Okinawa Prefecture

This tour was one of the most fun activities for the kids during our Okinawa trip. The instructor, whose code name I believe was KYAK (I'm not entirely sure, but we're so grateful to him), was incredibly friendly to the children. When he saw they enjoyed marine life, he would point things out to them under the boat (which has a clear bottom, so you can see very well). There was also a touch experience. I highly recommend this for parents who have children who love marine life. We also paid an extra 3,000 JPY for drone footage, which was totally worth it! Highly recommend!

Pros: Loved our tour of the Pumpkin Cave. Jumping off the pumpkin into the water fun! Kayaking was nice. Cons: We could not take our camera and had to rely on the photos they took for us. Unfortunately their pictures aren't super great, some turned out ok, but most were grainy. It was crowded. Group after group went into the pumpkin cave.

Gliding across the water at sunset turned out to be one of the most peaceful moments of my entire trip in Ishigaki. Our guide, Yoshi-san, kept the pace relaxed, giving us plenty of time to take photos, enjoy the view, and just sit still in the middle of the water. He also gave us Ishigaki jasmine tea and pineapple as refreshments during our break. Just before sunset, to test our abilities in the water - Yoshi-san gave us a mission to glide between 2 large rocks (completely safe don’t worry) and that made everything more exciting than it already was! Yoshi-san also helped us take many memorable photos during the entire kayaking experience. If you’re looking for something that’s both adventurous and calming, this sunset kayaking tour is perfect. It’s beginner‑friendly, incredibly scenic, and a beautiful way to end the day. 10/10, would recommend!

This time, I departed from Ishigaki Island and participated in a mangrove kayaking tour on Iriomote Island. After researching various travel agencies, I booked it through Klook, and it was operated by a local travel agency. The overall experience was quite smooth! 👍 The package I chose was the [Iriomote Island Mangrove Kayaking Experience], which includes: 📍 #MangroveKayakingExperience 📍 #OnsiteInstructorGuidance (Beginners are welcome!) 📍 #RiverTrekkingShoes + LifeVestProvided 📍 #TourPhotoDocumentation 🚣‍♀️ Tour Itinerary: Upon arrival at Uehara Port on Iriomote Island, the travel agency will provide transportation. It's about a 10-minute drive to the river → Equipment distribution + Instruction. We kayaked into the mangroves for about 20 minutes before turning back (it wasn't tiring at all and very easy to pick up 🤣). The single-trip experience isn't long, making it perfect for a half-day itinerary. There's a simple restroom on-site where you can change clothes. 👌 👕 Recommended Attire: Long-sleeved shirt (for sun and mosquito protection) Shorts (they will definitely get wet) Hat (it gets very sunny) Remember to bring a change of clothes. 🗣 Language: English/Japanese is available, but communicating through gestures is perfectly fine. 👉 My 63-year-old dad completed it successfully! 🤣 P.S. You'll need to purchase your Iriomote Island ferry tickets separately (round-trip tickets are not included). After booking your tour, remember to add the travel agency on Line or WhatsApp to stay in touch!

​"This was an outstanding experience. Sao, Emma, and the entire team did an amazing job ensuring a smooth process, while demonstrating a high level of professionalism and kindness throughout." Rob & Carissa 😃

We had booked the canoe and snorkeling on Phantom Island’s day, unfortunately due to the weather we had to go snorkelling at the Blue Cave. The two sites, the mangroves and the Blue Cave are beautiful so we had a great time. I think that the day is very well suited for families with children or for people who are not very comfortable in canoeing and/or snorkeling, but don’t expect to travel many miles in a canoe or swim. The organization is very well done, the equipment is adapted and in very good condition,... but above all, we were lucky to have a great guide, a thousand thanks to Tom who has such a super positive energy, is very nice and funny, who speaks perfectly english, he gave everything to make sure we had great photos, so he was very involved in making sure we had a great day. Thanks again Tom !

Yoshi is a fantastic guide. We had an amazing time, we went to a few different areas and Yoshi explained about the different Mangrove trees. We had a rest stop with snacks under a canopy of Mangroves. He also found a Mangrove Clam on the river floor. It was an early start due to the tide times, but absolutely worth it! We had a private tour and an amazing experience.

The shop is located inside Makishi Market. Take the stairs from the 1st-floor entrance to the 2nd-floor shop, and just show your reservation confirmation. You'll need to take off your shoes at the entrance and put them in a plastic bag. You'll also be given a large bag for your personal belongings (and a numbered wristband to wear). Any food or drinks should be placed separately on a small table inside the door. Please remember to keep an eye on your belongings, as I left the Chinsuko I bought at Shuri Castle in the shop and forgot to take it with me. By the time I remembered, it was the next day, and it was the shop's day off on Sunday, so I had to leave it for them (cries). This shop is very popular. I arrived on time for my reservation, and there were already at least 4 to 5 Chinese girls getting dressed or waiting in line. It took about 30 to 40 minutes for my turn. I recommend booking the earliest slot if possible to avoid waiting in line and to ensure you get to choose the outer and inner garments you want before others pick them! The staff are very friendly and helpful. Even though they were extremely busy, they patiently discussed what hairstyle you wanted and what obi (belt) style you preferred. They also helped take photos when they had a moment. The service includes hairstyling and dressing (you can choose between a kimono or Ryukyu dress), but not makeup. Two-toed socks are provided. For the Ryukyu dress, you choose the outer and inner garments separately. You change out of your own clothes in a small changing room, put on the nude-colored bodysuit provided by the shop, and then wait in line for hairstyling and dressing. You can also choose your own hair accessories. Finally, after taking all your photos and taking off the Ryukyu dress, you don't have to undo your hairstyle. The shop even gives you a small hair tie as a gift (you can choose the design). This was truly an interesting experience and highly recommended!

A hairstyle is a must-have! It's the essence of your overall look. The stylists will use curling irons to style your hair, and you can choose your preferred style from the examples in the salon. Even if you don't have long hair, it can still be styled beautifully!