All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

The weather and moon phase were favorable, making it enjoyable. To satisfy more serious astronomy fans, a more impressive telescope might be needed.

天候、月齢にも恵まれて楽しめました。
少し詳しい天文ファンにを満足させるには、もう少し立派な望遠鏡が必要かも。

Honestly, before going, I was worried about altitude sickness and hesitated. But I'm glad I went! They gave me advice on how to prevent altitude sickness (all of which were simple and easy to do), so I was able to participate with peace of mind. They also lend you warm clothing, but the perceived temperature can change depending on whether it's windy or not. Please be especially careful about your feet, as the wind can get in there.

正直、行く前は高山病とか心配して迷っていました。でも、行ってよかったです！高山病対策をアドバイスしてくれたり(どれも簡単で誰でもできることばかりです)で、安心して参加できました。防寒具も上下貸してくれますが、風があるかどうかで体感温度が変わります。特に足元は風が吹き込むので注意してくださいね。

The staff members and, of course, the dolphins were all amazing! On the day we were taken care of, there were an incredible number of dolphins, and we even saw whales. They mentioned that it’s not always like this, but for dolphin lovers and ocean enthusiasts, it’s a dream optional tour!!

スタッフの方々や、もちろんイルカも、どれを取っても最高でした！
お世話になった日はイルカがものすごい数でクジラも見れて、毎回こんな感じとは思わないで下さいねーとおっしゃってましたが…イルカ好き、海好きには夢のようなオプショナルツアーです！！

I challenged myself to kayaking for the first time with a friend in a tandem kayak! This was my second time sea kayaking. No matter how hard we paddled, we weren't making much progress, and as we fell behind everyone else, the handsome guide connected a rope and towed us along! He continued to keep an eye on us, staying close but not too close as we struggled. We managed to complete the course somehow! Ah, it was so much fun!

初カヤックの友と2人乗りで挑戦！私は2回目のシーカヤック。
漕いでも漕いでも進まず、皆さんから遅れていたら、イケメンガイド君がロープをつないで曳航してくださいました❣️その後も遅れがちな私達を付かず離れずで気にしてくださり…。なんとか完漕できました‼️
あー、楽しかった‼︎

After paddling for about 30 minutes by sea kayak to the destination's shallow area, we entered the sea directly from the kayak to go snorkeling. The underwater visibility is very clear, and there are a decent variety and quantity of fish, so those who want to enjoy both kayaking and snorkeling should be satisfied. By the way, snorkeling is optional, and about 20% of participants did not go snorkeling. Since we paddle the kayak both ways, we don't progress while listening to the guide's explanations, so if you want to hear the guide's insights, it might be a good idea to actively engage in conversation.

The sea cave is not a long cave that extends for dozens of meters; it's about 3 to 5 meters in total length. When you enter the cave with the kayak, you get swept away more quickly by the waves when they return, so it's more about enjoying that experience. There is also a point where you can jump into the sea from a cliff about 5 meters high, so you can optionally jump from the cliff into the sea.

Before getting on the kayak, there is a briefing where they explain how to paddle. The explanation is all in English, but if you have experience paddling a boat, you should be able to understand the basic instructions in English. Additionally, there was one guide who could explain using very simple Japanese words necessary for kayaking (like left, right, stop, etc.).

Since everyone participating this time had kayaking experience, the pace of paddling was quite fast, but I believe the guide adjusts the pace based on the participants' skills and how many times they have kayaked before. Especially for those from Western countries, they tend to have good stamina, so if you're not confident in your physical strength, I recommend mentioning that during the briefing. During the briefing, you will be asked if you need a life jacket for kayaking. Since you will also use a life jacket while snorkeling, it's best to communicate your need for one during the briefing.

