FAQ

No need to stay in Kunigami for the Forest Walk (12:00–16:00). Just meet us at the meeting point in Kunigami and you’re good to go.

Morning Birding and night tours start very early (4:00) or finish late (22:30), so staying in Kunigami is recommended. Driving back to central/southern Okinawa after the tour can be tiring.

If you just want the experience, one night is enough. If you hope to see specific species, we recommend at least 2–3 nights to allow sufficient observation time.

If you love birding, we recommend Ada Garden Hotel.

It’s popular, so please book early. Our Night Birding tour meets here, making it convenient if you plan to join.

There are no restaurants nearby—only Ada Cooperative Store. We recommend booking dinner at your accommodation. If you book the Evening Tour (Pickup) from Nago, please don’t book dinner (you may not have enough time).

If you enjoy exploring on your own, we recommend Yambaru Discovery Forest (YDF).

The facility (entrusted by Kunigami Village) has three trails. During your stay you can freely walk the Yamashishi and Yonner trails in the daytime; the River Song Trail requires a guide. The surrounding forest is rich, and you may encounter rare species. Because our Herping tour uses trails inside the facility, guests staying here don’t need to pay the trail admission fee.

All three trails require a guide at night. Please do not enter without permission.

There are no restaurants nearby—only the Aha Cooperative Store. We recommend booking dinner at your accommodation. If you book the Evening Tour (Pickup) from Nago, please don’t book dinner (you may not have enough time).

Unfortunately it won’t be cheaper via me. Please book directly through hotel or travel sites. For large groups or special requests, you can email the accommodation’s customer support directly. If I handle arrangements, a handling fee will be charged in addition to lodging/taxi costs.

For Other Islands trips, I can help arrange accommodation and a rental car (handling fee applies; hotel/car charges are billed at cost).

At YDF you can walk the Yamashishi and Yonner trails in the daytime by paying the admission fee (JPY 600 for ages 13+). River Song requires a guide. If you plan to join our Herping tour at night, show your daytime receipt and you won’t need to pay the admission fee again.

All three trails require a guide at night. Please do not enter without permission.

If you’ll be observing from afternoon through night and aren’t staying at YDF, please buy your dinner items in advance—there are no dinner restaurants nearby.

• Yamashishi Trail: About 1 km one way. First, drive about 1 km to the campground and park there. You can do a short loop near the entrance, or go to the end and return on the same path for a total of about 2 km. The toilet at the turnaround point is out of order. Many steps; poor drainage in places can make it muddy and slippery.
• Yonner Trail: A loop of about 700 m. Fully barrier-free, flat, and easy—good for seniors and children under 6.
• River Song Trail: A guide is required. We use this trail for our night tours. Some sections run along a stream and may be covered after heavy rain. The first downhill is slippery—watch your footing. End-to-end is about 700 m, but with ups/downs and the walk back to lodging, the total is about 1.2 km.

All three trails require a guide at night. Please do not enter without permission.

If you don’t have a rental car, we recommend staying at Okuma Resort first. There’s one free shuttle per day from Naha (reservation required), which saves time and money.（reservation link）

After arriving in Kunigami, you can join our activities—Morning Birding and the night tours offer pickup from Okuma Resort. You can also use the AI Bus and the Kunigami Tour Bus to reach ASMUI (Daisekirinzan) and Ada Kuina Fureai Park.

Without a rental car, you can still reach major spots and lodgings by AI Bus and the Kunigami Tour Bus. They’re in trial operation and free until Dec 14, 2025; no service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There’s also the village bus and a reservation bus.

We don’t currently offer full-day private escort, but for Morning Birding and the night tours we can pick up 1–3 guests from their lodging.

