This is the season when humpback whales are confirmed to be off the coast of zamami island, and the best season for whale watching is finally here. Zamami will host its 2011 whale watching fiesta on 21 march. Okinawa bus tour northern a course engspeaking staff. The kerama islands are only about 25 miles from naha just an hourlong ferry ride away.
Humpback whales travel more than 5,000 kilometers every year to breed in okinawas warm waters. Dead whale washes ashore at army recreational area on okinawa. See humpback whales leap out of the water, known as breaching, and watch them as they swim around the islands in early spring. The tour conditions represents the conditions described in each. Watch them breach and splash right before your eyes. Departing from both naha and chatan near the onna area, enjoy a morning or afternoon cruise near the zamami islands. The story behind giant pigs and cows on okinawa just 20 minutes northwest of kadena air base is a peculiar sight. Humpback whale, megaptera novaeangliae, songs were recorded off ryukyu islands, japan, during the 1991 and 1992 winterspring breeding seasons.
Sadly japan sometimes hits the headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the whole world knows that japan has been stubborn in its defiance of the international whaling committees ban on the. Complete your adventure by including an optional parasailing adventure. Heres my latest collaboration video with skylum software. Get ready for the inside scoop because this guide has everything you need to know about traveling. But, during the winter season, the waters surrounding the small group of islands might as well be a world away from the hustle and bustle of okinawas largest city, as the area transforms into one of the best whalewatching spots in the world. Contributed by sarah forte whale sharks and okinawa. Whalewatching and dolphinwatching education in japan. Whale watching season is on okinawanderer okinawa news. The okinawa coconut crab mainly resides in some palm trees and return to ocean to lay their eggs. Whale watching season in okinawa features okinawa travel info. As far as the whale shark dive, i have pondered it, but like yourself, im not thrilled about these enormous creatures being netted. The orca is the perfect option for people looking for the easiest and safest way to enjoy okinawas fascinating underwater world without even changing into a swimsuit. Whale watching in okinawa during winter departing from onna.
Winter whale watching cruise from naha or chatan, okinawa. It can also be seen in hokkaido, but there are many tours from spring to summer. Discover a group of humpback whales migrating to their. The mother whale nurses the calf without feeding herself and loses a lot of weight during this time.
Winter whale watching cruise from naha or chatan dec. This is the season when humpback whales are confirmed to be off the coast of zamami island, and the. Okinawa whale shark viewing from glass bottom boat. I take to the waters off the coast of motobu, okinawa to try and photograph humpback whales. Warm winter waters off the coast of okinawa draw whales.
Please like, share and comment on the video as it will help others find it and allow us to keep on making videos. Tours appeared in the yokoso japan tour, tours with this mark indicates that they are organized and operated by club tourism international inc. So i found time to explore a suitably sunshiny haikyo called dolphin island. This discreet bay, tucked neatly at the western end of the gulf of tadjoura, is one of the most dependable places in the world to swim with whale sharks. In the previous year, over 22,000 guests hopped on board to see majestic 15 meter long whales swim in their natural habitat. Join us on a whale watching tour in the surrounding warm waters of the east china sea. The haari boat races are also a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
So i choose to join the tour that only in this season whale watching tour. Whale watching japan is home to a magnificent range of whales and dolphins, and whale watching cruises provide a sustainable alternative to whaling. Watch these mammothsized creatures surface around the kerama. Where i was examined yesterday, okinawa and choshi may not be seen in april. Orca underwater sightseeing cruiseokinawa island guide. Whale watching in okinawa is one of the popular tourism in okinawa in winter. Our whalewatching season is december 30 2018 to march 31 2019. Winter in okinawa is a sensational time of year for marine leisure activities. Deserted dolphin island ruins in okinawa gakuranman. Just as expected, my wife and two daughters were suffering. Torii scuba locker offers divers a chance to interact with these gentle giants. Whale watching in okinawa during winter departing from onna if spending a day chilling on a white sandy beach, or diving into the amazing blue cave are the best things to do in okinawa during summer time, then hopping on a boat to go on. The cerulean blue, surely should you find okinawa how to spend looking for.
The ocean is both terrifying and fascinating to me, a home to some of my absolute favourite creatures. From january to march, the ocean around okinawa is in full action. While it is possible to dive okinawa year round, the peak diving season in okinawa spans from midjuly to early september. The blue cave in okinawa ranks first among the most popular and most recommended water sports sites, where you can enjoy okinawa diving and okinawa snorkeling. Over 300 whales migrate to the kerama islands to mate and give. Okinawa divers against whale shark tours home facebook. Join the okinawa whale watching tour to get a close look at the incredible humpback whales off the coast of okinawa with this winter whale watching tour that. The best places to swim with whale sharks lonely planet.
