Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Okinawa: Naha, the Kerama Islands, Ishigaki, Iriomote and Taketomi
8 days from Naha to Ishigaki: Shuri, the Makishi market, a Kerama Islands snorkel boat and the Peace Memorial Park, then four nights in Ishigaki for Kabira Bay, Taketomi, an Iriomote mangrove kayak and a reef snorkel.
8 days · Naha to Ishigaki · up to 12 guests
Kabira Bay on Ishigaki, a national place of scenic beauty Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kabira_Bay_Ishigaki_Island40bs3s4592.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Naha to Ishigaki
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Easy to moderate island days: up to about 8 km on foot in Shuri and Taketomi, two snorkel trips in open water (you need to be comfortable swimming, with a life jacket or float provided), and about 2 to 3 hours of paddling in a sit-on-top kayak on Iriomote. Every boat and water day has a dry option: stay on the boat, take the river cruise instead of the kayak, or ride the cart.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 870 (estimated price)
- Season
- April to June and October to November
Highlights
Why this trip
- Shuri Castle Park and the stone-paved Kinjo-cho lane at opening time, before the tour groups (opening hours confirmed at booking)
- Pick your fish downstairs at Makishi Public Market and eat it cooked upstairs
- A full day on a snorkel boat in the clear water of the Kerama Islands National Park
- A quiet morning at the Cornerstone of Peace and the Peace Memorial Museum in Itoman
- Kabira Bay first thing from a glass-bottom boat, then an afternoon on an Ishigaki reef
- Paddle through Iriomote's mangroves with a licensed local guide, then cross to Yubu island by buffalo cart
- Taketomi's coral-stone walls and red-tiled roofs from a water-buffalo cart, on an early ferry
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 870 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Naha
Naha Airport (OKA) to your hotel in central Naha
- Dinner
- Stay in Naha
- Drive about 18 min
Fly into Naha Airport (OKA), usually through Tokyo, Osaka or another Japanese hub, and our driver meets you in arrivals for the short drive, about 20 minutes, into the centre. Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture and the old port of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which traded with China, Japan and Southeast Asia for centuries before Japan annexed it in 1879.
Afternoon
The afternoon is free: walk Kokusai-dori, the main shopping street, or duck into the covered arcades behind it.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the week, the boat days, what to pack for snorkelling and how we handle wind and ferry changes. Then we sit down together to a welcome dinner of Okinawan home cooking: goya champuru with bitter melon and tofu, rafute pork belly slow-cooked in awamori and soy, and sea grapes.
Included
- Pick-up at Naha Airport (OKA)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner of Okinawan dishes
Free time: Free until the early-evening briefing
Shuri at opening, the market and Tsuboya
Naha to Shuri and back, then the Makishi market and Tsuboya pottery street
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Naha
- Drive about 30 min
We drive up to Shuri for opening time (about 8:00 to 8:30, confirmed at booking because the main hall rebuild changes which areas open when), before the tour groups, and walk in through the Shureimon gate. Shuri Castle was the seat of the Ryukyu kings and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing, the Gusuku Sites of the Kingdom of Ryukyu. Its main hall burned in October 2019 and has been rebuilt by traditional methods, with completion scheduled for 2026, so depending on your date you see the finished hall or the last stage of the work. From the castle we walk down the Kinjo-cho stone-paved lane, shaded by old trees and coral-stone walls, and visit Tamaudun, the 16th-century royal mausoleum.
Afternoon
Back in town, lunch is at the Makishi Public Market: choose your fish downstairs and have it cooked upstairs. After lunch, walk the potters' workshops of Tsuboya, a pottery quarter since the late 17th century. The rest of the day is yours.
Included
- Shuri Castle Park at opening with your guide, including the paid area
- The Kinjo-cho stone-paved lane
- Tamaudun royal mausoleum
- Lunch at the Makishi Public Market, fish chosen downstairs and cooked upstairs
- Tsuboya pottery street
Easier option: Ride down from the castle in the van instead of walking the Kinjo-cho lane, which is steep and can be slippery after rain.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Naha
Activity: About 5 to 6 km on foot, with steps at the castle and a steep cobbled descent on the Kinjo-cho lane.
