rainy season and the sky was cloudy, but I was very lucky that it was sunny at Kabira Bay. I took the optional glass-bottom boat and was thrilled to encounter clownfish and sea turtles, amazed by the beauty of the coral reefs. For lunch, I had a hamburger set at a place with a great view, and it was quite a generous portion! I was very satisfied.

The bus guide was a local who played the sanshin for us. The schedule went as planned, and I highly recommend it.

夕方からの飛行機だったのでこのコースにしました。
梅雨の時期で曇り空でしたが､川平湾では晴れてくれてとてもラッキーでした。
オプショナルのグラスボートに乗って、クマノミ•ウミガメに出会えて珊瑚礁の美しさに感動。
お昼は眺めいいところでハンバーグ定食､なかなかのボリューム！
大満足です。

バスガイドさんは､地元の方で生の三線を聴かせてくれました♪
スケジュールも予定通りでオススメです。

The three-island tour was very good. I was impressed by the water buffalo cart I rode for the first time. At Yufu Island, I spent too much time taking photos and eating, so I was disappointed that I couldn't explore the island much. I chose the free walk plan for Taketomi Island, but the limited number of buses made the schedule tight.

3島巡りとても良かったです。
初めて乗った水牛車は感動しました。
由布島では、写真と食事に時間をとりすぎて島内の散策があまり出来なくて残念でした。
竹富島はフリーウォークプランを選択しましたが、バスの本数が少なめだった為タイトなスケジュールになってしまいました。

Exploring Mishima while riding on a ferry, bus, sightseeing boat, and ox cart was a delightful experience. The lunch was delicious, and I was able to enjoy the wonderful spots in Mishima✨ The drivers (and the person guiding the oxen?) were entertaining, making the time enjoyable! Thank you, Yumemi-chan, Kojiro-kun, Kaiji-kun, and Rui-kun. I also learned that the water buffalo have distinct personalities and are all quite different!

フェリー・バス・観光船・牛車に乗りながら三島巡り。お昼ごはんもおいしく三島のいいとこ巡りができました✨運転手の皆さんも（牛を誘導する人？）話が面白く楽しく過ごせました！ゆめみちゃん　こじろうくん　カイジくん　ルイくん　ありがとう。　水牛も個性豊かでいろいろ違うことがわかりました!

It's really disappointing that the sightseeing on Taketomi Island was abbreviated. We should have opted for a free sightseeing choice. Was it because someone couldn't keep the meeting time that the boat schedule got delayed? It seems that we couldn't change the return boat because there was no tour guide present. The bus tour on Taketomi Island was disappointing. It was good up to Iriomote Island and Yufu Island, so it's a shame. I should have negotiated with the local staff about changing the return boat.

竹富島の観光省略されとても残念
フリーの観光選択すべきでしたね
集合時間守れない人のせい？で船の時間がずれた？らしいです
スルーの添乗員がいないために帰りの船の変更不可？竹富島バス観光残念でした。
西表島由布島までは良かったので残念でした。現地スタッフのかたに帰路船の変更掛け合うべきである

Despite the unfortunate weather forecast, it only drizzled occasionally. This timing allowed us to enjoy our time even more comfortably, and the activities were enjoyable whether it was sunny or rainy.

◯ Iriomote Island
We explored the mangroves on a covered boat. The weather didn't affect this experience. Navigating through the mangrove forest is something that is quite difficult to do on your own.

◯ Yubu Island
Riding a water buffalo to cross from one island to another was a unique experience. The water buffalo cart is also not affected by the weather. On Yubu Island, we had time for a meal and free time in the botanical garden. Even those who aren't interested in the botanical garden can enjoy it as a meal and relaxation time. At the back of the botanical garden, there is actually a beach. Enjoying the scenery here is also an option.

◯ Taketomi Island
If you don't have a specific store or destination in mind, you might find yourself at a loss on how to spend your time in the village. It's certainly possible to arrange rental bicycles or water buffalo carts on your own. However, considering the round-trip travel from each island and moving around the island, it's wise to think about combining a water buffalo or bicycle rental. The only activity here that is affected by the weather is the village tour by water buffalo cart. It's recommended as it allows for a cool experience without getting wet.

