You might meet coconut crabs and Japanese scops owls！
Let’s look for night creatures in the jungle at night, armed with a flashlight, and observe the starry sky.

A jungle tour of Iriomote Island too scary to go on alone.
But with a guide, there’s nothing to worry about: you can enjoy the tour safely.

We’ll go searching for insects and waterside creatures. If we’re lucky, we might even see coconut crabs or Japanese scops owls! On a moonlit night with little clouds, you can see the starry sky in all its glory. Enjoy an Iriomote Island totally different from daytime.

In summer, you can even see “”Sagaribana””, a one-night flower that blooms at night and falls off by sunrise, savoring the sweet scent of freshly bloomed flowers!

☆Here at Iriomote Jungle Book, we guide you to the best place to tour depending on the season and the time of the year.

Would you like to challenge yourself to an ethereal kayaking tour through the mangrove forest at night? You just might get to encounter a Yaeyama flying fox or Ryukyu scops owl while paddling around.

You can observe such beautifully lit starry skies here in Iriomote Island that the island is even designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Especially in the summer, the rate of encountering clear night skies is high. Spend a romantic time gazing up at the starry sky. You just may even have a chance to see the Milky Way and shooting stars.

“”Kayaking in Mangroves at Night”” in Iriomote Island！！The Appeal and How to Enjoy Yourselves！！

In Iriomote Island, a wide range of night tours are available. But the most recommended is “”kayaking at night”” to enjoy a romantic night among the mangrove forests. We’d like to introduce the appeal of this popular night kayaking tour.

【How to Enjoy “”Kayaking in Mangroves at Night””！！】

①【Exploring Ethereal Mangrove Forests at Night】
For those who have never seen the inside of a mangrove forest, with its dense growth of flora, it might appear jungle-like. Enjoy an adventure having a blast in the vast nature of the subtropics. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of mangroves are their strange-looking roots that spread out like undulating octopus legs. Experience the slightly more mysterious ambience kayaking at night, while viewing scenes you just can’t observe during the daytime. The mangrove forest is home to many animals unique to subtropical regions. You may even have chances to observe them up close. As the sun sets and the surroundings get darker, there’s a chance for surprise encounters with “”Yaeyama flying foxes”” and “”Ryukyu flying foxes”” while paddling around in kayaks.

②【Observing the Starry Sky on a Starlit Night】

Paddling in rivers winding through thick mangrove forests of this subtropical region by kayak, enjoying an exhilarating jungle cruise in Iriomote Island at night, just one look up at the night sky, and you’ll find yourself gazing at a stunning starry sky. In April 2018, the Iriomote Ishigaki National Park in Okinawa Prefecture became approved as Japan’s first “International Dark Sky Sanctuary” ever. Iriomote Island lies in this protected area. On a night of clear skies, spend time gazing up at the starry sky, you just may even have a chance to see the Milky Way and shooting stars. Under the healing effects of both forest bathing and stargazing at the same time, you’ll get the chance to enjoy the mesmerizing nature only Iriomote Island can offer.

• Summary of Kayaking in Mangroves at Night

Experience an ambience and scenery different from kayaking during the daytime on our night tour kayaking in midst of mangroves. Rich in nature, Iriomote Island is sure to stimulate your 5 senses with its enriching energy, refreshing every inch of our body and soul. Why not enjoy a night kayaking tour of Iriomote Island to your heart’s content, in the backdrop of scenery drastically different from the daytime?

This is a night tour to see Iriomote wildcat and other night creatures inhabiting Iriomote Island, while of course, staying respectful of their natural habitats.

☆Our guides will use a combination of thermal night vision (infrared temperature sensors) and flashlights especially designed not to impair the wildcats’ sense of vision.

A private tour limited to 1 group per day. Will you be lucky enough to meet Iriomote wildcats!?

You’ll learn about the current ecological situation of the Iriomote wildcat, based on firsthand information only our guides living on Iriomote Island is aware of. We’ll explore the jungle, going around to various locations where wildcats are known to hang out, while enjoying surprise encounters with other night creatures.

※We actively gather information about the potential whereabouts of Iriomote wildcats on a daily basis to guide you to the most likely locations for these wildcats to appear. Please kindly bear in mind that this night tour is purely a “”chance to meet Iriomote wildcats”” if you are lucky.

Please also kindly note we will not enter hunting grounds or the jungle to an unnecessary degree, nor will we track the Iriomote wildcats upon encountering them, to respect their natural habitat and local regulations. We will be asking for the cooperation of all participants pertaining to certain rules of conduct to protect the habitats of the Iriomote wildcat when you make your reservation by email. Only those who agree to these terms will be allowed to participate.

“”On the Nyaito Tour, we can discover the countless night creatures and scenic views unique to Iriomote Island at our leisure. If we are blessed with good weather, we’ll encounter the magical hour of dusk, stunning starry skies, one-night flowers only seen during a very small time frame, fireflies, coconut crabs, Japanese scops owls, flying foxes, and many other inhabitants of the waterside.

Even if you don’t get to see Iriomote wildcats, you can still observe the incredible night life on Iriomote Island, on this private tour limited to 1 group per day which anyone from children to adults can enjoy.