• A. Kunigami Village Bus: Few runs but operating daily. Stops aren’t right at lodgings; if you speak Japanese you can ask the driver to drop you at your lodging.
  Timetable from Hentona to various destinations: Japanese / English
  Boarding points (Kunigami Village Office website)
• B. Kunigami Reservation Bus: Call 0980-41-2101 in advance (your host can call; reservations accepted Mon–Fri).
  Departure times: 10:00 / 11:30. It may take about 30 minutes to reach your lodging.
• C. Kunigami Tour Bus: Trial period June–Dec 14, 2025. Free during trial; timetable may change. Currently two runs/day; no service Tue/Wed.
  Timetable: Japanese / English
• D. Kunigami AI Bus: Trial period June–Dec 14, 2025. Free during trial; timetable may change. No service Tue/Wed. Account registration and booking required.
  How to use the AI Bus: Japanese / English

Inventory is limited around Japanese holidays—especially on the islands—so please book early. With a 1949 Geneva-format International Driving Permit (IDP), you may drive:
• Class B: standard cars—typically up to 8 seats (what most rental companies allow).
• Class D: large passenger vehicles—10 seats or more (required for 10-seater vans like a Hiace).
Note: Japan accepts only the 1949 Geneva IDP (not the 1968 Vienna format). Policies vary by rental company; please check the vehicle class shown on your IDP.

If you plan to rent an 8-seat vehicle, note that many models are 2-3-2 or 2-3-3; the last row often ends up as luggage space. If you’re 6+ people with luggage, renting two cars is recommended.

• Tabirai Rent-a-Car: Easy price comparison.
• Budget Rent-a-Car: I often use them; locations on Ishigakijima, Miyakojima, and Amami Oshima.
• ORIX Rent-a-Car: Many locations on Okinawajima; also on Miyakojima, Iriomote, Amami Oshima—and even Kumejima and Tokunoshima.
• Toyota Rent-a-Car Nago: If you want to avoid driving in Naha, take the highway bus to Yofuke and walk to the Nago branch.
• Okuma navi: If you prefer renting after arriving in Kunigami; scooters also available.

Even if you don’t drive, you can charter a taxi. In addition to standard sedans (3–4 passengers), groups of 5–9 can search for a “jumbo taxi” (van). Because Naha → north of Nago is a long distance, some providers charge an 8-hour minimum (even if used less).

• KKday: Comparison site; check in advance that Kunigami is covered.
• Okito Taxi: English-friendly charter service.

By car: We use a 10-seater; max 8 guests excluding the driver and guide. Note: if wildlife appears while moving, guests in the back rows may take longer to disembark and could miss sightings.

On foot: For meet-ups at Yambaru Discovery Forest trails, the usual upper limit is about 10 guests; guests in the back may find it harder to hear explanations.

Because our tours include quite a bit of interpretation, we recommend age 6 and up. Under-6s who love wildlife, can listen quietly, and won’t handle animals roughly may also join with a guardian’s support.

For ages 4–6, our tour fee is waived. However, if you are not staying at YDF and join Herping, a separate admission fee of JPY 500 for the trail is required.

Sorry—due to staffing, we don’t provide long-distance transfers between the rest of Okinawa and Kunigami.

If you wish to join Morning Birding from Naha, arrange a taxi and arrive in Kunigami by early morning. For 1–3 guests you can transfer to Wanyu’s car. For 4+ guests, book a 6–10 seater charter and make sure there’s a seat for the guide.

After the tour, either return by your charter, or take #67 southbound from Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station) to Nago.

Sorry—due to staffing, we don’t provide long-distance transfers between the rest of Okinawa and Kunigami.

Forest Walk runs 12:00–16:00, so even without a car you can come by bus and still catch an evening bus afterward. The tour ends at 16:00; you can catch the 16:45 (16:55 on holidays) #67 southbound from Okuma Beach Iriguchi. Example connections (subject to timetable/holiday changes):

• If you want to return to Naha: get off at Nago Bus Terminal at 17:36 (17:45 on holidays) and transfer to the 18:02 #117 to Naha.
• If you want to return to Onna: get off at the Hokubu Godo Chosha-mae, walk about 500 m to Nago City Hall, then take #OAS No.22 at 18:38 to your hotel in Onna.
• If you want to return to the Aquarium area: get off at Nago Bus Terminal, then take #YKB No.15 at 18:18 toward the aquarium to your lodging near the aquarium.

Pickup options are 17:00 from Nago, or around 18:20 from your lodging in Kunigami. We can’t provide return transfer back to Nago. Without a rental car, plan to come by bus and arrange a taxi around 22:30 at Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station). For 4+ guests, book a 6–10 seater charter and ensure a seat for the guide.

If your booking is for 4 or more guests and you provide your own vehicle (or a chartered vehicle), we offer a discounted group price. This is not a private charter; other guests may join.

