All Reviews for Outdoor Adventures

The observatories and sunset I saw at the summit were wonderful. It was my first time staying at 4000 meters, but thanks to the advice on acclimatization and the guide's handling, I was able to go without getting altitude sickness. The guide, Koki, was well-studied and very helpful.

For stargazing, we went to a parking lot quite a bit down from the summit. Even though the summit was perfectly clear with not a single cloud, when we descended, there were clouds, and I really wanted to gaze at the stars in a clear sky. It was disappointing.

As we drove down, I could clearly see that there were clouds, and I was surprised, thinking, "Why are we going to a place with clouds when there's no cloud here?" I felt sad that I had come all this way to see the stars in a once-in-a-lifetime place, only to not fulfill that purpose. The view with the naked eye was about as good as the starry sky in Nagano, but I did manage to capture something that looked like the Milky Way using my iPhone's stargazing mode.

頂上で見た天文台群と夕日は素晴らしいものでした。
人生初の4000m滞在でしたが、順応やガイドさんの対処方法のアドバイスもあり、高山病になることもなく行くことができました。
ガイドのKokiさんも良く勉強されていて、すごく参考になりました。
星空観察は車で頂上からかなり下りた駐車場で、せっかく頂上が雲一つ無い快晴だったのに、降りてきたところは雲がでていて、澄み切った空で星を眺めたかったです。残念でした。
車で降りていくときに明らかに雲がかかっているのが見えていて「ここは雲がないのに何で雲のあるところに行っちゃうの?」と驚きました。
折角はるばる人生でまたとないところに星空を見に来て、雲一つ無い快晴の場所にいたのに、目的が果たせず悲しくなりました。
肉眼では長野の星空くらいの見え方でしたが、一応アイフォンの星空モードで何とかの天の川らしいものは撮れました。

Todd, our guide, was great. Great driving up the steep dirt road. Great info about the geology, topography, observatories, constellations and more. Engaging, informative. All the other details too - nice sandwich, hot beverage and clothing for the cold. Did I forget to mention the views? Fantastic views of the sun setting into the Pacific and a clear night sky.

I arrived at the Onizuka Center around 4 PM and quickly received a sandwich and water for dinner. Even though the Onizuka Center is at an altitude of 2,800 meters, my climbing experience has taught me that appetite decreases at higher altitudes, so I ate quickly. There are restrooms available here, and I put on the down jacket I brought. They also offer rental of warm clothing, so I think it's better to dress warmly.

I stayed for about an hour before departing for the summit. The path is unpaved, so it’s bumpy. It seems you can go by private car, but it’s not covered by rental car insurance, and if you damage it, the charges can be exorbitant. Perhaps due to the altitude, I felt sleepy, but I was warned that sleeping could worsen altitude sickness, so it’s strictly prohibited.

At the summit, which is over 4,000 meters, I changed locations about three times and waited for about an hour for the sunset at the last spot. After waiting for the sunset, we descended and stopped at a parking lot along the way for stargazing and a photo session, which took about an hour. Each time we took photos, we had to wait for cars leaving the parking lot or passing on the road, which took time. During this, it was extremely cold at around 3,500 meters.

The descent felt longer as it was darker, and I took my time. After passing the Onizuka Center, we took a break for the restroom and to change clothes. By the time I returned to the hotel, it was 11 PM. Since the next day was early, I felt a bit rushed, but I decided to relax. I managed to cope with altitude sickness as advised, by not sleeping and taking deep breaths. Overall, it was quite a challenging tour, but it was a valuable and enjoyable experience.

