All Reviews for Japan Hidden Gems: Secret Islands

A few years ago, my sister requested this service here and said it was great, so I made a reservation. The meeting time was at 12:30 AM, which felt a bit late, and the meeting place was down a dark road according to Google Maps, so I was a little anxious. However, the moment I arrived, I was amazed by the beautiful starry sky! The photographer, Ryota, was friendly and talked to us, and he played music, which helped us relax during the shoot. He asked us about the poses we wanted, so I recommend thinking about what you want if you have specific ideas (*^^*). We didn't have anything in mind, so we took the photos while following his directions, and they turned out wonderful! I would definitely like to request this again when I visit Miyako Island.

数年前に妹がここでお願いし、とても良かったとの事で予約しました。
集合時間は00時半と遅く、集合場所もGoogleMAPを参考に暗い道を進んで行くため少し不安でしたが、着いた瞬間に綺麗な星空が広がり感動しました！
カメラマンのりょうたさんには気さくに話しかけていただき、音楽もかけてくださりリラックスして撮影出来ました。やりたいポーズを聞いていただいたのでこだわりのある方などは考えておくのをおすすめします(*^^*)私たちは、考えていなかったので、指示してもらいながら撮りましたが素敵な写真になりました！
また宮古島を訪れた際は是非お願いしたいです。

Wow, I never expected to meet so many sea turtles up close like this! It was a tour that greatly exceeded my expectations, and I was absolutely, incredibly satisfied! I'll leave the details of the tour to the photos and other reviews, but here’s some information about the departure point (Shinjō Coast).

■ Meeting Time
Depending on the sea conditions on the day of the tour, you might receive a call the day before requesting a change. I had my time changed from 11:00 to 09:00.
■ Meeting Place
The meeting place is the light van parked in the parking lot.
■ Parking
There are both free and paid options (2,000 yen/day), but the free parking was full by 08:30.
■ Changing Rooms
There are three changing rooms each for men and women, which are public shower rooms as well. Since the storage shelves are high up, it's convenient to bring a waterproof bag (a plastic bag is fine) and a hook.
■ Shower Room
This is shared with the changing rooms. You can use the shower (only water?) for 100 yen for 5 minutes.
■ Toilet
The toilet is in the same building as the changing room/shower room.

To make the most of your time, I recommend wearing your swimsuit when heading to the tour departure point.

I received over 50 photos via LINE. I will definitely participate again next time!

いやー、こんなに近くで、しかも何匹ものウミガメさん達に会えるとは。。。
参加前の期待値を大幅に超えた、大大大満足のツアーでした！
ツアーの内容は写真と他のレビューにお任せするとして、ここではツアー出発地（新城海岸）の情報を少しお伝えします。

■集合時間
ツアー実施日の海の状況によって、変更を依頼する電話が前日にかかってくることがあります。
自分は11:00→09:00に変更になりました。
■集合場所
駐車場に駐車している軽のバンが集合場所です。
■駐車場
無料と有料（2,000円/日）がありますが、無料駐車場は08:30の時点で満車でした。
■更衣室
公設？のシャワー室兼用の更衣室が男性用、女性用とも3室ずつあります。
物置き用の網棚が高い位置にあるので、防水バック（レジ袋でOK）とフックを持っていくと便利です。
■シャワー室
更衣室と兼用です。
100円で5分間シャワー（水のみ？）が使えます。
■トイレ
更衣室/シャワー室と同じ建物にあります。

時間を有効に使うためにも、参加時は水着を着てツアー出発地に向かうことをお勧めします。

LINEで送っていただいた写真はなんと50枚以上。
次回も絶対参加しまーす！！

The stars were incredibly beautiful!! The staff was very kind and attentive! It seems like they offer other activities as well, and I thought I would like to try them next time I visit Miyako Island!! I definitely recommend everyone to give it a try ^_^

めちゃくちゃ星が綺麗でした！！お兄さんもすごく優しくて対応もよかったです！
星以外にもやってるみたいで、次に宮古島きたらお願いしたいなとおもいました！！
ぜひみなさんやってみてください^_^

We were able to relax and take photos while being guided on posing, all while our favorite music was playing!

たまたま私達がよく聞く音楽が流れる中、ポージングの指定もしてくださり、リラックスして撮影できました！

I'm satisfied with the wonderful photos that became great memories. The photographer was also interesting, and we had a fun time during the shoot. The stars were beautiful, and I enjoyed them even with the naked eye.

