Local Guide
5 Recommended Activities you must experience when you visit Iriomote Island

Iriomote Island is covered with subtropical virgin forests, and untouched nature remains here and there on the island. If you want to spend some quality time here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, we recommend participating in an Activity. We have carefully selected five activities that allow you to experience the nature of Iriomote Island firsthand. Please experience the unique activities of Iriomote Island.

Sea kayak tour to fully enjoy the good points of Iriomote Island

You can take a dip in the waterfall while kayaking at
You can take a dip in the waterfall while kayaking at "Mizu Ochino Waterfall".

Oku-Iriomote area, which is the western edge of Iriomote Island, is said to have the deepest nature in the island. Dokusoya" offers sea kayak tours mainly in this area.
Among the various tours that they offer to maximize the charm of Iriomote Island, the most popular course is "Mizuochi Waterfall and Hidden Beach". Paddle a sea kayak across the sea and enter the river to see the waterfall that falls directly into the mangrove channel. This is the only spot on the island where you can take a dip in the waterfall while in a kayak, and snorkeling is also possible during the summer. This is a course where you can enjoy the ocean, the river, and the waterfall.

You can fully enjoy the good points of Iriomote Island.

Sea turtles leisurely greet you in the sea.
Sea turtles leisurely greet you in the sea.

Tropical fish and sea turtles live peacefully in the ocean where snorkeling is available in the summer. Before snorkeling, we will take a lunch break on a deserted beach that can only be reached by kayak. You can relax in an area filled with nature and enjoy an elegant and luxurious time.
There are many beaches where you can take a break, so if you have any requests for tour arrangements, please let us know.

Local Guide Comment
Mizunouchi Falls was once used as a fresh water extraction site for coal carriers and warships. Traces of the waterfall can still be seen today, making it a spot where visitors can feel the history of the area.
Michisoya "Mizuochi Waterfall and Hidden Beach
  • Direction Meet at the starting point by transportation or rental car
  • Hours of Operation Around 8:00 - 16:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee Adults (junior high school students and older) 12,000 yen, children (elementary school students and younger) 7,000 yen
  • TEL 080-4112-2359
  • Age Limit Mizuochi Falls and Hidden Beach Nothing in particular
  • Memo Pick-up service is available in the western area (nearest Uehara Port), Eco-Village, and Paine Maya. Pick-up service is not available in the eastern area (nearest Ohara Port).

Activity to feel the great nature of Iriomote Island with your whole body

Gheda Falls
Gheda Falls" is full of unexplored wonders.

This store offers exploration tours for beginners. You can experience activities to feel the great nature of Iriomote Island with your whole body, and one of the most popular is "Geda Falls Shower Trekking & Cave Exploration".
Geda Falls, located further from the large subtropical jungle, is a popular spot with its distinctive staircase shape. There are many ways to play in the waterfall basin or get hit by the waterfall. Be very careful when playing in the waterfall basin, as some parts are too deep for your feet to reach. Climbing to the top of the waterfall, you can see the ocean and even corals on the ocean floor in the distance.

After Soki Soba lunch, departure for cave exploration

Explore an untouched cave that will bring you back to your childhood
Explore an untouched cave that will bring you back to your childhood

The lunch you will enjoy on this tour is Okinawa's famous "cartilage Soki Soba" (Soki Soba with Soft Bone). The owner supervised the preparation of this dish, which is filled with seasonal vegetables for a good nutritional balance. Warm up your body with hot, freshly made soba before setting out to explore the caves.
The cave is truly untouched, and everyone is sure to be excited as soon as they enter. Helmets and other necessary equipment are included in the tour fee, so you only need to bring the bare necessities.

Local Guide Comment
Gheda Falls, which has been featured on a popular TV program, is characterized by its powerful three-tiered configuration. It is a must-see for waterfall lovers.
Iriomote Jungle Expedition "Geda Falls Shower Trekking & Cave Exploration
  • Direction Meet at the starting point by transportation or rental car
  • Hours of Operation Around 9:00 - 15:00 (varies depending on season and participants)
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee Junior high school students and older: 13,000 yen, Elementary school students and younger: 12,000 yen
    *1,000 yen discount for cash payment
  • TEL 080-9570-6185
  • Age Limit Geda Falls Shower Trekking & Cave Exploration About 5-65 years old
    *Age range is based on physical fitness. Not recommended for those who are not comfortable in closed and dark places.
  • Memo Free pick-up and drop-off for lodging in the western district of Iriomote and Uehara Port. Inquiries required for accommodations in the eastern area.

Fully enjoy canoeing and trekking tour

Pinaisara Falls
Pinaisara Falls" boasts the highest 55-meter drop in Okinawa Prefecture.

The name of the store, which means "a sunny day" in the Okinawan language, reflects the owner's wish to make the store as warm and friendly as the sun. The most popular Activity you can enjoy here is the "Pinaisara Falls Canoe Tour," where you can enjoy both canoeing and trekking.
After enjoying mangrove kayaking, trekking in the jungle. When you reach the top of the waterfall, you will have lunch and depart for the waterfall basin. The sight of the 55-meter waterfall looking up from the waterfall basin is powerful. You can feel the power of nature up close.

