Tour Duration: 3 days
Price : Starting from JPY 74,000
Tour start : Kochi Ryoma Airport
Dive into Ugurushima’s breathtaking coral forest, which is 700 kilometers north of where the corals should be and is home to vibrant tropical corals. The westernmost island in Kochi Prefecture is Ugurushima, where you may go snorkeling, trekking, and meet the inhabitants. You will be provided a skilled English-speaking host/guide who lives on an island. It includes a rental car to go to Sukumo port (train is also an option), lodging on the island or at Sukumo port, and access to locations not typically open to international tourists.
Day 1
You have two options after landing at Kochi Airport for traveling to Sukumo City, your initial objective. Take a bus (or a cab) to Kochi Station, change to a train for the remainder of the journey to Sukumo (at Nakamura Station), or just rent a car at the airport and drive there. Language won’t be a big obstacle if you want to rent because we will handle all the logistics for you. Make sure you have a functioning cell phone because once you have the car, you’ll quickly discover that Google Maps works well for Kochi roads, in English.
Set your auto navigation system for Sukumo and get on the Kochi Expressway after signing the rental agreement and putting your bags in the trunk. It is a short trip that lasts about 3.5 hours. We suggest making a pit stop at Kure Taisho Town Market along the way to sample their delicious “wara-yaki katsuo-no-tataki” (straw-roasted seared bonito).
Try to get to Sukumo before sundown so you may check into your accommodation. Because tomorrow is the big act and it will be a long day, make sure to get a good night’s rest.
Day 2
When you arrive at Ugurushima pier, your host will greet you and take you and the other visitors up to the housing and preparation area. In an old Japanese home, lodging is provided in a number of shared rooms, and guests and hosts prepare meals together. After receiving a briefing about the island’s ecosystem, threats, and necessary safety measures, fitting will begin. You can either use the provided flippers, snorkel, face mask, etc., or bring your own. You will then all board your guide’s fishing boat and travel a short distance from the harbor to the coral region before beginning the tour.
After the tour’s maritime component is complete, the group will return to the lodging area where lunch will be provided before setting off on a trek to the island’s top. Once there, you can hike to a number of further diving locations that offer natural gathering places for the abundant marine life in the vicinity, depending on how much energy you have left.
Dinner will be served by your host at the conclusion of the day, following which you are free to rest at your lodging or have a stroll through the nearby hamlet (though it gets rather dark after dark). They do have reliable internet.
Day 3
You can return to your car or the railway station at 09:30 am by boarding the ferry from Sukumo at 7:50 am. Please be aware that it takes about 10 minutes to drive from Sukumo Station. Depending on your flight itinerary, we advise taking some time off to check out the kayaking, SUP, or yakatabune trips in the Shimanto river area (we also provide tours in this area). On the peaceful byways on the western side of the river, you can also take pleasure in cycling for more than 50 kilometers. If you choose to do so, keep an eye out for the so-called chinkabashi (sinking bridges), which cross the river and have one lane and no guard rails, making them ideal for pictures and brief moments of reflection.
Please be aware of your flight schedule as you return to the airport and allow extra time to return the rental car and check in for a local flight. Our recommendation is that you allow yourself at least one additional hour for the rental return if you check in an hour before. If you need us to handle your rental returns for you, please let us know. This service is available for an extra fee.