16時過ぎくらいにオニヅカセンターに到着して、早々に夕食代りのサンドイッチと水を貰います。
オニヅカセンターでも標高2800メートルですが、登山経験で、より高所では食欲も無くなるので早々に頂きました。
ここはトイレもあり、持って行ったダウンを着込みました。
防寒着の貸し出しもやってくれていますので、厚めに着ておいた方が良いと思います。
しばらく、1時間程度滞在して、頂上へ出発。
道が舗装されてないので、ガタガタします。
自家用車でも行けるみたいですが、レンタカーの保険適用外で、壊すと半端なく高額請求されるようです。
高所の影響か、眠くなりますが、寝ると高山病が悪化するので寝るのは厳禁と注意されます。
4000メートルを超えた山頂では3箇所くらい場所を変えて滞在して、最後の場所で1時間くらい日没を待ちます。
日没を待ち下山、途中の駐車場に止まり、星空鑑賞と撮影会を行います。
それもなんだかんだと1時間くらい。
撮影の度に駐車場から出る車や、道路を通る車を待って撮影するので、時間が掛かります。
その間も激寒及び3500メートルくらいの標高。
下りの道の方が暗い中慎重に言っているのか、時間が掛かった感じがしました。
オニヅカセンターを越えて、しばらく行った先でトイレ休憩及び着替え。
ホテルに戻ったら、23時でした。
翌日が早かったので、ちょっと焦りましたが、諦めてゆったり構えてました。
高山病も教えられたとおりに、眠らずに、呼吸を深くで乗り切れました。
まあまあ、大変なツアーではありますが、貴重な経験で楽しかったです。

God’s amazing creativity seen through volcanic activity and celestial bodies. Truly an experience you won’t forget. Maka was the best. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Be forewarned that if you have altitude problems, you may fell icky at the summit. Take it slowly. You’ll fell better when you descend.

Guide was very informative and friendly. I recommend this trip.

We expected a better guide around the park then just an app but the bikes were in good condition

Wonderful day on the water, good pace to take a day away from the ocean and the heat!

Lots of gorgeous ocean scenery but you do get dirty! fun dirty!!

There were quite a few participants on the day, and we set off in two vehicles. Fortunately for our group, which consisted only of Japanese people, we had a guide named Shotaro who spoke Japanese and had a middle name. At the Onizuka Visitor Information Center, the fog thickened along the route to the summit, and we waited for about 30 minutes, worried that the tour might be canceled. However, the fog cleared, and we made it to the summit. The view was spectacular, with Maui Island peeking out beyond the sea of clouds. After descending to the parking lot, we enjoyed stargazing under a sky where the moon was at 29%, and we could see the Milky Way quite well. While sipping warm cocoa, we observed the night sky with the naked eye (including moving satellites) and used a telescope to view the moon's craters, taking many photos. It was a wonderful memory.

当日の参加者が結構多く、2台に分乗して出発しましたが、日本人だけのグループだった我々には運良くショウタロウさんというミドルネームをもった日本語のできるガイドさんがついてくれました。オニズカ・ビジター韻フメーションセンターでは山頂までのの区間で霧が濃くなり30分ほど待機、ツアーが中止になるのではとヒヤヒヤしましたが、なんとか霧が晴れて山頂へ。山頂からは雲海の向こうにマウイ島が顔を出しているのが確認できるなど最高の景色でした。途中の駐車場まで降りてからの星空観察は月が29％の状態で天の川観察もまずまず。暖かいココアを頂きながら肉眼で星空（動いている人工衛星も）、望遠鏡で月のクレーターを観察し、写真も沢山撮って頂きました。とても良い記念になりました。

The sunset was amazing. The guide was very kind and provided excellent service, making it a great experience. The starry sky was ordinary since we viewed it from a bright area after coming down from the mountain. I was a bit disappointed because my expectations were high.

サンセットが最高でした。
ガイドさんもとてもやさしく、丁寧な対応で最高の体験ができました。
星空は山から降りてきて、まわりも明るいところから見たので普通でした。
期待が大きかったので少し残念

I was able to climb to nearly the summit at an altitude of 4,200 meters (the actual summit is a sacred site and cannot be accessed on tours), which was a very valuable experience that I could never have in Japan. Despite it being mid-summer, the perceived temperature was below 10 degrees Celsius, but they provided jackets and gloves, so I was completely comfortable and not cold at all. The sandwiches for dinner were also delicious, perfectly seasoned to match the thin air at the summit.

