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Traveling to Iriomote Island is fun enough with children!
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Enjoy Iriomote Island with children!
The best way to relieve the fatigue of a busy life is to travel to a strange land and taste its climate.
However, when children are young, travel destinations tend to be limited by whether or not the place is enjoyable for children.
If we are taking the kids, we want to entertain them, but we also want to go to a place where the adults can have fun as well.
Iriomote Island, the unexplored region of the South Seas, is perfectly suited for such problems!
Iriomote Island, located 440 km southwest of the main island of Okinawa where Naha City is located, is home to untouched wilderness, with a vast area of unexplored forest covering more than 901 t3 of the island.
The magnificent wilderness is home to many rare creatures, and is often referred to as the Galapagos of the East because of its unique ecosystem.
Such an environment of Iriomote Island will surely satisfy children's curiosity, and they can learn while having fun and playing.
Also, Iriomote Island, with its globally precious nature, is sure to satisfy the intellectual curiosity of adults as well, of course.
The island has a wide range of options, from academic trips that deepen one's knowledge, to active fun in the beautiful ocean and rivers, to tropical getaways that satisfy a wide range of needs.
Furthermore, Iriomote Island, which belongs to the subtropical zone, has a mild climate throughout the year, and not only is summer travel enjoyable, but even in midwinter the average temperature is stable at a high level of around 20℃.
The temperature of 20 degrees Celsius is about the same as early autumn after late summer.
The climate is comfortable enough to adjust body temperature by wearing a light jacket over light clothing as needed, and there is little concern about children falling ill.
It is important to note, however, that the sun is very intense during the summer months.
The tropical sunlight is more piercing than that of the mainland, and the amount of ultraviolet rays is very high.
The weather can be more exhausting than even adults can imagine if left unprotected, and small children can be very physically draining.
Of course. The sunlight adds to the tropical atmosphere, but be sure that both your children and yourself are prepared to visit with sunscreen and protection from direct sunlight.
Recommended activities to participate with children!
If you are traveling to a tropical island, you will want to experience waterfront activities and marine sports.
But if you are thinking that it might be difficult with a child in tow, don't worry.
Iriomote Island is full of unique island activities that can be fully enjoyed with children.
Canoeing with children
When people think of waterfront activities, canoeing is probably the first thing that comes to mind.
Canoeing is also actively enjoyed on Iriomote Island, where you can paddle to unique island locations such as the beautiful ocean and the jungle flowing through mangrove forests.
Many people think it is difficult to ride a canoe because of the image of competitive canoes, but activity canoes are stable and difficult to capsize.
The fact that even beginners can easily learn to ride is one of the reasons for its high popularity as an activity.
Another major advantage of canoeing when traveling with children would be that it is essentially a two-person boat.
Depending on the tour, even very young children can participate if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian, so why not enjoy a canoeing experience in the great outdoors with your children?
Can be ridden by two people! SUP
Like canoeing, stand-up paddle surfing (SUP) has become increasingly popular as a waterfront activity in recent years.
The content of the event is to use a surfboard, stand on it, and paddle on the water like a boat using a paddle.
Although it may seem unfamiliar to some, in Hawaii, where it originated, and in Europe, it has attracted a great deal of attention as an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and both sexes.
Compared to surfing, which uses the same surfboard, the technical hurdle is lower, and because the board is flat, it is characterized by an even greater sense of oneness with the water surface than canoeing.
This may seem like a hurdle, but the surfboard is surprisingly stable and easy to stand up on.
Especially in Iriomote Island, you can enjoy SUP not only in the ocean but also in rivers, and since rivers have no waves compared to the ocean, you can enjoy the charm of SUP more easily.
Children of a certain age can participate by themselves, and there is no limit to the number of people on a SUP board, so parents and children can share a board.
It is the perfect water activity for trips with children.
You don't have to put your face on to enjoy it! Snorkeling
Snorkeling, which allows visitors to view the beautiful underwater world, is by no means an indispensable part of a tropical vacation!
Because it requires only light equipment such as underwater glasses, a snorkel for breathing, and fins for swimming, it is considered a standard activity for trips to remote islands because of its ease of use.
Unlike diving, there are no age restrictions or license requirements, so even children can enjoy the experience without hesitation.
The sea of Iriomote Island is like a jewel box of colorful corals, sea turtles, and vivid tropical fishes, which will be a memorable sight for your children.
