Join a small-group beach-entry tour and swim with sea turtles in Ishigaki — one of the best places in Japan to find them in their natural reef habitat, observed respectfully and at a comfortable distance.
If your goal is to swim with sea turtles in Ishigaki, this tour is designed for you. Our experienced guides take you to one of the island’s best locations, where turtles are seen regularly. This small group experience includes beach entry, plenty of time in the water, and full support from an English-speaking guide.
The snorkeling areas we use are known as some of the best places to see turtles in Ishigaki. Our guides visit these locations daily and choose the best conditions to maximize your chances for a close and personal encounter.
While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, turtles are seen on more than 97% of our tours throughout the year.
No Japanglish. No translation apps. Every tour is led entirely in natural, fluent English — from pick-up to drop-off — so you can ask questions, understand safety briefings, and enjoy the experience without any language confusion.
This makes our tour one of the most reliable options for Ishigaki turtle snorkeling.
4 Hours Total
1.5 ~ 2 Hours Snorkeling Time
Included:
¥9,500 / Person
*All prices are tax included.
**All prices in Japanese Yen
***We accept CASH ONLY.
The snorkeling areas we use are known as some of the best places to see turtles in Ishigaki. Our guides visit these locations daily and choose the best conditions to maximize your chances for a close and personal encounter.
While wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, turtles are seen on more than 97% of our tours throughout the year.
No Japanglish. No translation apps.
Every tour is led entirely in natural, fluent English.
We want your time in the water to feel calm, safe and memorable — your comfort comes first from pick-up to drop-off.
Led by experienced guides with more than 10 years of guiding in Ishigaki and over 20 years in diving and snorkeling overall, this tour focuses on areas where sea turtles are most commonly seen. By choosing the best conditions and locations daily, we offer one of the most reliable turtle snorkeling experiences in Ishigaki.
Designed around quality rather than volume, this tour runs with one small group at a time. The limited size creates more space in the water, smoother turtle encounters, and the freedom to adapt the pace to the group’s comfort level in a calm, supportive setting.
Beyond turtles, Ishigaki’s reefs feature colorful coral formations, tropical fish, rays, cuttlefish, and occasionally reef sharks. The reef’s diversity makes every snorkel special. Our approach prioritizes wildlife respect and reef protection, allowing natural encounters while preserving the marine environment.
Led entirely in fluent English, this tour ensures clear safety briefings and calm guidance throughout the experience so both beginners and experienced snorkelers feel at ease. With up to two hours in the water, you can explore selected reef areas comfortably without feeling rushed.
With small groups and a fully guided turtle snorkeling experience in Ishigaki, you’ll have plenty of support and time to enjoy the encounter.
Swim with sea turtles and continue exploring Ishigaki’s most beautiful locations, hidden beaches, and scenic viewpoints on our full day tour.
Full Day Snorkeling & Island Tour7:30 AM • Pick-up from accommodation
8:10 AM • Gearing up
8:20 AM • Snorkeling safety briefing
8:30 AM • Snorkeling 1.5–2 hours
10:30 AM • Rinse, change & fruits
10:50 AM • Drive back to accommodation
11:30 AM • Drop-off at accommodation
∞ • Lifetime of happy memories
The daily itinerary may change depending on weather conditions, safety considerations, and your group’s preferences.
Tour departures are subject to suitable weather conditions and minimum participant numbers.
Times shown are estimates only and may vary depending on weather, pick-up location, traffic, and snorkeling site.
Note: All snorkeling equipment is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after every tour.
Free transportation from and to your hotel is included in all of our tours.
Pick-up time will be sent to you on the day before your tour.
We can pick you up from the ferry terminal at no additional cost.
Free pick-up service is included for these areas:
Ishigaki City
Ohama
Shiraho
Fusaki
Kabira
Yonehara
Nosoko
Please consult with us if you are staying in the northern area of Ishigaki Island or on other islands.
If you have a rental car and prefer to arrive by yourself — no problem! We will inform you of the meeting place and time on the day before the tour.
Pick-up and Drop-off in any area other than Ishigaki City may result in shorter or longer tour times.
This tour is suitable for guests aged 12 to 70 years old.
This tour involves a moderate level of physical activity, including walking on uneven ground and soft sand to access the snorkeling sites. To help us provide the safest possible experience, we ask all guests to let us know about any medical conditions, injuries, physical limitations, or other concerns that may affect their participation. This information is used only to assess your suitability for the tour and will not be stored beyond what is necessary. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
Unfortunately, this tour is not recommended for:
Guests who may require additional assistance or may find participation challenging are welcome to contact us before booking so we can discuss their specific needs.
For full details, please see our Terms & Conditions.
Swim with sea turtles and continue exploring Ishigaki’s most beautiful locations, hidden beaches, and scenic viewpoints on our full day tour.
Full Day Snorkeling & Island Tour
Ishigaki’s coastal reefs provide a year-round habitat for green sea turtles, particularly in shallow hard coral areas where they rest and visit cleaning stations near the top of the reef. Unlike feeding-focused locations in other regions, turtles here are often seen calmly resting, being cleaned by reef fish, or surfacing slowly to breathe.
With more than 10 years of guiding around the island, and over 20 years in diving and snorkeling overall, we have developed long-term familiarity with multiple turtle points across Ishigaki. Rather than relying on a single location, we select sites daily based on sea conditions, visibility, and recent turtle activity patterns.
