Enjoy Ogasawara - BONIN ISLANDS / Saiyu Travel

PRIVATE / customized

Ogasawara Islands in Humpback Whale Watching season
Tokyo(Ogasawara Islands) , Japan
Enjoy the thrill of watching humpback whales breaching and caring for their calves in Tokyo's hidden Islands

Price
from JPY 298,000
Duration
5nights 6days
Departure
Between February and March

Highlights

This is a tour for a small group of 4 to 6 people and English speaking tour leader will be with you though out the tour. As most of the local people including guide in Ogasawara do not speak English much, our tour leader will attend with your group for translation as well as the support for your stay. It will be great opportunity for a small group travelers like family trip or trip with friends. Accommodation and available local tour space in Ogasawara is limited. So early booking is essential, the latest 3month prior to your planed date.
Take a fulfilling trip to the Ogasawara Islands, small groups only
Visit the island chains of the Ogasawara which have never been connected to the mainland. On this tour, 4 days and 3 nights give you time to experience the rich fauna and flora on the island, surrounded by the blue ocean known as Bonin blue. The best way to experience the Ogasawara Islands is in a small group. During your stay in Chichijima, You will go out to the sea to enjoy the marine wildlife of Ogasawara. February and March is the best season for whale watching as this area is popular Humpback whale's breeding ground during winter. Also, good swimmers will have chance to swim with friendly Indian Ocean Bottle-nose Dolphin when conditions allow.
Landing on Minamijima (South) island, the most scenic spot in Ogasawara
Minamijima island is one of Japan's leading submerged karst terrains. Enjoy the subfossils of the endemic snail species of Mandarina luhuana, which has gone extinct, but the shells can still be seen while walking around the area. The terrain created by submerged karst is also very unusual.
Ogasawara Maru; a round-trip second-class sleeper
The ferry Ogasawara Maru will sail for 1,000km in over 24 hours. To make your long voyage more comfortable, we will prepare a compartment-type sleeper (Economy berth) with curtains. The bunk beds are individually equipped with outlets.
*Upgrades to first-class or special rooms can be arranged with an additional charge.
*We also accept requests for ladies only cabins.

Humpback Whale Season

One of the highlights of visiting Ogasawara in the winter months is watching humpback whales. During the summer, the whales spend their days feeding on the fish near the Kamchatka Peninsula to as far as the Aleutian Islands. When winter comes, they return to Ogasawara Islands for breeding and spent several month. You may be able to observe the mother and calf whales, leisurely floating along in the water, while the males are swimming frantically in their “Heat Run,” and maybe even a baby whale breaching! The best season for whale watching is February and March.

Father Island Chichijima Night Tour

When the sun sets at Ogasawara and the night befalls its vast ocean, the activities of the Bonin flying fox, the only endemic mammal in the Ogasawara Islands, starts. The coenobita hermit crabs appear on the beach, offering a very different charm then in the daytime. In July, there is a chance perhaps to see the nesting green sea turtles coming up on the beaches. In the mountains, you might see the fantastic appearance of 'Green Pepe' mushrooms (Mycena chlorophos) that have a green bioluminescence in the darkness after the rain (in season from May to November). The amazing night sky of Ogasawara, with clean air and less light pollution, is covered by stars and the Milky Way might offer a special show for you.

Itinerary

	City	Summary
1	Takeshiba Ferry Terminal	Meet with our English speaking Tour leader at Takeshiba passenger ferry terminal in Tokyo by 10am and check in for "Ogasawara Maru" ferry. You will spend a 24-hour journey on board to get to the Chichijima, Ogasawara Islands. Overnight on the Ogasawara Maru: Economy Berth \| Meals: not included
2	Chichijima	As we enjoy view of the Mukojima Islands, we arrive at Futami Port on Chichijima at around 11 AM. In the afternoon, the Island tour will help you experience the unique environments of the island, the plants unique to the Ogasawara Islands, and the long history as well. In the evening, a guided tour will lead you through the forest to see the glowing mushrooms, the Bonin flying fox (national natural monument), other nocturnal coastal creatures and to observe the amazing stars at night. Overnight in Chichijima \| Meals: Dinner
3	Chichijima	It's a day to fully enjoy the sea of Ogasawara by boat tour. On our boat ride, we’re likely to encounter whales, dolphins and other marine mammals, so be sure to have your camera ready. A spectacular view of submerged karst will also be one of the activities. Take a hike on Minamijima as a break from the boat. Overnight in Chichijima\| Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
4	Chichijima	This day, you will enjoy hiking to Heart Rock which is the most popular hiking trail in Ogasawara. This trail is home to stunning natural scenery, light green forest, unique plants, deep blue sea, and if you’re lucky enough you may even see whales from the view points. Overnight in Chichijima\| Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
5	Chichijima	Enjoy your free time to the fullest on the island, until the last moment. It will be great opportunity to rent a bicycle and explore the island on your own. Depart from the Futami Port in the afternoon, looking out at the Mukojima Island chain from the “Ogasawara Maru” as we make the return trip back to Tokyo. Overnight on the Ogasawara Maru: Economy Berth \| Meals: Breakfast
6	Takeshiba Ferry Terminal	The tour concludes after arriving at Takeshiba Port.