Morning Birding: JPY 15,000 × number of guests. Discount: JPY 45,000 per group for 4+.

Forest Walk: JPY 10,000 × number of guests. Discount: JPY 30,000 per group for 4+.

Herping: JPY 5,000 × number of guests. Discount: JPY 20,000 per group for 4+. A separate trail admission fee (JPY 600 for ages 13+) applies. Please have your driver drop you at Yambaru Discovery Forest and wait during the tour; we finish at Yambaru Discovery Forest.

Night Birding: JPY 5,000 × number of guests. Discount: JPY 20,000 per group for 4+. Meet Wanyu at the Fukugawa Dam parking lot or at Ada Garden Hotel. Please keep one seat available so the guide can ride with your charter.

Below is an example with a 10-seater vehicle (max 8 passengers). Actual prices vary by provider, night surcharge, tolls, etc.

Example with a 10-seater (max 8 passengers). Actual prices vary by provider, night surcharge, tolls, etc.

Because card fees are high, cash in Japanese yen is preferred. If we arrange a car or lodging for you, please pay those items by credit card (we add the processing fee).

No deposit is required for our tours. Accordingly, there is no cancellation fee. However, last-minute cancellations can mean lost work opportunities—if you must cancel, please tell us as early as possible.

Yes. If another 1–2 guests can share the same schedule, we’ll apply the 2–3 person rate. About one week before the tour, we’ll check whether rideshare is possible and confirm whether you’d still like to join if rideshare isn’t available.

If you cancel because rideshare is unavailable, we cannot cover your hotel’s cancellation fee in Kunigami.

Because we have other tours in the morning/afternoon, our standard pickup is 17:00 in Nago. Please use these buses to arrive by then:

• From the airport: 15:15 #111 highway bus → arrive around 17:07 at Yofuke
• From Onna: #OAS No.13 → arrive around 17:05 at Nago Shiyakusho-mae
• From the Aquarium area: #117 No.17 → arrive around 17:01 at Nago City Hall or 17:06 at Yofuke

If you can arrive earlier, going via Nago Bus Terminal and transferring to #67 costs about JPY 1,160 and reduces traffic-delay risk

Nago → Kunigami by taxi is also possible (about JPY 8,000–10,000). After arrival, check in to your lodging or wait at Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station). Wanyu will pick you up around 18:20.

For night tours with pickup, the last recommended connection is the 15:15 #111 from the airport. International arrivals often need extra time for immigration and to reach the domestic bus stop, so:

• If your international flight lands at/after 14:00 → please do not book a same-day night tour with pickup.
• If your domestic flight lands at/after 14:30 → please do not book a same-day night tour with pickup.
• Alternatively, rent a car and self-drive to the night tour meeting point by 19:30.

If you miss the bus, contact Wanyu. If no other guests are booked, we can adjust the Nago pickup time. If other guests are booked, to be fair we’ll change your plan (another date, or switch the night tour to a daytime activity). From Nago you can take #67 to Kunigami; after arriving in Hentona, call Kunigami Taxi (0980-41-2457). If you don’t speak Japanese, Wanyu can help.

From Okuma Beach Iriguchi to Nago Bus Terminal it’s JPY 1,160 (2025 now). #67 may not accept credit cards—carry cash. Nago → Naha (#111 / #117 / #YKB) and the Onna area (#120 / OAS) sometimes accept cards. For final checks on last buses and routes, please refer to Bus Map Okinawa. (Bus Map Okinawa)

You can’t hail taxis or Uber on the street in Kunigami, and daytime service is limited. Please book in advance. For northern Okinawa, Marukin Taxi accepts reservations.（Marukin Taxi）

Rough one-way fares for small taxis (4 passengers; highway tolls and late-night surcharges extra):

• Nago ↔ Kunigami: JPY 8,000–10,000
• Onna ↔ Kunigami: JPY 17,000–20,000
• Naha Airport ↔ Kunigami: JPY 30,000–35,000

Okinawa’s weather is similar to northern Taiwan. May–Jun is the rainy season; Aug–Oct is typhoon season.

