The latest information on recommended tours for relaxing and enjoying sightseeing on Japan's remote islands! Enjoy an elegant and luxurious trip free from crowds and stress by taking advantage of outdoor activities and guided tours that can be reserved for private use or small groups amid the overwhelming beauty of nature.
Overwhelming natural scenery, miraculously balanced environments, and the flora and fauna that inhabit them, etc. Japan has four World Heritage sites that meet the criteria for World Heritage registration, which is "a natural phenomenon or area of outstanding natural beauty and aesthetic importance." In each of the Shiretoko, Shirakami-Sanchi, Ogasawara Islands, and Yakushima regions, numerous outdoor activity experience tours are held that allow you to directly experience the natural beauty of the land, and are enjoyed by many travelers. On this page, we will focus on popular outdoor activity experience programs in each of the four World Heritage sites and introduce all the recommended experience tour plans that you absolutely cannot miss when visiting Japan's World Heritage sites!
Yakushima was registered as Japan's first World Heritage Site along with Shirakami-Sanchi in 1993 due to its natural Yakusugi forests, which are home to giant cedar trees over 1,000 years old, and the vertical distribution of vegetation. The most popular activity on the World Heritage Site of Yakushima is the trekking tours to the Yakusugi and Jomonsugi, which are some of the most popular power spots in the country. In the surrounding area, you can enjoy outdoor activity programs in the mountains, seas, rivers, etc., which are unique to the tropics.
A thorough introduction to popular activities on Yoron Island, an isolated island in Kagoshima Prefecture! Enjoy marine leisure activities at a number of spectacular spots, including the mysterious island of Yurigahama, which you can reach by boat, a hot topic on social media.
Kumamoto Prefecture has many popular tourist spots, including Aso, a place with the world's largest caldera and vast grasslands, and Amakusa, famous for dolphin watching, and many other "tourism assets," such as local gourmet food made from agricultural and marine products grown in the rich natural environment. It is one of the most popular areas in the Kyushu region, not only for travel but also for experience-based activities. On this page, we will focus on Kumamoto DMC Co., Ltd., which promotes the charm of Kumamoto Prefecture to the world, and introduce its company overview, concept, and tourist leisure and experience-based activities that are available for advance online reservations on Activity Japan. Let's enjoy the land of fire and water, Kumamoto Prefecture, in the spring and summer 2020 sightseeing season.
Bouldering is a type of rock climbing, but it is broadly categorized into two types: "aid climbing," which uses the equipment and tools necessary to safely climb steep rocky mountains like Everest, and "free climbing," which climbs the cliffs of Yosemite using only basic equipment such as ropes, harnesses, and climbing shoes. "Bouldering" is in the same category as free climbing, and is the simplest sport in which you climb rocks or walls of about 3 to 5 meters using only your body without auxiliary equipment such as ropes or harnesses.
Located in the southwestern part of Kumamoto Prefecture, the Amakusa area is an area filled with the charms of the sea, including beautiful scenery and fresh seafood. The rich sea is home to wild dolphins, and it is popular for being able to enjoy dolphin watching almost all year round. The encounter rate is over 95%! Tsuji Island, located at the northern end of Shimoshima Island in the Amakusa Islands, is a mecca for dolphin watching. Due to the abundance of food, about 200 wild bottlenose dolphins live offshore, and it is known as the "island where you can meet dolphins". Tsuji Island, which has a circumference of about 4 kilometers and a population of about 600, is about 15 minutes by car from Amakusa Airport. It is easily accessible, about 5 minutes from the main island via the Tsuji Bridge. It is also a popular spot as a staple of Kumamoto tourism.
Have you ever tried pottery? It's the kind of thing you see in the movie Ghost, where you turn a potter's wheel or make shapes using clay. These days, you can buy pretty decent tableware at 100-yen shops, but there's something about plates and bowls that are handmade with pottery that's so appealing. Even if the finished product isn't the best, there's a warmth to it, and those unique colors make the food look delicious. I guess I've grown up now, haha.
A popular specialty activity in Amakusa City is dolphin watching, where you can encounter wild bottlenose dolphins! The experience of seeing cute dolphins up close is irreplaceable and will give you a healing experience like no other. Taste delicious mountain and sea delicacies, relieve your fatigue in hot springs, be moved by the sunset over the west coast of Amakusa, and encounter dolphins in the dazzling blue sea... If you can enjoy a healing trip in the great outdoors, you will surely refresh your mind and body.
Where exactly is it? How do you get there? How do you read this kanji? There are so many things we don't know about the mysterious island of Okinoerabujima. For me, who is interested in outdoor activities and has been researching a lot of things, it is a familiar spot because it is home to one of the largest caving sites in Japan, but it is not a place name that you would hear very often in your everyday life.
Did you know that the number of people enjoying fishing has been increasing recently? With the popularity of YouTubers who specialize in fishing videos and the increase in the number of women who are called "fishing girls," more and more people are starting to fish. There are ways to enjoy it seriously as a sport, and you can also enjoy it casually as a hobby. Fishing can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways, making it an activity that can be participated in by people of all ages and genders.
ON SHORE, which has a shop on Amami Oshima, offers a wide range of activity tours that allow you to fully enjoy the natural beauty of Amami Oshima, such as snorkeling at the stunning beach "Koutorihama" that can only be reached by boat, and SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) in the "mangrove virgin forest" that is a designated special protected area of the national park. It is a recommended shop that has received high word-of-mouth reviews from guests.
When you search for horse riding, you will find many horse trekking plans. Horse trekking is when you leave the riding grounds of riding clubs and ranches to enjoy riding on grasslands, mountains, and beaches. It can be experienced all over Japan, and is enjoyed by many people from beginners to advanced riders. Horse trekking is also attractive because it allows you to go on mountain paths that are difficult to walk on and roads that cars cannot pass, and it allows you to experience something far removed from everyday life in the city.
