Ishigaki

I booked the night tour on Klook because they said there were countless stars in the night sky, but unfortunately, due to the forecast of rain the next day, there were too many clouds and I couldn't see a single star. It was pitch black~~~ as we walked through the forest path relying on only one flashlight, but surprisingly, the kids observed the forest, talked a lot about this and that, and didn't get annoyed at all, they actually liked it. We saw frogs, water snakes, terrestrial snakes(?), millipedes, silverfish, and coconut crabs. We saw all sorts of things, haha. Thanks to the bright energy and kindness of our guide, Makoto-san, I wasn't afraid of the rough jungle. The Ryukyu (Okinawa) Islands are islands formed by tectonic plate movements. Coral reefs formed in the sea, and the land rose up (upward rise) turning the coral reefs into land. The terrain of the night tour was made of coral! That's why even now, the seawater is clear, coral reefs are well-developed, and there are many caves and limestone formations. I thought they would be bored because there was no Wi-Fi, but they accepted the situation and turned their attention to other things faster than I expected. I had an 'aha' moment. Instead of scolding them for using their phones so much, I should create environments where they can't use their phones more often. It's been two days since the tour ended, and they're still talking about how much they liked the night tour! For reference, they are boys going into 11th and 8th grade.

Taketomi Island is an extremely serene island, and the water buffalo cart experience is very special. I highly recommend spending a whole day on Taketomi Island to thoroughly explore all the island's attractions. The beaches are stunning (unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to fully explore them).

I had an incredible snorkeling tour with Makoto from Ishigaki Adventure PiPi. Despite worrying about the weather, Makoto smoothly relocated us to beautiful Osaki Beach. As a nervous first-timer and non-swimmer, I felt completely safe under Makoto's expert and reassuring guidance. She led our small group with constant attention and care. The underwater world was breathtaking—vivid blue waters filled with colorful fish and sea turtles. Makoto also captured amazing photos and videos for us with her action camera, which was a fantastic personal touch. This tour was the absolute highlight of my cruise stop and has made me want to return to Ishigaki. Thank you, Makoto, for your outstanding professionalism and for creating such a wonderful, memorable experience. Highest recommendation!

We went snorkeling with Makoto. The water was crystal clear, and we saw lots of colorful fish and coral. Makoto took photos and videos throughout. It was so much fun, we wish we could have stayed longer!

I went with my 10-year-old, and even though neither of us speaks English or Japanese, they kindly explained everything. We were the only two Koreans there, and even though I'm a total beginner at swimming, the staff stayed with us and took care of us. We saw sea turtles twice, and the water was teeming with fish. It was a half-day tour, but I wish we had booked the full-day option. I highly recommend it. Equipment: They rent out everything. You wear a wetsuit instead of a life jacket, which is a bit difficult to put on and take off, but it's better than a vest. They also rent out flippers and goggles. Safety: If you stray too far, the instructor will tell you to stay close. They seem to keep checking on beginners like me who are worried. Listening to the experts is the best thing to do. Experience: If you go to the shops they tell you about, they'll check your wetsuit and flipper sizes, and then tell you to follow them in your car (rental car). After about a 5-minute drive, you park at the harbor and board the boat - after about a 30-minute ride, you'll have about 1 hour of water activities - 10 minutes of rest - another 1 hour of water activities - 30 minutes to the harbor. We took the boat back around 8:40 AM and arrived around 11:40 AM.

The meeting location was convenient, and the pick-up staff were friendly and welcoming. They had the appropriate shoes ready in the vehicle that morning. The mangrove canoe experience was great, the leader was attentive, caring, and provided detailed explanations, and took many photos. The Blue Cave tour in the afternoon was less impressive, especially the Blue Cave itself, which was a bit disappointing. The snorkeling was more fun. It was strange that everyone had to walk in the sea instead of swimming out. Walking is actually more dangerous. Overall, I was still satisfied.

It was my first time canoeing, but the instructor was very kind and taught me how to paddle. We went through the mangroves to the sea, found hermit crabs and coral, and paddled to the rocks in the sea. Although the weather was cloudy and we couldn't see the sunset properly, I was very satisfied and it was a very fun experience. I also had time to relax in the peaceful sea, which was very soothing. I would definitely like to do it again next time I come to Ishigaki Island.

This afternoon, I participated in the ISHIGAKI ADVENTURE PiPi snorkeling tour, and it was an unforgettable experience. The first stop was diving right into the sea for snorkeling, where I saw colorful tropical fish and vast coral reefs, feeling as if I had entered a vibrant underwater world. The second stop was a visit to the dreamlike Phantom Island, where the pristine white sandbar sparkled in the sunlight, blending with the azure sea in a breathtakingly beautiful scene. The travel agency's arrangements were very thorough, with complete equipment and smooth procedures, making me feel secure throughout the entire trip. Special thanks to our guide, Jiro, who was very enthusiastic throughout, not only patiently explaining the ecology of the sea and the island but also thoughtfully taking many wonderful photos for everyone, making the entire trip more relaxed and enjoyable. This Ishigaki Island snorkeling experience is truly worth recommending!

We had a fantastic private tour with Takashi. He was a super great guide. We went kayaking down a small mangrove river, then he made us lunch at great location with a fantastic view. After that we went on a small trek on a jungle path where we went swimming near a small waterfall in the jungle. Superb experience all of it.