However, depending on the age of your child, they may be afraid to dip their face in the water.
Many children are fine in regular swimming pools, but do not like the salt water of the ocean.
In such cases, please do not worry.
Items are available to allow you to enjoy the underwater scenery.
Excellent item! Box Glasses
The box glasses, a tool used for snorkeling, are shaped somewhere between binoculars and a polyethylene bucket, with one side of the tube transparent.
By placing this tube over your face, you can look underwater without immersing your face in water.
Not only can children who are afraid of water enjoy the sea of Iriomotejima without anxiety, but some people say that these box glasses actually allow them to observe the underwater more clearly than underwater glasses.
Some parents say that even though they rented the glasses for their children, the parents became obsessed with the underwater glasses.
This activity can be an opportunity for you to overcome your fear of water, so if you are visiting Iriomote Island, why not consider participating?
You can enjoy yourself without worrying about others! Charter Tour
Controlling children's moods is difficult no matter what you do.
It is not uncommon for a child who was smiling earlier to get into a bad mood and start crying at the slightest opportunity.
When traveling with such children, it is easy to become concerned about the eyes of others.
If that's the case, let's go out on a limb and enjoy a completely private activity.
One of the most popular tour plans on Iriomote Island is a charter tour in which the tour plan itself is chartered.
By renting out tours that would normally be shared with people you have never met before, families do not have the mental burden of having to worry about other groups if their children start screaming or crying.
A guide will accompany you and show you around, so if you have children with you who might be inconvenienced, it would be safer if you say so at the beginning of the tour.
How to get to Iriomote Island
Since there is no airport on Iriomote Island, travelers must go through Ishigaki Island, which is also in the Yaeyama Islands, once.
There are direct flights to Ishigaki Island from various major cities, or you can fly to Naha and then connect flights, so choose a flight that is convenient for you from your area.
By high-speed ferry from Ishigaki Island
From Ishigaki Island to Iriomote Island is reached by high-speed ferry.
There are two ports on the island, one to the north and one to the south, and when purchasing a ticket, one must choose which port the flight will go to.
The Uehara Port area on the north side features many commercial facilities and is close to spots where various activities can be enjoyed.
Ohara Port on the south side offers a relaxing, remote island atmosphere and is close to the Nakama River where you can take a scenic boat ride to view the mangroves.
the time required
There is a slight difference in the time required to reach the two ports: 40 minutes to Uehara Port and about 30 minutes to Ohara Port.
In any case, it will not take more than an hour, so if you take your time and enjoy the boat ride, you will be there in no time.
Points to keep in mind when traveling to Iriomotejima Island with children
Although Iriomotejima Island trip is full of good points, there are still some points to be noted when traveling with children.
Let's take a look at a few key points to keep in mind before you go on your trip.
Beware of seasickness
The boat from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote Island may rock depending on the weather and sea conditions.
This is not a long voyage, but if your child is easily intoxicated, pay close attention to the details.
It may be a good idea to bring anti-sickness medicine or other distractions.
Beware of living creatures
The sea of Iriomote Island is home to many poisonous creatures such as habu jellyfish, crown-of-thorns starfish, gonsui and minnow scorpionfish.
The same is true of the mountains, where you may encounter creatures such as the hub, a well-known venomous snake.
Although Iriomote Island is a popular tourist destination, it is important to be keenly aware that most of the island is untouched by human hands and is a wilderness.
When participating in a tour, it is important to listen carefully to the local guide and to keep a close eye on children, who tend to be distracted.
There is no restroom during the activity!
Another concern when taking children out of the house is the issue of bathrooms.
A child's need to go to the bathroom is sudden and can leave you scrambling to find a toilet.
Aside from the urban areas of Iriomote Island, participation in activities is basically in nature.
Since there is no restroom during the activity, you will need to be considerate and let your child go to the restroom even if he or she does not want to go.
summary
We have introduced the trip to Iriomote Island with children, how was it?
When children are young, they tend to be restricted in their activities, which can be discouraging, but once they are grown, opportunities to travel together are limited.
We recommend that parents and children travel to a place with vast natural beauty to make lasting memories.
There is no doubt that the trips you were taken on as a child will remain deep in your memory for the rest of your life.
Please enjoy your trip with your children on Iriomote Island, where you can enjoy the great nature to the fullest.
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