Outdoor in Okinawa
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Okinawa
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Okinawa
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Adventure Activities in Okinawa
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- In Okinawa, when sitting on the beach sipping cocktails gets monotonous, there’s still a variety of adventure activities that will keep you active and in or near the water. From Honto to Ishigaki, at beach resorts or public beaches, you will have several marine activities to choose from. Snorkeling Snorkeling Besides swimming in the ocean, snorkeling is probably the most accessible marine activity in terms of price and skills required to practise. With all of the beaches around the prefecture being surrounded by coral reefs, just about any spot is great for swimming with beautiful marine life. If you like to be accompanied by sea turtles, head down to Yoshino Beach in Miyakojima, where there seems to be a higher chance of seeing then in the water. At public beaches like Yonehara Beach in north of Ishigaki you can rent a set of snorkels and fins for 1,300 yen from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and spend the day exploring the reefs near the beach. Always keep in mind that in Okinawa currents can get strong very quickly so stay close to the beach and preferably snorkel with a partner.Popular tours： Enjoy Diving and Snorkeling at Miyako Island (Voyagin) Snorkeling Snorkeling Scuba Diving with Manta Rays Scuba Diving with Manta Rays One of the highlights of Ishigaki’s beaches is the opportunity to scuba dive with manta rays. At Kabira Bay these majestic animals are relatively easy to spot as they visit the cleaning stations at the edge of the coral reefs. Although seeing them every time you dive is not guaranteed, you’ll increase your chances while staying safe by joining one of the tours offered in the area and heading to the Manta Scramble. There are several diving schools in Kabira Bay, but two that stand out are Umicoza Diving School and Euro Divers which is run out of Club Med Kabira. One of the packages offered at Umicoza includes two dives during the day, one to get acquainted with the equipment and learn basic techniques, and the second dive at the Manta Scramble, all for 25,000 yen. Prior reservation is highly recommended or you might miss the boats.Popular tours： Try an Introduction Diving Course! - in Ishigaki Island (Voyagin) Scuba Diving with Manta Rays Scuba Diving with Manta Rays Motor Sports Motor Sports For those who prefer to stay above water, there’s also the opportunity to test your balance on a wakeboard or have some fun with friends while riding a banana boat. Two of the best public beaches to add some adrenaline to your vacation are Maehama Beach in Miyakojima and Kouri Beach in northern Honto. A 20-minute round of wakeboarding in Miyakojima will set you back 3,500 yen while the banana boat ride at Kouri Ocean Side costs 1,500 per person for 10 minutes. Other thrilling activities at both beaches include flyboard rides and jet ski cruising, all while enjoying the view of the iconic long bridges of Okinawa. Motor Sports Paragliding Paragliding If what you want is a bird’s-eye view of the endless blue waters and the mountains, then you need to head down to Chinenmisaki in the Nanjo District of Honto and go for a flight with the guys at Ryukyu Sky Academy. Together with a certified instructor who will take you over the water and the historical site of Seifa Utaki, of the most sacred sites for Okinawan people. Another option especially for children is the fluffy floating experience, during which you’ll be floating in the air with a paraglider tied to a motorcycle on the beach; a safe way to get over the flying jitters. The paragliding experience costs 8,700 yen and is available (weather permitting) from 9-6pm next to the entrance of Seifa Utaki. Whale-watching Tours Whale-watching Tours From the deep subtropical forest of Yambaru Park and back out in the beautiful waters of the Pacific Ocean, if you visit Okinawa during the winter months (from January to March) you'll get the chance to catch a glimpse of the humpback whales who travel all the way from the northern waters of Alaska to the Kerama Islands to give birth and raise their calves before heading back up north. Several companies like the Zamamison Whale Watching Association and Marine House Seasir, give the tours with departure options from Naha, Motobu, and Zamami. If you're keen on seeing these beautiful cetaceans we recommend you give yourself at least a couple of backup days to set off on the tour. Due to sea conditions the tours might be postponed and although some companies do offer a refund, the most likely result is for your tour to be postponed to the following day. Popular tours： Whale watching tour in Okinawa with a high-speed boat ! (Voyagin) Whale-watching Tours Yambaru National Park Yambaru National Park Japan has a thing for national parks and these can be found in almost every region of the country. Okinawa is no exception and Yambaru National Park is number 33 on the long list of parks. Yambaru's subtropical forest expands over 13,000 hectares on the northern end of Okinawa Island, and is home to a wide range of wildlife and a rich history. With such a vast area, Yambaru National Park is actual several travel destinations within one, below will give you our favourites and let you choose from there. Yambaru National Park To explore deep into the forest, take a break from the heat, and refresh your mind, we recommend a hike to Hiji Waterfall. From the Yuiyuikunigami Rest Area, drive 2 km to the park gate, and after a small fee, a 1.5 km hike will take you in close proximity to the tranquil and refreshing waterfall. The trail is steep in some sections and will make you work up a sweat, but is easy enough for hikers of all levels. Yambaru National Park ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Okinawa
- 2019.04.16
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Day Trip to the Urauchi River
