All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

Walking across the tidal flats to the island on a water buffalo cart was a first-time experience for me. I honestly didn't have high expectations for the lunch bento, but it was made with many local specialties and was delicious.

水牛車で干潟を歩いて島に渡るという体験は初めてでした。お昼ごはんのお弁当も、正直期待していなかったのですが名産品などを多く使用しており、美味しく頂けました。

After 25 years, I wanted to visit Iriomote Island and Yufu Island, so I went to Ishigaki Island. This time, I made a reservation with Beltora, which I trust, and went with my friends. We enjoyed a leisurely trip where time flowed slowly.

The person managing the cattle played the sanshin and sang Okinawan folk songs, allowing us to spend a pleasant time that you can't experience in the city, even if it was just for a short while.

25年ぶりに西表島と由布島に行きたいと思い石垣島へ行きました。今回も安心のベルトラで予約を取りお友達と行ってきました。時間がゆっくりと流れのんびりした旅行が楽しめました。
牛舎を操る方が、三線を弾き沖縄民謡を唄って短い時間ですが、都会ではできない心地よい時間を過ごすことができました。

This tour is packed with the charm of three remote islands. Before participating, I thought the one-hour mangrove cruise might be long, but the guide's explanations were fascinating, making it just the right length. The stories from the bus driver guide on the way to Yubu Island and the staff accompanying us on the water buffalo cart were great insights that I wouldn't have known if I had gone on my own. The lunch on Yubu Island was a delicious bento that was already prepared, so there was zero waiting time. On Taketomi Island, I was able to visit all the places I wanted to go—Nishi Sanchu, Kondoi Beach, and Kaiji Beach—by renting a bicycle. I leisurely rode around, but I ended up getting a bit lost and didn't have time to explore the town center (laughs). So, next time, I would like to stay on Taketomi Island.

離島３島の魅力がギュッと詰まったツアーです。
参加前は１時間のマングローブ遊覧は長いのではないかと思っていましたが、ガイドさんの説明が興味深く、ちょうど良い長さでした。
由布島へ向かう際のバスのドライバーガイドさんや水牛車い同乗のスタッフさんのお話も、個人で行っていたら知り得ない良いお話でした。
由布島での昼食も美味しいお弁当がすでに用意されていて、待ち時間ゼロでした。
竹富島ではレンタサイクルで、行きたかった西桟橋、コンドイ浜、カイジ浜すべてに行くことができました。自転車でのんびりまわり、また少々道に迷ってしまい島の中心地を散策する時間がなくなってしまいました（笑）。ですので次回は竹富島に宿泊したいと思います。

This time, I participated in a day trip tour of Iriomote, Yufu, and Taketomi Islands (glass boat and water buffalo cart plan).
First of all, it was really fun! (It was my first time participating.)
I had a lot of worries before joining, but on the day of the tour, staff were waiting at each location, providing thorough explanations, which made me feel at ease.
Even pregnant women could participate.
I definitely recommend you to join!

今回、西表•由布•竹富島 日帰りツアー(グラスボートと水牛車プラン)に参加しました。
まず感想として、すっごく楽しかったです。(初参加)
参加前は不安が多かったですが、当日は各地点にスタッフが待ち、しっかりした説明があり安心でした。
妊婦の方でも参加できました。
ぜひ参加してみてください。

You can see other islands from the boat even as far as Iriomote Island. The water buffalo are really cute! There was plenty of free time on Yubu Island, and I was able to circle the island. The gelato on the island was also delicious. The mangroves I saw for the first time were lovely! Since it was a half-day tour, I was able to leisurely explore Ishigaki Island afterward. The hotel shuttle service was also helpful.

西表島までも船から他の島も見えます。水牛が本当に可愛い！由布島での自由時間も十分にあり島一周出来ました。島内でのジェラートも美味しかった。初めて見たマングローブも素敵！
半日なのでツアー後も石垣島をゆっくり観光できました。ホテルの送迎も助かりました。

It was convenient that there was a shuttle service to the hotel since I was traveling with children. The tour mixed customers who booked directly with those from major travel agencies, but we were able to participate without confusion thanks to color-coded stickers. I was worried about getting seasick during the nearly one-hour boat ride from Ishigaki to Iriomote Island, but there were designated seats for those prone to motion sickness, and I managed to avoid feeling sick. We could also choose the bus time back to the hotel, which felt like a free plan with transportation and meals included. I enjoyed the stories from the bus driver and guide, as well as the boatman during the mangrove tour.

