Pinaisara Falls — Attraction in Taketomi

If planning to hike without a guide please read. Supposedly, you cannot hike this trail alone. So you either need to be with a guide or with another person. The 1 star is not for the falls, but rather because I do not know how to rate it, as I had to turn around. More below

I showed up to the trail head and was going to hike it via all trails. The signs say try not to go alone, but nothing says you cannot do it by yourself. However, when on the trail a guide stopped me and I was told it's a unesco site so you need a guide. When I said the signs say you just need to check in if you are alone, I was then told you have to be with someone else and cannot do it alone. So I respected their land as a foreigner, and turned around. Another guide told me something similar at the trailhead.

I couldn't find the info online about this, so maybe I missed it. But I wanted to post it so others don't make the same mistake. You supposedly cannot do any hikes on Iriomote without a guide or some else.

RIP to...

Went in the off-season bit it was the weekend and luckily the island kayaking association staggers the groups. We were there before others and got to enjoy the rock pool by ourselves. Then other groups gradually came. It wasn't too crowded but it was the off-season. I imagine the downside being that this is super crowded in the season epsecislly at weekends.

The trail up was not super easy but it was manageble if you took your time. It wasnt that long. I saw a few 60 year olds and a 10 year old doing it.

I wouldn't say it was very strenuous overall but we were tired after returning...

Amazing trip! We booked a 1 day tour from Ishigaki to the waterfall with Hirata Tourism (they have a counter at the Ishigaki ferry terminal) We were the only ones on the river. The canoe ride to the base of the waterfall takes about 40 minutes. The hike through the jungle to the top takes about 30 minutes if you are fit. Breathtaking view from the top. We had lunch at the top of the waterfall. Very nice English speaking tour guide who gave us information about the different animals we saw. I highly recommend a visit to Iriomote if you are staying...