Enjoy the popular SUP Cruise in Ishigaki Island
Table of Contents
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What is a stand-up paddle boat (SUP)?
Have you heard of SUP, the most popular activity in Ishigaki Island?SUP is an activity that originated in Hawaii and is a resort marine activity that has gradually gained popularity since it was popularized by overseas celebrities enjoying it at their resorts.
It has recently been gaining popularity in Japan as a fashionable marine sport! It is an activity in which you sit or stand on a board and paddle forward with a paddle.
The board is similar in shape to a surfboard, but larger and more stable than those used for surfing, so even small children and first-timers can easily ride it, and since it uses the entire body, the speed is higher than expected, giving you a sense of exhilaration. This tour is very popular in Ishigaki Island where has beautiful ocean and white sand beaches.
Click here for a list of SUP tours in Ishigaki Island.
SUP activity is also popular in Ishigaki Island!
SUP has been gaining more and more competitors in Japan in recent years, and SUP competitions are being held in various areas, including Enoshima. What a surprise!SUP is also being considered as a competition for the 2024 Olympics.
In Ishigaki Island, "Ishigaki Island SUP Grand Prix" is held around April every year at Kabira Bay, and in neighboring Iriomote Island, an event called "Iriomote Island SUP Festival" is held around November every year. Please enjoy the activity and don't forget to take pictures!
You don't have to be able to swim! Safe and Secure Resort SUP
Although awareness of SUP is spreading, it is still an unfamiliar activity, so first-timers may be hesitant to try it, wondering if they will be able to ride it properly or if they can even swim. However, it is no problem because SUP is much easier than it looks and is loved by everyone from young children to the elderly.
In addition, SUP tours in Ishigaki Island are basically conducted in a place where you can reach your feet, and even if you should fall, you can rest assured that you are wearing a life jacket.
What to wear and prepare for a SUP tour
Wearing clothing for SUP tours is fine, as long as you are comfortable getting wet! If you wear clothes, they should be quick-drying clothes, but not water-containing clothes like cotton fabrics.
Also, life jackets are required, but please come dressed in clothing that will protect you in case you fall into the water. Felt boots (non-slip shoes that can get wet) and boards are all included in the tour fee, so you can come light!
8 SUP Cruises you can do in Ishigaki Island
There are various SUP tours in Ishigaki Island from first time SUPers to intermediate to advanced level SUPers, and among the many tours, we would like to introduce 7 most attractive SUP cruises in Ishigaki Island. You can enjoy the beautiful ocean, mangrove river, sunrise/sunset, and different attractions depending on the field and time of day, so it is a good idea to try not only one but various places to play using SUP during your trip to Ishigaki Island!
No.1. Kabira Bay SUP
First and foremost is the Kabirawan SUP Cruise, the only one in Okinawa Prefecture to receive three Michelin Green Guide stars!The attraction of a cruise at Kabira Bay is the world-famous Kabila blue sea.The color of the sea, which is said to change to seven different colors depending on the time of day, is satisfying just to look at.Kabira Bay is also an easy spot for first-time SUPers to paddle because the wind doesn't blow too much.
In Kabira Bay, there is also a rock called "Encounter Rock". It is said that the name comes from the fact that a tourist who touched this rock once met and married the man of his dreams in Ishigaki Island. In honor of this, Kabira Bay SUP tour is a course where you first experience the sea of Kabira Bay, then cruise to the "Rock of Encounter" and take a commemorative photo! Why don't you enjoy SUP in Kabira Bay, the No.1 scenic spot in Ishigaki Island?
Click here for SUP tour in Kabira Bay.
No.2. SUP Cruise on the Fukidori River & Trekking to a Secret Waterfall
This mangrove canoe tour is the most satisfying of all the SUP tours.You will cruise on a SUP on a river surrounded by subtropical mangrove jungle, and to our surprise, this tour starts at the mouth of the ocean!So you can enjoy ocean SUP at the entrance and mangrove SUP during the tour, killing two birds with one stone.
From the middle of the tour, we will make a short trek to "Yabiku Falls". You can also observe the flora and fauna of the subtropical jungle, so it can be enjoyed by families from small children to the elderly! It is a good idea to join this activity which boasts the No.1 satisfaction in Ishigaki Island with your family.