思い出になる素敵な写真が撮れて満足です。
カメラマンさんも面白く、楽しく撮影出来ました。
星も素敵な場所で肉眼でも楽しめました。

When I rode the water buffalo cart in Yufu, I was able to spend a very relaxed and peaceful time swaying gently in the slowly moving cart. I was impressed by how the water buffalo skillfully turned without colliding on the narrow paths of Taketomi Island.

由布・竹富島での水牛車に乗った際は、ゆっくりと進んでいく水牛車に揺られながらとてもゆったりとした穏やかな時間を過ごすことができました。
竹富島では細い道もぶつかることなく上手に曲がる水牛はすごいと感動しました。

I thought it might be hectic, but it was nothing like that at all; I was able to fully enjoy the island for the first time. The food was delicious too!

バタバタかなぁと思いましたが全くそんなことは無く、初めての島を満喫できました^ ^
ご飯も美味しくてよかったです！

I was able to swim with sea turtles! My friend, who was a bit anxious about swimming, seemed to really enjoy it as well. The instructor was friendly and cool, and he took a lot of photos that I couldn't have captured myself.

ウミガメと一緒に泳げました！
泳ぎに不安のあった友人もとっても楽しめたようで良かったです。
インストラクターのお兄さんも気さくでかっこよく、自分では撮れない写真をたくさん撮っていただきました◎

Although the weather was unfortunately sometimes pouring rain, the guide's explanations and songs were enjoyable. There were many water buffalo, each with their own personality, and the veteran, Rekio, that I rode was very cute with his silly antics, making me laugh several times along the way. I think if the weather had been better, I could have enjoyed the scenery even more, but I was more than satisfied just riding the water buffalo cart. Is there a possibility of a repeat to ride different water buffalo carts?

時折土砂降りのあいにくの天候ではありましたが、
ガイドさんの説明や歌が楽しかったです。
水牛は何頭もいて、それぞれ個性があるらしく、
私が乗ったベテランのレキオくんは、おとぼけぶりがとても
かわいく、道中何度も笑わせてくれました。
天気がよければ、もっと景色が楽しめたとは
思いますが、水牛車に乗るだけでも十分満足しました。
いろんな水牛車に乗るためにリピートもあり？？

It was great that we could efficiently visit the main islands and major tourist spots. Since there isn't much to see on the islands, I think it's better to do a tour and cover everything at once.

主要な島を、主要な観光スポットを効率よく回れたので、すごく良かった。島の観光に時間をかけても、特に見るところがないので、ツアーで一気に回ってしまった方が良いと思う。

I couldn't take nice photos with my own camera, so asking for help was definitely the right choice! I'm really satisfied with how beautifully the photos turned out!

自分のカメラでは綺麗に撮れないので、お願いして大正解でした！
ほんとに素敵に撮ってもらえて大満足です！

The weather was great, and I was impressed by the beauty of the sea in Miyako Island. I saw many blue fish and the vibrant colors of the fish were amazing. I also got to see a sea turtle. I had a great time thanks to the handsome instructor! I will definitely make a reservation the next time I come to Miyako Island. Don't forget to swim energetically again!

天候にも恵まれ
宮古島の海の綺麗さには感動です。
青い魚などたくさんみれました
魚たちの色鮮やかさ、ウミガメにもしっかり会えました。
楽しめたのはイケメンインストラクターさんのおかげです！
また宮古島に来る時、予約しますね~
また元気な泳ぐで~忘れないでね。

I participated with my sister during the middle of our 3-night, 4-day trip. My goal on Ishigaki Island was to ride a water buffalo cart. I rode twice, once with the buffalo from Yubu Island and once with the buffalo from Taketomi Island. It was my first time learning that the types of buffalo were different. I was fortunate to encounter gentle buffalo in both cases.

Additionally, the guide was wonderful and let us listen to Okinawan folk songs. The colors of the sea visible from the boat to the island were stunning. It became the best memory.

３泊４日の中日に姉と参加しました。石垣島での私の目的は水牛車に乗ることです。由布島の牛と竹富島の牛の２回乗車しました。それぞれ牛の種類が違うのは初めて知りました。どちらも穏やかな牛に当たったのでよかったです。
また、ガイドさんもいい方で沖縄民謡も聞かせてくれました。
島に渡る船から見える海の色がいろいろな色に見えます。最高の思い出となりました。

A trip with my adult daughter, and our guide, Kometchi, was incredibly attentive and took great care of my daughter, who was having difficulty breathing. They quickly eased her anxiety. They were also great at spotting sea turtles and provided us with a wealth of information about Miyako Island, making our snorkeling experience and the rest of our trip truly enjoyable.

