Okinawa: Kayak Mangroves & Ocean Native-English Private Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Okinawa, Japan

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Okinawa: Urasoe Castle, Royal Tomb & War History Walk

Okinawa, Japan

5.0

(2)

Okinawa: Urasoe Castle, Royal Tomb & War History Walk

from $93

Price varies by group size

Exclusive Private Full Day Okinawa Island Tour with a Local Guide

Okinawa, Japan

5.0

(13)

Exclusive Private Full Day Okinawa Island Tour with a Local Guide

from $470

Per group

Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa: Nakagusuku Castle Views and Legends Tour 1.5h

from $100

Price varies by group size

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Discover parts of Okinawa’s coast that are inaccessible by any other vehicle during a kayaking tour that lets you escape the crowds on land. Ideal for families and first-time visitors, this gentle experience reveals the natural beauty of Okinawa, and comes with the insider knowledge of your guide.

See a different side of Okinawa during a kayak tour
An ideal choice for families and first-time visitors
Hotel pickup means you won’t have to worry about finding a meeting point
Receive personalized attention in a small group

What's Included

Specific customisations for your private group's abilties
Native English-speaking certified guide
All Fees and Taxes
Life jackets and neoprene protective footware
Kayaks and related safety equipment
Tea (caffeine free) and local snacks

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

DRIVE IN RIKARIKA-WARUMI
1124-5 Amesoko, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0411, Japan
Weather and sea conditions may affect departure point. We will confirm the exact meeting before the tour date. Please let us know to request pick-up & drop-off.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

Select your preferred tour option to see hours.

Itinerary

Drive In Rikarikawarumi

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Yagaji Island

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Kouri Ohashi

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Warumi Ohashi

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Nakijin-son

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Operates in most weather conditions, please wear sun protection and clothes that can get wet.
Kayak seats are 42 cm (16.5 in) wide, comparable to a budget airline seat
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Alexa_V

We had the most amazing experience on this kayak tour with Nik! His communications before the tour were very kind, prompt and helpful. We were originally scheduled to go on a very windy day, but Nik asked if we would want to reschedule to a different day, which ended up being the best decision! The area we explored was beautiful, and Nik was so knowledgeable of everything. It was also nice to be able to kayak at our own pace. Our favorite part was our stop at a beach, where Nik provided us with hot tea and a local snack. We were also delighted that Nik took photos of our family for us on his GoPro! Overall, this is a must book adventure and we will cherish this memory for a lifetime!

Reviews

5.0

based on 68 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Best Family Experience in Okinawa!

Alexa_V, Jan 2026

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you very much for the wonderful review and your kind words. It's great to hear you enjoyed the experience! All the best.

✔ New sport unlocked

Laura_R, Jan 2025

Beautiful experience, perhaps the best we had in Okinawa (and we had many). Even if you only stay a few days you have to go kayaking and you have to go with Nik, the perfect guide!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm really glad you had a great time kayaking—it’s always a pleasure to share this experience with visitors. Okinawa has so many amazing places to explore, so it means a lot to hear that this was a highlight of your trip. Hope you get a chance to visit again someday! Safe travels!

Super fun kayaking experience

James_N, Aug 2024

My husband and I really enjoyed this tour! Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area, and he took some amazing pictures of us. The private tour was nice because we could go at our own pace and the experience had a more personalized touch. This tour is great for beginners or people that have previous kayaking experience. The kayaks we used had a rudder controlled by foot petals which made them much easier to start than a normal kayak, this was a huge plus especially in more narrow sections of the mangroves.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Fantastic to see you enjoyed the private tour and the equipment we use. Your 5-star review is very much appreciated! All the best!

Amazing experience! Highly recommended!

Angela_K, Apr 2024

Nik was accommodating to our family needs and flexible. He tailored the tour to us and shared local customs as well. We loved it! He even took photos for us and shared them after the tour. We would recommend 100 out of 100 times!!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

That's awesome to hear your positive feedback, thank you so much! I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed it. All the best, Nik

Great tour guide + Unique experience = A must do

David_Z, Jan 2024

A friend and I book the mangrove tour and spent a few hours with the guide (Nik) kayaking in a beautiful in-land sea in northern Okinawa. Nik is very friendly and knowledgeable, sharing with us not only amazing spots of nature but also some insights into the local culture. This experience is one of that we would gladly do again.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Thank you for the positive review, it's great to hear that you enjoyed the experience on the inland sea in Nago. As with all our guests, we take pleasure in curating an experience to suit the group's needs and the conditions. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back one day! All the best, Nik.

highly recomended activity

EMMANOUIL_S, Dec 2023

Amazing experience and views !! One of the best activity in Okinawa. Highly recomended !! You shouldn;t miss this one

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Thank you for the 5-star review! It was a pleasure to guide you, navigating around a mangrove bay and uninhabited islands in North Okinawa. Come again sometime!

Great morning

Ulla_F, Jun 2023

Nik, his wife and their dog are incredibly friendly and helpful. I did this activity with my teenage son and we had such a fun time. Nik adapts to your ability, so if your a beginner its absolutely no problem. Fantastic nature. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who wants to escape the noise and the crowds.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thanks for the lovely feedback, Ulla! It's great to hear that you enjoyed your experience in Haneji inland sea. As with all our guests, it was our pleasure to curate an experience that suited your preferences, ability and the weather/sea conditions. At Padaloha, we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back one day!"

Best Experience near Nago!

Chris_S, May 2023

Nik's kayak tour was definitely the highlight of our trip while staying in Nago. He was very accommodating on timing and also catered to our desired type of kayaking experience. Also went the extra mile to show us the location of the bridge picture (i.e. the display picture of this experience on Viator), and recommending a restaurant nearby. Great conversations throughout the whole tour and just a great guy overall. Would recommend this experience to anyone and would do it again!

Response from Host, May 2023

Thank you so much for sharing your kayak experience with us, Chris! It's great to hear that you enjoyed your experience in Haneji inland sea and the Yagaji sea valley. As with all our guests, it was our pleasure to curate an experience that suited your preferences, ability and the weather/sea conditions. At Padaloha, we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back one day!"

Best Kayak tour and experience for all

Terrell_F, Jul 2021

Absolutely a Must Do while in Okinawa! The area we went to we were able to Kayak, snorkel, and take some great pictures!! our family had a great time and plan on going again to different areas. the Kayaks were easy to use and guide in the double. Very Friendly and professional with a lot of knowledge of all areas. Recommend signing up now as this was truly a great experience for us and your family or group of friends.