あいにくの悪天候予報でしたが、降っても時折 小雨が降る程度。
そんなタイミングだったので余計に快適に過ごすことができましたが、晴天でも雨天でも楽しめるアクティビティでした。

◯西表島
屋根付きのボートでマングローブ散策。
天気に左右されません。
マングローブ林の中を進むのはなかなか個人ではできない体験です。

◯由布島
水牛に乗って島から島へ渡るのは貴重な体験でした。
こちらの水牛車も天気に左右されません。
由布島では植物園内で食事＆自由時間が。
植物園に興味のない方も、食事兼休憩時間として過ごせます。
植物園の奥には実はビーチが。ここで景色を楽しむのもアリです。

◯竹富島
集落での過ごし方は、目的のお店等が無い方は意外と持て余すかも。
個人手配でレンタサイクルや水牛車の手配ももちろん可能。
ただ、各島からの往復移動や島内の移動を考えると、セットで水牛or自転車を考えておくと吉です。
唯一ここでの過ごし方だけ天気に左右されます。
水牛車での集落回遊は避暑＆濡れないのでおすすめ。

I visited in early May and was worried about the rainy season, but it only rained while I was on the ferry and bus. By the time I arrived at Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island, the weather was clear, and I had the best sightseeing experience. Cycling on Taketomi Island was refreshing, and the botanical garden on Yufu Island was more enjoyable than I expected, so I highly recommend it!

5月前半に行き梅雨が心配だったのですが、フェリーやバスに乗っている間だけ雨が降ったのみで、西表島や由布島、竹富島に着く頃には晴れ、最高の観光ができました。竹富島でのサイクリングは気持ちがよかったのと、由布島の植物園が想像より楽しかったのでおすすめしたいです！

I thought a plan that allows visiting three islands in one day would be great, so I joined. There was plenty of free time, and I liked that I could participate in my own way.

1日で3島回れるプランがよいと思い参加しました。自由時間も多く、思い思いに参加できるのがよかったです。

I recommend it because there are many islands around Ishigaki Island, and you can efficiently explore them even with limited time. The itinerary and efficiency are things you can't achieve when planning on your own, and it's also cost-effective! The guides at each sightseeing spot were enjoyable and great as well.

石垣島の離島がたくさんあって時間が限られる中で効率よく周れるので、おすすめです。
自分たちでスケジュール組むと出来ない行程と効率性、またお得さでした！
それぞれの観光スポットでのガイドも楽しくて良かったです。

A Solo Trip to Ishigaki Island

This was my first time on a bus tour, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I was excited about visiting a tropical island without thinking too much, but the guide's fluent narration provided insights into the history and connections of the island and its surrounding islets, which was very educational.

For lunch, I had a delicious Ishigaki beef hamburger. The mozuku vinegar was quite strong, and if you eat it too quickly, it can make you cough. But it was tasty!

The guide's performance of traditional songs while playing the sanshin was impressive. I was truly amazed. While there isn't much freedom in the itinerary, I recommend this tour for anyone visiting the island for the first time.

思い立ち一人旅の石垣島
バスツアー自体初めてですがとても良い経験をさせていただきました。
なにも考えず南国の島
などと浮かれていましたがガイドさんの流暢な語りで島や周辺の離島などの歴史や関わりなどを知り、とても勉強になりました。
ランチは石垣牛のハンバーグで美味しかったです。もずく酢は酢が強くて勢い良く食べるとむせます。でも美味しい

ガイドさんの三線を弾きながらの民謡は圧巻でした。流石だと思います
自由度はありませんが初めて島に行かれる方は参加するのをお勧めします。

The weather was unfortunately bad, but I still had a good time. On Taketomi Island, perhaps because it was right after the holiday, most shops were closed, and the few that were open had almost sold out of everything I wanted to eat, which was disappointing.