日本では決して体験できない標高4,200メートルのほぼ頂上(頂上は聖地のためツアーでは行けない)まで上ることができ、とても貴重な体験ができました。
真夏にもかかわらず体感気温は10度以下になりますが、ジャケットや手袋を貸していただけるのでまったく寒くなく過ごせました。
夕食のサンドイッチも頂上の空気の薄さに合わせた塩気でとても美味しかったです。

■Guide
The guide was friendly, kind, and provided thorough explanations. The shuttle bus was on time, and they offered a free photography service.

■Tour
The weather was good, and the content matched what was stated on the website. The hot cocoa served while stargazing was very delicious.

■Altitude Sickness Measures
We climbed gradually with breaks, but there were moments when I found it a bit hard to breathe. However, following the guide's instructions to take deep breaths helped improve my condition, and I was able to enjoy the experience without any issues until the end. It seems there is oxygen available for emergencies, so I think it's best not to push yourself too hard.

■Free Photography Service
The guide took photos with their camera and shared them via AirDrop. It seems to be a cultural practice, but since all the photos taken are distributed, my pictures were also shared with other participants. If you're concerned about this, you can politely decline and take your own photos.

■Aside
A couple I met on a snorkeling tour in Maui two days prior was also here, and even though I was participating alone, I was able to enjoy conversations with them. Fortunately, many others were friendly as well, and we were able to take photos of each other.

■ガイド
気さくで親切、丁寧な説明、無料の撮影サービス、時間通りの送迎バスでした。

■ツアー
天候もよくHP記載通りの内容でした。
星空を見ながらサーブされたホットココアがとてもおいしかったです。

■高山病対策
休憩してならしながら登っていきますが、私はやや呼吸がきついタイミングがありました。
ただ、ガイドさんの指示通りしばらく深呼吸すると改善し、最後まで問題なく楽しめました。緊急時の酸素もあるみたいなので絶対に無理はしない方がいいと思います。

■無料写真撮影サービス
ガイドさんのカメラで撮ってくれたものをエアドロで配ってくれます。
文化的なものかと思いますが、撮ったもの全てが配られるため自分の写真も他の参加者に渡ります。気になる方は自分で撮るからと断っても良いかと思います。

■余談
二日前にマウイ島で参加したシュノーケリングツアーにいたご夫婦がこちらにもいらっしゃり、ひとり参加だったのですが彼らと楽しく会話しながら過ごせました。他の方もたまたま気さくな方が多く、写真を撮り合ったりできました。

The AT tour was an amazing experience. Our 6 year old had the time of her life. We rode in the 4x4 and we're more protected from mud than the others. We still got a little muddy but it was just enough to be fun.

The waterfall was a great experience. The water was very, very cold. It was nice to wash off and enjoy a snack before heading back.

The weather was cool and wet during our trip. We wore pants and didn't get hot.

I highly recommend the ATV experience. It is a great family adventure. If you need the 4x4, I recommend reserving early as availability is limited.

I'm embarrassed to say that I balked a little at first at the cost of this tour. Let me tell you, 15 minutes into the tour it felt like a total bargain.

The van was super comfortable and clean. We were running a little late and the tour guide called us to make sure we were going to make it. He was kind and understanding.

Our guide's make was Kea. He was the best guide of any tour I've taken in thirty years. So much local knowledge, and very generous with his experience and expertise. He made everyone on the trip feel like an individual. Also, he's hilarious.

The stargazing was simply mind blowing. It was like looking into deep space for nearly two hours. We lost count is the shooting stars after 15.

Kea was also very knowledgeable about the stars and the telescope we used was amazing. We saw nebulas, globular clusters, binary stars, and more.

After a long day, full bellies, and stargazing it was a real relief to have someone else driving us down the dark mountain.

I'll wrap things up by thanking our guide one more time. The quality of this tour really felt like it came from the quality of the person who shared his knowledge with us.