シーカヤックで片道30分ほど目的地の浅瀬に向かった後、海上で直接カヤックから海に入って、シュノーケリングをします。海中の透明度は非常にクリアで、魚の種類と量もそれなりにいるので、カヤックとシュノーケリングを同時に楽しみたい方は満足できるはずです。ちなみにシュノーケリングは任意で、参加した方の2割はシュノーケリングをしていませんでした。行きと帰りはカヤックを漕ぐので、ガイドの説明を横で聞きながら進むというわけではなく、ガイドから説明を聞きたい場合は積極的に話しかけたほうがいいかもしれません。海中洞窟（シーケーブ）は数十メートルも続くような洞窟ではなく、全長3~5m程度で、そこにカヤックで入ると波が戻る際に波の力でより早く流されるので、それを楽しむ程度です。また高さ5m程度の崖から海に飛び込むポイントもあるので、任意で崖から海に飛び込むことができます。
カヤックに乗る前にブリーフィングがありカヤックの漕ぎ方について説明があります。説明は全て英語ですが、ボートを漕いだことがある方なら基本的な説明は英語でも理解できると思います。また、カヤックの動作に必要なごくごく簡単な日本語の単語(左右、止まるなど)で説明することができるガイドが1人いました。
今回参加した全員がカヤックの経験者だったため、カヤックを漕ぐペースはかなり早めでしたが、ガイドが参加者のスキルやカヤックに乗ったことがある回数によってペースを合わせると思います。特に欧米の方は体力があるので、体力に自信がない方は、ブリーフィングの際にその旨を伝える事をお勧めします。ブリーフィングでカヤックに乗る際、ライフジャケットが必要か聞かれます。シュノーケリングをする際もライフジャケットを利用するので、シュノーケリングでライフジャケットが必要な方はブリーフィングの際に伝えた方がよいと思います。

I participated in the morning session. Although I had experience kayaking on rivers, this was my first time sea kayaking, but there was a thorough briefing before we entered the ocean. As soon as we got into the water, we encountered a pod of dolphins. It was a very lucky start to our trip. Along the way, some of the children got seasick, but one of the two guides accompanied us back to the bay, and after a short rest, we were able to enjoy snorkeling safely in the bay. They took many photos and sent them to us via email, which made for wonderful memories.

午前の回に参加しました。
川でのカヤック経験はあったものの、シーカヤックは初体験でしたが、海に入る前に丁寧なレクチャーがありました。
海に入るとすぐにイルカの群れに遭遇。とてもラッキーな船出でした。
途中子どもたちが船酔いになってしまいましたが、2枚のガイドさんのうちの1名の方が付き添って湾まで戻ってくれ、少し休んで無事湾の中でのシュノーケリングも楽しむことができました。
写真もたくさん撮ってくださり、メールで送ってくださったのでとても良い思い出になりました。

My English skills were below the level of daily conversation, but I was able to enjoy the experience without any problems.

【Before Boarding the Boat】
At the scheduled time, a small bus came to pick us up at the hotel front. We were dropped off near the sea close to Waikoloa and were told, "Come back here when you're done. Also, please fill out the consent form over there before boarding the boat." We headed towards a beach house on the sand. After completing the electronic signature on a device that looked like a tablet, we waited for about 10 minutes until a small boat arrived, and we boarded it. We transferred from the small boat to a larger boat just before going out to sea. There were only two of us from Japan participating.

【Whale Watching Experience】
Seating on the boat was free. Since it was an English tour, I couldn't understand what was being said at all (laughs). The boat was also swaying, so when standing up to take pictures of the whales, everyone stood, so please make sure to hold onto the ropes or handrails tightly. Although it was far away, we were able to see the whales spouting water about 4 to 5 times and also witnessed a low jump of a whale arching its back. It was a precious experience where I could feel the great nature of Hawaii Island. The crew was a kind young man. He said, "You can almost see whales every day! Dolphins are occasional. There are more in Kona than here." I was shown a picture of the boat getting very close to a whale by the crew, and I was amazed at how impressive it was. Since it depends on luck whether you see whales or not, I thought, "There are lucky days like this." By the way, the two of us did not get seasick.

【After Whale Watching】
Around 9:30, we got off the boat and transferred to a small boat to return to the beach. We boarded the bus we took on the way there and safely arrived back at the hotel front, marking the end of the tour.

Since it was my first experience with whale watching, I’m glad I participated! While waiting for the whales, I also enjoyed cruising. I could see the mountains like Mauna Kea in the distance and the beautiful coastline, making for a graceful time.

