Enjoy the mangroves of Iriomote Island!

What are mangroves?

When most people hear the word "mangrove," they probably think of the Brazilian Amazon.Mangroves are a general term for trees that inhabit special environments near the mouths of rivers in tropical and subtropical regions, or in "brackish water" areas where seawater and fresh water mix.Mangroves, which can grow in a limited and special environment, are a must-see when touring Iriomote Island.

In Japan, mangroves grow naturally in the area below Yakushima Island in Kagoshima, and it is said that more than 100 plants form mangroves around the world. About 30 of these species can be seen in Japan.

One of the interesting features of mangroves is their roots. While the roots of trees growing in mountains and other places are always able to breathe, the roots of mangroves are rooted in highly viscous mud where seawater can enter. Through various evolutions, they have learned how to breathe in such an environment.

This time, we will focus on the mangroves of Iriomote Island and tell you about their ecosystem and interesting characteristics. We hope that by knowing this information before you go to Iriomote Island, you will be able to experience the wonderful nature of Iriomote Island more in your actual trip.

 

Click here to buy ferry tickets to remote islands.

Only Tours can make ferry reservations! Since you pay in advance, you can easily board the ferry by simply showing your smartphone on the day of the cruise. You don't have to worry about getting caught in the queue at the ticket booth on the day of boarding.

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

Various types of mangrove roots

prop root

Roots grow diagonally from the ground surface like the legs of an octopus, supporting the trunk of a tree. In fact, corn roots are also shaped like this. Mangroves tend to lack oxygen in their habitat. Therefore, mangroves have evolved to face the earth's surface and absorb more oxygen.By producing tree roots in the air, they promote photosynthesis and tree growth, just like leaves.

kneecap

It is literally shaped like a person's bent knee, hence the name. However, it is not called "kneeShikkaku."It is called It grows in this way by raising some of its roots to absorb as much oxygen as possible in the mud, where oxygen is scarce.

In Okinawa Prefecture, there is only one tree with this kind of root, so when you find this kind of root, you will know it is an Ojirugi tree. In English, it is called "knee root.

Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata)

As the name suggests, this is also a root shaped like a board."All hail!"It is called the Bankon is also considered to be a variant of prop root, and it serves to support the trunk of the tree in the same way. A 400-year-old tree in Nakama River in Iriomote Islandwhite-throated spindle treeis a typical example of this plate root, but if you look at the roots of mehirugi when the tide is low, you will discover that it has developed a plate root like that of saxifrage.

Interesting ecosystem of mangroves

Mangroves can grow in areas where saltwater and freshwater mix due to the tides. However, they do not prefer to live in saltwater. Rather, they use various methods to remove salt from their bodies.

There is a simple experiment you can do to learn about the interesting ecology of mangroves. Go near a mangrove and if you see a yellow leaf, take it, lick it, and chew it.Yaeyama hirugi filters out salt as it absorbs water through its roots, but the salt that cannot be filtered out accumulates on the leaves, causing them to defoliate.So, by licking and chewing yellow leaves, we can easily and intimately experience the mysteries of nature.

 

Mangroves that can be seen in Iriomote Island

Rhizophora mucronata (species of mangrove)

The Yaeyamahirugi has the prop roots like octopus legs introduced earlier. Many people may think of this Yaeyama Hirugi when they think of mangroves. In Japan, the largest Yaeyama Hirugi can be seen as large as 10 meters. If you find a Yaeyama Hirugi, please look for its yellow leaves, which are used to control salinity.

black mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza)

Very distinctive are these red octopus wiener-like flowers. This cute and striking flower is a clue to distinguish the Ojirugi from other species. Also, please take a look at the "knee-root," which was introduced earlier, along with the red flower.

Kandelia obovata (species of mangrove)

The characteristic of the mehirugi is its beautiful white flowers. It is called "Mehirugi" because its trunk is thinner than that of "Ohirugi" and its flowers are more beautiful. Mehirugi is said to be one of the mangrove species that is resistant to cold, and can be seen not only in Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island, but also in various other places.

When viewing the mangroves, be sure to enjoy the difference between the Ojirugi and the Mehirugi.

nipa palm

Have you seen this large leaf anywhere? Yes, I have,These are the leaves that are often seen in movies like Jurassic Park.

The nipa palm is a quasi-mangrove that can be seen only in Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands in Japan. The colony of nipa palms in the area called Funaura in Iriomote Island is so rare that it is designated as an endangered species. Please visit there when you travel to Iriomote Island.

Litsea coreana (species of tree in the laurel family)

It is not strictly speaking a mangrove, but it grows in wetlands near mangrove rivers. The roots are shaped like boards and are very hard.

In particular, the saxifrage tree that can be seen at Nakama River in Iriomote Island is said to be over 400 years old, and its grand appearance can be seen with a height of 18 meters and a maximum height of 3.1 meters at the plank root. In the past, this tree was used to make sabani boats.

If you want to see it together with the tour, the saxifrage tree on the way to Pinaisara Falls is recommended!

