All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

The full day experience is quite interesting, though most of the cases are only self-guided and if you are not Japanese, there is limited information learned since most of the guided (on the river boat and the bus) are conducted in Japanese. The whole trip is packed with different experiences including a boat trip, water buffalo truck, authentic little towns, beautiful beaches, etc., which were quite satisfactory. The bento for lunch was well prepared as well. Fortunately, I was in a showroom about Taketomi Island with many great displays of local folk items, culture, and a short movie theatre with air conditioning that allowed me to spend the time during the rain learning many things about Taketomi culture. Also, there is English and Chinese explanation as well.

The full day experience is quite interesting though most of the cases are only self-guided and if you are not Japanese, there is limited information learnt since most of the guided (on the river boat and the bus) are conducted in Japanese. The guided device for foreigners had very limited information compared with the length of what the guides said. My guided device seems malfuntioned as it is not working probably in the middle of the trip, which really lessened the information I could learn. Haven't said that, the whole trip is packed with difference experiences with boat trip, water buffalo truck, authentic little towns, beautiful beaches etc which were quite satisfactory. The bento in lunch was well prepared as well. There was a huge rain but fortunately I was in a showroom about the Taketomi Island with many great displays of local folk items, culture, and short movie theatre with air conditioned that made me spend the time during the rain to learn many things about the Taketomi Culture. Also, there is English and Chinese explanation as well.

I decided to try snorkeling for the first time in Ishigaki Island and joined this Blue Cave snorkeling tour. In a word, it was a hit! It was an absolutely amazing experience!! The guide was very kind, always ensuring our safety while keeping us entertained, which made me feel very secure and turned it into a truly moving experience.

In the clear blue sea, you can encounter Nemo and Dory!! Unfortunately, I didn’t meet Crush, but I look forward to that encounter next time.

They also provided a pleasant pick-up service to the hotel, and the guide's talk in the car was full of humor. They shared many recommendations for local restaurants, so getting the latest information directly from them is definitely better than relying on past SMS posts.

Thank you for the best experience, the handsome guide Ryunosuke!!

初シュノーケリングは石垣島でと思い立ち、この青の洞門シュノーケリングツアーに参加しました。ひとことで言うと当たりです！超最高体験です！！ガイドの方がとても優しくて、楽しませてくれながら、常に安全に気を配ってくれているので、とても安心して参加でき、最高に感動的な体験となりました。
青く澄んだ海の中で、あのニモやドリーに出逢えます！！残念ながら、クラッシュには逢えませんでしたが、次回の遭遇に期待です。
送迎もホテルまで快よくしてもらえて、車内でのガイドさんのトークもユーモアセンスがありありで、オススメ食べ物屋さんなども、沢山教えてくれるので、現地での生の最新情報が貰えるのは、過去の経験で書き込まれたSMS投稿で得るよりもありだと思います。
ガイドのイケメン龍之介くん、最高の体験をありがとう！！

I was able to spend a relaxing time, and it was enjoyable. The water buffalo were cute, and I was surprised at how smart they were. The explanation about the island was thorough, and it truly became a wonderful memory.

のんびりとした時間を過ごすことが出来、楽しかったです。水牛が可愛く､とても頭が良くびっくりしました。島の説明も丁寧で､本当に良い思い出になりました。

Taketomi Island has many attractions, and my free time passed in the blink of an eye. The beach and the streets with red-tiled roofs were wonderful, creating a soothing atmosphere.

竹富島は見どころが多くフリータイムはあっという間に過ぎてしまいました。浜も赤瓦の街並みも素敵で癒される空間でした。

It had been a while since I swam in the ocean, and I was quite tired, but the sea was so beautiful, and I was able to see many fish, which made me very satisfied! There was a little incident where my friend's fin came off, but we were able to keep going without stopping since we got a spare fin!

