Okinawa Prefecture Melonta

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.

​"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 😃

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!

The mangrove forest kayaking and snorkeling were absolutely fantastic. Even though the weather wasn't great, Makoto-san's excellent guidance made it an unforgettable experience.

Vaimoni ja minä nautimme tästä aktiviteetista erittäin paljon. Herra Yoshi opasti meitä, ja vaikka hänen englannin kielen taitonsa oli rajallinen, hän varmisti, että kokemuksemme oli turvallinen ja erittäin nautinnollinen. Kajakki oli hyvin huollettu ja mukava. Joki oli rauhallinen ja helppo navigoida. Onnistuimme tutkimaan mangrovemetsää ja luola-aukkoja. Tahti oli hyvä, ja tunsimme olomme erittäin rentoutuneiksi ja rauhallisiksi koko ajan. Kääntöpisteessä nousimme kajakista yksinkertaiselle teetauolle. Herra Yoshi auttoi meitä etsimään liejuhyppijöitä ja erakkorapuja. Meidän ei tarvinnut ottaa mukaan matkapuhelimiamme, sillä herra Yoshi auttoi ottamaan kuvia, jotka hän jakoi kanssamme matkan jälkeen. Retken alku-/loppupisteessä on myös wc- ja pesutilat. Meidät noudettiin ja palautettiin hotellistamme Maesoto Beachin läheltä. Suosittelemme lämpimästi, jos haluat nähdä luontoa eri tavalla ja kokeilla melontaa!