sanji wrote (View Post): › That camping ground is 3 minutes by foot from the beach, so it is really a good location. sanji

Sanji, which one did you mean? Are all the campgrounds you gave me in the above post close to Hoshizuna beach?

This one is the only one really close :

Hoshinozuna Campgrounds 0980-85-6448
Adults 300 yen, Shower 300 yen, Tent Rental 550 yen (per day)

You can find more information on this page : http://www.making.com/hoshinosuna/p04.html
The camp ground seems to belong to the Hoshinozuna Pension, which is located just in front of the beach.

sanji

Hey Sanji, another question for ya:

If I follow the cross-island hike to its finish, where does it leave me? On a beach? on the road that wraps around part of Iriomote?

You will arrive directly in Otomi, which is a small town located just north of Ohara...

sanji

The end of the school year is near and I'm planning a little 2 week trip to Okinawa. It'll be good to escape from the winter, the place where I live, in Yamagata-ken, is in the middle of a snow storm right now...hehe.
Anyways, while planning my little trip, I spotted the Iriomote Cross-island hike in my Lonely Planet guidebook. Since it seems very interesting, I'm thinking of doing it. Now, I have a simple question, after looking around the internet, all of the Japanese pages I found were done by people who did the hike with a guide, since I travel alone, a guide would cost 30000y and I'm not very fond of guides in general. Because of that, I'm wondering, is it possible to do this hike alone without a guide?
Thanks,

~Sorin

Hi "Bob in Japan",

Welcome on our forums.

Bob in Japan wrote (View Post): › Because of that, I'm wondering, is it possible to do this hike alone without a guide?

Sure, there is no problem to do it by yourself. You should be a little prepared, though. I would recommend grabbing a copy of the Lonely Planet - Hiking in Japan, which offers a clear description of this trek, including a (not so great) map. Or at least, read that chapter once

Some people did got lost on that tracks years ago, but it is fairly clearly marked, and you should have no special problem.

sanji

Thanks Sanji, that's exactly what I wanted to hear...hehe I was planning on grabbing that book in Tokyo before going.
Now, after thoroughly researching transportation on Iriomote, I came up with another little problem. The last bus from Ohara leaves at 16:52 and, if I start the hike at 8:30am (apparently, if you make a reservation for the river boat, it is possible to start earlier than 9:30) the odds of finishing the hike before the last bus gets there are slim. I obviously won't be carrying all my luggage with me, so I'm wondering if there's a way I can go back to the hotel (or wherever I end up staying) after the last bus? or, if it's impossible, is there a place where I could store my luggage? If I can store the extra luggage somewhere I can spend the night in Ohara... I'm asking this because all of the people who talked about their trip on the internet went with a tour and the tour provides a ride back to the hotel.
Thanks again for your quick reply... I can't wait to be there, it looks fantastic...

~Sorin

I wasn't aware that the last bus was that early... Do you have a web site with the timetable - I would like to add it on the guide.

Although you might be able to catch the last bus, you probably will have to make some backup plan in case of. There is no alternative transportation, to the best of my knowledge... The easiest might be to reserve a minshuku for the night in or around Ohara, and send your stuff there by takkyubin. If you take the bus the following morning to go back to Uehara area, you might even stop at the onsen to relax after the trek...

sanji

Hehe, I'm glad to see that I can contribute with something.
When I was looking for info on the hike, I stumbled across Iriomote's official website... Iriomote ... for some reason it doesn't allow me to link directly to the bus timetable, but if you know Japanese, you'll be able to find the link in the menu on the left. Being this knowledgeable about things related to Japan, I assume you know Japanese, so, it shouldn't be a problem for you to find the timetable.
Oh, and great idea, I was thinking of sending my stuff by takkyuubin back to Tokyo (at my friend's place) but, your idea is even better, ty.
And, one small stupid question, how do the takkyuubin work? is there a takkyuubin office you have to go to? (I have no clue, I know, it's pathetic...hehe)
Thanks again, I was lucky to find this forum...guess I'll spend more time on it and try to find ways to contribute to it...

