The most popular tour in Iriomote Island! Close to Pinaisara Falls Canoeing & Trekking One Day Course!

Pinaisara Falls," the No. 1 popular tour in Iriomote Island

What is Pinaisara Falls?

Very popular spot in Iriomote Island! Close coverage of Pinaisara Falls canoeing!

Pinaisara Falls on Iriomote Island, with a drop of about 55 meters, is the highest waterfall in Okinawa Prefecture. In the local language, "Pinaisara" means "beard" and "Saara" means "hanging down," and the waterfall was named "Pinaisara Falls" because it looks like an old man's long beard when seen from a distance.

To reach the popular Pinaisara Falls, you need to go through the river by mangrove canoe and trek through the mountain path. Of course, it is difficult to go alone, so join a tour and have a nature guide lead you.

This time, we will closely observe a one-day canoeing and trekking tour to the Pinaisara Falls, the most popular waterfall in Iriomote Island!What kind of day will it be?

Click here for a one-day canoeing and trekking course to Pinaisara Falls.

Where is Pinaisara Falls located?

Pinaisara Falls, which boasts the largest drop in the prefecture, is located in the Hinai River that flows into Funaura Bay in the western part of Iriomote Island. Because of its great drop, it can be clearly seen from the Uehara and Hatoma passages of high-speed boats and from the underwater road of Funaura Bay. When it rains, the volume of water increases and the beautiful waterfall can be seen more clearly.

To get to the falls, you will have to go on a canoe and trekking tour by a tour store, as the water is now too shallow to go by power boat.

How to get to Pinaisara Falls?

As mentioned above, Pinaisara Falls is located upstream on the Hinai River, so we recommend that you use a tour company to canoe and trek to the falls, but you can also go there on your own.

Nevertheless, it is important to keep this in mind, as it can be dangerous if there is no guide.

 

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What to wear?



Canoes, life jackets, special shoes, waterproof bags, and (somewhat stylish) rain wear can be rented free of charge for tour participants, but it is better to wear clothes that can get wet & dry easily as you will get wet when canoeing.


Also, the sun is often strong on Iriomote Island (ultraviolet rays are said to be five times stronger than on the mainland), so it is advisable to bring a hat, sunglasses, and lightweight long sleeves.

Close Tour

8:30 assemble

Pick up from your hotel (for Uehara area hotel guests only) or meet at Uehara Port (board the 8:30 a.m. departure from Ishigakijima Remote Island Terminal to Uehara Port).

9:30 Advance preparation

From Uehara Port, we will drive to the jungle entrance near the tour site, set up our canoeing gear, and receive a lecture.Nature guides will teach you how to paddle the canoe and how to use the paddles in detail so that even beginners and small children can enjoy a safe and secure trip.

There are also two-person kayaks available, so you can use a two-person kayak when riding with your children.

9:45 Now it's time to start canoeing!

After preparing your canoe at the canoe yard, you will be on your way to the mangrove-filled Hinai River, about a 5-minute walk from the entrance to the mangrove jungle! The canoes are a bit heavy, but don't worry, the guides will support you.

It might be a little wobbly and scary when you get into the canoe... but that's okay!Once on board, the canoe is stable and there is little chance of capsizing!After that, paddle as you wish and feel the magnificence of nature and the exhilaration of the wind.

Slow cruising by canoe for about an hour.

The roots of the mangrove are very interestingly shaped and a must-see! The best time to visit is when you pass through the mangrove forest and your view opens up! You can feel the super green of the river and the jungle on both sides up close!

We invite you to experience it for yourself!

11:00 Trekking to continue!

Once the canoe is parked and tied to a tree to prevent it from drifting away, the next step is jungle trekking.Explore the subtropical jungle, which is the reason Iriomote Island is called the "Galapagos of the East!

Seeing rare creatures that you have never seen before and trees with branches and roots spreading out in an irregular shape will surely remind you of your childhood explorations in the backwoods! It is also fun to have a nature guide tell you about the creatures and the history of Iriomote Island as you walk slowly.

11:30 Arrive at Pinaisara Falls!

After walking for about 30 minutes, we finally arrived at the Pinaisara waterfall basin, the most popular waterfall in Iriomote Island!The 55-meter-high waterfall is overflowing with negative ions!