Learn more about mangrove canoe tours.

 

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

Mangrove Mangrove Cruise on the Nakama River and Urauchi River

This tour is very popular among people of all ages. Unlike trekking tours and snorkeling tours, there is no need to wear special clothes, and you can get on the cruiser and start the tour in your normal clothes.

The Urauchi River is the longest river in Okinawa Prefecture and is very famous for its mangrove cruises.During the tour, you can listen to the captain's commentary on the mangroves, so you can appreciate the great nature of Iriomote Island while obtaining various information.The Urauchi River cruise provides access to Mariudo Falls and Kanpire Falls in addition to the mangroves, so if you want to go trekking after seeing the mangroves, or if you want to do more activities! This tour is recommended for those who want to go trekking after seeing the mangroves or those who want to do more activities! This tour is recommended for those who want to trek after seeing the mangroves and for those who want to do more activities.

If you plan to go trekking again, we recommend that you prepare drinks and food well before going on the tour.

Click here for more information on the Urauchi River mangrove canoe course.

 

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

 

Mangrove Canoe Tour

If you want to feel the great nature of Iriomote Island more closely than by cruiser and want to see the mangroves up close! If you want to feel the nature of Iriomote Island more closely than by cruiser, we recommend the mangrove canoe tour. By using a canoe, you can go smoothly even in shallow water. Even if the water recedes and dries up at low tide, a canoe can pull you to a place where there is water, making it a very convenient tool for observing plants near the water.

Also, since you can move slowly and quietly, you can use all five senses to feel the delicate things and sounds of Iriomote Island that you could not feel on the cruiser tour, such as birdsong, the sound of the wind, the sweet smell of flowers, and the scent of the tide.

If you want to see more creatures, go to the mangroves on the ocean side. At low tide, large mud flats (flat sandy mud ponds) are formed where countless crabs and other creatures appear.

Learn more about mangrove canoe tours.

 

Recommended Cruise Tours

1. Real Jungle Cruise Tour

This plan takes you on a SUP cruise to a secluded and unexplored area as deep as you see in the movies! This field is easy and authentic even for small children, so feel free to play in your spare time on your trip.

Click here for recommended related tours ↓↓.

See the list of Mangrove SUP Tour Plans

 

2. Pinaisara Falls Canoeing & Trekking Tour

Speaking of mangrove canoeing in Iriomote Island, Pinaisara Falls with the No.1 drop (about 55m) in Okinawa Prefecture, which comes first in each travel magazine, is famous.

To get to Pinaisara Falls, you can take an exhilarating canoe cruise along the mangrove river to the base of Pinaisara. From there, you can take a short trek to the Pinaisara Falls basin. At the waterfall basin, you can take a dip or just relax. After that, if you go to the top of Pinaisara waterfall, a magnificent view is waiting for you. I highly recommend this tour for those who visit Iriomote Island for the first time.

Click here for details on the 1-day canoeing and trekking course to Pinaisara Falls ↓ Click here for details on the 1-day canoeing and trekking course to Pinaisara Falls

 

3. Cruise & limestone cave exploration

This tour is recommended for those who want to fully enjoy the tour without getting too tired.

A cruise, jungle hike, and limestone cave exploration in just half a day are recommended!

Click here for recommended related tours ↓↓.

 

4. Cruise & "Miracle Island" Barasu Island Snorkeling

Recommended for those who want to swim in the sea of Iriomote Island! After the cruise in the morning, snorkeling around the "miracle island" Barasu Island in the afternoon. This is a popular waterfall tour for those who come from Ishigaki Island as a day trip.

Click here for recommended related tours ↓↓.

 

5. mangrove canoeing & sightseeing in Yubu Island

This is a set plan with popular Yubu Island sightseeing. You can do mangrove canoeing in the morning and take a buffalo cart to Yubu Island in the afternoon. On Yubu Island, you can enjoy the subtropical botanical garden or relax at a fashionable cafe.

Click here for details of Mangrove Canoe & Yubu Island Sightseeing Package Plan

See a list of mangrove canoe tours

 

6. No.1 popular mountain, river, and ocean set plan

Recommended for those who want to enjoy the mountains, rivers, and ocean all in one day! Mangrove cruise, jungle trekking, waterfall fun, limestone cave trekking, and landing on "Miracle Island" Barasu Island are all included in this plan!The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.

If you want to play hard all day, this is the place to go.

 

Click here to buy ferry tickets to remote islands!

Only Tours can make ferry reservations! Since you pay in advance, you can easily board the ferry by simply showing your smartphone on the day of the cruise. You don't have to worry about getting caught in the queue at the ticket booth on the day of boarding.

Click here to book ferry tickets to Iriomote Island!
Iriomote Island Ferry Tickets

 

summary

Iriomote Island is full of various plants and animals, but there are also many kinds of mangroves, making it a sightseeing spot full of attractions. Please visit the mangroves of Iriomote Island with the information in this article!