Summer highs can reach 35–37°C, with little shade outdoors—bring a hat and light long sleeves. Winter averages 15–17°C, and cold fronts bring strong winds with nights around 10–12°C. Amphibians often remain active in low temperatures, but Okinawa Rail viewing can be harder; we may switch Night Birding to Herping when conditions aren’t suitable.

Rain policy: We cancel for heavy rain or typhoons. Light rain can be good for amphibians, so Herping generally goes ahead. If a typhoon affects your plan, please let us know early and we’ll adjust together.

Winter (Dec–Feb): Best for winter-breeding amphibians such as Sword-tail Newt, Okinawa Spiny Newt, and Okinawa Tree Frog; predators like the Okinawa pitviper (Himehabu) also become active. By late February the forest starts to bud and itajii begins flowering. In late Jan–early Feb during the Kanhizakura (Taiwan cherry) bloom, you may see Orii’s flying fox licking nectar at night. Because it’s cold, birds like the Okinawa Robin and Okinawa Woodpecker can be harder to see.

Spring (Mar–early May): Okinawa Rail, Okinawa Robin, and Okinawa Woodpecker are easier to observe. In the mulberry season (Mar–Apr), the Ryukyu Tree Rat sometimes comes at night to feed. From April, summer visitors like the Ruddy Kingfisher may appear. At night you can find spring-breeding frogs such as the Ryukyu Stream Treefrog and Hallowell’s Tree Frog.

Rainy season (mid-May–mid-Jun): Peak chick-rearing for Okinawa Rail; early-morning success rates are high. Reptiles like the Okinawa black-breasted leaf turtle and habu (pitvipers) are also active. Owls are actually harder to find during this period because they are rearing chicks.

Summer (Jul–Oct): Okinawa Rail fledglings become independent; in Aug–Sep you may sometimes see family groups roosting in trees at night. Owl activity increases after fledging. By day you can observe Ryukyu Tree Lizard as well as cicadas like the Ryukyu large brown cicada and the Oshima cicada. In the heat of Aug–Sep, cool-loving species such as Sword-tail Newt, Okinawa Spiny Newt, and Himehabu are harder to find.

Autumn (Nov): A transition period. Winter-breeding frogs and newts begin to appear but are not yet consistently seen. Migrants like Grey-faced Buzzard and Eurasian Woodcock can be observed.

Note: Ada Kuina Fureai Park, Yambaru Discovery Forest, the AI Bus, and the Kunigami Tour Bus are closed on Tue/Wed; when planning, it’s best to avoid Tue/Wed.

※ Our tours do not guarantee sightings of specific species.

1. Taiho Dam (Nago): Observation facilities; good for winter waterfowl.
2. Kouri Bridge (Nakijin): Coastal rocks; breeding terns (Jun–Sep).
3. Kin area (Okukubi River mangroves): Winter shorebirds around the paddies.
4. Urasoe Grand Park: Urban green with resident species.
5. Sueyoshi Park: Same as above.
6. Manko Wetland: Egrets and shorebirds; Black-faced Spoonbill sometimes in winter.

We list only wildlife/outdoor-related stores (no cosmetics or duty-free):

1. Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station): Cute wildlife-themed goods; unique local items. Reachable by AI Bus / Kunigami Tour Bus.
2. Montbell (Aeon Mall Rycom): Japan’s major outdoor brand; only one store in Okinawa. Access by bus; see official site. Not an outlet; no duty-free.
3. Workman: Popular functional outerwear at good prices. Stores are often away from tourist areas; Kyozuka branch is walkable from Yui Rail Kyozuka Station.
4. Junkudo (Naha): The largest bookstore in Okinawa—best for field guides; near Yui Rail Miebashi Station.
5. Book-Off (Naha): Good for older or out-of-print field guides; near Yui Rail Akamine Station.

Dining options are limited and concentrated on the west side. If you stay on the east side (e.g., Yambaru Discovery Forest or Ada Garden Hotel), book breakfast/dinner at your lodging or buy food in advance at convenience stores or cooperative shops.