A day on the water in the Kerama Islands
Naha port to the Kerama Islands by snorkel boat and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Naha
- Drive about 18 min
A short drive to the port, then a licensed local snorkel boat takes us west to the Kerama Islands, a scatter of small islands about 40 km from Naha that became a national park in 2014. The water here is clear and a deep, bright blue, and the skipper picks two or three reef sites for the conditions of the day. Sea turtles are often seen grazing on the seagrass, though nothing is promised. Masks, fins, wetsuits and floats are provided, and the crew give a short briefing before anyone gets in.
Afternoon
Between swims we stop at a sheltered spot or a beach for lunch, and there is time to dry off and warm up on deck.
Evening
We are back in Naha by late afternoon, salty and sun-tired, with the evening free to find an izakaya or to rest at the hotel before tomorrow's unhurried drive south.
Included
- Full-day snorkel boat to the Kerama Islands National Park with a licensed local operator
- Mask, fins, wetsuit and float
- Lunch on the boat day
Easier option: Stay on deck or on the beach stop and watch the reef from the surface with a float; the trip is worth it from the boat.
More active option: Extra time in the water at each site with the boat crew, for confident swimmers.
Free time: Evening free in Naha
Activity: Boat days depend on wind and sea. If the Kerama boat cannot sail, we move it to another Naha day and bring the Peace Memorial Park forward.
The Peace Memorial Park, then fly to Ishigaki
Naha to the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park at Mabuni, then Naha Airport and a flight to Ishigaki
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Ishigaki
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
This morning is quieter by design. We drive about 45 minutes south to Mabuni in Itoman, where the Battle of Okinawa ended in June 1945 after nearly three months of fighting that killed soldiers on both sides and a very large number of Okinawan civilians. The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park sits on the clifftop above the sea. Your guide walks you through the Cornerstone of Peace, rows of black granite engraved with the names of more than 240,000 people of every nationality who died, and then gives you time in the Peace Memorial Museum, which tells the story largely through survivors' own words. There is no rush and no commentary over the quiet spots.
Afternoon
After lunch nearby we drive to Naha Airport for the afternoon flight to Ishigaki, about an hour south-west, and transfer to our hotel near the ferry terminal.
Included
- Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park with your guide: the Cornerstone of Peace and the Peace Memorial Museum
- Lunch in the south of Okinawa Island
- Flight from Naha (OKA) to Ishigaki (ISG)
- Transfer to your hotel in Ishigaki
Free time: Evening free in Ishigaki
Activity: The museum covers civilian deaths in detail; your guide will tell you what is ahead so you can choose how much to see. The afternoon flight to Ishigaki is booked at a fixed time, so the Mabuni visit is planned back from it and never runs late into the airport transfer.
Kabira Bay early, then an Ishigaki reef
Ishigaki town to Kabira Bay and the Tamatorizaki viewpoint, then a reef snorkel boat
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Ishigaki
- Drive about 1.5 h
Afternoon
We leave after an early breakfast and drive about 30 minutes north-west to Kabira Bay, a nationally designated place of scenic beauty, to see it before the midday tour buses. Swimming is not allowed in the bay because of currents and boat traffic, so we see the coral and fish from a glass-bottom boat, then walk the white-sand shore and the pine-shaded viewpoint above it. Black pearls are farmed here, and the small islands in the bay sit in water that turns green and turquoise with the tide. On the way round the island we stop at Tamatorizaki, a short hill path with a wide view over the east coast. After lunch near Kabira, a licensed local snorkel boat takes us out to the reef, to sites chosen for the day's wind; manta rays are seen here in season, but not on every trip.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Kabira Bay with your guide, including a glass-bottom boat
- Tamatorizaki viewpoint
- Lunch near Kabira
- Afternoon reef snorkel boat with a licensed local operator, gear included
Optional experiences
- A sail in a sabani, the traditional Okinawan wooden fishing boat, where a local operator runs one that week (booked ahead, paid locally)
Easier option: Skip the snorkel boat and spend the afternoon on the beach or back at the hotel; the van returns to town after lunch.
Free time: Evening free in Ishigaki
Activity: Swimming is not allowed in Kabira Bay itself. The snorkel boat runs in open water with floats provided. If the snorkel boat cannot sail, the afternoon becomes a beach and town afternoon, and we move the reef trip to another Ishigaki day if seas allow.