日常会話レベル以下の英語力でしたが、特に問題なく楽しむことができました。

【船に乗るまで】
時間になったらホテルのフロントまで小型バスが迎えに来てくれました。
ワイコロアから程近い海に降ろされ「終わったらここに戻ってきてね。それと船に乗る前に同意書は向こうで書いてね。」と言われ、砂浜にある海の家(?)に向かいます。タブレットのような機械で電子サインを済ませ10分ほど待つと小さな船が来たので乗りました。
沖より少し手前で小さな船から大きな船に移ります。
日本人参加者は私達2人だけでした。

【ホエールウォッチング体験】
船の席は自由です。英語ツアーなので私は何を言っているかはちんぷんかんぷんでした（笑）。
また船は揺れるので立ち上がってクジラの写真を撮る際は、皆立つのでしっかりロープや手すりにつかまってください。
遠かったですが4〜5回クジラの潮吹きを見ることができ、クジラの反り返りの低いジャンプも見ることができました。ハワイ島の大自然を感じられた瞬間で貴重な体験でした。
クルーも親切なお兄ちゃんでした。「クジラは毎日ほぼ見れるよ！イルカはたまに。ここよりもコナの方がいるよ。」とのこと。クルーのお兄ちゃんに船でクジラに大接近してる画像を見せてもらい、大迫力すぎて驚きました。自然相手なのでクジラに会えるor会えないは運ですが、こういうラッキーな日もあるんだなぁと思いました。ちなみに、私達2人は船酔いせずに済みました。

【ホエールウォッチングを終えて】
9:30頃船から降りて、また小さい船に移動し砂浜へ戻ります。行きに乗ったバスに乗り込み、無事にホテルのフロントに到着し無事にツアー終了となりました☆

ホエールウォッチングは初めての経験だったので、参加してよかったです！またクジラを待ってる間はクルージングとして楽しみましたよ。遠くの方にマウナケア等の山が見えて美しい海岸も見ることができ優雅な時間でした。

All the tour guides were kind and very interesting! They shared a lot of love and knowledge about dolphins, which made it enjoyable on its own. They provided precise support to ensure we had a good encounter with the dolphins during the actual tour. It was really fun! I'm glad I chose this tour. I would like to book a tour here again when I go to Hawaii!

ツアーガイドの方がどの方も親切で、とっても面白い！
イルカに対する愛情と知識も沢山話していただいて、それだけでも楽しめました(^^)
実際のツアーでもイルカにしっかり遭遇できるように的確にサポートしてくださいます。
本当に楽しかったです！
このツアーにして良かった☆
またハワイに行くときはこちらでツアーを頼みたいと思います^_^

I was able to meet a lot of dolphins! ✨ Since I can't speak English, I felt reassured by the Japanese staff. Thank you very much! ✨

たくさんのイルカさん達に会わせてもらえました！✨英語が出来ないので、日本語スタッフの方々で安心できましたありがとうございました✨

Following the last time, I couldn't see the sunset among the clouds again this time. As for the starry sky, thanks to the staff's quick thinking, we were able to observe it a little at Mauna Kea Park, but the surrounding lights were a bit distracting.

前回に続き、今回も雲の中で夕日が見られなかった。星空に関してはスタッフの機転でマウナケアパークで少しだけ観測できましたが、周囲の明かりが気になりました。

The boat was quite fast and impressive. I was able to see colorful fish and manta rays. The staff was also friendly.

ボートは結構なスピードで迫力があります。色とりどりなな魚たちマンタが見られました。スタッフも親切でした。

As we slowly glided over the mirror-like surface of the sea, we witnessed the spouting of whales and their diving. On the way back, we were treated to a pod of dolphins. It was a moving experience to realize that life can offer such moments!

鏡のような海面をゆっくり走ると、クジラの潮吹き、ダイビングを見学。帰り道はイルカの群生というおまけ付き。人生にこんな時間があるのだと、感動！

It was amazing!!!! There were quite a few manta rays swirling around! I was about 10 cm away from them, and they were about 2 to 4 meters in size. It was truly moving! Just the best!