海で泳ぐのは久々で、かなり疲れたけど、すごく海が綺麗で沢山の魚を見ることができ大満足でした！
途中で友達のフィンが取れるハプニングがありましたが、変えのフィンを貰えたので止まることなく進めました！

My wife and I, both in our mid-50s, went snorkeling for the first time. At first, I was worried about being unable to breathe through the snorkel and having water enter the mask, wondering how far I could go. However, I gradually got used to it and became more relaxed, allowing me to enjoy the beautiful scenery underwater. The guide's advice was spot on, and I was able to enjoy snorkeling with peace of mind. Additionally, the stories about Miyako Island were fascinating, and I would like to visit Miyako Island next time. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

私も妻も50代半ばになって初めてのシュノーケリング。最初はシュノーケルをつけての口呼吸ができない、マスクの中に水が入るなどのトラブルが起きて、どこまで行けるかとても心配でした。
しかし、徐々に慣れてきて心にも余裕ができて海中の素敵な景色を見ることができました。
ガイドさんのアドバイスも的確で、安心してシュノーケリングを楽しむことができました。
また、宮古島についての話も興味深く、次回は宮古島へ行ってみたいと思います。
素敵な体験をありがとうございました。

The weather was nice, but the heat was a struggle. Given my age, the schedule was tough. The children were happy. We had the experience of mangroves, water buffalo, and the traditional streets of Taketomi Island. I thought it would be nice to experience it slowly during a cooler time rather than in the peak of summer. If I have the time, I would like to experience it again during a cooler season.

天気が良く暑さに苦しみました。年齢的にスケジュールがハードでした。子供達は喜んでいました。マングローブ、水牛、竹富島の昔ながらの街並みの体験をさせていただきました。真夏の体験でなく涼しい時期にゆっくり体験したいと思いました。時間があれば涼しい時期にもう一度体験させていただきたいと思います。

The water buffalo tour was relaxing and enjoyable. The song from the man upon arrival added to the fun. The buffalo were very smart too. You can also take pictures with the buffalo on the island.
The mangrove tour progresses slowly along the river. It's soothing as you see the mangroves and birds.

水牛ツアーは、のんびりゆっくり楽しかった。到着時のおじさんの歌も盛り上げてくれました。牛もとてもお利口でした。島では、水牛と写真も撮れます。
マングローブツアーは、ゆっくり川を進みます。マングローブや鳥などを見ながら癒されます。

I was able to visit three islands, and it was a very meaningful time. The mangroves, water buffalo carts, and the streets of Taketomi Island were amazing. The rental bicycles were great. The ferry from Ishigaki Island is very rocky, so those who are prone to motion sickness definitely need to take anti-nausea medication! After arriving at Taketomi Island, I took a bus to the city center, but it was unfortunate that the departure was delayed because we were waiting for the next ferry. This reduced our sightseeing time on Taketomi Island.

3つの島をまわることが出来て、とても有意義な時間でした。
マングローブや水牛車、竹富島の街並みは最高でした。レンタサイクル良かったです。
石垣島からの船はとても揺れるので、酔いやすい人は酔い止め必須です！
竹富島に着いてから市街地まで行くバスに乗車したけれど、次の便の船を待っていた為、発車が遅れたことが残念です。竹富島観光の時間が減りました。

I didn't know places like this still existed. It's as if Yufu Island is heaven, a paradise, and the water buffalo cart is a shuttle to heaven—truly like a dream. The water buffalo cart feels like it's moving through time and space. There’s such a different world here that it makes me worry about returning to reality. I'm glad I went.

まだ、こういう場所があったのか。まるで由布島は天国、楽園、水牛車は天国への送迎、まさに夢の中。水牛車は時空を超えて移動しているようです。現実世界に戻れるか心配になるほど違った世界があります。行ってよかった。

I misunderstood that bike rentals were included in the activities on Taketomi Island, which caused some confusion upon arrival. I wish there had been an explanation at least when issuing the tickets. It seems that other customers received an explanation.

竹富島での過ごし方にレンタサイクルとあるので、含まれてると勘違いしてついてからゴタゴタしました。せめてチケット発行の時に説明がほしかったです。
他のお客様には説明があったようです。

I felt very relaxed while riding the water buffalo cart and listening to the sanshin.
I enjoyed a leisurely stroll on Yubu Island.
On Taketomi Island, I couldn't get a grasp of the schedule and only wandered around the port for a bit before returning, which left me feeling a bit unsatisfied, but I think it was good that I was able to return to Ishigaki Island early.