Click here for more information about SUP & Trekking Tour on the Fukidori River ↓↓ Click here for more information about SUP & Trekking Tour on the Fukidori River
No.3. Blue Cave SUP
The "Blue Cave" is a mysterious place woven by the nature of Ishigaki Island. This SUP tour takes you to such a blue cave by paddle boat.The uniqueness of the Blue Cave in Ishigaki Island is that you can walk in the cave and see the excitement created by nature such as stalactite caves and skylight windows inside the cave!
The cave is also an excellent photo spot, as when you look out from inside the cave, the surface of the sea reflects the natural scenery like a mirror, just like the Salar de Uyuni. There are also many tropical fish around the Blue Cave, so it is a good idea to watch them under the sea while SUPing! The field is for intermediate to advanced level divers, as it is a bit challenging due to the rocky bottom of the sea.
For more information about the Blue Cave SUP Tour, click here↓.
No.4. Miyara River Mangrove SUP Cruise
Miyara River is a spot where hirugi forests, which are designated as natural treasures, grow wild. The mangrove of Miyara River is the largest in Ishigaki Island, so you can enjoy the magnificence of the mangrove forest during the SUP tour. There is also a cave behind the mangrove of Miyara River, and the cave to this place is not accessible on foot. You can also enter the caves by SUP.
Moreover, Miyara River is located close to the city center, so you can fully enjoy SUP with less travel time. You can enjoy SUP & forest bathing in the largest mangrove river in Ishigaki Island, which has an area equivalent to about 48 times the size of Tokyo Dome.
For more information on SUP tours on the Miyara River, click here↓.
No.5. Nagura Bay Sunset SUP
Sunset is the best time to take a SUP cruise in Nagura Bay. Spend a fantastic time watching the sun gradually drop to the surface of the sea from the top of your board. You can enjoy the fantastic scenery where the sky, the surface of the sea, and all the scenery as far as the eye can see are dyed in madder red! It is also a very popular spot to take stylish sunset photos.
After practicing SUP in the wetlands of Nigura Ampal, we will head towards the mangrove forests and then towards the bay with the sunset. You will see for yourself the moment the sun sets in Nagura Bay, one of the best places in Japan to watch the sunset!
Click here for SUP tour in Nagura Bay.
No.6. Sunrise SUP
Sunlight in Ishigaki is said to be five times stronger than in Honshu, and sunrise SUP is also attractive.Starting SUP before the sun rises and savoring the sunrise on your SUP board will energize you on the morning of your trip.If you do light exercise in the morning, your breakfast will taste great, and you can use your day longer if you are active early in the morning! If you are planning to visit Ishigaki Island, let's use the morning time to enjoy activities effectively.
For more information about Sunset SUP Tour, click here↓.
No.7. Starry sky SUP
Enjoy a SUP cruise in the pitch dark, surrounded by the starry sky of Ishigaki Island, which was recognized as Japan's first Dark Sky Park in 2018, and enjoy SUP gracefully against the backdrop of the starry sky! You can enjoy a different kind of SUP cruise from the SUP cruise played during the daytime.
SUP while stargazing in Ishigaki Island is exceptional! Also, during SUP, you can observe the night life of plants and animals living in the mangrove, which is a rare experience that you cannot experience anywhere else.
No.8. SUP Yoga
Very popular among women! SUP Yoga in the great outdoors. This is a great way to retreat your mind and body, and since it is done on a SUP board, you can naturally strengthen your core. It may look difficult at first glance, but the board is secured with a string so that it does not sway too much, so even beginners can enjoy it easily.
SUP yoga is very popular among women travelers, but it is only available from April to October, so be sure to enjoy it if you come on a trip during this time of the year! Of course, couples and men are also welcome to join!
For more information about SUP Yoga, click here↓.
There are still many ways to have fun with SUP!
There are many other ways to enjoy SUP tours. For those who like fishing, there are fishing SUPs and more. Even if you don't want to play, you can read a book or listen to music while lying on the paddle boat in a place where the wind is light. If you are able to visit the tropical paradise of Ishigaki Island, please try the paradise-like way of playing!
Click here for a list of SUP tours in Ishigaki Island.
Enjoy a comfortable trip with a rental car!
We'll also make reservations in advance for car rentals, which fill up quickly!
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