感動！！！！かなりのマンタ達がクルクルクルクルクルクル！！マンタとの距離が10cmくらいの間近で、マンタは2〜4m程の大きさで、感動でした！最高の一言です。

Great experience! Saw whales and dolphins...mission accomplished!

We participated as a family of five, with ages ranging from 10 to over 50. Thanks to our captain, who was full of love for dolphins, we got to see so many dolphins and had an amazing time! The rental wetsuits were easy to put on and take off, which was great.

下は10歳、上は人生半世紀の家族5人で参加しました。イルカ愛に溢れる船長さんのおかげで、たくさんのイルカちゃん達に会えてめちゃくちゃ楽しかったです♬レンタルのウェットスーツは着脱しやすくてよかったです。

I could feel the guide's passion for marine life, including dolphins, and it was enjoyable. We had a perfect encounter with a pod of dolphins, and we even saw a whale as a bonus. My child got seasick, but they provided solid support.

イルカをはじめとする海の生き物に対するガイドの情熱が伝わってきて楽しめました。イルカの群れにバッチリ遭遇できたし、おまけにクジラもみられました。子供が船酔いしてしまいましたが、しっかりサポートしてくれました。

While I understand that no one can truly guarantee seeing whales naturally, it's still a bit disappointing not to have seen any and the only reason Oceans Sports didn't get the full 5 stars. We appreciated the opportunity to try again another day but our demanding schedule didn't allow for it.

That being said, the crew was incredible fun and friendly and we very much enjoyed our "boating trip". The drinks were good and we got some incredible recommendations from the crew for lunch and other day-time activities. I would highly recommend this trip to others even with the off-chance of not seeing any whales.

I heard that the season had just started and the whales weren't very active, but we saw four splashes! One of them was quite close to us.
The front of the boat had a net, and the kids were lying down there, looking really comfortable! They were so relaxed that they fell into a deep sleep...

Since the guide spoke only in English, my kids and I didn't understand anything, but we still had a great time regardless!

まだシーズン始まったばかりで、クジラはあまり活発に動いてないと聞いていたのですが、4回スプラッシュ！その内1回はかなり近くで会うことができました。
船の先端が網になっていて、子供たちはそこに寝転がり、めちゃめちゃ気持ち良さそうでした！気持ちよすぎて爆睡してましたが…

ガイドは全て英語の為、私や子供には内容は全然分かりませんでしたが、分からなくてもとにかく楽しめました！

I was moved by the scenery that felt like it was not from Hawaii Island! The beautiful sunset and the explanation of the constellations in the starry sky were easy to understand. Thank you for the fun guide.

ハワイ島と思えない景色に感動！綺麗な夕日と星空の星座の説明も分かりやすくてよかった。
楽しいガイドありがとうございました。

Since it was my first time kayaking, I thought it would be nice to have a Japanese guide, so I signed up. Due to a cancellation in the group, I ended up having a one-on-one session with the guide, which turned out to be a lucky "VIP" experience for the day.

At first, I hurriedly paddled with my arms, but the guide advised me each time, saying, "It's okay to go slowly." I was able to feel the closeness of the sea, and the swaying of the waves and the view from the ocean felt completely different from what I had experienced on ships or boats before. I think I could enjoy the grandeur and openness of the sea even more. This time I was in a two-person kayak with the guide, but I want to challenge myself to a single kayak next time.

I also got to snorkel as much as I wanted, and I can't forget how delicious the pineapple we had while kayaking was.

If I were to suggest one improvement, it would be that the sign at the meeting point is small and hard to see for first-timers. Additionally, it was mentioned that the staff would be wearing yellow T-shirts, but in reality, it was another tour company wearing them, which caused me to mistakenly go there and almost be late.