~Sorin

Bob in Japan wrote (View Post): › And, one small stupid question, how do the takkyuubin work?

All hotels and minshuku are handling the delivery service, as most guests send their stuff - especially diving equipment - before arriving on the island. Just fill a form and they will do the rest!

Bob in Japan wrote (View Post): › Thanks again, I was lucky to find this forum...guess I'll spend more time on it and try to find ways to contribute to it...

Looking forward and thanks for the link.


sanji

Merci beaucoup pour ton aide....
I tried to get that book in Tokyo, but, wasn't able to find it... I looked in the major Kinokuniya shops and looked on Amazon too and it's nowhere to be found... So, now, I figured I could ask you some more questions...
First of all, I'm wondering about drinkable water... do I have to bring a few liters of water/drinkable stuff with me or is there some way to get drinkable water along the way?... Also, I know that you have to sign up w/ the authorities before crossing the island, but could you tell me where/how to do that?... silly questions really, but they've been bugging me for a while.
Encore une fois, merci beaucoup pour ton aide,
Sorin

Hi, just to keep you informed, our dear sanji is away for all the week, after reading all the very good new post he decided to test some of them by himself.

I cannot answer about the authorities, you will have to wait.
About the water, you can buy in Tokyu Hands, I think, a pet bottle who can filter and clean any kind of water (expect sea water, water coming out from an heavy industry or containing medicine) up to 200L for about 3000 yen. Here I find an example on Yahoo shop (http://www.rakuten.co.jp/sakaiya/503385/518341/485998/). I was with Sanji in Iriomote and I take a picture of him bathing in a river over there, very clear water and I think with this type of equipment (only 58gr) it is perfect for trekking.

Hope it will help you a little bit.


(PS : more information look for ultrafiltration, f.ex. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrafiltration)

Thanks for the info... too bad I can't find a Tokyu Hands in Naha... lol... I should have asked earlier... :S... I'll see what I can do about it... might be able to find something... if not, I'll have to get a big bottle... :S (wanted to cut down on the weight...) ... or should I just try my luck w/ unfiltered river water?
Thanks,

~Sorin

Update:
Apparently, you can't cross the island alone... :S... that's what the Urauchigawa boat people told me after I sent them an e-mail asking when the first boat is leaving. They are really scared of morons getting lost or something, but, since it requires authorization from the cops and other authorities, I guess I won't be able to do it. Any other suggestions on ways to explore the jungle without doing the crossing?
Thanks again for your help, both of you...
I guess I'll have to come back with a friend eventually...hehe

- a small post since I have just now some connexion -

I certainly would not suggest you to do anything illegal, but what if you - by mistake - start the trek with the intention of coming back, and finish on the other side of the island? Who will check (they do not count people on the boat)?

Alternatively, you might wait at the first boat, hoping that other persons are doing the trek, too. And ask to join them.

I would check with the tourist information center if this "one person" is really a limitation. This seems a strange rule...

If nothing is working, then you might just walk for 1 hour from the waterfalls, and then come back - it would give you a great preview of the walk, anyway...

sanji

hehe, I'll definitely check with the Tourist Info Centre in Ishigaki.
I was stupid enough not to reserve a place to sleep... now, I need to find something at the last minute, the camping thing near the beach looks nice, I'll call and see if they have any spots left... but, if I actually decide to cross the island (I'll decide once I get to Ishigaki and talk with the people at the Tourist info Centre), I'll have to find a place to stay at Ohara... that might be a pain in the neck... might be harder to find a free room than to find a free camping spot... I guess I'll just have to see how it goes... The luggage thing is still bugging me... Can I just send it by takkyubin to Tokyo? If I don't have any luggage to send to the hotel/minshuku by takkyubin, it would mean that I can just show up in Ohara w/o any reservations and look for a place to stay... Shouldn't be impossible... Also, if it's possible to send it to Tokyo, how long would it take? a few days/weeks?
Thanks again for the info,

~Sorin