Introducing the charm of jungle night tours to enjoy the night of Iriomote Island!

 

A different Iriomote Island awaits you from the daytime!
What is a jungle night tour?

The Iriomotejima Night Jungle Night Tour is a night tour walking through the jungle at night according to the time when the creatures come out, and you can experience the power of nature of Iriomotejima differently from the daytime.

Some of the many creatures, including coconut crabs, are nocturnal, and can be seen while exploring Iriomote Island, which is unknown to the average tourist.

Moreover, the nice thing about night tours is that you can participate even if the weather is bad. Personally, I'd rather it was raining.Recommended for an authentic jungle feel.It is.

Same-day reservations OK! Popular night tours are here!

 

You can meet various creatures of Iriomote Island!

In the jungle of Iriomote Island at night, you can explore the jungle while encountering nocturnal and nocturnal animals and listening to their cries and other sounds.

Related columns are here↓.
Creatures you can see in Iriomote Island

 

Various kinds of crabs

Iriomote Island is home to more than 20 species of crabs, including endangered species such as the coconut crab. Among them, the red Bengay crab is often seen in night tours.

While most crabs usually turn bright red when boiled, Benkei crabs are usually bright red, which is very rare.

It is about the size of a palm, and there is also a black, not-red, black-banded crab that is about the same size and color.

You can still see many kinds of crabs in Iriomote Island, so please try to find them on a night tour!

 

thump-thump-me

The "tontonmy" is the southern flying goby, which is abundant near the mouths of rivers and estuaries in the Yaeyama Islands.

Tong-tong-me moves in a jumping motion, tapping its feet on the surface of the water. Its unique movement is a distinctive feature, and we encourage you to look for it!

Tong tong mee can be seen not only on night tours but also on canoeing and trekking during the day. They are cute and should be seen according to your sightseeing itinerary.

⬇︎ for more information about Iriomotejima Canoe Tour

 

hermit crab

Most of the hermit crabs you see are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but on Iriomote Island you can encounter hermit crabs that are larger than you can imagine.

When they feel threatened, they hide inside their shells, but if you rub the shells, they emerge in an adorable manner.

 

flower petals fallen on water, resembling a spider flower (esp. Pelecanoides urinatrix)

There is a flower that blooms in the mangrove jungles of the Yaeyama Islands that emits a unique sweet fragrance. It is the sagaribana, which blooms in this region, including Iriomote Island.

It blooms from early June through mid-summer and can only be seen on night tours because it blooms only one night.

It is said that the language of flowers of the Sagaribana is "good luck will come to you. When visiting with your family or as a couple, take a night tour to see the sagaribana and wish good luck together.

In addition, sagaribana seen at night and in the morning can give a completely different impression, even though they are the same flowers. At night, the flowers are in full bloom, and in the morning you can see the flowers fall off.

If you have time to spare, we recommend viewing both at night and in the morning.

Period
6/20-8/15 (Sagaribana blooming season)

Click here for ⬇︎ Sagaribana Viewing Tour

 

anadromous fish (fish that migrates upstream, e.g. salmon)

The anadromous octopus is a creature that lives in uniquely shaped burrows in the ground.

You are very lucky to find them, as they are very wary and will dive underground at the mere sound of footsteps.

One anadromous fish digs multiple holes, so while some holes are unused, older holes are inhabited by crabs and other animals.

Look for anadjacos because they are nocturnal and can be found in ditches of moist soil.

 

Palm crab (endangered species)

The "coconut crab" is a type of crab that inhabits the Yaeyama Islands, including Iriomote Island, and its maximum length is about 15 cm.

They live in burrows at the base of palm fronds and are mainly nocturnal. They also have a variety of body colors, including brown and black, and their legs have a varied shape.

You may also encounter the precious coconut crab, which is famous as one of the largest crustaceans living on land and is listed as an endangered species!

Nocturnal coconut crabs come out at night to jungle streamsides and roads. Some of the larger ones are over 1 meter long.