あいにくの天気でしたが楽しめました。竹富島では、連休明けだからかどこのお店もお休みで、やっと空いてた店もほとんど売り切れで食べたいものがなかったのは残念でした。

The transfer from the boat to the bus to the water buffalo and back to the bus and then the boat can be quite a journey. I think it's better to avoid walking to the water buffalo riding area, especially on hot days, due to the elevation changes. I'm glad I went with a tour.

船→バスの送迎→水牛→バスの送迎→船
水牛乗り場まで、徒歩で行くのは高低差もあり、暑い日はやめた方が良いと思います。ツアーで良かったと思いました

I had a wonderful experience riding the water buffalo cart on Iriomote Island, which I had wanted to try after seeing it featured on TV and in magazines. Unfortunately, the weather was rainy and not very good, but the day flew by as we traveled between three islands by ferry and bus from the morning. Next time I go, I would like to stay overnight on each island.

以前よりテレビや雑誌で紹介されてる西表島の水牛車に乗ってみたかったのでたいへん良い思い出になりました。
あいにく天気は雨模様であまり良くなかったですが朝からフェリーやバス移動で3島巡りがあっという間に1日が過ぎた感じです。今度行くときは各島々に1泊しながら行ってみたいです

Hat an interesting tour! While I speak some Japanese the rest of my family does not. I did my best to translate what I could, but I know we missed out on a lot of the interesting facts about the water buffalo and the tradition and origin story of this interesting mode of transport. We wished we had also understood more about the mangroves.

Thank you for allowing me to participate in this tour 😊 I was healed by the adorable Maekun, and all my daily fatigue disappeared. It was so much fun! If there's another opportunity, I would love to join again 🥺 Thank you, Maekun!

今回ツアーに参加させて頂いてありがとうございます😊
可愛い真栄君に癒されて　日頃の疲れも飛びました　楽しかったです♪
また　機会がありましたらよろしくお願いします🥺
真栄君ありがとーー

The designated hotel shuttle service is available, and the transportation on the remote islands is well thought out, making it very convenient. On Iriomote Island, I was able to see the mangrove forests up close, and on Yubu Island and Taketomi Island, I enjoyed a leisurely pace of sightseeing while riding on water buffalo carts. The local guide's commentary was also entertaining. On Taketomi Island, if you want to get around and visit the highlights, it seems necessary to make a reservation for a rental bicycle in advance.

指定ホテル送迎もあり、離島での移動も効率よく考えられていて楽チンです。西表島ではマングローブ林をしっかり見ることができ、由布島と竹富島ではそれぞれ水牛車に乗って、のんびりしたペースで観光を楽しむことができました。現地ガイドさんのトークも面白かったです。竹富島では、島内を移動して見どころを回るならレンタサイクルの事前予約がないと厳しそうです。

I had a very pleasant time crossing to the island on a water buffalo while listening to island songs. The mangrove cruise was also well explained and enjoyable. Exploring Taketomi Island on foot was challenging due to the heat, so I recommend renting a bicycle.

水牛でゆったりと島へ渡り　島唄も聴きながらとても気持ちの良い時間が過ごせました。マングローブのクルーズも上手に説明して頂き楽しかったです。竹富島は歩きでしたが、暑さもあり大変でした。　レンタサイクルがおすすめです。

I was hoping to take the glass-bottom boat at Kabira Bay, and I was able to enjoy it thanks to being taken out early due to the sea conditions. There was a lot of information that you wouldn't know on general tours or as an individual, which made for an effective sightseeing experience. I think it must have been tough to navigate the island so extensively, but I had a great time in the vehicle as well. Nowadays, you can find anything online, but the information from the locals was very helpful and made for a wonderful trip. Thank you very much!

川平湾のグラスボートを希望していましたが、海の状態から早めに連れて行っていただいたので堪能できました。
一般のツアーや個人ではわからない情報がたくさんあり、有効に観光できました。
島を縦横無尽に走ってくださり大変だっと思いますが、車内でも楽しく過ごせました。
今は何でもネットで調べられますが、現地の方の情報はとても参考になり良い旅行になりました。
ありがとうございました