Okinawa

Travel

【Hoshinoya Okinawa】”Sokai Whale Discovery,” a whale-watching and whale ecology workshop to bring whales closer to you.

2023.11.23

Hoshinoya Okinawa, a stay-and-go resort in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, will host the “Sokai Whale Discovery” from January 25 to February 29, 2024, to experience the richness of Okinawa’s ocean.

Feel close to whales at sea and in advance workshops.

Whale-watching tours are accompanied by Hoshinoya Okinawa staff members who are familiar with whales. You will be able to enjoy the whales more deeply while listening to their ecology and the spectacular viewpoints that change with the tides.

Whale watching for a closer look at whale ecology

We will set sail on a catamaran cruiser from a port near Hoshinoya Okinawa before dawn when there are few boats. In order to create an environment that is less stressful on the whales, whale watching is conducted while observing the rules of proper distance from the whales, ship speed, turning methods, and observation time.

Once the whales are spotted, we will collect full-scale data to provide for humpback whale research in the prefecture, including photographing the tail fins that identify individual whales and recording whale sounds called songs.

Search for whales from guest rooms and poolside.

Binoculars and books on whales will be provided in your guestroom during your stay. The entire facility of Hoshinoya Okinawa faces the west coast, and whales can be seen at various locations.

Outline of "Sokai Whale Discovery

Period: January 25 – February 29, 2024
Hours: Workshop 17:00-18:00
Whale watching 6:30-8:30
Charge: Up to 4 persons per couple: 150,000 yen (including tax and service charge, excluding accommodation charge)
15,000 yen for each additional person in a group of 5 or more
What’s included: Whale watching, guided tours by staff, workshops, binoculars, books on whales
Remarks: Contents are subject to change due to weather and sea conditions.

>Click here to make a reservation

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