Wonderful Forest: Certified Guides
Yambaru Forest Local Guides can show you everything that Yambaru has to offer, from the leisurely walking paths of Kunigami Forest Park to the trails of Mt. Yonaha and kayak tours of the Gesashi Bay mangrove forest.
A knowledgeable guide can make a stroll through the forest an unforgettable experience. Yambaru’s ecosystem is fragile. It is inhabited by many unique species and marked by notable geographical features. Even experienced hikers might miss the significance of what they are seeing or unknowingly break the rules that have been established to protect the forest.
How did people make charcoal at Hiji Falls before the trail was built? What animal leaves all those gnawed pine-cone cores on the forest floor? What insect is that fluttering by on bright blue wings? Certified guides can draw on generations of knowledge to answer such questions and explain local rules, connecting you with the human community that has grown alongside the Yambaru forest for centuries.
The guide certification system recognizes two types of guide. Each is authorized to lead tours in different fields.
Approved Guides (“Yambaru Forest Local Guides”) must pass a test and also be residents of Yambaru. They can lead tours in the Open, Registered, and Restricted Fields.
Registered Guides must pass a test but are not required to reside in Yambaru. They can lead tours in the Open and Registered Fields.
This website contains a directory of guides, with their type, background, and other information listed. We encourage all visitors who want to enjoy an authentic Yambaru experience to engage a Certified Guide to obtain the full benefit of their understanding and love for the forest.