We had originally booked an afternoon course, but we received a call the day before suggesting we switch to the morning due to tide conditions. At the time, I didn't realize it, but they were right—snorkeling was much easier closer to high tide, so I definitely recommend going at a time when you can dive deeper. Also, it's a good idea to book on the first day and gather plenty of recommended information about Miyako Island!

成人した娘との2人旅、担当のこめっちさん、上手く呼吸出来ない娘にとてもゆっくり丁寧に対応してくださり、すぐに不安払拭。ウミガメを見つけるのも上手だし何よりも宮古島情報をたくさんくださって、シュノーケルだけじゃ無く、その後の旅も本当に楽しめました。
予約は午後からコースでしたが、前日にお電話があり潮位の関係で午前が良いとの事で変更。
その時は分からなかったけど、仰るとおり満潮に近い方がシュノーケルし易かったので、ぜひ深く潜れる時間をオススメします。あと、一日目に予約して宮古島のオススメ情報いっぱい聞き出すと良いですよー。

I've ridden a water buffalo cart several times before, but the satisfaction really depends on the stories told by the guide. This time, the guide's simple yet charming storytelling and the performance on the sanshin perfectly matched the slow life atmosphere I was looking for, and I was very satisfied. There was also a cute incident where the buffalo wouldn't move, which turned into a fun memory and made for a great experience.

水牛車は初めてではなく、数回乗ったことがありますが、添乗するおじいの話によって満足感が左右するものです。今回のおじいは、私の求めるスローライフな雰囲気を味わうに丁度良い朴訥なしゃべりに三線の演奏、とても満足のいくものでした。途中牛が動こうとしないという可愛いハプニングもありながら、それがかえって楽しい思い出になり、良い思い出になりました。

It was a compact half-day tour featuring a mangrove forest cruise and a water buffalo cart ride, and it exceeded my expectations, leaving me very satisfied.

During the mangrove forest cruise, the captain's witty storytelling made learning about the mangrove ecosystem and the animals living there enjoyable and educational. After the cruise, we took a bus to the water buffalo cart boarding area, where the driver's entertaining narration provided us with various insights about Iriomote Island, making the travel time very enjoyable.

On the way to Yubu Island via the water buffalo cart, we listened to live performances of the sanshin while receiving explanations filled with love for the water buffalo. I learned that water buffalo have an intelligence level comparable to that of a five-year-old child and that each buffalo has its own unique personality, which made them even more endearing and soothing to me.

For those with limited time, I highly recommend this tour, which captures the essence of Iriomote Island. I can confidently say that you will not regret it.

マングローブ林のクルーズと水牛車がメインのコンパクトな半日ツアーでしたが期待以上に大満足な内容でした。
マングローブ林のクルーズでは船長さんの軽妙な語り口でマングローブ林やそこで暮らす動物たちの生態を楽しく教えていただき大変勉強になりました。
クルーズ終了後はバスで水牛車乗り場まで向かうのですが、その道中も運転手さんの楽しい語り口で西表島について色々教えていただき大変楽しい移動時間でした。
そして水牛車で由布島に向かう道中は行きも帰りも三線の弾き語りを聞きながら、水牛愛にあふれた解説をうかがうことが出来ました。水牛は5歳児程度の知能があるとのことで、またそれぞれの水牛には特有の性格があるとのことで、益々水牛が可愛く思えて癒されました。
時間が限られている方には西表島のエッセンスが盛り込まれたこのツアーを強くお勧めします。決して後悔されることはないと断言できる内容でした。

I made new discoveries on the tour of Iriomote Island, the sightseeing in Yufu Island, and the tour of Taketomi Island. I believe there are still more to come, right? I want to go to Ishigaki Island again. Maybe next time, I'll play golf on Kohama Island?

西表島のツアー、由布島観光、竹富島ツアーと新しい発見。まだまだこれからもっとあると思いますね？これからも、石垣島に行きたいと思ってます。今度は、小浜島でゴルフですかね？　

A 3-night, 4-day trip to Miyako Island.
It was my first time in Okinawa and my first solo trip to Miyako Island.
I hadn't decided much about what to do, but I absolutely wanted to do some stargazing photography!
I made a reservation for the first night just in case the weather turned bad.
However, the first night was filled with clouds, so I couldn't take any photos.
In the end, the weather wasn't good the next day either, but I was able to do the photography on the last night.
Thank you for accommodating the date change so graciously!

The stars were truly beautiful and moving!
Although there were a few clouds, I was able to see shooting stars and the Milky Way!
I received various pose suggestions during the shoot, and the photos turned out wonderfully.