Iriomote: mangroves by kayak and the Yubu buffalo cart
Ishigaki port to Iriomote by ferry, a mangrove kayak and Yubu island, then back to Ishigaki
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Ishigaki
- Drive about 30 min
A short walk to the remote-island ferry terminal and a high-speed ferry of about 40 to 50 minutes to Iriomote, an island almost entirely covered in subtropical forest and mangrove and part of a UNESCO natural World Heritage listing since 2021. A licensed local guide meets us and sets us up in stable sit-on-top kayaks on one of the island's mangrove rivers, chosen for the tide. We paddle slowly upstream under the roots and canopy, with stops to look for crabs, mudskippers and kingfishers, and finish with a short forest walk.
Afternoon
Lunch is on the island. In the afternoon we cross the shallow strait to tiny Yubu island in a cart pulled by a water buffalo, the way islanders have crossed for generations, and walk its botanical garden before the ferry back to Ishigaki. The Iriomote wildcat lives only here, but it is very rarely seen.
Included
- Return high-speed ferry Ishigaki to Iriomote
- Guided mangrove kayak with a licensed local guide, about 2 to 3 hours on the water, and a short forest walk
- Lunch on Iriomote
- Water-buffalo cart crossing to Yubu island
Easier option: Take a river cruise boat through the mangroves instead of the kayak, and meet the group for lunch.
More active option: When seas allow the ferry to the north of the island, swap the river kayak for the longer paddle and jungle walk to Pinaisara Falls, the highest waterfall in Okinawa (about 6 hours, booked ahead).
Activity: About 2 to 3 hours of paddling in calm, tidal water; no kayaking experience needed. The kayak river and route depend on tide and the island's current visitor rules.
Taketomi by buffalo cart
Ishigaki port to Taketomi by ferry and back
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Ishigaki
- By ferry
We take an early ferry, about 10 to 15 minutes, to Taketomi so the village is ours before the day-trip peak. Taketomi is a small, flat coral island, and its single village is a nationally protected district of traditional buildings: low houses with red-tiled roofs, shisa lion-dogs on the eaves, white sand lanes and walls of grey coral stone with hibiscus spilling over them. We see it first from a cart pulled by a water buffalo, whose driver often plays the sanshin and sings as the cart creaks along. Then you can walk or cycle the lanes at your own pace, out to Kondoi Beach for the shallow turquoise water or to Kaiji Beach to look for star sand.
Afternoon
We are back in Ishigaki by early afternoon, which is yours.
Evening
In the evening we meet for a farewell dinner of Yaeyama dishes.
Included
- Return ferry Ishigaki to Taketomi
- Water-buffalo cart ride through Taketomi village
- Taketomi visitor support fee
- Farewell dinner in Ishigaki
Optional experiences
- Bicycle hire on Taketomi, paid locally
Easier option: Stay with the cart and a short walk in the village; the island is flat and small.
More active option: Cycle round the island, about 9 km on quiet lanes, with stops at Kondoi and Kaiji beaches.
Free time: Afternoon free in Ishigaki
Activity: If wind cancels the Taketomi ferry, we swap this day with the Kabira day or the Iriomote day, and the farewell dinner stays in Ishigaki either way.
Ishigaki and home
Ishigaki town to New Ishigaki Airport (ISG)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
A slow last morning. Walk to the Ishigaki public market for local sweets and island chilli oil, have a last swim or coffee by the harbour, or simply pack without hurrying. Your guide arranges the timing of the transfer with each of you, and our driver takes you about 30 minutes to New Ishigaki Airport (ISG), on the island's east coast. Most flights home connect through Naha, Tokyo or Osaka, so leave yourself a comfortable connection. If you are carrying on to the mainland, our Japan trips from Tokyo or Fukuoka start well from here, and we can quote extra nights in Naha or Ishigaki before or after the trip. Your guide sees you off at the hotel or the airport before saying goodbye.
Included
- Transfer to New Ishigaki Airport (ISG)
Free time: Morning free in Ishigaki
Activity: Book a flight out of Ishigaki leaving after about 11 am, and allow at least 2 hours for any connection in Naha, Tokyo or Osaka.