水牛車に乗って三線を聞きながらとてものんびりとした気分でとても癒されました。
由布島ではゆっくり散歩気分で散策が楽しかったです。
竹富島では、段取りが把握できずに港の周りを少しだけ散策して直ぐに港に戻り少し不完全燃焼でしたが、石垣島に早く戻れたのはよかったと思っています。

Since I was going to Ishigaki Island, I wanted to explore the surrounding islands as well, so I signed up for a tour. I was satisfied because we were able to efficiently visit each island.

折角石垣島に行くのであれば離島巡りもしたいなと思い申し込みました。効率よく各島を巡れたので満足です。

I was able to see the mangrove forest, ox carts, and Taketomi Island quite efficiently. I was unsure whether to rent a car and explore on my own, but I’m glad I didn’t because I wouldn’t have been able to do it as efficiently.

マングローブ林、牛車、竹富島をかなり効率良く見れました。自分でレンタカー借りて回るのと、迷いましたが、こんなに効率的には回れなかったので、良かったです。

In the morning, we were picked up by the hotel, marking the start of our day. We took a boat from Euglena, navigating up the mangrove river while enjoying views of the various islands. Our main goal was to ride in an ox cart, swaying gently while listening to the island songs played on the sanshin. The day continued leisurely to Yubu Island and then to Taketomi Island, making it a truly fulfilling experience.

朝ホテルにお迎えが来てくれて一日の始まりでした。ユーグレナから船に乗って、各島々を見ながらマングローブの川を遡上…1番の目的の牛車に揺られ、三線の音で島唄を聞きながら、ゆっくりと由布島へそして竹富島へと続いた1日はとっても充実感あふれるものでした。

Due to the season, the outdoor waiting times at various points were minimal, allowing us to conserve our energy. The breeze during the mangrove tour was pleasant, and traveling by water buffalo was enjoyable. There were two participants from our group, but for some reason, the others were all part of a tour group, leading to an early departure for the ferry and other activities. At the water buffalo riding area in Yufu, our two groups were left waiting until the very end without guidance, which was quite concerning.

季節柄、ポイントポイントでの屋外の待ち時間が少なくて体力が温存できました。
マングローブツアーの風が気持ちよいし、水牛での移動も楽しかったです。
こちらからのツアー参加者は、2人、2組で
なぜか他はツアー団体ご一行様と同じで、フェリーなど出発予定時間よりかなり早い出航となったり、由布での水牛乗り場では2組だけ最後の最後まで案内されなくて不安でしかありませんでした。

The date I initially wanted to book was fully booked, but when I inquired just in case, they were able to accommodate my reservation. Their response was very quick, and I was able to smoothly change my schedule, so I felt it was a good decision to book with Veltra even before participating.

The tour content was, of course, very satisfying. Since the itinerary did not include a stop at Taketomi Island, I would like to visit Taketomi Island next time I go.

最初に予約したかった日が満席だったのですが、ダメ元で問い合わせてみたところ、予約OKしていただき、またとても迅速な対応、スムーズに日程変更もできたので、参加する前からベルトラで申込みをしてよかったと思いました。
ツアー内容も、もちろんとても満足度の高い内容でした。竹富島へは寄らない内容だったので、次回行く時は竹富島へも行ってみたいと思いました。

The staff's guidance was smooth. The reception and the tour guide on the bus were great. The lunch bento was also delicious. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

スタッフさんの案内の流れがスムーズ。受付やバス車内の観光ガイドさんの対応が良かった。お昼のお弁当も美味しかった。最初から最後まで楽しめた。

The water buffalo was great, but you shouldn't expect much free time. The water buffalo walks very slowly, so by the time free time came, it was tough to explore the island even if you rented a bicycle.