Yesterday, when I returned home, the photos arrived via LINE.
I was so moved (ˑˆᴗˆˑ)
I had some anxiety about participating alone, but I'm glad I did.
It became the greatest treasure of this trip.
I would love to request your services again when I go to Miyako Island.
Thank you so much!

宮古島への3泊4日の旅。
初めての沖縄。初めての宮古島への1人旅でした。
あまり何をするか決めていない中で、この星空撮影だけは絶対にしたかったのです！
お天気が悪かった場合に備えて、初日の夜で予約しました。
ただ、初日は雲がいっぱいで撮影できず。
結局、翌日もお天気が良くなかったので、最終日の夜に撮影して頂くことができました。
日にちの変更に快く対応して頂きありがとうございました！

星空は本当に美しくて感動しました！
少し雲がかかっていたものの、流れ星も天の川も見ることができました！
撮影の時のポーズも色々とアドバイスをくださって素敵な写真になりました。

自宅に戻った昨日、写真がLINEで届きました。
もう感動です(ˑˆᴗˆˑ)
1人での参加は不安なこともありましたが、お願いして良かったです。
今回の旅の最高の宝物になりました。
また宮古島に行く時はお願いしたいです。
本当にありがとうございました。

Although the rainy season was approaching, we were able to enjoy ourselves as a family in the pleasant weather that wasn't too hot. Riding on a water buffalo cart while listening to folk songs was the best experience.

梅雨入り間近でしたが、快晴で暑すぎず家族で楽しむことができました。水牛の牛車に乗りながら民謡を聴けたのは最高でした。

I was drawn by the water buffalo, and I took a leisurely stroll around Taketomi Island, enjoying the sound of the sanshin and beautiful singing. It was a wonderfully healing and enjoyable trip.

水牛の真栄くんに引かれて竹富島の中をのんびり散歩､三線の音色に素敵な歌声､最高に癒される楽しい旅でした。

I participated in a solo trip to Miyako Island for the first time. The guide was very friendly and easy to talk to, and the assistance was great, making it a very enjoyable experience. I also encountered a sea turtle, and they took beautiful photos, creating wonderful memories. Thank you very much.

初めての宮古島でひとり旅で参加させて頂きました。
ガイドの方がとてもフレンドリーでお話ししやすく、アテンドも良くとても楽しめました。
ウミガメとも出会え、綺麗に写真を撮ってくださって、とても良い思い出となりました。
ありがとうございました。

I was looking for a half-day tour that would allow me to return on an evening flight, so I really appreciated the early morning tour. The mangroves in Iriomote were impressive! We were able to take our time exploring while receiving explanations on the boat, which allowed us to take photos from various angles.

The water buffalo ride to Yufu was more amusing and cute than I expected. It seems that each water buffalo has its own personality; the one I rode was a boy who tended to slack off by looking around while walking. It seemed like he deliberately walked slowly or stopped. When he stopped, I had to tap his rear with a fly swatter to signal him to move. I was told that this one takes longer to cross to the shore, so I got to ride him the longest! The guide mentioned that customers are lucky to have this one.

Traveling while listening to the melody of the sanshin was a very heartwarming experience. The lunch we had in Yufu was also incredibly delicious! This tour requires very little physical effort, so even in the hot Okinawa weather, I think elderly people and those with children would be very satisfied!

夕方の便で帰れる半日ツアーを探してたので、朝早くからのツアーはとても有り難かったです。
西表のマングローブは見応えがありましたね！
船で説明を受けながらゆっくりまわっていただけたので左右見ながらあちこちの写真を撮る事も出来ました。
由布までの水牛は思ってたよりオモシロ可愛い♡水牛にも性格があるらしく、私が乗った子は途中で周りを見ながら歩くのをサボるタイプの男の子でした。笑　わざとゆっくり歩いたり止まってるみたいです。止まった時はハエ叩きでお尻をペンペン、合図して歩かせてました。この子は岸に渡るまで時間がかかるから1番長く乗っていれる子！お客さんラッキーですよと言われました。
さんしんのメロディを聴きながらの移動はとてもほっこり良い時間を過ごせます。
由布でいただいたランチの味も凄く美味しいです！
このツアーは体力を使う事がほとんどない為、暑い沖縄ですがご高齢の方や子連れの方も大満足できると思います！！

The buffalo cart ride across the island was relaxing and gave me a laid-back feeling. The sightseeing on the island with the buffalo cart was delightful, especially watching the clever buffalo.