A lot of happy free benefits

Lunch outside after a long day of physical activity tastes exceptional!
Lunch outside after a long day of physical activity tastes exceptional!

The tour comes with a number of special features. Lunch and coffee with a wide selection of dishes, free tour photos, rentals, transportation, etc. are all free of charge.
Lunch is cooked in the wild by the guides, so you can enjoy freshly prepared meals while you are outside. We use seasonal ingredients available in the island as much as possible, so you can fully feel the bounty of the sea and the mountains. Please try the meals unique to Iriomote Island.

Local Guide Comment
In Iriomote dialect, "Pinai" means "beard" and "Saara" means "falling". Pinaisara Falls, flowing down in the jungle, looks like a white beard when seen from a distance.
Tidakankan "Pinaisara Falls Canoe Tour
  • Direction Meet at the starting point by transportation or rental car
  • Business hours 9:00-16:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee Adults (from junior high school students): 11,000 yen, Children (elementary school students): 9,000 yen *In case of tour for only one person (plus 2,000 yen)
  • TEL 0980-85-6500
  • Age Limit Pinaisara Falls Canoe Tour Elementary school students and older
  • Memo Pick-up at Uehara Port. For guests with infants, private tour or half-day tour is available.

Night kayak tour where you can look up countless stars

The Milky Way can be seen when the weather is fine.
The Milky Way can be seen when the weather is fine.

One of the most popular canoeing and trekking tours offered by the store, which is limited to one group per day, is the "Star Gazing Kayak," which allows you to fully enjoy the star-filled sky from the earth of Iriomote Island. You can relax to your heart's content in the great nature.
Departing around the time when the night begins to fall, we paddle the kayak to the bay or to the mouth of the river. When you stop paddling and look up at the sky, you will see a 360-degree starry sky. Even if you have never experienced kayaking before, you will be given a lecture on how to paddle on land. After the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Private tour with flexible time schedule

Paddling slowly through the mangrove forest by starlight
Paddling slowly through the mangrove forest by starlight

All activities are private tours. In Iriomote Island, popular spots tend to be crowded with tourists. If you are on a private tour, you can adjust your time so that you can extend your stay if there is a scenery or scene you want to enjoy.
If you come across a beautiful scenery that you would like to photograph, you can rest assured that you will have plenty of time to take pictures. We can provide the most suitable tour according to the age composition and physical strength of the participating group.

Local Guide Comment
The best part of a night tour is that you can feel the smells and sounds of nature that you do not notice in the daytime. It is quite difficult to photograph the starry sky from a kayak, but you will be able to see a spectacular view that will remain in your memory even if you do not capture it in a photograph.
Pumehana Adventures "Stargazing Kayak
  • Direction Meet at the starting point by transportation or rental car
  • Hours of Operation 8:00-22:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee Depends on the number of people. Please check our website for details.
  • TEL 0980-87-9860
  • Age Limit People with physical age from 6 to 65 years old.
  • Memo Private tours limited to one group (1-6 people) per day.
    Stargazing Kayaking is available all year round.
    *Open around the full moon as "Moonlight Kayak".

Sea kayak tour to spend a full day in the sea of Oku-Nishimote

Paddling a real sea kayak in the emerald green sea.
Paddling a real sea kayak in the emerald green sea.

This is a full-day tour conducted by a tour store that has been supported by repeaters and kayakers for nearly 20 years in the truly unexplored region called Oku-Nishimote. Because the store has been dedicated to sea kayaking, they are able to take you to the wilderness that can only be Direction by kayak.
Experienced guides give lectures, so beginners and families with children can participate with ease. For families with small children, there is a three-person boat available, so please consult with the guide in advance.

Handmade lunch in the open air is also an attraction!

Lunch is prepared in the café
Lunch is prepared in the café "Halenowa" attached to the store, so you can rest assured of hygiene.

Sea kayak tours are divided into two types: "paddling on the ocean" and "paddling on the river. Mansaku Tour especially recommends the "Deserted Island Private Beach & Snorkeling Course" and the "Adanade Falls Jungle Kayaking & Canyoning Course.
There are many green sea turtles in the ocean, and you may come across them as you paddle your kayak or swim. While paddling on the river, you can enjoy the sense of security of being enveloped by the greenery. Please enjoy sea kayak tours that take advantage of the natural features of each ocean and river.

Local Guide Comment
The tour requires more than physical strength; it also requires motivation and a sense of fun. Experienced guides will give you lectures, so even kayaking beginners can participate without worries. In summer, sagaribana vegetation can be seen, and you can enjoy the beautiful flowers and fragrance from a kayak.
Full day tour" by Mansaku Tour Service
  • Direction Meet at the starting point by transportation or rental car
  • Hours of Operation Around 8:00-17:00
  • Closed Closed on weekends and holidays
  • Admission Fee Deserted Island Private Beach & Snorkeling Course
    Adults 13,000 yen, Students (up to 22 years old) 11,000 yen, Children (junior high school students and under) 10,000 yen
    Adanade Waterfall Jungle Kayaking & Canyoning Course
    Adults 12,000 yen, Students (up to 22 years old) 10,000 yen, Children (junior high school students and under) 9,000 yen
  • TEL 0980-85-6222
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.