Okinawa Prefecture Dyreliv

I had really high expectations for the Starlight Tour, and it exceeded them! The pickup and drop-off service was convenient because I didn't have to drive on dark roads. 😁 I thought we wouldn't see any coconut crabs, but Guide TEN meticulously searched deep into the forest and found two for us. Guide TEN was humorous and explained everything so well that everyone in our group said they'd want him for all their activities, from snorkeling to jungle tours, if we ever came back! 🤭 This kind of tour really depends on the guide, so I hope others get to meet Guide TEN too. 😀

Hiro was an awesome tour guide! very funny and knowledgeable. He made sure to keep us safe and entertained the entire time in the jungle. He was kind enough provide food recommendations! The jungle was beautiful and a lot of wildlife to view. Please be careful while exploring. Nature is to be respected!

DETTE ER DEN MEST FANTASTISKE OPLEVELSE NOGENSINDE, UDEN TVIVL!! Vi fløj til Okinawa stort set kun for at tage på denne udflugt. Da vi slet ingen dykkererfaring havde, var instruktørerne utroligt tålmodige med os og gennemgik nogle teknikker på forhånd for at give os et godt sæt værktøjer. De leverer alt udstyr til begynderdykket og viser dig, hvordan du bruger det. Vi lejede også undervandskameraet, hvilket ærligt talt er et must til denne oplevelse. Vores instruktører, denne virkelig talentfulde dame og herre, var så tålmodige med at vise os, hvordan man gjorde alting. Så selve dykket foregår ved, at man tager en båd ud til det sted, hvor hvalhajen rehabiliteres, og de gør dig klar ved at rense din maske og give tips undervejs. Når du er der, guider de dig ud af båden med ansigtet fremad, så du ikke behøver at bekymre dig om at vælte bagover, som man ser i videoer. Instruktørerne styrer opdriften, så alt du skal gøre er at trække vejret. Og så oplevelsen – jeg vil ikke spoile den, du skal bare opleve den, men den er livsændrende!

Although the itinerary was a bit hot, it was very interesting! The night jungle adventure was something my child had never experienced before! The guide, Xin Jiang, picked us up from the hotel and was incredibly enthusiastic. Along the way, we saw all sorts of insects, including butterflies, frogs, large spiders, and stick insects. Coconut crabs were harder to find, so Xin Jiang took us to see the stars instead. He worked very hard to take photos for each group, truly dedicated! The pictures turned out amazing! It's really hard to capture stars with a phone camera. Finally, on the way back, Xin Jiang found a baby coconut crab. Although it was small, we still got to see one!

The entire trip went very smoothly! The signs were very clear, and the staff were all very friendly. They also told us how to catch the return boat/buffalo cart. Even with a language barrier, the buffalo cart tour allowed us to experience the local culture!

Instructor: Leia Safety: I felt confident and pleased that the pre-survey was thoroughly conducted via QR code. Location: The fireflies were abundant and fantastic within walking distance. Experience: I didn't have high expectations since I had experienced fireflies in Bohol, Philippines, but this was overwhelmingly better, and everything was truly perfect. Equipment: Even though it was raining, I was touched that they rented out clean rain boots that fit my size.

Was a very fun experience. Instructor was knowledgeable, friendly, and was able to fluently communicate with the group. We started in a big group and a portion of the group had to return back to their vehicle. She was able to help them out while the rest of us continued searching for wildlife. She did mention what to look out for and there was other groups around so it still felt safe. She returned and continued the tour. We were lucky that another group was able to find the coconut crab so a lot of people got pictures in. It was a windy and cold night, finding the crab was harder than normal.

We participated just before the end of the rainy season, and the weather in the Yaeyama Islands was challenging, typical of the region, with sudden heavy downpours followed by clear skies. However, the journey with our guide, literally pushing through dense vegetation into a jungle that felt like an animal trail, searching for wildlife, was thrilling and incredibly enjoyable. Thanks to this, we encountered not only coconut crabs but also habu snakes, rare hermit crabs, bats, and even scorpions, making for a truly fulfilling experience. We were very grateful to be lent shoes, as we were entering a jungle along the coast and there was a risk of getting muddy. Also, it rained heavily at one point, and there was no room or opportunity to use an umbrella, so a waterproof jacket made of Gore-Tex or similar material is essential.

For our honeymoon, we visited Iriomote Island for the first time, and as soon as we arrived, we joined a firefly tour. I had seen a few fireflies in the countryside when I was very young, but my wife had never seen them before. As dusk fell and it grew darker, fireflies began to appear one by one, and soon every space we looked at was filled with them. It was an unimaginable, truly rare experience. I don't know how many chances we'll have in our lives to encounter fireflies again. If you visit Iriomote, I highly recommend experiencing this!