水牛はよかったですが、自由時間は期待しない方がいいです。
水牛さんはゆっくりゆっくり歩くので、自由時間になった時には自転車をレンタルしても島を散策するには厳しい時間になってました。

Since it was my first time in Ishigaki Island, I was taken care of by Ishigaki Island Dream Tourism. Throughout the entire itinerary, I could feel the thoughtfulness of the staff. It started with a send-off from the port, and during the mangrove cruise and the bus ride from Iriomote Island to Yubu Island, they provided detailed explanations and shared many interesting stories while driving the boat and bus, making it a very enjoyable and meaningful time. I was able to leisurely cross to Yubu Island on a water buffalo while listening to the wonderful sounds of the sanshin. I'm really glad I signed up for this. Thank you very much.

初めての石垣島ということで石垣島ドリーム観光さんにお世話になりました。全ての行程においてもスタッフの皆様の心遣い感じることができました。港からの見送りから始まり、マングローブ遊覧船&西表島から由布島へのバスでの案内は船やバスを運転されながら丁寧な解説や興味深い話を沢山していただき、とても楽しく有意義な時間を過ごすことができました。水牛で由布島までも、のんびりと素敵な三線の音色を聴きながら渡ることができました。こちらに申し込んで本当に良かったです。ありがとうございました。

A tour around the three islands of Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Takefu Island. The weather was great, and it was a very efficient tour with no wasted time. There was also a reasonable amount of free time, which allowed us to enjoy ourselves. The staff were wonderful in their response to those who felt unwell. There are several companies offering similar tours, but it seems they operate their own boats, making for a safe and comfortable journey.

西表島、由布島、武富島の三島めぐり。天気も良く非常に効率的に回れる無駄のないツアー。
それなりに自由行動もあり、堪能できました。
気分の悪くなった方への対応など、スタッフさんも素晴らしい。何社か同様のツアーありますが、自社所有の船での運航のようで安心快適な旅でした。

I participated in a tour that covered Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island. I was really grateful that it included all the remote islands I wanted to visit and allowed us to explore efficiently!

The great nature of Iriomote Island, the water buffalo cart on Yufu Island, and actually riding a water buffalo on Taketomi Island created wonderful memories.

However, I felt a bit regretful that if we had a little more time on Taketomi Island, we could have explored other places as well. That said, I was very satisfied with how fulfilling the day was!

石垣島から、西表島・由布島・竹富島をめぐるツアーに参加しました。
行きたかった離島を全部網羅してくれていて、効率よく回れたのが本当にありがたかったです！

西表島の大自然、由布島の水牛車、そして竹富島では実際に水牛に乗れて、すごくいい思い出になりました。

ただ、竹富島ではもう少し時間があれば、他の場所も見て回れたかなぁ…と少しだけ名残惜しさもありました。
とはいえ、1日でここまで充実していたのは大満足でした！

I was busy visiting three islands in one day, but I was able to efficiently see the highlights, which made me excited for my next trip as a first-time visitor. Riding the water buffalo cart was a lot of fun since it was my first time. While traveling to Yubu Island on the water buffalo cart, I discovered a fiddler crab. I was moved to see the fiddler crab, which I had only known from songs, right in front of me! The oil miso from Yubu Island that we had on the tour was exquisite. I couldn't help but buy some at the souvenir shop. I was torn between exploring the mangroves of Iriomote Island by canoe or kayak or taking a sightseeing boat, but choosing this tour was definitely the right decision for me. It was great to ride the boat and leisurely reflect on the mangrove ecosystem while listening to the guide's explanations. The bus driver's sightseeing commentary while traveling on Iriomote Island was also outstanding. Although it was a short time, I was able to learn more about Iriomote Island than what is in the guidebooks.