The only downside was that the shuttle service from the hotel to the port was quite careless; mispronouncing names was common, the driving was rough like being in a local acquaintance's car, and during the pickup, they almost left without confirming the customers. It felt a bit off.

子連れで参加したので、ホテルまで送迎があったのは楽でした。
ツアーは、直接申し込んだお客さんと大手旅行会社のツアーのお客さんと混載でしたが、色分けしたシールなどで間違う事なく参加できました。
石垣から西表島までの1時間弱の船酔いが心配でしたが、船酔いしやすい人向けのシートなども示してあって酔わずに終われました。
帰りのホテルまでのバスの時間も選べて、フリープランに移動と食事のついたイメージです。
バスの運転手さん兼ガイドさんや、マングローブ下りの船頭さんのお話など楽しく過ごせました。
一点だけ残念だったのは、ホテルから港までの送迎がかなり雑で、名前の読み間違えは当たり前、運転も地元の知り合いの車に乗せられたような荒さ、行きのピックアップではお客さんを確認せずに出発しようとしたり、ちょっと…な感じでした。

The ox cart in Taketomi Town was quite busy, so I should have chosen the bus tour, but overall, the weather was nice and it was a good trip.

竹富町の牛車が慌ただしかったので、バス観光を選択するべきだったが、全体的には天気も良くいい旅でした。

The bus roll call on Taketomi Island was the worst! I almost got left behind! I managed to catch the last boat, but...

After that, it was the best memory.

竹富島のバスの点呼が最悪！
置いて行かれる始末！
なんとか最終の船に間に合ったけど…

後は最高の思い出です。

We were able to efficiently visit three islands. My grandchildren were very happy. It would have been nice to have a bit more time to explore Yufu Island and Taketomi Island.

効率よく3島巡りができました。
孫たちも大変喜んでいました。
由布島　竹富島もう少し観光する時間があったら良かったです

I was able to go out to the ocean and see sea turtles. The sea was calm, and I enjoyed snorkeling safely. The water was so clear that I felt like I was walking or swimming in the sky as I could see the deep seabed clearly. Since life jackets are provided, there's no need to dive, so even those who are not good at swimming can enjoy it with peace of mind. If you are prone to motion sickness in the car, it might be a good idea to take some anti-nausea medication, as you might feel a bit queasy from the waves.

沖の方まで出てウミガメを見ることが出来ました。
海も穏やかで安全にシュノーケリングが楽しめました。
海が透き通っているため底深い海底まではっきり見えるので空を歩いたり泳いでるような感覚になりました。
ライフジャケットを着用用するので海に潜る必要もなく、泳ぎが苦手な方でも安心して楽しめると思います。
車に酔いやすい方は波で少し酔う可能性があるので酔い止めを飲んでおいた方が良いかもしれません。

The water buffalo was so cute! I took a picture with it, and even though I didn't plan to buy anything, after seeing the photo, I ended up purchasing it. There was no smell at all, and the guide's stories were interesting, which made it really enjoyable. The bus guide was also very entertaining, and a crowned eagle appeared by chance and he told us about it. I highly recommend it!

水牛可愛かったー
写真を一緒に撮って、買うつもり無かったけど
出来た写真見たらとても良く買ってしまった
匂いも全然無くガイドさんの話も面白くとても良い
バスのガイドさんもとっても話が面白く冠ワシも偶然現れて教えてくれた
とってもオススメ

My 86-year-old father also participated. The boat from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote Island was beautiful. We were able to see plenty of mangroves, and the guide, who was also the bus driver from the port to Yubu Island, was entertaining, making it one of my memorable experiences on Iriomote Island. We rode on water buffalo, and we had enough free time to explore Yubu Island, so I was very satisfied.