初めてのシーカヤックだったので、日本語ガイドさんの説明がいいなぁ、と思い申し込みました。グループのキャンセルが出たため、ガイドさんとマンツーマンとなり「VIP」待遇のラッキーな一日でした。
カヤックの操作は慣れないうちは急いで腕で漕いでしまったのですが、ガイドさんが「ゆっくりでいいですよ～」とその都度アドバイスしてくれました。とにかく海(海面)が近くに感じることができ、波の揺れ、海からの景色もこれまで船舶やボートで体験したのとは全く違うように感じられました。海の雄大さや開放感をより楽しめると思います。今回はガイドさんと二人乗りのカヤックでしたが、次回は一人乗りにも挑戦したいです。
シュノーケリングも好きなだけやらせてもらい、その後にカヤックで食べたパイナップルの美味しさも忘れられません。
一点だけ改善するならば、初めての人には集合場所の看板が小さくてわかりにくいこと。また事前にスタッフは黄色のＴシャツを着ている、と説明が書いてあったが、実際は他の催行会社が着ていたので間違えてそちらに行ってしまい遅刻しそうになりました。

We were greeting by Lions almost immediately. He explained what was going to happen and when since we were early. The Captains came over later and introduced themselves after the boat was prepared. We all loaded and headed out.
We were told sightings were hit and miss, but lately had been good. Since I had been praying for multiple sightings I was expecting it to be a good night. We were not disappointed. Lions took our group right to the spot, among many others. He took care of us like the amateurs we were. He continuously checked that were were OK and whether we needed anything. Plus prepared us as to where to look when a ray was headed toward us.
By the end of the trip we had seen 3 different rays. Lions said that was the best night in months. Thank you Lions and Captains for a very memorable tour.

I was able to experience something that was on my dream list this time! I participated with friends, and the personality of our guide Masa and his sense of photography really boosted the tour's energy to the max!

In a separate group, we met our guide Shin at the Onizuka Center, and his explanations during the star tour were exceptional! He created an unexpected situation where we could actually see the rings of Saturn through a telescope, and I am just so grateful for that!

I heard that we can also visit the Subaru Telescope in Japan, so next time, I want to go inside the Subaru!

It was amazing! Thank you, Masa and Shin!

夢リストに入れてた事が今回、体験&体感出来ました！！ 友達と参加し、ガイドのマサさんの人柄と写真のセンスが更に、ツアーのテンションをマックスにしてくれました(^^)
別便で、オニヅカセンターで、合流したガイドのシンさんもスターツアーでの解説もまた格別で❗️思いがけない、天体望遠鏡で土星の輪まで確認出来る状況を作って頂き、ただただ感謝でした！！
日本のスバル天文台も見学できるそうなので、次回は、スバルの中に入って見たいと思います！！

最高でした！マサさん、シンさん！
ありがとうございました(^^)

I dressed quite warmly, but it was still cold. I definitely think you need hand warmers, a knit hat, and gloves! The sunset was a bit crowded with other tourists, but I was really glad to learn about places like the Subaru Observatory. During the stargazing, they even helped me with the settings on my camera, allowing me to take beautiful photos with my own camera. They also introduced the constellations, which was really fun. There was an overwhelming sense of emotion that words can't fully express. I want to do it again!

かなり防寒して行きましたがそれでも寒かったです。必ずカイロやニット帽、手袋は必要だと思います！
サンセットは他の観光客？の方々も結構いたので少し混雑していましたが、スバルの展望台なども教えて貰えてとてもよかったです！
星空観測では持参したカメラの設定まで教えていただけて、自分のカメラでも綺麗に撮影することができました。
星座の紹介などもしてもらえてすごくたのしかったです。
言葉では伝えきれない程の感動がありました。
またリピートしたいです！

An incredible number of dolphins beyond my imagination! The tour guide was very kind and entertaining, providing great support to ensure we encountered many dolphins, and we were able to swim freely! It became the best memory, and I would love to do it again!

想像を超えるイルカの数！でした。
ツアーガイドさんはとても親切で面白く、イルカとたくさん遭遇できるようしっかりサポートしてくださり、ガンガン泳がせてもらえました！
最高な思い出になり、またリピートさせて頂きたいとおもいます！

The meeting place was changed the day before the tour. It was quite far from Kailua, which was a hassle. Also, the whales didn't show up; they just floated in the sea. Since it was only in English, I think it would be quite boring if you didn't understand. The good point was that they gave us a voucher to participate for free next time. But I probably won't go again.