1. Kunigami Port Shokudo (lunch/dinner): Set meals with fresh net-caught fish; popular with lines; no reservations.
2. Yakiniku Lion Okuma (lunch/dinner): A bit pricey but good; lunch sets available (e.g., yakiniku set around JPY 2,300).
3. Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station) food court (lunch): Many options under JPY 1,000; vegetarian Indian curry available (check closed days). Closes after 16:00.
4. ASMUI (Daisekirinzan) restaurant (lunch): You can enter without a park ticket—tell staff at the entrance you’ll dine on the 2nd floor. Good before/after ASMUI walks. Try the herb porridge, herb pizza, goat soba, and shell-ginger dorayaki. Cards accepted.
5. Oku Yanbaru Shokudo (lunch): Big portions and tasty; popular with locals. Closed Tue.
6. Yanbaru Pineapple Hills Aha (lunch): Near Aha Dam; Okinawa soba, steak, etc. Handy on days you explore around YDF/Aha Dam.
7. Cooperative stores: Community-run shops; usually open early/close early. Ready-to-eat items are limited, but you can buy bread, cup noodles, snacks, drinks; some provide hot water. Your purchase supports the community. Search for Ginama Cooperative Store, Oku Cooperative Store, Ada Cooperative Store, Aha Cooperative Store, etc.

Outside of guided nature tours, consider these places. They are all stops on the Kunigami Tour Bus or the AI Bus, so they’re easy to reach even without a rental car.

• Ada Kuina Fureai Park: A facility where you are guaranteed to see Okinawa Rail; the birds here are captive-bred. On the way to the park, there’s also a good chance of encountering wild individuals. Admission JPY 700 for adults; proceeds support Okinawa Rail conservation.
• ASMUI (Daisekirinzan): A striking geological landscape with easy trails and barrier-free routes—suitable for all ages. Around this facility you have a higher chance of seeing Ryukyu Wild Boar; in summer you can often find Okinawa Tree Lizard, and in April the Mucuna macrocarpa blooms are at their best. Admission JPY 2,500 for ages 15+.
• Cape Hedo (Hedo Misaki): The northernmost tip of Okinawajima. Along the paths you can observe coastal plants; at night it’s good for stargazing. Free; food options are available nearby.
• Kunigami Forest Park: A nature facility with cottages, a campground, and trails, plus an observatory for stargazing. The observatory is open only to participants in stargazing programs. If you haven’t booked an internal program, general nature observation is possible only 9:00–18:00; outside these hours, entry is limited to program participants.
• Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station): Sells many cute, wildlife-themed local goods and souvenirs, with several eateries. Most restaurants here close by 16:00.
• Currently unavailable: The Hiji Waterfall trail suffered severe damage in the Nov 2024 heavy rains and is closed. The Ufugi Nature Museum is closed for renovation. Yonna Kan (mountain-vegetable cuisine) has changed operators and is not accepting reservations for now.

First go to Yui Yui Kunigami (Roadside Station), take #67 to either Nago Bus Terminal or the “Hokubu Godo Chosha-mae”.

• 65 or #66: #65 runs clockwise and #66 runs counter-clockwise from Nago Bus Terminal, stopping at many places and taking longer. To reach the aquarium, #65 is faster, but some runs don’t stop at “Kinen Koen-mae.”
  #65 timetable Japanese / English
  #66 timetable Japanese / English
• #117: A direct bus from Nago Bus Terminal to the aquarium with fewer stops and faster travel time.
  #117 timetable Japanese / English
• #YKB: From “Nago Bus Terminal-mae” near the terminal to the aquarium; fewer stops and fast. If you get off #67 at Nago Bus Terminal, walk 2 minutes to this stop. Also useful for Nakijin Castle.
  #YKB timetable Japanese / English
• #OAS: Stops at “Nago Shiyakusho-mae.” If you get off #67 at Hokubu Godo Chosha-mae, walk 500 m to Nago Shiyakusho-mae to board; not ideal with large luggage. If you’re staying in Onna, this is convenient for the aquarium.
  #OAS timetable Japanese / English

After getting off at “Kinen Koen-mae,” walk to the Central Gate and store your luggage at the office on the left. When you finish, pick up your luggage at the Central Gate, cross the pedestrian bridge to the opposite stop, and take one of the following back south:

• #OAS: If staying in Onna, OAS is convenient.
  OAS timetable Japanese / English
• #117: Recommended if staying near Asahibashi Bus Terminal in Naha (you can also transfer to Yui Rail there).
  #117 timetable Japanese / English
• #YKB: Recommended if staying near Omoromachi Station.
  #YKB timetable Japanese / English