I had never heard of Tanegashima before I became interested in surfing. It is an island that belongs to the Osumi Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is located next to Yakushima, a famous World Heritage Site, and is the third largest island in Kagoshima after Amami Oshima and Yakushima. The island's warm tropical climate and beautiful sea attract many tourists who visit the island in search of its rich nature. The Tanegashima Space Center is famous. Talking about surfing, there are many surf points scattered on the island, including Tetsuhama, Sumiyoshi, Hotel Mae (Takezaki Beach), Yakutsu, and others, with a mix of beach breaks and reef breaks, and it is also famous as a popular spot for surf trips (trips for surfing) in search of good quality waves. Many surfers gather there all year round in search of good quality waves, and many surfers are so attracted by the excellent waves that they decide to move there. Is it really a good place for beginners to go? lol
Yakushima is an island belonging to Kagoshima Prefecture, famous for its Yakusugi forests and wildlife. Since being registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993, it has become a popular destination for tourists from not only Japan but also the world. Nagata Inakahama in the northwest, where loggerhead turtles lay their eggs during the season, is a popular spot for divers. In addition, in Miyanoura-dake in the central part of the island, the Jomon cedar tree, which has been living there since ancient times, has taken root. This large cedar tree, one of the largest in the world, is said to have been growing since the Jomon period, and some of the oldest trees are over 3,000 years old. By the way, Shiratani Unsuikyo is said to have been the model for the Forest of the Forest God that appears in Studio Ghibli's film Princess Mononoke. Due to this episode, Moss Forest and Taiko Rock are crowded with tourists every day.
The Amakusa Islands are located at the western end of Kyushu, straddling Kumamoto Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture. The two main islands, Kamishima and Shimoshima, are part of the Unzen-Amakusa National Park, and the islands have a very warm climate. They are known as a perfect tourist spot for summer vacations, and are crowded with many tourists during the season. The inland sea of Yatsushiro Sea separates the Amakusa Islands from the Kyushu mainland, the Ariake Sea to the north of the Amakusa Islands, and the East China Sea to the south. This is because Amakusa, surrounded by sea on all sides, has many beautiful beaches. The beautiful sea is very clear, and it has been selected as one of the "100 Best Swimming Beaches" announced by the Ministry of the Environment. The further you get from the Kyushu mainland, the more beautiful it becomes. Marine sports in the emerald green sea are very popular, and diving and snorkeling are standard. In addition, about 300 wild dolphins live here, so it is included in the "Seven Great Dolphin Spots in the World." If you go dolphin watching on a fishing boat, the chances of encountering a dolphin are over 95%.
The Kuma River, one of the three major rapids in Japan, has a variety of rapids, making it the perfect place to enjoy rafting. There are courses where you can see not only the mountain scenery that changes with the seasons, but also the aforementioned ruins of Hitoyoshi Castle. Although rafting is often thought of as "going down a rapids," you can enjoy it in a different way in the gentler "toroba" areas. You can enjoy yourself to your heart's content in the great outdoors, such as jumping off rocks and being hit by waterfalls! Of course, the Kuma River has a beautiful, first-class landscape, making it a popular river leisure spot nationwide. There are also hot springs relatively close by, so if you are thinking of traveling with your family or a group, be sure to check it out! If you want to beat the heat during the summer season, try rafting on the Kuma River, which offers both thrills and exhilaration!
Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a remote island that is very popular with tourists, especially during long holidays. It is located about 60 km south-southwest of Cape Sata, Kagoshima Prefecture, the southernmost point of the mainland, and its area is about seven times the size of the area inside the Yamanote Line. Even before it was registered as a World Heritage Site, botanists and zoologists called Yakushima a "treasure of mankind" and a "unique island." Then, on December 11, 1993, it was officially registered as Japan's first World Heritage Site, along with the Shirakami-Sanchi Mountains. It was recognized as a World Heritage Site because the vegetation and vegetation transitions affected by the altitude, and the ecosystem changes unique to the warm temperate zone, are important for research. In addition, the ecosystem, which includes the Yakusugi cedars, which have a unique landscape, is characterized and evaluated as having great academic value.
Well, the first summer season since the new era name Reiwa began in 2019 is just around the corner♪ Summer is the season for enjoying nature such as the sea, rivers, lakes, and mountains, and for outdoor activities that refresh and cool down both body and mind! Many people are planning to use their summer vacation and Obon holidays to enjoy these leisure activities at popular travel spots all over the country◎ On this page, we will announce the latest popularity ranking based on the number of reservations for activity experience tour plans for the 2019 summer season (July 1st to September 30th, 2019), classified into four categories: "Prefecture," "Detailed area," "Activity type," and "Experience tour plan."↑ Demand is expected to exceed last year's in the 2019 season, so we recommend making reservations for popular activities early☆
Hello to everyone reading the Activity Japan BLOG! April is almost over, and with the pleasant weather of spring, I spend every day thinking about a hot summer paradise with temperatures of around 30℃. I've always loved tropical islands and the sea (although as I've gotten older, I've also come to like rivers and mountains), and for the past 10 years or so I've been traveling to Okinawa Island and Ishigaki Island every year, but this year is the year! The spot I'm aiming for as my first travel destination is Yoron Island, an island floating between Kagoshima Prefecture and Okinawa! This tropical paradise became famous for Yurigahama Beach, which has become a hot topic for its 360° blue sea and white sandy beach, and I'm sure many of you have been curious about it. In this blog, I'll focus on the marine activity "snorkeling", which is the true essence of enjoying the nature of Yoron Island, and narrow it down to three plans that I personally wanted to experience!
Showing page 4/7