ツアーの前日に、集合場所が変更になりました。
かなり、カイルアからは遠くて、参りました。
また、ホエールは現れずただ海に浮かんでいただけでした。
英語しか無い日取りだったので、分からないとかなりつまらないと思います。
良い点は次回無料で参加できるvoucherをくれたこと。
でも、もう行かないかな。

I signed up because I wanted to experience the majestic nature of the Big Island of Hawaii. Since it was a tour in nature, I thought it couldn't be helped if the weather was bad, but luckily, I was able to see a beautiful sunset and starry sky. The tour guide was very kind, and they took many commemorative photos, making it a wonderful memory of my trip.

ハワイ島の雄大な自然を体験したいと思い、申込みました。自然が相手のツアーなので、天気が悪くても仕方ないと思っていましたが、ラッキーなことに綺麗なサンセットと星空を見ることができました。ツアーガイドの方もとても優しく、たくさん記念写真も撮っていただき、旅の良い思い出となりました。

During our break at the park and dinner at the Onizuka Center, we gradually acclimated to the high altitude without any issues. A foreign family who drove up in their private car outside of the tour was suffering from altitude sickness at the viewpoint parking lot near the summit, so having an experienced guide was greatly appreciated. They took many great photos with a good camera, and you can't capture the starry sky with a smartphone!

On the way back, despite some tire trouble with the car, we were able to transfer to another vehicle from the same company and ultimately returned to the hotel earlier than expected. The response to everything was appropriate and wonderful.

As someone who was in the astronomy club in high school, this was a long-held dream of mine for good stargazing. I wished I could have stayed until morning.

途中の公園での休憩、オニヅカセンターでの夕食と順を追って高地に順応して行くので、まったく問題はありませんでした。ツアー外で自家用車で上って来た外人親子は、山頂付近の展望台駐車場で高山病に苦しんでいましたので、経験あるガイドのサポートがありがたかったです。良いカメラで写真もたくさん撮って頂きましたし、スマホでは星空は撮れない！
帰途は車のタイヤ不調も、同じ会社の別の車に一部が移動して、結局、早くホテルに戻ることが出来ました。何から何まで適切な素晴らしい対応でした。
高校時代は天文部だった私にとっては、宿願だった良好な天体観測でした。朝まで居たかったくらいです。

The quality of the bento is lower compared to other companies. I would appreciate it if you could let me know when to eat it early. Other than that, I am satisfied.

お弁当の質が他社に比べると落ちる。早い時間に食べること言ってくれると嬉しいです。その他は満足しています。

It was my first time kayaking, and I was able to do it easily with the guide's instruction. I even got to see a manta ray while snorkeling! Thank you for the cold pineapple afterward.

初めてのカヤック、ガイドさんの指導で簡単に出来ました。
シュノーケリングで、マンタにも会えました❗️
終わってからの、冷たいパイナップルごちそうさまでした。

The day before, I received a message in my hotel room from the tour coordinator asking, "Have you confirmed the email about the change in the meeting place for the tour?" I hadn't seen the email, so this message was very helpful.

Since it was a sunset and stargazing tour, we departed in the afternoon. On the way to the summit, we took a break for about an hour at the Onizuka Visitor Center to prevent altitude sickness, where we were served lunch. We had a Japanese makunouchi bento! It came with miso soup!! (The contents may vary by day...) There was quite a bit of food, so if you're a light eater, you might want to have a light lunch beforehand. During this break, you can change your clothes, so I don't think you need to dress too warmly from the start. By the way, as someone who gets cold easily, I participated in a polo shirt and skinny pants, and added a Heattech shirt, tights, winter socks, and a lightweight jumper here. I wore the ski wear I borrowed over that as we headed to the summit. I prepared disposable hand warmers, but I didn't end up using them.

As my husband and I got closer to the summit, we started to feel a bit of a headache. We focused on exhaling all the air from our lungs and taking deep breaths to fill them with fresh air... repeating this several times. (The guide would remind us of the deep breathing techniques along the way!) Thanks to this, our headaches didn't get too severe.

When we finally reached the summit, my first thought was, "My body feels heavy!" I couldn't really enjoy myself (≧▽≦). But encouraged by the guide, I jumped while straddling a broom!!! They took some photos that made it look like I was flying in the sky♪ I asked for one more photo of me looking like I was about to fall off the broom, but it was tough to jump with my heavy body...

