Frequently Asked Questions Here are answers to questions we often receive from guests.
FAQ
What should I bring? How do I pay? What should I wear?
There are many things you may wonder about before making a reservation.
We have summarized the questions we often receive here.
Table of Contents
Access and Transportation
A. If the ferry to Uehara Port is canceled, please see here.
A. Yes, you will make it.Your guide will be waiting at Uehara Port for the arrival of the 8:00 ferry from Ishigaki Island.After arriving at Uehara Port, please gather by the guide holding a sign that says PiPi.
Times may vary depending on ferry operation conditions.
This information is based on the latest timetable as of November 1, 2024.
A. We provide pickup and drop-off around the Uehara area.Hotels outside the Uehara area are outside the pickup/drop-off range.Guests staying at those hotels shouldbusandtaxito come to Uehara Port.
Examples of hotels outside the pickup/drop-off range: Jungle Hotel Painumaya, Eco Village, La Teada Iriomote, etc.
A. Yes.The shuttle vehicle is designed so that even guests who are wetcan ridecomfortably.
A. It depends on yourtour and accommodation.The shop will call you the day before the tour to tell you the meeting time and place. Please be sure to answer. Please note that we cannot provide a confirmed meeting time or place before the day before the tour.
A. Yes, it is possible.Please be carefulnot to mistake the ferry time.
We also recommend staying overnight on Iriomote Island to enjoy the jungle at night!
A. Depending on ferry operation conditions,we may not be able to guide you.
If you are considering joining from a remote island other than Ishigaki Island, please contact the shop by LINE,phoneoremailto consult with us.
Please note that we do not provide pickup or drop-off to Ohara Port.
Tour Details
A. Of course you can enjoy them.More than95% of our guests are beginners, so please join with confidence.
A. At PiPi,we thoroughly operate tours so guests can enjoy them safely and with peace of mind.
regular safety trainingin addition toinstalling AEDs at each fieldand run tours that never push beyond safe limits.
We are alsocertified as an Excellent Marine Leisure Operator for Safety Measuresby the prefecture, so please join with confidence!
Will my clothes get wet on the tour?
A. Your clothes will get wet on most tours.There is no strict requirement, butclothing that can get wetsuch as swimwear, rash guards, or sportswear is recommended.
A. Iriomote Island is relatively warm even in winter compared with mainland Japan, soyou can snorkel.In winter,wetsuits are available to borrow free of charge.With a wetsuit, you can enjoy snorkeling in the sea even in winter.
A. Because the tours take place in natural fields,at the sitethere are no changing rooms or showers.Please change in advance into clothing that can get wet before joining.After the tour, shower facilities are available. Please bring your own towel.
A. Tours are generally held in natural fields, sothere are no restrooms nearby.Please use the restroom before joining.
A. We can keep it at our office.
A. Yes, butbringing personal items, including mobile phones, into the field is at your own risk.We cannot accept any responsibility for damage to or loss of personal belongings during the tour.
A. Because this depends on nature,we cannot promise anything with absolute certainty.Weather on remote islands changes easily, and even if it is cloudy, the chance of seeing them is not zero. Tours generally operate even in rain or cloudy weather.
Also, the tours above cannot be joined as a day trip from Ishigaki Island.
A. During the tour, the guide will take photos of you with a waterproof cameraand provide the data to you for free.There is no need to bring your precious camera near the water!
A. Photo data is generally provided to guests using smartphones.If you have the messaging app LINE or can use AirDrop on an iPhone, we can send the photo data without issue. If sending by email,please consult us because file size may be an issue.Please note that we do not offer photo printing or mailing services.
A. There are several restaurants near Uehara Port.Please eat at any restaurant you like. Please note thatthe Yaeyama Islands are a hot and humid subtropical region. Since opening,we have not provided lunch from a food hygiene standpoint.
Please note that food poisoning has frequently occurred with lunches provided by activity shops that ignore food hygiene laws, due to poor food storage and management.
A. Please see the sample schedule for each tour.
A. PiPi's SUP boardsare designed so even beginners can enjoy themso there is no problem!
A. During tours near the water, you will always wear a life jacket, so please feel at ease.For snorkeling, your guide will support you. Please feel free to join.
A. Most PiPi toursare plans that even guests who are not confident in exercise can enjoy!Even guests who are usually not good at exercisecan fully enjoy the great nature of Iriomote Island!
Reservations and Participation
A. If you have received a reservation confirmation email from our shop or the site where you booked,your reservation is completeso please rest assured. We will also call all guests the day before the tour with details such as the meeting place and time. Please note that confirmed meeting details cannot be provided before the day before the tour.
Click here if you want to confirm your reservation.
A. Absolutely. Solo guests are very welcome.However,if the minimum number of participants is not met, the tour may be canceledso please understand.
A.Our tours are available for children aged 3 and older.
We offer many plans that are perfect for guests with children and families.Please consult us by phone, official LINE, or email!
A. Yes, it is possible.We also offer many plans for groups.We can suggest plans that match your needs and wishesso please feel free to consult us.
A. Of course it is possible.If you consult us in advance, we will respond according to the weather and your schedule. Depending on the situation, our shop can also make the best possible suggestion.
For changes due to customer circumstances,if it is a cancellation rather than a change,please note that the cancellation policy below may apply.
A. Please check each tour page.
A. We are sorry.Guests who are pregnant cannot participate in our tours.
Weather
A. Tours will be held in the rain if safety can be ensured.Except for special weather such as typhoons,tours generally operate in rainy weather.However, field conditions are affected not only by rainbut also by wind, waves, and many other factors.If we determine on the day that safety cannot be ensured due to these factors, even if the weather is sunny,we may cancel the tour.Thank you for your understanding.If a tour is canceled, we will contact you.
What to Bring
A. Please wear swimwear, a rash guard, sportswear, or other clothing that is easy to move in and dries quicklybefore you arrive.Basically, please bringdrinks,towel,a change of clothesthese three items are enough!If you have sunglasses or sunscreen, please bring them!
A. After the tour, guests who plan to board a ferrycannot board while wet.After joining the tour,you can use the shop's showers free of chargeso please bring a towel and a change of clothes.
Payment
A. Payment is by advance card payment or cash on the day.If paying cash on site, please note that in the Uehara area of Iriomote Island, the post office is the only place to withdraw cash, which is very inconvenient. Please prepare cashin advance on Ishigaki Island or pay by card.
A. If you cancel for personal reasons, cancellation fees will be charged according to the policy below.
- Until the day before participation:Free
- On the day of participation:100% of the tour fee
- No-show cancellation:100% of the tour fee
However, in cases such as flight cancellationsno cancellation fee will be charged for cancellations due to force majeure!
Note:charter/private plansare subject to separate cancellation fees.