一日で3つの島を回るので忙しかったです。が、見どころを効率よく見れたので初めて訪れた旅行者には次回の旅行への期待が膨らみました。水牛車に乗るのは初めてだったのでとても楽しかったです。由布島に水牛車で移動中に、シオマネキを発見。これまで歌でしか知らなかったシオマネキを目の前で見ることができ感動！ツアーで食べた由布島の油味噌は絶品でした。思わず土産物屋で買ってしまいました。西表島のマングローブをカヌーやカヤックで巡るか観光ボートにするか迷ったけどこのツアーにして私は大正解。ボートに乗り、船頭さんの解説を聞きながらゆったりとマングローブの生態系に思いを馳せれたのはよかったです。西表島を移動中のバスの運転手さんの観光案内も大変すばらしかったです。短い時間ですが西表島のことをガイドブック以上に知ることができました。

I was worried that the tour of the three islands would be hectic, but overall, it was a well-organized and incredibly smooth experience! The staff were friendly, and the guide was experienced and easy to understand, making it enjoyable even for first-timers. I felt that the free time on Taketomi Island went by too quickly, and it would have been nice to have a bit more time, but it was still a very enjoyable tour!

3島を回るツアーで慌ただしくないか心配でしたが、全体的に流れに無駄がなく、凄くスムーズで完成されたツアーでした！スタッフの方も親切で、ガイドの方もベテランでわかりやすく、初めてでも最高に楽しめます👍竹富島のフリータイムがあっという間でもう少し長いと良かったと感じましたが、それでもとても楽しめるツアーでした！！

Due to the approaching typhoon, we couldn't go snorkeling, but we enjoyed the canoe experience! While canoeing, the staff was nearby, providing advice on paddling and assisting us when getting on and off the canoe, so I think even beginners can feel at ease. During our travels, they also recommended great places, and we had a wonderful time! I hope the weather will be nice enough for snorkeling next time..☆

台風が近付いていたため、シュノーケルはできず
カヌー体験のみでしたが楽しめました！
カヌーしている際もスタッフの方が近くで見てくれて
漕ぎ方のアドバイスや
カヌーに乗る時や降りるときも手助けしてくださるので
初心者の方でも安心してできると思います(^^)
移動中もおすすめのお店など教えていただき
楽しい時間を過ごせました！
次はシュノーケルも出来る天気になりますように・・☆

The time allocation was very good, and I had a great time! The guides for the water buffalo, bus, and boat were also fun.

時間の配分もとても良く楽しく過ごせました♪
水牛、バス、船のガイドさんたちのトークも楽しかったです。

I thoroughly enjoyed Iriomote Island and Yufu Island. I had experienced them once during my student days, but experiencing them again as an adult made me see things differently, and my sensibilities have changed, so it felt fresh again. The staff provided interesting explanations and I got to listen to Okinawan folk songs, so I was glad to have such a variety of experiences!

西表島、由布島をとても満喫できました。
学生の頃にも、一度経験しているのですが
再度、大人になってから経験すると
見るところが違ったり、感性も変わってるので
また新鮮に感じました。
スタッフさんの、豆知識的な解説もあったり
沖縄民謡？も聴かせていただいたり
いろんな経験をできてよかったです！

When I came to Ishigaki, I thought I had to go snorkeling, and even though I'm not a great swimmer, I had a wonderful time. The weather was sunny that day, and the beautiful location touched my heart. Once I dove in, I was healed by the stunning sea and the fish I kept watching, which led me to decide to extend my stay in Ishigaki, haha. It's high season, but if I could wish for anything, I would have liked a bit more time.

石垣に来たらやはりシュノーケリングをしないとと思い、あまり泳げない自分でも楽しい時間を過ごせました。
当日晴れていたのもあり、素敵なロケーションで心打たれ、さらに潜ると綺麗な海、魚達を眺め続ける事で心が癒され、石垣に延泊を決めました笑
ハイシーズンなのもありますが、欲を言えばもう少し時間が欲しいなと思いました。

We used this service to visit three remote islands in one day, as arranging it ourselves would have taken too much time! Other than the transportation, we had basically free time and were able to enjoy it at our own pace.

1日で離島３つ回るには個人手配では、時間もかかるため利用しました！
移動以外は基本的に自由行動で、自分たちのペースでゆっくり楽しめました。

I don't think I could have visited so many places on my own from morning until evening, so I really enjoyed being taken around on the tour.

個人では朝から夕方までの間でこんなにたくさんまわれなかったと思うので、ツアーで連れて行ってもらえてとても満喫できました。