To Protect Wildlife
In order to protect animals
- Please drive slowly to avoid roadkill and adhere to Japanese regulations.
- Prohibit touching natural monuments and other protected species.
- Avoid capturing or removing organisms from their native habitats; take photos without disturbing the surroundings.
- Follow the guide’s instructions for certain species and minimize flash usage to avoid stress on wildlife.
- Do not enter private facilities’ trails or restricted forest roads without permission from the management.
- Do not disclose the locations of rare species observed online.
For an Enjoyable Experience
- Please schedule your time with the guide in advance; last-minute reservations will be grouped with earlier bookings.
- Be aware of Okinawa black flies (biting midges); wear clothing covering exposed skin and apply insect repellent regardless of the weather.
- As many places in Kunigami Village lack shops, prepare water and food in advance.
- Contact us preferably from the west side of Kunigami Village; signal reception is limited in the mountains and eastern areas.
- For safety, wear closed-toe shoes.
- Flashlights and rain boots are available for nighttime activities; please provide your shoe size (in centimeters) to the guide.
How to Make a Reservation
- Send an email to acorn.okinawa@gmail.com or private message on Facebook with the following information:
- Preferred date
- Chosen itinerary and duration
- Number of adults (high school and above) and middle school students
- Preferred wildlife to observe (if the likelihood is low during your visit, alternative dates will be suggested)
- Accommodation details
- Confirm the meeting time and location with the guide
Reservation Details
- Payment: No deposit is required to simplify the process. Payment in cash will be settled with the guide on the day of the tour. If you need a receipt, please notify us in advance.
- Cancellation Fee: No cancellation fee is charged; however, if you need to cancel, please do so as early as possible to allow for other potential bookings.
- Rainy Days: Tours will be canceled in heavy rain or during typhoons. Light rain is acceptable and might enhance the observation of certain creatures, so tours will not be canceled.
FAQs
- Do I have to stay in Kunigami Village? → Kunigami Village has the highest concentration of endemic species. If you don’t stay in Kunigami Village, travel time is at least 1 hour, and it may be tiring to drive after night observations.
- Where is a good place to stay? → Okuma Resort or Yonna Kan is close to Hiji Falls. For the eastern part of Kunigami Village, I recommend staying at Yambaru Discovery Forest or Ada Garden Hotel.
- How many days do you recommend staying? → I recommend staying at least 2 nights for a more ample observation time.
- Can I go to the Pond in the Yambaru Discovery Forest for night tour? → Night tour at this location requires a guide to enter. If you are not staying at the facility but wish to visit the Pond, please inform us in advance. Admission is 400 JPY per person.
FAQs
- Can you guarantee sightings of the target species? → Observing wild animals, unfortunately, cannot be guaranteed.
- I don’t drive; do you provide transportation from Naha? → I’m sorry, but according to Japanese regulations, I cannot offer paid transportation. You can take a bus to Kunigami Village; please refer to the transportation options.
- What season is best? → Spring is ideal for observing endemic bird species during the breeding season.
- What endemic bird species can be found in Okinawa? → Okinawa Rail, Okinawa Robin, Okinawa Woodpecker.
- Can the departure time of the itinerary be adjusted? → Yes! If you need adjustments, please let me know!
Tours in Yanbaru
Northern Okinawa, suggesting the best route tailored to the wildlife you want to see! Suitable for nature observation enthusiasts and experts!
Group Tour
Group tour itineraries can be arranged according to your itinerary.
Sample itineraries:
Regular sightseeing: 9:00-19:00 (10 hours)
Birdwatching + Night Drive: 6:00-22:00 (16 hours)
| Group tour rate | 5000 JPY per hour |
| Minimum duration: 6 hours, calculated as 6 hours if less than 6 hours (30,000 JPY) |
※ Please note: This itinerary may potentially delay your breakfast or check-out time!
Night Drive
[Summer: April- September] 20:00-23:00
[Winter: October- March] 19:00-22:00
Meeting Point: Some place near to your accommodation location
Group Size: 2 to 8 people
| 3 hrs | |
| Adults | 6600 JPY |
| Junior High/Elementary School Students | 4400 JPY |
Ecotour with Mr. Ichida
Tour Time: 6 hrs (bird watching and lecture)
Meeting Point: Specific location will be provided on Google Maps
Group Size: 2 to 8 people
| 6 hrs | |
| Group Fee (with interpreter) | 60000 JPY |
| Group Fee (without interpreter) | 30000 JPY |
※ Mr. Ichida can speak English
Bird Watching at Hiji Falls
[Summer: April- September] 6:00-8:00
[Winter: October- March] 7:00-9:00
Meeting Point: Hiji Falls Entrance
Group Size: 2 to 8 people
| 2 hrs | |
| Adults | 4400 JPY |
| Junior High/Elementary School Students | 3300 JPY |
※ Admission Fee: Adults 500 JPY, Junior High/Elementary School Students 300 JPY
※ Please note: This itinerary may potentially delay your breakfast time!
Night Tour at Hiji Falls
[Summer: April- September] 20:00-22:00
[Winter: October- March] 19:00-21:00
Meeting Point: Hiji Falls Entrance
Group Size: 2 to 8 people
| 2 hrs | |
| Adults | 4400 JPY |
| Junior High/Elementary School Students | 3300 JPY |
※ Admission Fee: Adults 500 JPY, Junior High/Elementary School Students 300 JPY
Hiji Falls Tour Guidelines
- Our Hiji Falls tour (birdwatching, night tour) only goes up to the suspension bridge and returns, with an expected duration of 2 hours. We aim to concentrate the best birdwatching time in the first half of the trail.
- For participants of the birdwatching tour: If you wish to visit the waterfall, you can re-enter the park within the operating hours upon returning to the entrance, using the ticket stub from the same day.
- For participants of the night tour: If you wish to visit the waterfall, please enter the park during the daytime on the same day as your night tour. You can participate in the night tour using the same day’s ticket stub without purchasing tickets again.
- The Hiji Falls trail is approximately 2 kms long, in about 40 minutes one way.
Collaborative Guided Tours with Local Facilities
English interpretation based on the plans of various local facilities in Yanbaru, with shorter observation durations, suitable for beginners in ecological observation.
Night Hike @Yambaru Discovery Forest
[Summer: April- September] 19:30-21:00 (1.5hrs)
[Winter: October to March] 19:00-20:30 (1.5hrs)
Meeting Point: In front of Yambaru Discovery Forest Check-in Counter
Group Size: 2 to 10 people
| Accommodation | Stay | Non |
| Adults | 3300 JPY | 4400 JPY |
| 4 years old to elementary school students | 2800 JPY | 3300 JPY |
Guide Walk @Yambaru Discovery Forest
[Morning] 10:00-12:00 (2hrs)
[Afternoon] 14:00-16:00 (2hrs)
Meeting Point: In front of Yambaru Discovery Forest Check-in Counter
Group Size: 2 to 10 people
| Accommodation | Stay | Non |
| Adults | 3900 JPY | 3900 JPY |
| 4 years old to elementary school students | 3300 JPY | 3300 JPY |