The horses were beautiful and cute, and the female guide was very friendly, speaking slowly and kindly, which made it very enjoyable. There were also flush toilets available, and they had rental items like windbreakers, which was helpful. I would like to come back here for horseback riding again!

馬も綺麗で可愛くガイドの女性も非常にフレンドリーでゆっくり丁寧に話してくれて、とても楽しかったです。水洗トイレもあり、ウインドブレーカーなど貸し出し用グッツもそろっていて助かりました。また乗馬する時はこちらにいきたいです！

The view of the sea of clouds and the setting sun from the summit of Mauna Kea was incredibly beautiful. During the stargazing, I was moved by the summer sky filled with stars and the Milky Way. Additionally, since it was the day after the full moon, I was lucky to see the reddish moon rising as well! The photo taken with a DSLR camera turned out to be the best shot with the Milky Way in the background. The staff's explanations were easy to understand, and I learned a lot about the Big Island, Mauna Kea, and the stars. I'm really glad I was able to participate in this tour, which will be a lifelong memory!

マウナケアの山頂から見た雲海とそこに沈んでいく夕日がとてもきれいでした。星空観察では、夏の満天の星と天の川に感動しました。さらには満月の次の日ということで、赤っぽい月が昇ってくるところまで見ることができ、とてもラッキーな日で嬉しかったです！一眼レフで撮ってもらった写真も天の川をバックに最高の１枚になりました。スタッフの方の説明も分かりやすく、ハワイ島のことやマウナケアのこと、星のことなど、色々と知ることができました。一生の思い出に残るこのツアーに参加できて本当によかったです！

We departed the hotel after 8 AM and enjoyed the view of Waipi'o Valley from the Waipi'o Valley Lookout. After that, we visited Akaka Falls and had lunch at the Botanical Garden, staying for about an hour before heading to a waterfall located on the grounds of a certain hotel. We parked the minivan on the hotel property and changed in the separate changing rooms for men and women, which I found to be quite clean. We borrowed life jackets and made our way down to the base of the waterfall to swim. It felt cold at first, but once I got used to it, it was pleasant. We were advised not to get too close to where the water falls due to falling rocks, but we could swim freely elsewhere. We swam for about an hour. After that, we went to Rainbow Falls near Hilo to enjoy the view. We returned to Waikoloa via Saddle Road around 5 PM. I don't think there will be any particular issues even if you don't understand English.

八時過ぎホテルを出発し、ﾜｲﾋﾟｵ渓谷展望台からﾜｲﾋﾟｵ渓谷を眺める。それからアカカ滝を見て、ボタニカルガーデンでお弁当。一時間ほど滞在してから、とあるホテルの敷地にある滝に行く。ホテルの敷地にミニバンを停める。そこにある男女別の更衣室で順番に着替える。割と清潔感があると思った。ライフ邪見っとを借りて、滝つぼまで下りていき滝つぼで泳いだ。最初冷たく感じたがなれると気持ちいい。滝が落ちるところは岩が落ちてくるといけないので近づかないように言われたがほかは自由に泳げた。一時間程度泳ぐ。それからヒロ近くのレインボー滝にいく。滝を眺める。サドルロードを通ってワイコロアに戻る。夕方五時過ぎ。英語が分からなくても特に困らないと思う。

Unfortunately, the full moon made it difficult to see many stars, but instead, I was able to view the beautiful moon and bright shining stars through a telescope. They took us by car up to over 4,000 meters, providing a valuable experience that left me very satisfied. Although the guide was in English, I appreciated that they mixed in a bit of Japanese explanation. Given the current weak yen, the price might make you hesitate to sign up, but I’m glad I decided to participate.