A whale watching guide from january to march, the ocean around okinawa is in full action. The fact is, i lived on okinawa for three years, i speak japanese, i immersed myself deep into the culture by taking karate and sanshin okinawa snake skin three stringed banjo lessons, and i definitely have a locals perspective on what can make your visit to okinawa incredible. March marks the opening of the beach season in okinawa. The okinawa coconut crab is a type of crab that is found on most of the okinawa islands, but it is a terrestrial hermit crab without an exterior seashell. You can enjoy the day trip whale watching tour from naha. A study prepared for international fund for animal welfare in 2009 estimated that million people went whale watching globally in 2008. Hammerhead sharks experience japan inside japan tours. The kerama islands are a group of 22 islands in okinawa. Whale lovers attention whale watching season okinawa japan. Voyagin is a marketplace to help you discover and book the best things to do, attraction tickets, and unique local tours. The color of the ocean there is called kerama blue.
Humpback whale song units, okinawa, japan download scientific. I will be arriving to okinawa in the beginning of august. From january to march, whales visit okinawa to raise their babies. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this. Whale watching is mostly a recreational activity cf. The entire season is being billed the zamami village whale watching festival. We can take you to the no 1 okinawa diving spot blue cave. Reservations and tickets are available through the society at 098 8964141, tickets are y5,250 for adults and y2,625 for children.
Its not uncommon for several of the giants to be cruising so close to shore that its possible to snorkel out to see them. My recent travels took me there, to okinawa, touring and diving around a few of the beautiful beaches and into the gorgeous, warm blue seas. If you want to go whale watching in okinawa, the season starts in late january. They may average a few degrees higher than around okinawa, but both areas have very temperate water year round. We provide you with the hospitality and service unique to japan o.
Whale shark snorkeling okinawa city forum tripadvisor. The kind of whale is humpback whale that travel from alaska. Okinawa is one of the best locations in the world for whale watching, and winter is the ideal season for this exciting activity. Whale watching experience japan inside japan tours. Escaping the cold with a trip to naha published on 20151218 by sakura mobile okinawa is known by japanese and foreigners alike as a beautiful, sunny paradise with white sandy beaches where you can bask in the heat no matter the season. Whale watching season is on no data okinawa is one of the best locations for whale watching as the winter brings the annual migration of humpback whales to waters off kerama islands where they give birth and nurture their young during the cold months of the year before heading back to their feeding grounds in the northern pacific. A whale watching guide an impressive experience to encounter in okinawa. Yoyo male40 aged i saw the humpback whale this time.
Do not miss the opportunity to encounter the most giant mammal in the world. Two years alone in the wilderness escape the city to build off grid log cabin duration. December to march is the off season, given the prevalence of typhoons and cooler temperatures. The bones of a dead humpback whale that washed ashore at torii station on okinawa were cleaned friday and will be cured for one year before becoming specimens at the local aquariums research center. One of the most popular whale watching tours in okinawa. See whales as large as 15 meters play in the sea around the zamami islands on this popular whale watching tour. The orca underwater sightseeing cruise offers the opportunity to observe colorful tropical fish swimming right in front of you, in a. Whale watching in okinawa mustlovejapan video travel guide. We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in japan.
The zamami whale watching association, founded in 1990 on okinawas zamami island, is committed to ensuring the success of future migrations, and employs an ecofriendly stance when conducting tours. Spring is also a time of year when visitors can attend unique events like the iejima lily festival, starting the last week of april. Witness majestic whales on this popular winter whale watching tour from naha or chatan, okinawa. Categories nature a whale watching guide an impressive experience to encounter in okinawa. Tokashiki island, zamami island, aka island, and geruma island. If, like me, you prefer to see them in their rightful place the ocean, then youre in luck if you happen to be in okinawa between january to april. Can someone please recommend a guidagency who speaks english and can also pick me up from. Okinawa offers a number of whale watching tours between april and december. But a holiday wouldnt be complete without a trip to sample the local ruins. Cruise out into the sea to spot the huge humpback whales coming to the warmer waters in the sea of okinawa. Massive though not self conscious about their weight, they swim through the ocean as the giants of the sea. Okinawa winter whale watching catamaran cruise from motobu. Diving okinawa guide to diving okinawa with marine life.
Shi, allowing you to experience the irresistible charm of japanese seas. The whale shark tours in okinawa, japan are helping to promote cruelty to animals. For diving in more remote locales, take a trip on a liveaboard boat. So the mother comes here to warmer seas to rear the calf. I will be staying in naha and im looking to snorkel with the whale sharks cant wait. Kerama islands are wellknown as the best place for whale watching in japan, and it is also popular for scuba divers. Spatial distribution and habitat use patterns of humpback whales. Sub tropical, high humidity, ocasional typhoons in the summer, rainy season is in may.
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