Taketomi Island Vegan Tour: 'Inochigusa' cuisine & traditional village walk (3-4 hours / All ages)

Highlights

• Savor modern vegan renditions of traditional Ryukyuan court cuisine in a National Important Cultural Property.
• You can interact with potters and chefs to experience the local culture. Multilingual support is available.
• Get a commemorative photo in traditional attire, taken in the garden or on the veranda, to take home a lasting memory.
• Perfect for everyone, including infants! This relaxed 3-4 hour tour is easy to fit into your schedule.
• As part of our SDG initiatives, a portion of the tour fee is used to preserve the local landscape.

What to expect

Experience the 'Utsugumi' spirit of Taketomi Island. Join locals to harvest plants and enjoy a vegan meal at a designated Important Cultural Property. Includes traditional Ryukyu attire and a village walk. This is a one-of-a-kind sensory experience.

What's included

• Guide fee, Experience fee, Lunch, Island entry tax ※A portion of the tour fee is donated to the Taketomi Island Regional Natural Assets Foundation for landscape conservation.

Schedule

1. —
   Please take the 9:30 a.m. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry from Ishigaki to Taketomi Island.
2. 09:45
   Meeting point: Taketomi Port Terminal.

   Our English-speaking guide will meet you.
   ※ You can check your luggage at the "Teedun Kariyushi-kan" building inside the terminal for a fee of 500 yen.
3. 09:50
   ★A look into our origins.

   Gain insight into the annual events of Taketomi Island with a powerful, large-screen video presentation. You'll witness rare festivals and the daily lives of islanders.
4. 10:20
   Explore the traditional village.

   We'll provide a rental of Kuba hats (umbrellas) and Kuba fans♪
5. 10:30
   ★Experiencing Local Life

   ・Learn about the local custom of warding off evil spirits at the village entrance.
   ・Stroll the red-tiled streets to learn about daily island life.
   ・Interact with locals and water buffaloes

   
6. —
   ★A Taste of Our Celebrations

   ・Visit the sacred site of the island's biggest festival, the Tanetori-sai, to pay respects to the agricultural deity.
   ・Enjoy a commemorative photo on a hill overlooking the beautiful red-tiled roofs, where you can wear a traditional kuba straw hat.

   
7. —
   ★Agricultural Experience

   ・You'll harvest unique island ingredients such as pīyashi and chōmeisō
   ・You can experience island farming activities like planting seeds and weeding
   
   ※This is an exclusive tour with special permission to harvest these ingredients. The harvested ingredients will be used in a meal for you

   
8. 11:15
   ★Experience the Local Cuisine

   ・Enjoy a private, nine-course vegan meal at the Old Yonakuni House, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property.
   ・The nine-course meal features local grains and vegetables and is served on unique pottery by a yachimun artist.

   
9. —
   ～The Philosophy of Our Festivals～

   "Memories of the Land, in Plates and Cuisine"
   
   A vegan course meal inspired by island festivals, served on handmade pottery. Each dish uses local grains and vegetables to express the "happiness" and harmony of the land.
10. 12:30
    Photo Session

    ・Take a memorable photo wearing traditional Ryukyu attire.
    ・Photos are taken in a charming, traditional setting, like the garden or on the veranda.
    
    Sizes and gender will be confirmed at the time of your tour reservation.

    
11. 13:00
    A Walk

    Wander through the Nakasuji village, a preserved area with rows of traditional red-tiled roofs. Designated as an Important Preservation District, this stroll along stone walls and small paths allows you to experience the peaceful, old-fashioned island life of Taketomi.
12. 13:10
    ★A Talk on Mingei (Folk Art)

    ・Interact with a ceramic artist at Gokoya and learn about the appeal of yachimun pottery
    ・You can also hold pieces made from the island's own soil and experience the local folk craft culture
    ※The yachimun used during your meal can be purchased. You will also receive island soy sauce as a souvenir.

    
13. —
    The tour ends here, with transport to Taketomi Port available on request.

Location and Directions

• Check-in

  Euglena Ishigaki Port Passenger Terminal, Yaeyama Kanko Ferry

  Euglena Ishigaki Port Passenger Terminal, Yaeyama Kanko Ferry, 1 Misaki-cho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan

  

  Expand

• Check-out

  Gokouya

  Atelier GOKOUYA, 1478 Taketomi, Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun, Okinawa, Japan

  

  Expand

Operated by

Cancellation policy