** We offer other tours within Japan and can accommodate customized packages and quotes in combination with this one. Please feel free to inquire for more information from our agent.

Price

Season: February to March

	Price per person
Tour cost	from JPY 298,000 for a group of 4 to 6people
Single room supplement *Excluding Ogasawara Maru	from JPY 12,000

** Price will vary depending on the actual travel dates, hotels to be used, etc. Please contact us for a quote.
** This is a general guideline for the tour. We welcome any changes in the types of activities included, duration of the tour as well as upgrades in accommodations, as you request.

Including :

Return Ferry fee (Ogasawa-Maru :Economy Berth) | English Speaking Tour leader | 3 Nights of Accommodations in Chichijima island |Meals (3 breakfasts and 3 dinners) | Sightseeing program fee mentioned above itinerary

Exclusive of :

About Ogasawa-maru

Ogasawara does not have an airport, so the only way there is by ferry. The ferry liner “Ogasawara-maru” sets sail once a week from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo. Basically, you should schedule six days for the whole trip to the Ogasawara Islands. The ferry departs from the Takeshiba, Tokyo at 11:00 A.M. and takes about 24 hours to arrive. It arrives the next day at 11:00 A.M. at Futami Port of Chichijima Island. The ship is complete with facilities like restaurant, cafe and shops. The ferry offers several different cabin classes on five decks that range in price. Economy Berth (upper and lower bunk beds with curtains, facing each other) is included in the tour price. If you would like to upgrade the cabin (Premium berth, Standard twin room, Deluxe room or Suite room, etc.) or change to an cheaper economy Japanese-style cabin , please let us know your preference.

Climate

Ogasawara islands belong to the subtropical zone and are warm throughout the year. There is little temperature difference between summer and winter. If the weather is nice, the temperatures will be warm enough to spend the day in short sleeves or a light long-sleeved shirt even during winter. Weather conditions on the sea (outside deck of Ogasawara Maru Ferry or tour boat) may be windy, so a windbreaker or jacket is essential to bring. Sandals are convenient to walk around town of Chichijima. Please take the appropriate precautions for sun exposure during the boating. However, wet suite is essential for swimming with dolphins during winter time. You can rent on spot with additional rental fee.

Accommodation

There are no large hotel facilities on Chichijima island, so loding will be at a small guest house. Western style room with beds may not be guaranteed. Also, many facilities only offer shared bathroom (toilets and shower area). In addition, since many guest houses only have a small number of rooms, it may not be possible to secure a single room reservation. Or sometimes some group members may have to stay at a separate location.

Note

**On the Ferry Ogasawara Maru, restaurant and cafe are available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Chichijima, you will need to purchase your lunch at local shop before departure and take it with you to the day tour. Some accommodation do not provide breakfast. In that case, we will exclude breakfast and each participants can purchase breakfast at local shop.
** Only a limited number of stores or restaurant in Ogasawara accept credit cards, and there are no foreign currency exchange. Please have sufficient Japanese yen cash with you prior to departure from Tokyo.
**Boat used for whale watching, dolphin swim is small boat and tour may be cancelled due to bad sea/weather conditions. In that case, we will go out to the different tour on land as alternative and no refunded will be made.
**Swimming with whales is not allowed by local rules.
**We strongly recommend customers to arrive in Tokyo at least one day prior to your tour date as Ogasawara Maru ferry operates only every 6-7days. In case you miss the ferry for any reason, such as transportation delays or cancellations, the tour fee will not be refunded.

Travel planning and implementation：SAIYU TRAVEL CO.,LTD.
3rd floor, Kyodo Bldg. jimbocho, 2-2, Kanda, jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan ｜Travel Agency Registration No. 607

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