86歳の父も参加しました。石垣島から西表島までの船も綺麗。マングローブも思う存分見れたし、船着場から由布島までのバスの運転手さん兼ガイドの方のガイドが面白おかしくて西表島の思い出の一つになりました。水牛に乗ったり、由布島も自由行動で十分見れましたし、大満足です。

I used this tour for my graduation trip from university. Due to weather conditions, the Blue Cave tour was changed to the Phantom Island, but it was a very fulfilling activity where I could fully enjoy the nature of Ishigaki Island. Since we received the photos taken by the guide during the tour, we were able to capture plenty of memories without needing to bring a waterproof camera. Since I participated in March, the temperature wasn't very warm, and it was a bit chilly on the boat, so I think it would be comfortable to bring a long-sleeved jacket that you don't mind getting wet if you participate around March.

大学の卒業旅行で本ツアーを利用しました。
天候の都合で青の洞窟ツアーから幻の島に変更になりましたが、石垣島の自然を満喫することができるとても充実したアクティビティでした。
ツアー中ガイドの方が撮影した写真をデータを受け取る事ができるため防水カメラなどを持参しなくても、十分に思い出を写真に残す事ができました。
今回3月に参加したこともあり気温はそこまで暖かくなかったため、船の上は少し肌寒かったので、3月ごろに参加される際は濡れてもいい長袖の上着等を持っていくと快適に過ごせるかと思います。

I was able to ride in a leisurely cart pulled by a water buffalo, and along the way, I listened to the music of the sanshin, which refreshed my spirit. I want to go again.

のんびりした水牛が引く車に乗せていただき、途中サンシン（？）の音楽を聴かせていただきながら、心を洗わせていただきました。
また、行きたいです。

I was able to ride the water buffalo cart twice! It was great to enjoy the atmosphere of the southern island while listening to the shamisen. Personally, I really liked Yufu Island. The water buffalo I got to touch was so cute!

水牛車に2回も乗れました！
三味線聞きながら、南の島の雰囲気があじわえてよかったです。個人的には由布島が良かったです。触れる水牛さんが可愛いかった！

The first half of the canoeing was with university students who were doing stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). It had been a while since I last went canoeing, but they took a lot of photos and provided various explanations about nature, making it a very valuable experience.

For lunch, we were dropped off near Euglena Mall and had the freedom to eat until the designated time.

During the second half, we headed to the Blue Cave, and I was worried about whether we could experience it due to the heavy rain on the way there. However, by the time we arrived, it had turned into light rain, and although it was cold, we were able to enjoy the experience. They also took many photos here.

If I had to mention something, I was a bit disappointed that there weren't as many fish as I expected, possibly due to the season or the rain. But since this is nature, it can't be helped.

Overall, it was a fun experience.

前半のカヌーは、SUPの大学生と一緒でした。
久しぶりのカヌーでしたが、写真もいっぱい撮ってくださり
自然の説明も色々してもらったりで、大変貴重な体験となりました。

お昼は、ユーグレナモール近辺で降ろしてもらい、時間まで自由に食事を
とってくださいというスタイルでした。

後半の青の洞窟は、向かう最中が、めちゃくちゃ豪雨だったため
体験できるか心配でしたが、現地に着くころは小雨になっており
寒い中でしたが、体験することができました。
ここでも写真をいっぱい撮っていただきました。

しいていえば、時期的なものか、雨が降ったからかはわかりませんが
思ったより、魚がいなかったのが残念でした。
こればっかりは自然のものなので、仕方ありません。

トータルとしても、楽しかったです。

I was pulled by a water buffalo across the shallow sea from Iriomote Island to Yufu Island. It was my first time on a water buffalo cart! Although the buffalo was large, I worried if it would be okay with about 18 people on the cart. However, it pulled us strongly, and according to the guide and driver, the buffalo loves to move in the water the most.

Along the way, the guide played "Asadoya Yunta" on the sanshin, which made me feel very warm and happy as I swayed in the water buffalo cart. Yufu Island is a cute island with a somewhat ruined and rough feel, but I accepted it as it is, and I was thrilled by the sign for the yellow Iriomote wildcat!

I was also delighted to see many unique mangrove forests during the mangrove tour. The lunch bento was filled with Okinawan-style side dishes, which made me very satisfied.

I think it was great to participate in this tour where I could see various places.

Next time, I would like to try trekking on Iriomote Island.