During peak season, we depart early to avoid crowded snorkeling times. This allows for calmer conditions in the water and more natural turtle behavior, without pressure from heavy traffic.
Our approach is patient and respectful. We never chase or touch turtles. Instead, we observe their movement and wait for them to surface naturally for air, which often allows for closer yet responsible viewing. Maintaining appropriate distance ensures turtles remain undisturbed while guests experience meaningful encounters. Check our guide to snorkeling in Ishigaki for more information.
Beyond turtles, Ishigaki’s reefs—part of the greater Sekisei Lagoon ecosystem—are home to diverse marine life including tropical reef fish, rays, seasonal cuttlefish, squid, mackerels, tuna, sea snakes, and occasionally passing reef sharks. The coral environment here is primarily hard coral, forming stable reef structures that support this biodiversity.
Green sea turtles in Ishigaki are primarily of the species Chelonia mydas, one of the largest hard-shelled sea turtles in the world. Adults typically reach 80 to 120 centimeters in length and can weigh between 70 and 190 kilograms. They can hold their breath for up to 7 hours when resting, though they surface every 15 to 30 minutes when actively swimming or feeding. Ishigaki’s shallow reef systems — particularly areas with abundant seagrass and algae — provide ideal feeding grounds, which is why the island consistently offers some of the highest turtle encounter rates of any snorkeling destination in Japan.
Sea turtles and coral reefs depend on a healthy marine environment. For that reason, we follow and promote responsible snorkeling practices: no touching wildlife or coral, no standing or kicking the reef, using reef-safe sunscreen, and leaving the reef exactly as we found it.
Green sea turtles are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, making responsible wildlife encounters an important part of every tour we run.
We use what we know about local turtles, choose our sites carefully, and guide with the animals’ welfare in mind — so every encounter is safe for you and for them.
Sea turtles are seen on more than 97% of our tours. Ishigaki is home to large populations of green sea turtles that rest and feed along the island’s shallow reef systems, making consistent sightings possible throughout the year.
While no wildlife encounter can be guaranteed, our guides have over 10 years of experience locating turtle habitats across Ishigaki and select locations daily based on conditions to maximize your chances of a close, natural encounter.
All turtle snorkeling is done from the beach. We drive to the selected beach by van, then enter the water gently from the shore.
This means no boats, no seasickness, and a more relaxed start to the water session.
Beach entry also allows us to access shallow reef areas where turtles rest and feed, which are often unreachable by boat.
Yes. This tour is designed to be accessible for all skill levels, including first-time snorkelers and non-swimmers.
Before entering the water, your guide provides a full safety briefing and snorkeling technique lesson. Life jackets are mandatory for all guests and provide both safety and confidence in the water. The guide stays in the water with the group throughout the session and can provide individual support to anyone who needs it.
We keep groups small — a maximum of 7 guests per guide, and often fewer.
Small groups are essential for turtle snorkeling because large numbers of people in the water disturb the animals and reduce encounter quality. By limiting group size, we can approach turtles calmly, spend more time observing them naturally, and give each guest personal attention throughout the session.
Ishigaki’s reefs are home to a wide variety of marine life all year round.
On most tours we come across green sea turtles resting on or swimming around the reef, along with parrotfish, butterflyfish, surgeonfish, and large schools of tropical fish.
Depending on the season, you may also spot white-tip reef sharks in shallow water, giant cuttlefish, stingrays, and lionfish. No two tours are the same, which is what makes every session memorable.
This shared tour is for guests aged 12 to 70.
Children under 12 can join our Family Tour, a private tour where we adjust the pace and activities to your kids ages.
Yes. Every tour is led entirely in fluent English. We do not mix languages or use translation apps.
Our guides are experienced in explaining sea turtle behavior, snorkeling safety, and marine conservation in clear, natural English — making the experience comfortable and informative for international guests of all language backgrounds.
The total tour time is approximately 4 hours from pick-up to drop-off, with 1.5 to 2 hours in the water.
Pick-up times vary by hotel location and are confirmed the day before your tour.
If you would like to combine turtle snorkeling with island sightseeing and a longer day out, our full-day Snorkeling and Island Tour runs 6.5 hours and includes lunch.
Swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, a change of clothes, cash to pay for the tour, and a sense of adventure.
All snorkeling equipment is provided — mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit or rash guard, reef shoes, life jacket, and safety float.
If you wear glasses, optical masks are available in diopter ranges from -2 to -6 — please request at booking.
The location changes with the weather and sea conditions. Each morning your guide picks the beach with the safest conditions and the best visibility. We often use Osaki, Yonehara, Yoshihara, or Crystal Beach, and sometimes the Blue Cave area.
Yes. Free pick-up is available from major hotel areas in Ishigaki. Details will be provided after booking.
No, we accept cash only, and all prices are in Japanese Yen.
Please have the correct amount ready on the day of your tour.
For ATM locations and currency exchange options near your hotel, see our ATM and Currency Exchange guide.
Ready to experience one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in Ishigaki? Check availability and join our turtle snorkeling tour today.
Feel free to contact us anytime via WhatsApp or LINE.
Press the button below to start chatting instantly:
Fill out the form below and we’ll confirm availability within 24 hours — usually much sooner.
This inquiry does not confirm your booking. We’ll contact you within 24 hours to confirm availability and ask for any additional details we may need. If you don’t hear from us, please check your spam folder or contact us again.
(+81) 090-1944-7155
info@discoverishigaki.com
English and Japanese available