あいにくの満月で星があまり見えない状況でしたが、かわりに望遠鏡で美しい月の姿や明るく光る星を見せていただきました。高度4000メートル超まで車で連れて行ってもらえて貴重な体験ができ、大満足です。英語ガイドさんでしたが少し日本語での説明も混ぜてくださりありがたかったです。円安の今申込を躊躇するお値段ではありますが、思い切って参加して良かったと思いました。

Wow! What an amazing experience. We were so glad we took this tour instead of attempting this ourselves. It was beyond our wildest dreams, like leaving earth and visiting Mars. Just incredible. Our tour guide, Arthur, was extremely knowledgeable. We all learned a tin from him through the tour. I highly recommend him.
The food was from a local restaurant and was delicious. The bus was comfortable and I would not have wanted to drive to the summit in a rental car. That alone was worth the rate.
Also, Parkas and gloves were provided and they were super nice and warm. This tour was by far thi highlight of our trip to Hawaii. Do not hesitate. The experience is incredible and better than we could have possibly imagined. Not to be missed. And...it's cheap when you consider the quality I'd the experience. We LOVED it.

I opted for a one-and-a-half-hour experience, which was enjoyable and included a gallop. They provided thorough explanations about horseback riding and handling the horses in a way that was easy for children to understand. All the horses were well-trained and followed a set route, so my husband, who was experiencing this for the first time, seemed to have no worries. My 8-year-old daughter also had a great time and said she would like to do it again if we come back to Hawaii. We rode through the grasslands and made our way towards the sea, enjoying the refreshing breeze. I gave a small tip in cash to the guide who took such good care of us that day. Other participants also tipped, but the other Japanese family did not.

1時間半の体験にしましたが、十分に楽しめる内容だし、ギャロップもさせてくれました。子どもでもわかりやすいように丁寧に乗馬や馬の扱いについて、説明してくれます。どの馬もよく調教されて、決まったルートを回るので、初めて体験する夫でも不安はなかったようです。8歳の娘も楽しかったと喜んで、またハワイに来たら体験したいそうです。草原の中を通り、海の方まで回るので、風もあり気持ち良かったです。一生懸命に世話してくれたガイドさんには心ばかりのチップを当日現金で払いました。他の参加者も払ってたが、他の日本人の家族は払ってなかった。

I hesitated to participate due to the weak yen, but I thought it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I went for it. It was amazing. The guide was very kind, and I made the best memories.

円安で参加を躊躇しましたが、一生に一回しか行かないかも知れないし行ってみました。最高でした。ガイドさんもとても親切で最高の思い出ができました。

We participated as a family of four with our 9-year-old and 11-year-old elementary school children! It was everyone's first time riding horses, so we were quite nervous, but we were able to enjoy a relaxing horseback ride on well-behaved horses without any major troubles.

The instructions were mainly in English, so the kids participated with almost no understanding, asking, "What are they saying?" But it was manageable. There was a Japanese explanation at the reception that outlined the basic rules, so those who are not confident in English might feel a bit more at ease after reading it. Additionally, if the horses don’t listen, the staff members accompanying us quickly help to correct the situation, which is reassuring.

They also take photos of each group along the way (don’t forget to bring your own camera or smartphone!). The 1.5-hour ride was quite fulfilling. The beautiful scenery of the vast grounds made it a great memory. I recommend this activity as a way to experience the great nature of the Big Island of Hawaii.

9歳、11歳の小学生と夫婦の４人で参加しました！
全員乗馬は初めて！なのでかなりドキドキでしたが、特にトラブルもなく、お利口な馬に乗ってゆったりと乗馬を楽しむことができました。
説明は基本英語なので子供達は「何て言ってるの？」とほぼ理解なしで参加してますが、何とかなります。受付のところに日本語の説明文があり、基本的なルールが書いてあるので、英語苦手な人は一読しておくとちょっと安心かなと。ただ、馬が言うことを聞かなくてもサポートで同行してくれるお姉さんたちがすぐ軌道修正してくれるので安心です。途中グループごとに写真も撮ってくれます（自分のカメラかスマホを持っていくのを忘れずに！）
1.5時間でかなり乗りごたえがありました。広大な敷地の景色の良さもあっていい思い出になりました、ハワイ島の大自然を感じられるアクティビティとしてオススメです。

I could see so many stars, and even the Milky Way, which was amazing! The two guides were very nice and it was helpful that they could communicate in both English and Japanese. It was cold at the summit, but the sandwiches and cocoa were delicious, making it a very satisfying tour.