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- The Urauchi River located in Iriomote Island, is Okinawa’s longest river and offers a different side to the prefecture. Less white sandy beaches and more tropical forest and mangroves is what you’ll get when make the trip to the second last island in the prefecture before reaching Taiwan. Unless you are staying in Iriomote Island, a day trip to the Urauchi River will start bright and early at the Ishigaki Port. A ferry run by Anei Kanko, which moves travelers around the Yaeyama Islands, makes 10 (varies with season) trips a day to Uehara Port starting at 6:50am, with the last trip at 5:30pm. To reach the mouth of the Urauchi River this is the best option which for 2,060 yen also includes the shuttle bus round trip to the river. Ishigaki Port Iriomote Island Once at the Urauchi River and after a short walk into the forest, you are greeted by the staff at Urauchigawa Kanko. This riverside touring company is the only one located on the river and if you want to enjoy it safely and to the fullest, this is the place to contact. With these guys you have a long list of tours packages to explore the Urauchi; The River Jungle Cruise (1,800 yen), Mariyudu and Kanbire Falls Tour (1,800 yen), and the Utara River Half-Day Kayak Tour (4,000 yen), to name a few of the common ones. Alternatively, you can also rent a kayak for 1,500 yen per hour or 8,000 for 7 hours and venture out with your group of friends. Urauchi River ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Okinawa
- 2017.08.21
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Blue Cave Snorkeling and Diving with Marine Club Umi
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- Without a doubt, one of the most iconic experiences in Okinawa is entering the Blue Cave of Cape Maeda in the Onna District. Talking to fellow travelers along the route and it is highly likely that they are heading there or have been there. Once you’ve decided to join this adventure, choosing the right diving school is key to get the most out of this experience. In Onna, there are several schools and tour operators providing a similar service, yet one that rises above the rest both for its professionalism and hospitality is Marine Club Umi. Marine Club Umi offers guided snorkeling and diving tours to the Blue Cave. It does so with a large team of professional divers who not only know their craft well but are also good at keeping the groups entertained even when tour participants are nervous and inexperienced. From the start, the staff (some multilingual) are ready to assist you either in English, Korean, Chinese, and of course Japanese. The owner, Saiko-san, is a local who is not only happy to offer the tours, but is also open to give his customers further recommendations for touring the area. To get the best out your time with Umi, give yourself from two to three hours depending on the experience you choose. Marine Club Umi Once the formalities are done and the waiver signed, you are then suited with all the necessary gear, for either snorkeling or diving into the cave. Again, for inexperienced participants, a briefing about the technical aspects is given both while choosing the gear and prior to entering the water. All the logistical aspects go pretty smoothly and in no time the group boards a van headed for Cape Maeda, where the famous Blue Cave Awaits. Technically, anyone can head to Cape Maeda and enter the water on their own, yet having the guys at Umi taking care of the gear, driving you to the cave, and looking for a parking spot (scarce during the high season) are some of the aspects that make their service highly valuable. Marine Club Umi Once at the Maeda Cape, one more safety briefing is given after which the group enters the water. When snorkeling to the cave, the group, and especially the less experienced swimmers are sort of escorted to the cave while hanging onto an inflatable device. If you do have experience and would rather explore a little away from the group, talking to the guide usually does the trick. With the strong currents nearby though, it is good to stay close to everyone else. The group will enter the cave, hang in there for several minutes, take the necessary photos and then head back to the cape. You can choose the snorkeling experience from the beach for 3,100 yen or from a boat for 3,800 yen. Maeda Cape ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Okinawa
- 2017.08.11
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Recommended spots
38 results
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- Nature Miraikan
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4.013 Reviews - Camping / Auto Camping
- Okinawa Pref. Kunigamigunkinchou Kin 11818-2
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My grandson and I ride our bicycles here several times a week. Great beach as well as nice playground. I see they have camping, bicycle rentals, etc., but we have not used any of those items.
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- Ie-son Youth Travel Village
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4.54 Reviews - Camping / Auto Camping
- Okinawa Pref. Kunigamigunieson Higashiemae 2439
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This is a great place to go if you bring a vehicle and camping gear. For 300 yen you can camp under the pines, right next to a nice, clean beach. Toilets and showers are available, as well as, some...
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- Mitrea Campsite Iriomote
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3.03 Reviews - Camping / Auto Camping
- Okinawa Yaeyama-gun Taketomicho Uehara 984-14
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1000JPY per night per person. children must pay the same price as adults. it includes free warm shower, toilets, kitchen, electricity, fridge and wet wood for fire. you can pay for laundry...
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- Inoda Camping Ground
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3.53 Reviews - Camping / Auto Camping
- Okinawa Ishigaki-shi Tozato Inoda 201-1
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場所としては玉取崎展望所に近いので、周囲には何もありませんがとても静かで落ち着けるキャンプ場です。 タイヤの看板がある主要道路の入口から入って、一瞬海が見えますが、そこを左に進むとしばらく走ってキャンプ場です。 テントサイトは周囲が防風林に覆われていて直接海が見えるわけではないです。
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- Whole earth Shizen School Okinawa ko gajumarushizengaku
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3.52 Reviews - Hiking / Walking
- Okinawa Pref. Nagoshi Makiya 845
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静岡に本校を持つホールアースの沖縄校。インストラクターの案内で親しみながら、自然や環境について学ぶことができます。
Okinawa Areas
Let go of your image of a busy, ordered Japan and replace it with crystal-clear waters, white sand beaches, and relaxing folk music: You've arrived in Okinawa. A world away from the high intensity of Tokyo, Okinawans appear to live a laid-back beach life on this paradisiacal tropical island that lies in the middle of the East China Sea almost 1,000 kilometers south of mainland Japan's most southern tip. Home to a spattering of islands, prepare yourself to discover underwater caves, star-shaped sand, and an island culture sometimes unrecognizable from mainland Japan.
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