⇒Meet the endangered coconut crab?click here

 

Iriomote Island is recognized as a starry sky protected area!
Introduction of night tours where you can enjoy a star-filled night sky

Starry sky viewing & jungle night tour

Star gazing & jungle night tour of Iriomote Island is the best way to experience nature at night.

In the jungle at night, there are many nocturnal creatures that cannot be seen during the daytime in Iriomote Island.

The hermit crab is the most famous of them all, looking like a crab or hermit crab, and it is believed that its shell was created because it could no longer carry a shell.

Also, the starry sky of Iriomote Island was designated as the first starry sky reserve in Japan and is said to be the second most beautiful in Asia! You can see the Milky Way, shooting stars, Southern Cross, etc., and the local staff will give you explanations about the stars, so you can enjoy it many times more.

Same-day reservations OK! Popular night tours are here!

 

Limited to the period from February to May.
Yaeyama Himebotaru Firefly Viewing Tour

The next tour we will introduce is the springtime-only Yaeyama Firefly Viewing Tour!

Iriomote Island is one of the best firefly viewing spots in Japan. Iriomote Island is inhabited by four species of fireflies, which can be seen throughout the year as follows.

Please check the plan page as the timing of the event changes each year.

Among them, the Yaeyama firefly, the smallest firefly in Japan, which is found only on a limited number of islands in the Yaeyama Archipelago, is the most popular.

These are the earliest fireflies in Japan, visible only a few hours after sunset.

Yaeyama fireflies have low flight capabilities and generally fly low in the sky. The spectacle of thousands or tens of thousands of them glowing like flashing lights in a swarm is breathtaking.

They emit light like an illumination in the pitch-dark jungle. The sight of thousands or tens of thousands of Yaeyama fireflies gathered in one place and glowing is called a carpet of light.

It is truly beautiful, and many people are moved to tears and keep coming back for more.

Depending on the season and conditions, local guides will take you to the spots where you can see the most beautiful carpets of light from the Yaeyama fireflies.

The harmony of light created by the silent jungle and the Yaeyama fireflies is extremely beautiful. The harmony of light created by the silent jungle and the Yaeyama fireflies creates a beauty that is hard to describe.

Of course, after exploring the jungle, we will go to an open spot to view the star-filled sky. You will be able to clearly see rare stars that cannot be seen on the mainland. Backlighting and white balance make it difficult to take pictures with the starry sky in the background, but you can enjoy the activity with peace of mind, as a dedicated guide will be on hand to take pictures for you.

Same-day reservations OK! Popular night tours are here!

 

May-July】 【May-July
Night Phantom Flower (Sagaribana) Canoe

Please check the plan page as the timing of the event changes each year.

The last tour we will introduce is the Night Sagaribana Canoe Tour!

Like the Yaeyama Fireflies tour, the Sagaribana tour is also available only during the May-July season.

Sagaribana, also called "one-night flower" or "phantom flower," is popular as a fleeting flower that blooms and fades away overnight. It has bright white, pink, and red petals, and when it blooms, it attracts viewers with its sweet vanilla-like fragrance.

Sagaribana grows wild in the wetlands of subtropical climates and can be viewed while cruising the rivers of Iriomote Island in a canoe.

The buds gradually begin to open after the sun goes down, fully blooming at night and falling at dawn. We will gather around sunset to see the full-blooming of the sagaribana and go out to explore the mangrove river. In addition to viewing the sagaribana, the mangrove river at night is quite atmospheric and exciting, as if something might come out of the mangrove!

Same-day reservations OK! Popular night tours are here!

 

summary

We have introduced some of the plants that can be seen during the night tours.

There are many more, so please find them with your own eyes. If you have come all the way to Iriomote Island, please experience not only daytime activities but also nighttime jungle.

There are things to do and experience here that you can never do in the city.

Iriomote Island Night Tour details are here↓.

Click here for all activities in Iriomote Island↓.
Iriomotejima Tours