Soothe your mind and body by jumping into the clear, cold waters of the waterfall basin♪

12:00 Lunch time

After playing in the waterfall basin for a bit, it's time for lunch in the great outdoors. Nature guides will prepare lunch with camp goods.

The lunch menu consisted of popular Yaeyama soba noodles and peach pineapple for dessert!Why does lunch taste so good when eaten surrounded by nature?

12:30 Aiming for the summit..!

After lunch and a short rest, we trekked again to the top of Pinaisara Falls.

During the trekking, you can also see a plant with an unusual root shape called "saxifrage," which has been selected as one of the "100 giants of the forest!

13:00 Arrival at the summit!

Finally, we arrived at the top of Pinaisara Falls! You will be impressed by the spectacular view of Iriomote Island from the height!You can see a scene like an aerial shot of the Amazon here on Iriomote Island.

If you see the jungle, mangrove forest, and vivid sea of Iriomote Island, the fatigue of trekking will go away!

14:30 Tour comes to an end...

Going down the mountain & canoeing home. As the end of the tour draws near, I begin to miss them.... The canoeing, which was very difficult on the way up, was very easy on the way back.

15:00 Canoeing & trekking end

If there is time, we will visit mudflats on the way to observe creatures and larvae living in the mudflats. You can also ask various information about Iriomote Island from the guide...and collect information for the night of the day or the next day.

16:30 Farewell

Iriomote Island guests will be picked up at their hotels. Day-trippers will be picked up at Uehara Port.

The largest drop in Okinawa Prefecture

Pinaisara Falls is the highest waterfall in Okinawa with a drop of about 54 meters, located in the upper reaches of Hinai River flowing in the western part of Iriomote Island. In Okinawan dialect, "Pinaisara" means "beard" and "Saara" means "down", and it looks as if the beard is growing straight.

The waterfall basin is inhabited by a variety of fish, so you can enjoy observing the creatures. Because of the great height of the waterfall, the spray from the falls can be felt all over the body.

From the bottom of the waterfall, you can trek further into the jungle to the top of the waterfall. From the top of the waterfall, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area, so we recommend that you make love to her, even if it is a little hard.

Relaxed canoeing for beginners

Pinaisara Falls is located on the upper reaches of the Hinai River, so we will cruise by canoe to the halfway point. The river is very quiet because the mangroves serve as a windbreak and tide barrier.

In addition, the canoes employed in the tours are highly stable and rarely capsize, so those with children can participate with peace of mind.

The sound of paddling and fish jumping on the quiet jungle river echoes through the river, making you feel as if you are in the Amazon. As you go upstream, the mangrove species change and the river becomes narrower, so you can enjoy the jungle without getting bored.

Trekking in the great outdoors

There are two ways to reach Pinaisara Falls: leaving the canoe behind and trekking to the bottom of the falls or trekking from the bottom of the falls to the top of the falls. The latter is a little steep and may be difficult for small children, but the former is not that far and can be easily accessed.

Many plants typical of the subtropical zone grow wild in the jungle, including the saxifrage tree with its large, board-like roots and the leaves of the kuzuimo potato, which Totoro used as a rain umbrella.

Mangroves and Creatures

At low tide, the mud flats dry out in the mangrove river, and the lionfish and flying gobies come into view. Fish and crabs swimming in the river can also be seen from the canoe.

During jungle trekking, visitors can also encounter cute creatures designated as natural treasures, such as tree lizard and semarukos (box turtles).

summary

How was it?

This time, we closely followed a one-day canoeing and trekking course to Pinaisara Falls, where you can fully enjoy canoeing and trekking, the most popular activities in Iriomote Island. A half-day tour to the waterfall basin is also recommended depending on your physical strength.

However, the excitement of feeling the nature of Iriomote Island on your skin and seeing the spectacular scenery can only be obtained by actually experiencing it there! If you want to enjoy canoeing and be impressed by the spectacular view, please make a reservation!

Click here for a one-day canoeing and trekking course to Pinaisara Falls.

For details and a list of canoe tours and plans in Iriomote Island, click here↓.

All the fun in Iriomote Island is here↓.
Iriomotejima Tours