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Notes on Iriomote Island❕.
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Notes on Iriomote Island
Hello everyone.
What do you pay attention to when you travel?
Many people always check the information on round-trip transportation and the tours they will participate in when making travel plans.
Other items such as camping equipment if you are camping, and an international charger cable if you are going abroad are also needed.
As you can see, precautions will vary depending on the destination and the nature of the trip.
There are also several points to be aware of when traveling to Iriomote Island, and this article will introduce some of the precautions to be taken on Iriomote Island.
(1) Pre-tour confirmation
If you decide to travel to Iriomote Island, you will probably consider a tour first.
Many people take advantage of available time slots to join a tour, or book a full-day tour when they find it difficult to make a schedule.
The key points to keep in mind are "tour content" and "preparation.
In winter tours, the north wind can be cold, and there are situations where it is better to wear a rash guard and long pants, etc.
To enjoy the tour 100%, it is important to dress appropriately for the situation.
In addition, please prepare in advance any necessary personal items such as hats, sunglasses, eyeglass bands, replacement contact lenses, etc. that are not included in the tour content (rental items).
Please make sure you understand the tour you have booked and the environment, and be prepared to enjoy it to the fullest.
Many tour plans include transportation.
However, some tours have local meeting plans, so please make sure you know what you are getting into.
You should check to see if a transportation service is available, and for plans that do not offer transportation, you need to make sure you have a good idea of how to get to the site.
If you are traveling from another island to the tour meeting point, check in advance about transportation, as the number and times of ferries and high-speed boats are limited.
Failure to arrive on time for a tour can result in not only not being able to participate in the tour, but also in inconvenience to other guests participating in the same tour.
Be considerate so that you can enjoy your trip comfortably.
(2) Car rental arrangements
Iriomote Island is so pristine and natural that it is called the Galapagos of the East.
Indeed, 90% of the island is undeveloped, and public transportation is barely developed for getting around.
Therefore, renting a car is the best way to get around the island.
However, the number of car rental companies is limited, and during the busy summer season, both companies may be fully booked.
Therefore, those traveling during the best summer season should make their reservations early.
If you make a reservation in advance, the car rental company will pick you up according to the arrival time of the ferry, so there is no need to worry if you choose a car rental company that is a little far from the port.
It is also possible to ride off within Iriomote Island, but in many cases an additional fee is charged for this, so please check when making a reservation.
In Iriomote Island, there are stores that handle not only rental cars but also rental motorcycles, so those who want to enjoy touring are recommended to go there as well.
Please look for a car rental company that offers a usage method that fits your travel plans.
Incidentally, Iriomote Island has very few gas stations, so be careful not to run out of gas.
Once past the ports of Uehara and Ohara, there are no gas stations for several dozen kilometers, so always keep track of how much gas you have left.
Also, there are only two signals on Iriomote Island.
It is tempting to go too fast, but you may run over a rare animal that suddenly jumps out at you.
For the sake of the animals, be sure to observe the 40 km/h speed limit.
We also recommend making reservations on the web, as local car rental agencies can be busy and often cannot be reached by phone.
(iii) Confirm access to and convenience of the port to be used
There are two routes to Iriomote Island: from Ishigaki Island to Uehara Port or Ohara Port by ferry or high-speed boat.
Uehara Port is located on the north side of the island and Ohara Port on the east side.
There are many beaches near Uehara Harbor on the north side where marine activities (diving, snorkeling) take place.
There are many mountains and rivers near Ohara Port on the east side, and activities (jungle cruises, trekking) that take advantage of such fields are the main activities.
Choose the port you will use based on where your tour will take place or from which port your destination is more accessible.
If you are renting a car locally, it is best to check in advance where the car rental office is located.
Keep in mind that Ohara Port is a living route, so there are fewer cancellations and more frequent operations than at Uehara Port.
The number of flights between Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island is as follows.
An-ei Kanko & Yaeyama Kanko Ferry (joint operation)
To Uehara Port: 8-10 pcs.
To Ohara Port: 12 pcs.
Ishigaki Island Dream Sightseeing
To Uehara Port: 1 (via Hatoma Island)
To Ohara Port: 6 pcs.
As shown above, you can see that the number of trains at Uehara Port is smaller than at Ohara Port.
Also, in winter, flights to Uehara Port may be cancelled.
Therefore, when using Uehara Port, it is necessary to check the operation status frequently.
If the ferry to Uehara Port is cancelled, you can take the ferry to Ohara Port and take the Iriomote Island route bus to Uehara Port for a smooth trip.
There is only one bus route on Iriomote Island that goes around the outer circumference of the island, and the bus makes four round trips a day, so be sure to check the timetable before using the bus.
The time required from Uehara Port to Ohara Port by bus is approximately 1 hour, so please be sure to allow plenty of time for activities and tours if you have reservations for them.
(5) Make reservations for lodging as early as possible
As with car rentals, it is advisable to make reservations for accommodations as early as possible.
After all, this is a popular resort area, and reasonably priced, well-located, and well-equipped accommodations fill up quickly.
Guest houses and other accommodations are also popular, so early reservations are necessary.
If you search on the day of the event, it will be difficult to find accommodations with the conditions you desire, as there are few places available in the first place.
Even if you can find one, it may be a luxury hotel, so we recommend that you plan ahead and make reservations as early as possible.
6) Sudden squalls during the rainy season
Iriomote Island has a subtropical climate and is subject to sudden squalls.
Because of the long duration of this period during the rainy season, it will be necessary to always check the weather forecast in advance to see when squalls will occur.
Also check in advance how strong the rain is and what kind of rain gear you will need.
Those who want to enjoy the subtropical climate may also enjoy squalls, but those who want to travel when the weather is good may want to make their travel plans outside of the rainy season.
Please enjoy your trip to Iriomote Island with a plan that suits you best.
7) If you want to see a star-filled sky, you must go on a tour.
Iriomote Island has one of the most beautiful starry skies in Japan.
In March 2018, Iriomote Ishigaki National Park was recognized as the first starry sky protected area in Japan.
It is truly a beautiful world-class starry sky.
On Iriomote Island, you can see a whopping 84 constellations out of a total of 88 types of constellations.
It is also known as the only place in Japan where you can see the Southern Cross.
Now, there are several spots on Iriomote Island where you can see beautiful starry skies.
The conditions are that the site must be far from the city center and out of reach of city lights.
Here is a summary of such starry sky spots in Iriomote Island.
Unarizaki Park
Southwind Mita ni Hama
Tudumari Beach
These spots are of course good, but in fact, there are tours conducted by locals that will take you to places where the starry sky is easier to see depending on the climate.
There are also plans to enjoy the starry sky while exploring the jungle, SUP, or canoeing, and those who wish to enjoy the starry sky in a better environment are recommended to join a tour.
Rather than heading to a starry sky spot while feeling uneasy in an unfamiliar place, let a local professional guide you and ensure that you observe a beautiful starry sky.
Scattered across the sky, the stars sparkle so brightly that they seem as if they are about to fall.
The inspiringly beautiful starry sky will be a good memory of your trip.
in the end
We introduced some points to note about Iriomote Island.
How was it?
Find car rentals and accommodations early.
Select the port to be used according to the purpose.
Precautions to be taken
Pay attention to the above three points and enjoy Iriomote Island without anxiety.
Of course, there are many other things to be aware of, so it is important to check in advance according to your own travel plans.
Please reconfirm the information in this article and enjoy the best trip to Iriomote Island.
Thank you for reading to the end.
This article was written by.
