It is said that there are more than 100 waterfalls in Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture, where untouched nature exists.
Each waterfall has a different atmosphere, difficulty level, scenery, and way to enjoy, so when visiting for sightseeing, it is important to choose a course to challenge according to your physical strength and purpose.
This time, as a resident of Iriomote Island, I will introduce five waterfalls that you can visit by kayak. Please enjoy your time of activity in the great nature.
1. Pinaisara Falls
The most famous waterfall in Iriomote Island is Pinaisara Falls.
The waterfall has a great drop of 55 meters. It is the largest waterfall in Okinawa Prefecture, and is full of power.
The Pinaisara Falls can be reached by river kayaking and trekking.
This tour is suitable for beginners as well, but as the waterfall has the largest drop in Okinawa Prefecture, the trekking to the top of the waterfall involves steep slopes and steps.
If you are not confident about your physical strength, or if you have small children or the elderly with you, you may want to consider signing up for a half-day tour plan that takes you to the waterfall in half a day.
The view from the top is breathtaking, and if the weather is clear, you can see the beautiful blue sea and Hatoma Island on the north side of Iriomote Island.
2. Sangara Falls
Sangara Falls is another representative waterfall of Iriomote Island, which can be reached by river kayak and trekking.
From the starting point, you will follow the same river as Pinaisara and enter another tributary on the way.
It crosses the sea called Funaura Bay and proceeds to the Nishida River.
On the way across the ocean, depending on the day, the tide may be low and the ground may be completely visible, but once the ground is exposed, you will not be able to paddle your kayak forward, so you will have to get out of your kayak and pull it.
Whether the distance to pull the kayak is long or short depends on the tide level of the day, and in some cases it requires a lot of physical strength, so it is recommended for those who are confident in their stamina.
However, Sangara Falls is a horizontal waterfall with a unique beauty not found in other waterfalls.
It is the perfect waterfall for those who want to enjoy nature to the fullest, as you can swim in the waterfall basin, rest near the basin while gazing at the waterfall, and even enter the backside of the waterfall.
You can also go through the curtain of the waterfall from the back side and come out the front. You can also go around and climb to the top of the waterfall and rest on the wide rocks where the water flows, so if you are interested, please give it a try.
3. Nala Falls
Nala Falls is located in the backcountry of Iriomote Island and is not easily accessible.
Nala Falls can only be reached by sea kayak.
The drop is 25 meters and is very powerful!
You can jump into the deep waterfall basin, swim, and play to your heart's content.
Since you will be paddling on the ocean, you will be affected by the tide and wind. This tour requires a lot of physical strength, so it is suitable for advanced and experienced kayakers.
It takes 2 hours one way for sea kayaking and 30 minutes one way for trekking to reach the waterfall.
People confident with their physical capabilities should try visiting this wonderous site.
4. Mizuochi Falls
Mizuochi Falls, as the name suggests (mizuochi = 水落 literally translates to "water fall"), is a waterfall where the water falls directly into the sea instead of a basin.
The only way to get to Mizuochi Falls is by sea. It takes one to one and a half hours to get there by sea kayak from Shirahama Port located at the end of the road in Iriomote.
Since the water falls directly into the sea, the usual way to play at this waterfall is to plunge into the waterfall and bathe in the water while riding on a kayak.
Those who want to challenge themselves can also dive in from above the waterfall. It is also a good time to park your kayak and quietly watch the waterfall.
5. Mayagusuku Falls
Mayagusuku Falls is located almost in the middle of Iriomote Island where 90% of the island is jungle, and is a phantom among phantoms. 90% is a jungle.
In the local dialect, Maya means cat and Gusuku means castle.
The waterfall named after the castle of the Iriomote wild cat that reigns at the top of the food chain in Iriomote Island is very majestic.
Since it requires a considerable amount of time and energy to reach it, it is said to be an unexplored waterfall and is a tour for advanced and experienced climbers.
The course is quite grueling, starting early in the morning when it is still dark, with 1.5 hours of sea kayaking and 3 hours of trekking.
However, the sense of accomplishment when you arrive at the unexplored region and the power of the waterfall are a must-see, so please give it a try when you have improved your kayaking and trekking skills.
Iriomote Island is full of attractive waterfalls!
This time, we introduced five waterfalls in Iriomote Island that can be reached by kayak.
All of them are recommended for those who want to enjoy not only trekking but also kayaking.
Depending on the weather conditions of the day, kayaking may be calm or like a training kayaking, and even in the same course, if the conditions are different, the world you can see and experience will change.
It is a good idea to visit the same waterfall several times!
*The trekking course to the waterfalls is basically unmaintained, and cell phone reception is poor once you enter the mountains. It is very dangerous to go into the mountains by yourself, so please be sure to join a tour with a guide.
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