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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.
そんな場合もご安心ください。
しっかり水中の景色を楽しんでいただけるアイテムが用意されています。
Excellent item! Box Glasses
シュノーケリングに用いられる箱メガネという道具は双眼鏡とポリバケツの中間のような形状をしており、筒の片面が透明になっています。
この筒を顔にあてがうと、なんと顔を水に浸すことなく海中を眺めることができるのです。
水を怖がるお子様にも安心して西表島の海を楽しんでいただけるだけでなく、実はこの箱メガネの方が水中メガネよりも海中を鮮明に観察できるという声も。
子供用にレンタルしたにも関わらず、保護者の方が水中メガネに夢中になってしまったという声も聞かれます。
水の怖さを克服するためのきっかけとなってくれることもあるアクティビティですので、西表島を訪れるのであれば、ぜひ参加を検討してみてはいかがですか？
You can enjoy yourself without worrying about others! Charter Tour
子供の機嫌のコントロールはどうしたって難しいもの。
さっきまでニコニコしていたのに、ちょっとしたきっかけで機嫌を損ねて泣き出してしまうということも少なくありません。
そんなお子様連れの旅行では、どうしても他の人の視線が気になってしまいがちです。
それなら思い切って完全プライベートなアクティビティを楽しんでしまいましょう。
西表島で大人気なのが、ツアープランそのものを貸し切りにしてしまうチャーターツアーです。
本来なら初対面の方たちとの共同参加になる各ツアーを家族だけで貸し切ってしまえば、お子様が大声ではしゃいだり泣きわめいてしまったりしても、他のグループに気を遣う精神的な負担はありません。
ガイドの方が帯同して案内してくれるので、お子様連れで迷惑を掛けてしまうかもしれない場合は、ツアーの最初に一言その旨を伝えておけばより安心ですね。
How to get to Iriomote Island
西表島には空港がないため、旅行の際には同じ八重山諸島にある石垣島を一度経由する必要があります。
石垣島へは各主要都市からの直行便と、那覇へと向かってから飛行機を乗り継ぐルートがあるため、お住まいの地域から利用しやすい便を選択しましょう。
By high-speed ferry from Ishigaki Island
石垣島から西表島には高速フェリーで向かいます。
島には南北に2つの港があり、チケットを購入する際にはどちらの港へ向かう便かを選ばなくてはなりません。
北側の上原港周辺には商業施設が多く、各種アクティビティが楽しめるスポットまでの距離も近いのが特徴です。
南側の大原港はゆったりと離島の雰囲気を味わうことができ、遊覧船に乗ってマングローブを眺められる仲間川までの距離が近くなっています。
the time required
2つの港までの所要時間には少し差があり、上原港までは40分、大原港までは30分ほどとなっています。
いずれにせよ1時間は要しませんので、ひと時の船旅をのんびりと楽しんでいれば到着まではあっという間です。
Points to keep in mind when traveling to Iriomotejima Island with children
良い点ばかりの西表島旅行ですが、お子様連れの旅行にはやはりいくつかの注意点があります。
旅行に赴く前に抑えておきたいポイントをかいつまんで見ていきましょう。
Beware of seasickness
石垣島から西表島へと向かう船は、天候や海の具合によっては揺れることがあります。
長時間の航行ではありませんが、酔いやすいお子様の場合は細かく気を配ってあげましょう。
酔い止めの薬や気晴らしになるものを持参しておくと良いかもしれません。
Beware of living creatures
西表島の海には、ハブクラゲやオニヒトデ、ゴンスイにミノカサゴといった毒を持った生き物が多く生息しています。
山も同様で、毒蛇として有名なハブなどの生物と出会ってしまう可能性があるのです。
観光地として人気の西表島ですが、島のほとんどは人の手が入っていない大自然であるという認識を強く持っておきましょう。
ツアー参加の際は現地ガイドの方の案内にしっかりと耳を傾け、注意が散漫になりがちなお子様には保護者がしっかりと目を向けておいてあげることが大切です。
There is no restroom during the activity!
また、お子様を連れて外出する際に気がかりなのはお手洗いの問題です。
子供のトイレは突然で、トイレ探しに奔走させられてしまうこともあります。
西表島の市街地はともかく、アクティビティへの参加は基本的に自然の中となります。
アクティビティ中にお手洗いはないため、参加の前にはお子様がトイレに行きたがっていなくても行かせておくなどの、配慮を心がける必要があるでしょう。
summary
お子様を連れての西表島旅行についてご紹介させていただきましたが、いかがだったでしょうか？
子供が小さい頃は何かと行動を制限されがちで、気が滅入ってしまうこともありますが、子供が大きく成長してしまえば一緒に旅行へ行ける機会も限られてしまいます。
親子の思い出を作っておくためには、広大な自然がある場所への旅行がオススメです。
幼い頃に連れて行ってもらった旅行は、記憶の奥底に一生残り続けること間違い無しです。
大自然を目一杯楽しめる西表島で、ぜひお子様と一緒の旅行を楽しんでください。
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