And then it was time for the sunset... The sun sinking into the sea of clouds was something I could have watched forever.

We viewed the starry sky a bit lower down (around 3,800 meters). (We had to descend from the summit 30 minutes after sunset.) The guide used a laser pointer to explain the names of the stars and the origins of the constellations while we observed. They set up a telescope and showed us the rings of Saturn! (It was quite moving!!) As it got darker, the stars began to overflow. I thought, "Maybe clouds are coming in..." but it turned out to be all stars!!! I ended up lying down to look at them since my neck started to hurt from looking up too much (≧▽≦).

The guide took quite a few photos of both the sunset and the starry sky! There were many pictures that would have been impossible for our camera to capture, making for wonderful memories.

At the restroom break on the way back, we saw other tour participants (probably from a stargazing tour on the mountainside) receiving explanations, but the view of the stars was completely different! Even the mountainside tour looked beautiful compared to Japan, but seeing it from the summit...

This time, we were blessed with good weather, and it turned out to be a truly enjoyable and wonderful tour. I want to go see that starry sky again!

前日にツアーの担当者から「ツアーの集合場所変更のメール、確認していただけましたか？」とホテルの部屋に連絡がありました。
メールを見ていなかったのでこの連絡はとても助かりました。

サンセット＆星空観測のツアーだったので、午後出発です。
山頂に行く途中、高山病予防も兼ねてオニヅカビジターセンターで1時間ほど休憩が入り、そこでお弁当が出ます。
私たちがいただいたのは日本の幕の内弁当！お味噌汁付き！！（日によって内容は変わるようですが・・・）
結構な量があるので、小食の方はお昼控えめにした方がいいかと^^;
この休憩中に着替えができるので、最初から厚着をしていく必要はないと思います。
因みに、寒がりの私はポロシャツとスキニーパンツで参加し、ここでヒートテックシャツ、タイツ、冬用靴下、薄手のジャンパーを追加着用しました。
借りたスキーウェアの上下をその上に着用して山頂に向かいます。
使い捨てカイロは用意しましたが、使いませんでした。

私たち夫婦は山頂に近づくにつれ、少しずつ頭が痛くなってきました。
肺の空気を出し切って、新しい空気を肺いっぱいに吸い込む・・・を意識しながら深呼吸を何度も繰り返します。（深呼吸方法など、ガイドさんが随時声をかけてくださいます！）
このおかげか頭痛もそれほどひどくはなりませんでした。

山頂に降り立ってまず思ったのが「身体が重い！」でした。
はしゃげません(≧▽≦)
でもガイドさんに促されるままほうきにまたがってジャンプ！！！
空を飛んでいるような写真を撮ってくださいました♪
お願いしてもう一枚、ほうきから落ちそうバージョンも撮ってもらったのですが、さすがに身体が重くてジャンプが辛い・・・

そんなこんなでサンセットの時間・・・雲海に沈んでいく太陽はいつまでも見ていたいと思うくらい。

星空は少し下がったところ（3800ｍ付近）でみました。（サンセット後30分で山頂から下りないといけないそうです）
ガイドさんがレーザーポイントで星の名前や星座の由来、いろいろ説明しながらの観察です。
望遠鏡を設置して、土星の輪も見せていただきました！（ちょっと感動！！）
辺りが暗くなるにつれ、星がどんどんあふれてきます。
「雲がでてきたのかなぁ・・・」と思っていたら全部星だった！！！なんていう感じです。
（上を見上げすぎて首が痛くなってきたので、最後は寝そべってみていました(≧▽≦)）

写真はサンセット、星空ともガイドさんが結構撮ってくれていました！
私たちのカメラでは絶対に無理であろう写真がいっぱいで、とってもいい記念になりました。

帰りのトイレ休憩の場所では他のツアーの方（おそらく山腹での星空観測ツアー）が説明を受けていらっしゃいましたが、星の見え方は全然違います！
日本に比べると山腹ツアーでも十分綺麗に輝いて見えるのですが、山頂付近で見てしまうと。。。。。

今回は天気にも恵まれ、ほんとに楽しい素敵なツアーになりました。
またあの星空を見に行きたいと思います！