水牛車での島渡りはのんびりとして、ゆったりとした気分でした。水牛車の島内観光は、賢い水牛の様子が可愛かったです。

This time, I visited Miyako Island for the first time on a family trip. With the rainy season starting, I was worried about whether we could take photos under the starry sky due to the clouds on the day of the shoot. However, they contacted us early and suggested changing the schedule. The next day, there were still many clouds, but luckily, during the shooting time, we could see a sky full of stars! Thanks to their support in suggesting poses and understanding the atmosphere we wanted to capture, the photos turned out really wonderful. Additionally, they played music during the shoot, which helped create a relaxed atmosphere. We were lucky to even capture a shooting star in the photos! I highly recommend the starry sky night tour!

今回、家族旅行で初めて宮古島を訪れました。
梅雨入りもあり撮影当日は雲が多く、星空のなかでの撮影ができるか不安でしたが、早めに連絡をくださり日程の変更を提案していただきました。翌日も雲が多く心配でしたが、運良く撮影時間には満天の星空がみえました！どんな雰囲気で撮りたいか、ポーズの提案など色々とサポートしていただいたおかげで本当に素敵な写真に仕上がっていました。また、撮影中は音楽を流してくれていたのでリラックスした雰囲気で撮ることができました。写真には、流れ星も写っていてラッキーでした☆
星空ナイトツアー、ぜひおすすめしたいです！

The weather was great, and I was able to see many sea turtles! Kometchi-san taught me various facts about sea turtles, which was very educational. I also received information about recommended spots in the area, which was very helpful. Thank you!

天気にも恵まれ、たくさんの海亀を見ることができました！こめっちさんが色々とうみがめの知識を教えてくれたので勉強にもなりました。
また、周辺のおすすめスポットなどの情報もいただき、とても参考になりました♪
ありがとうございました！

It was certainly beautiful to see with the naked eye, and I really felt it was worth going because I got such wonderful photos! During the shoot, they played music and suggested poses, allowing me to have a great time. 😊

肉眼でも綺麗なのはもちろんな事、とても素敵な写真を撮っていただき本当に行ってよかったなと思いました！
撮影中も音楽を流してくださったり、ポーズを提案してくださり楽しい時間を過ごすことができました☺️

I was quite anxious during my first kayaking experience, but the instructor was very kind and taught me well! It was also really enjoyable to talk about Ishigaki Island and nature! The mangroves I saw for the first time were very mystical and beautiful! I definitely want to experience it again!

初めてのカヤックでは不安が強かったのですが、インストラクターさんがとても親切に教えて頂きました！石垣島のことだったり、自然のことだったり、お話もとても楽しかったです！
初めて見るマングローブはとても神秘的で素敵でした！
また必ず体験したいと思います！

I made a reservation for the second day of a two-night, three-day schedule in Ishigaki Island. It was a packed experience starting early in the morning, so I was exhausted on the way back. It was very convenient that they provided transportation from the morning meeting point to the hotel and also back to the hotel after the activities. I was torn between this plan and one that included a tour of Taketomi Island, but I’m glad I chose this plan because it allowed me to relax a bit after returning to Ishigaki Island until the evening.

石垣島２泊3日スケジュールの2日目に予約しました。朝早い時間から盛りだくさんの体験だったので、帰りはぐったり。朝の集合からホテルに送迎くださり終了後もホテルまで送迎をお願いできたのがとても楽でした。
他のプランで竹富島を巡るプランと迷いましたが、石垣島に戻ってから夜まで少しゆっくりできたのも、このプランで良かったです。

Thank you for not only teaching me how to take photos of the starry sky with my iPhone but also for the starry sky photography tips. I really appreciated receiving the photos within two days. It became a wonderful memory from my trip to Miyako Island, and I would love to use your services again. Thank you!

星空フォトだけでなくiPhoneでの星空の撮り方なども教えてくださりありがとうございました。
写真も2日ほどで送ってくださり大変助かりました。
宮古島旅行でのいい思い出になり、また利用したいです。
ありがとうございました。

I went on a mangrove kayak tour by myself, and even in the car, I was able to hear valuable stories about Ishigaki Island. It was my first time kayaking, but they kindly and thoroughly taught me, and the photos they sent were really beautiful, creating wonderful memories! Thanks to all the guides. It was also my first time snorkeling, and I wasn't very good at it, but it became a great memory. Thank you very much!

一人旅で、マングローブカヤックツアーに行きましたが、車の中でも石垣島の貴重なお話を聞かせてくださったり、カヤックは初めてだったのですが、親切丁寧に教えてくださって、送って下さった写真も本当に綺麗でいい思い出になりました！
ガイドの皆さんのおかげです。
シュノーケルも初めてで、ヘタクソでしたが、いい思い出になりました。ありがとうございました