What‘s Included

Meeting and Pickup

What To Expect

Reviews

• Better off doing something else.

  Christopher W,

  Apr 25, 2024

  - Viator

  2.00

  Overpriced for something I could go do for free. Offered an English service yet spoke no English 🤣 only 2 stars because the canoe part was pretty cool but we walked more than we canoed.

• A really fantastic experience

  Stephen G,

  Aug 23, 2023

  - Viator

  5.00

  The experience was fantastic. The mangrove forest is not something we've ever done before and it was beautiful. Our guide was really friendly and engaged well with everyone. Doing it in a small group worked well. Loved the shots we got at the little waterfall. For the second part; Yubu island, the buffalo ride was fun and our driver played some traditional music as we crossed the water. The island itself is small but pretty and 1 hour was enough time to do everything and stop for a quick snack+drink. Timings of the whole day worked out well for it ferries to and from Ishigaki. World very much recommend. Do come prepared and read all the info provided

• Lot’s of fun and beauty, but second half was not in English

  Irwin J,

  May 21, 2023

  - Viator

  4.00

  Our party of 7 arrived at the ferry terminal in our bathing suits, with a towel and dry clothes to change into in our bags. A van took us a little ways to a small building where we were given water shoes. We left our shoes and dry clothes in the van and walked a short distance to a beach at the mouth of a river. Here we embarked in two-person kayaks or stand-up paddle boards (no canoes, despite the tour description) and paddled up the river through a mangrove forest full of beautiful butterflies, many small crabs in a variety of colors including a beautiful blue, and “jumping fish” (probably Barred mudskippers) -- these inch-long fish looked like geckos from a distance, but upon close inspection were fish moving around on dry land using two small fins in the front that allowed the fish to jump a few inches at a time. After a little while, we disembarked and “trekked” through the forest and along the river banks, sometimes up to knee deep in the water, to a pretty waterfall. Some of us swam through a pool and climbed some rocks to stand under the waterfall. We then returned to the kayaks and paddled back the beach. Along the way, the guide pointed out a hole in a tree that he said was the home of an Iriomote Cat. Total time kayaking and trekking was about 2 hours. We then had an opportunity to shower (hot and cold water but no soap) and change into dry clothes. We were then dropped off at the ferry terminal and given 45 minutes to have lunch on our own at one of the restaurants there. The guide for the kayaking/trekking part of the tour was very nice and took many pictures of our group. His accent was a little difficult to understand at times, but overall his English was good enough. After lunch, we joined up with several other groups at the ferry terminal and a different guide and were taken on a large bus to the shore near Yubujima island (about a 30 minute ride). We boarded ox carts that carried us across a very shallow straight to the island. Along the way, the ox cart driver serenaded us, playing an Okinawan banjo and singing. We then had some time to explore the island on our own. First stop, a butterfly garden with large white and black butterflies. One of us was able to get several to land on her. The island is full of lush greenery and beautiful tropical flowers and an ocean beach full of shells. We also got ice cream at the restaurant and gift shop. Finally, we took the ox carts back to the bus, which then dropped us off at the ferry terminal in time for the 4:30 ferry back to Ishigaki. Unfortunately, although we signed up for the tour in English, the second half was entirely in Japanese. We were able to get bare necessities like the meeting time from the guide in English, but missed all of his commentary. Other than the lack of English on the second half I would have given a five star rating.