- Naha3 nights
- Ishigaki4 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: April to June and October to November are warm, with sea temperatures from the low to high 20s Celsius; May and June bring the rainy season and occasional rough seas, and early autumn can still bring typhoons. Sea turtles are often seen in the Keramas and manta rays off Ishigaki in season, but no sighting is promised.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Okinawa's islands and sea, not just one beach hotel
- Confident or occasional snorkellers who also want history, food and village life
- Japan repeat visitors looking beyond Tokyo and Kyoto
- Anyone adding a warm, slower week after a mainland Japan trip
Not for you if you want
- Non-swimmers who want every day in the water (there is a dry option on each water day, but the trip is built around the sea)
- Travellers who want a resort stay with daily pool time
- Those who cannot get in and out of small boats and kayaks with some help
- Visitors set on scuba diving, which is not included
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Naha3 nights
- Ishigaki4 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights in central 3-star-plus hotels: 3 in Naha near Kokusai-dori, 4 in Ishigaki near the remote-island ferry terminal
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Naha Airport (OKA) and drop-off at New Ishigaki Airport (ISG)
- Our own air-conditioned van and driver on Okinawa Island and on Ishigaki
- The flight from Naha to Ishigaki
- Return high-speed ferries from Ishigaki to Iriomote and to Taketomi
- The Kerama snorkel boat, the Kabira glass-bottom boat and the Ishigaki reef snorkel boat
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with licensed local guides and boat crews for the snorkel trips and the Iriomote kayak
Activities
- Shuri Castle Park, the Kinjo-cho stone lane and Tamaudun, Naha
- Makishi Public Market and Tsuboya pottery street, Naha
- Full-day Kerama Islands snorkel boat with gear and wetsuit, from Naha
- Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park and Museum, Itoman
- Kabira Bay glass-bottom boat and the Tamatorizaki viewpoint, Ishigaki
- Reef snorkel boat with gear, Ishigaki
- Guided mangrove kayak and the Yubu island buffalo cart, Iriomote
- Water-buffalo cart and visitor support fee, Taketomi
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 lunches (days 2 to 6), including fish cooked to order at the Makishi market
- A welcome dinner in Naha and a farewell dinner in Ishigaki
Not included
- International flights to Naha and home from Ishigaki, and any connecting domestic flights
- Visa or entry fees, if your passport needs them
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed (2 lunches and 5 dinners)
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities, such as bicycle hire on Taketomi or the Pinaisara Falls day on Iriomote
- Personal expenses
- Extra nights before or after the trip
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 870 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Seven nights in central hotels, 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners, airport transfers, our own van and driver, the Naha to Ishigaki flight, every ferry, the Kerama and Ishigaki snorkel boats with gear, the Kabira glass-bottom boat, the Iriomote mangrove kayak with a licensed guide, both buffalo carts, all entries and your See Sight Tours guide throughout.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That fits on one snorkel boat with room to spare, in one van, and around one table at the market, and it is small enough to walk Taketomi's village lanes without crowding them.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from Naha arrival to the last morning in Ishigaki. Licensed local boat crews run the snorkel trips, and a licensed local guide leads the Iriomote kayak, as island rules require. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. You should be comfortable in the water for the two snorkel trips, and floats and life jackets are provided. Anyone who prefers to stay dry can watch from the boat, take the river cruise on Iriomote instead of the kayak, or spend the reef afternoon on the beach.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately active. The longest walk is about 5 to 6 km around Shuri, with steps and a steep stone lane, and the Iriomote kayak is about 2 to 3 hours of gentle paddling in tidal water. Every demanding day has an easy option, and the drives are all under two hours.
Is there a single supplement for solo travellers?
Yes. A room of your own is from CAD 870 more, shown up front before you request to book. Solo travellers join every activity and meal on the same terms as everyone else, and the price is the same whichever date you choose.
When is the best time to visit Okinawa?
April to June and October to November, when the sea is warm and the heat is easier than in summer. The rainy season usually runs from about mid May to late June, and typhoons are possible from about June to October, so we keep the Ishigaki days flexible.
What happens if a boat or ferry is cancelled?
We move the day. The Kabira, Iriomote and Taketomi days in Ishigaki are interchangeable, and the Kerama boat can swap with the Peace Memorial Park day in Naha. If wind closes the sea for longer, your guide arranges a land alternative on the same island.
How does booking work?
Choose a date and request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. The price shown is indicative, per person sharing a room, in Canadian dollars with taxes included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same flight, ferries and local guides.
Do Canadians need a visa for Japan?
Canadian passport holders can visit Japan without a visa for up to 90 days as tourists, and Okinawa needs no extra paperwork. Japan plans an electronic pre-travel authorisation (JESTA), so we confirm the current entry rule when you book. Other passports differ; check yours.
Can I combine this with a mainland Japan trip?
Yes. Naha has frequent flights from Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, so the trip pairs well after our Tokyo to Osaka or Kyushu trips. We can add hotel nights between the two and suggest the flight that fits; ask when you request to book.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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