Yanbaru, A Private River Trek.
Two hours down a jungle river, lunch on the rocks, and coffee in the hills. A day in the wild north for your party alone.
Yanbaru is the wild north of Okinawa. It is a World Natural Heritage forest, and home to birds found nowhere else on earth. The best way into it is by the river. You spend two hours walking down the riverbed, over boulders and through clear pools, to a quiet place at the bottom where we stop for lunch. Then you climb back up the river the way you came, and we drive over the hills to a small coffee farm for something warm. This is a private day for your party only. We collect you from your door and bring you back in the late afternoon.
The day.
- Morning
The road north
Collected from your accommodation from around 8:30. A comfortable ride in a Toyota Land Cruiser, quiet and spacious, with Okinawan teas, chilled water and island snacks within reach. The towns fall away along the coast. Then the road turns inland, and the forest closes in.
- Late morning
Down the river
The trek begins around ten. There is no trail here. The river is the path. You climb over boulders, step from stone to stone, and wade where the water runs shallow and clear. The forest rises steeply on either side, and the only sound is the water. Your guide reads the river and sets the pace. It takes around two hours to reach the bottom.
- Midday
Lunch at the mouth of the river
Around noon, the river opens up. Lunch is laid out on the rocks, with a view that makes the climb down worth it. Around forty five minutes to eat, rest and take it in, no rush.
Special bento lunch (included) - Early afternoon
The way back
The same river, the other way. You climb back over the boulders you came down, and the forest looks different from below. The light has moved, and the pools catch it differently. You reach the car around two. Dry clothes, a cold drink, and the road again.
- Afternoon
Coffee at Hiro
Over the hills in Higashi, on the quiet east side of the north. Hiro Coffee Farm was one of the first coffee farms in Yanbaru. The café is painted in bright colours, with coffee trees growing out the back and chickens dozing in the shade. Order a coffee or a tea, and the house speciality: a sausage simmered in coffee, in a soft natural yeast bun. Both are on us. It is worth the drive on its own.
Hoffee or a tea, and the house speciality sausage in bun (included) - Late afternoon
Home
We leave the farm a little after three and take the long road south, with the forest behind you. Back at your door around 16:30.
The practical bits.
- A private tour for your party only, from 2 guests
- Bilingual local guide throughout
- Safety equipment and river trekking boots
- Complimentary pick up and drop off at your accommodation between Chatan and Nago
- Toyota Land Cruiser 150 TX, stocked with Okinawan teas, chilled water and island snacks
- Lunch at the bottom of the river (included)
- Coffee or tea and a coffee hot dog at Hiro Coffee Farm (included)
- Okinawan teas, chilled water and island snacks throughout the day (included)
- Meals and drinks not listed in the itinerary
- Personal insurances
- Clothes you do not mind getting wet, ideally quick dry
- A full change of clothes and a towel for the drive back
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- This is a private tour. Bookings start at the two guest rate, and solo travellers are welcome at that rate.
- Pick up and drop off are complimentary at your accommodation between Chatan and Nago. Your exact pick up time depends on where you are staying, and we confirm it before the tour. Transport covers the tour route only.
- Where you stay matters for this tour. The forest is a long drive north, so pick up runs from the west coast between Chatan and Nago. If you are staying in Naha or further south, we recommend a night on the central or northern coast before the tour. The morning is calmer, the drive is shorter, and the day ends closer to your door.
- This is a real river trek. Expect around two hours of boulder hopping and wading on the way down, and the same route back up after lunch. Good fitness and steady footing make the day. Your feet will get wet.
- Vegetarian and dietary needs are welcome. Tell us at booking and we will plan lunch around them.
- Your guide speaks English and Japanese.
Paid in full at booking. For bookings over ¥100,000, a 20% deposit secures your date and the balance is due one month before the tour.
Full refund for cancellations made up to 48 hours before the tour.
We build small, hand-walked trips and we'd love to take you out.
— The Evertrail crew
Price per person.
- 2 people
- ¥37,500
- 3 people
- ¥30,500
- 4 people
- ¥27,500
- 5 people
- ¥25,000
- 6 people
- ¥23,000
What guests said.
Read all reviews
We loved our tour with Yumi!! Seeing north Okinawa was beautiful and fun. Wonderful info and sightseeing!!
I booked this tour hoping for a fun day and ended up with a genuine highlight of my trip. The guide Aya was friendly and knowledgeable, the plan was thoughtful, and everything flowed smoothly. It felt like being shown around by someone who truly loves what they do.
We booked a full day north Okinawa tour and requested both a river trek and a hike up Mount Katsuudake. We had a great time with Yumi (who is fluent in English and - as a native Okinawan - very knowledgeable on local customs). She kept the mood light and fun.