星がたくさん見え、天の川まで見れて最高でした！
ガイドさん2名も感じがよく、英語・日本語が対応可で助かりました。
頂上は寒いですが、サンドイッチとココアが美味しくとても満足なツアーでした。

It was drizzling at first, but later it cleared up and the scenery was amazing. Since it was an English guide, I couldn't really understand what was being said, but the horses were smart, so I managed to get by by watching them. Thank you very much.

最初霧雨だったけど、後から晴れて景色も最高でした。英語ガイドなので、ほぼ何を言っているのかわからないけど、馬が賢いので見よう見まねで何とかなりました。ありがとうございました。

Last time, I couldn't see the Milky Way at the summit of Mauna Kea during the full moon, so I went for a revenge trip. This time, I enjoyed a stargazing tour from the summit at sunset before the moon rose, and I was able to fully appreciate the Milky Way.

前回満月のマウナケア山頂で天の川が見えなかったので、リベンジしました。
今回は、まだ月が出ない状態での山頂サンセットからの星空ツアーとなり、天の川を堪能できました。

Mauna Kea is higher than Mount Fuji, and since I have never climbed any mountain, let alone Fuji, I was a bit worried about possibly getting altitude sickness even before reaching the summit. Along the way, the guide kindly provided detailed information on how to prevent altitude sickness, and by following that advice, I was able to enjoy my time at the summit. The guide's stories were interesting, and the sunset view from the top of Mauna Kea was breathtaking. I also visited Oahu, but the summit of Mauna Kea was the best experience.

マウナケアは富士山よりも高く、富士山おろか山にも登ったことがないので、もしかしたら高山病になるんじゃないかと山頂に到着する前からびびっていました。途中に高山病を防ぐための注意事項をガイドさんが丁寧に教えてくれてそれを徹底することで山頂でも元気に過ごせました。ガイドさんのお話も面白く、マウナケアの山頂から見えるサンセットの景色も感動しました。オアフ島も艦娘しましたが、マウナケア山頂が一番よかったです。

The Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour was amazing. It is a must do and the pictures are a treasure. Our guide was great, took picture that we downloaded and twas very informative.

We Embarked on a magical family stargazing tour in Hawaii! Marvel at the breathtaking night sky, where countless stars twinkle above. We Learned about constellations and celestial wonders from knowledgeable guides. We Created unforgettable memories together as we connected with the universe and each other under the enchanting Hawaiian night. A must-experience adventure! Awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome
️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️

The guide, Sho-chan, was very considerate, and it was an enjoyable tour. The view above the Onizuka Visitor Center was like a different world, unlike anything else on Earth. I was very satisfied to see the Milky Way, artificial satellites, and shooting stars.

ガイドのショウちやんが色々と気づかってくれて、楽しいツアーでした。オニヅカビジターセンターより上の景色は同じ地球とは思えない景色が拡がっていました。天の川や人工衛星、流れ星も見えて大満足でした。

I previously went to see the sunset and starry sky from the summit of Haleakalā on Maui, and it was an absolutely stunning sight that cannot be compared. However, given the location, I did feel a bit unwell (I think this is what they call altitude sickness), so I was disappointed that I couldn't really enjoy the explanations about the stars. I had heard that there are few Japanese tourists and that the guidance would be in English, but on the day we participated, everyone in our group was Japanese, so we had a guide who spoke Japanese. Thank you for taking so many photos for us.

マウイ島のハレアカラ山頂からのサンセットと星空も以前見に行きましたが、比べものにならないくらい素晴らしい光景でした。
ただ、さすがに場所が場所だけに気分が悪くなり（多分これが高山病と言われるものなんだと思いますが）、星の説明はほとんど気けなかったのが残念でした。
日本人観光客が少なく、英語での案内になると聞いていましたが、私達の参加した日は1台全て日本人だったので、日本語の話せるガイドさんでした。
写真も沢山撮って頂き、ありがとうございました。