海の浅瀬を水牛に引いてもらって西表島から由布島へ渡りました。初めての水牛車‼️大きな水牛ではありましたが車に乗るのが18人ほどで本当に牛さんは大丈夫なのだろうかと心配になりました。しかし力強く引いてくれ、ガイド兼運転手のおじさんの話では水牛は水の中で動くのが一番好きなんだとか。
途中からおじさんが三線で「安里屋ゆんた」を弾いてくれ、とても優しい気持ちになりながら水牛車に揺られ楽しかったです。
由布島はかわいい島でやや廃墟がかった感じと雑な感じもありますが、それはそう言うものだと納得し、黄色のイリオモテヤマネコの看板に感激しました❣️
マングローブ遊覧も変わったマングローブの林をたくさん見れて嬉しかったです。
お昼のお弁当も沖縄らしいおかずがいっぱいで満足でした。

いろいろなところが見れて盛りだくさんのツアーで参加して良かったと思います。

次回は西表島でトレッキングもやってみたいです。

As a beginner, I was able to enjoy the experience thanks to the kind instruction from the instructor! Not only did we have the activity, but we also had enjoyable conversations about Okinawa in the car, creating a fun atmosphere throughout. Unfortunately, I couldn't see any sea turtles, but I was able to see various fish, and the instructor provided explanations while sharing different stories about them. It was my first time on a canoe, and I had an extraordinary experience in the magnificent nature.

初心者でしたが、インストラクターの方が優しく教えてくださったので楽しむことができました！アクティビティの体験だけでなく、車内での雑談でも沖縄についてのお話をしてくださって、終始楽しい雰囲気のなか楽しめました。残念ながらウミガメは見られませんでしたが、色々な魚を見ることができ、こちらについても様々な話を交えながら解説してくださりました。カヌーは初めて乗りましたが、雄大な自然の中、非日常的な体験ができました。

We decided to go on a family trip to Ishigaki for the first time and thought about visiting the outer islands. Since planning the itinerary seemed cumbersome, we opted to join a tour. We were able to make effective use of our time from early morning until 6 PM, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you very much.

初めての石垣家族旅行で離島にいってみようということになり、日程をくむのが面倒なのでツアー参加することにしました。朝早くから18じまで、時間を有効に使え、大変満喫することができました。どうもありがとうございました。

I was worried about the rain forecast from the previous day, but I'm glad that the weather forecast for Ishigaki Island was unreliable. The weather was great, and I had a lot of fun. Additionally, it was inexpensive due to the ongoing campaign. I missed the free pickup bus, but I managed to board the boat on my own. I almost ended up having to cancel.

前日の雨予報でどうなるかと思いましたが、石垣島の天気予報はあてにならなくて良かったです。天気も良く、とても楽しかったです、また、キャンペーン中で安かった。無料のピックアップのバスに乗り遅れましたが、なんとか自力で乗船できました。危うくキャンセルになるところでした。

The weather wasn't very good, but the high-speed boat was fast and had little sway. It's great that you can step on Iriomote Island and see all the islands in one day! The water buffalo is cute.

てんこうはあまりよくなかったが、高速艇は早く揺れも少ない。一日で西表を踏めてすべての島を遠望できるのでGOOD！
水牛がかわいいぞ。

This is my second time with the water buffalo tour, and this time it was with the Taketomi Tourism Center. The laid-back water buffalo "Mae" stopped several times along the way to take breaks, and we enjoyed the path lined with bougainvillea. There is also a photo service available.

水牛観光は二度目ですが、
今回は竹富観光センターさんでした。
のんびりマイペースの水牛「真栄」君、
途中何度も立ち止まり、休憩しながら、
ブーゲンビリアの道をすすみ、
和みました。
写真サービスも、あります。

I was able to enjoy everything I wanted to see and do on this tour. I do not recommend doing the island hopping on your own. After landing on the island by ferry, there is a distance to travel to the sightseeing spots, so you'll need transportation.

見たいところやってみたいこと、全部このツアーで楽しめました。
離島巡りは個人でやるのはお勧めしません。
フェリーで離島上陸後、観光スポットまで行くのに距離があるので足が必要になります。

My first trip to the three islands was enjoyable, as I was able to efficiently visit places that would be difficult to cover on my own. The only downside was at the Takeubushima Water Buffalo Cart stop, where I felt a bit uncomfortable being asked to buy photos that I didn't want. In this age of smartphones, I think such commemorative photos are unnecessary. I also thought it would be better if we could choose at the beginning whether or not to include a commemorative photo.

初めての3島巡りは、個人では周りきれないスケジュールを効率よく周る事ができ楽しめました。
唯一残念なのは、竹生島水牛車下車庫　欲しくも無い写真を撮られ買わないか？と言うよくあるパターンを断るのにちょっと嫌な気分になりました。
スマホ普及のご時世なのでその様な記念写真はいらないと思います。又最初から記念写真付きか付きじゃ無いか選べたら良いとも思いました。

It was a tour with two middle-aged men, but I was able to participate feeling great. I think it would be better if there were a bit more time for restroom breaks along the way. The mothers with children seemed to have a tough time.

初老のオヤジ二人のツアー参加でしたが、ただただ気分良く参加出来ました。
途中でのトイレ休憩にもう少し余裕があれば良いのではと思われます。
子ども連れのお母さんが大変そうでした。

I participated in the New Year event. It was a tour that left my children, who are in 7th grade, 5th grade, and 1st grade, very satisfied. I would like to invite my parents next time. Thank you very much.

お正月に参加しました。
中1、小5、小1の子供達も大満足のツアーでした。
次回は両親も誘いたいと思ってます。
ありがとうございました。

The weather was bad, so we couldn't go to the Blue Cave, but we were able to visit the mangroves, which was fun! I was really surprised by the power of nature that I normally wouldn't see. I also enjoyed hearing the little tips from our guide, which made the trip even more enjoyable. The information about local shops was very valuable, and thanks to that, I was able to enjoy delicious yakiniku and Okinawa soba. If I can come to Ishigaki Island again, I would like to try going to the Blue Cave! Thank you very much!

天候が悪く、青の洞窟にはいけませんでしたがマングローブには行けて楽しかったです！
普段じゃ絶対に見れない自然の迫力に大変驚かされました
ガイドの方のプチ情報も聞けて旅行をさらに楽しむことができました☺︎現地の方のお店の情報は、大変貴重でしたおかげさまで美味しい焼肉も沖縄そばも食べることができました
また今度石垣島に来れたら、青の洞窟も行ってみたいと思います！
本当にありがとうございました！

Every staff member was kind and it was very nice no matter which island I went to. I regret that I didn't have enough time to go around Yufu Island. I wanted to walk more in nature... The songs and dances of the old lady were amazing. The water buffalo experience was also good and fun.

どの島に行ってもスタッフの方全て親切でとても良かったです。
由布島はちょっと時間が足りず島を一周する事が出来なかったのが心残りです。もっと自然の中を歩きたかったですぅ、、
オバァの唄と踊り最高でした
水牛体験もGOOD楽しかった

The transfers between boats and buses were smooth, allowing us to see everything very efficiently. I think this is the advantage of the tour.

船やバスなどの乗り換えがスムーズで、とても効率よく見て回ることができました。ツアーの良さだと思います。

This time, we participated in a tour visiting three remote islands with two families (four adults and five children). I was worried because there were many of us, and we had a one-year-old child, but the staff was very attentive, which was great.

The mangrove cruise on Iriomote Island was enjoyable for the adults. The water buffalo carts on Yubu Island and Taketomi Island provided a wonderful experience for both adults and children, and I felt it was worth participating in the tour! Personally, I really liked Kaiji Beach when we did the bus tour on Taketomi Island. I had been there before but remembered not being able to find any star sand. However, this time the bus driver taught us how to search for it, and thanks to that, we were able to find a lot, and both adults and children were engrossed in the search!

Since it was a nice day, the scenery was also very good, and we were able to spend a fantastic day.

今回、２家族（大人４人、子ども５人）で、離島３島巡りのツアーに参加しました。
人数が多く、子どもは１歳の小さい子もいたので心配していましたが、丁寧に対応してくださいってとてもよかったです。

西表島のマングローブ遊覧は大人が楽しめました。由布島・竹富島の水牛車は大人も子どももよい体験ができて、ツアーに参加してよかったと思いました！
個人的には竹富島でバス観光した際に行ったカイジ浜がよかったです。以前行ったことがあったのですが、星の砂が全然見つからなかった記憶がありました。しかし今回はバスの運転手さんが探し方を教えてくれて、そのおかげでたくさん見つけることができて大人も子どもも夢中になって探しました！

天気がいい日だったこともあり、景気もとてもよく、最高の１日を過ごすことができました。