A journey of prayer
opened by the nature of Taketomi Island,
for only ten groups a year
The wind is blowing.
Walk the island,
cross the sea.
Follow the traces of prayer
into a world of nothing but waves and wind.
A day of just that.
Pilgrimage of the Wind.
An expanse that goes on forever.
Not one of the city's sounds.
Nothing to hear
but the waves
and the wind
And yet,
for a while now,
I feel I've been listening
to some kind of voice.
The water keeps changing color,
and the horizon beyond it
seems close enough to grasp.
Listening to a voice without sound,
feeling the endless expanse,
I realize
it was my own heart
that had been caught.
Before I know it,
between the real and the unreal,
between earth and heaven,
between the conscious and the unconscious—
there I am.
The sabani—
the boat to which the sea people
have entrusted their lives
for hundreds of years.
No engine;
it moves by wind, paddle,
and human hands alone.
Is it I who am moving,
or the wind?
By no one's will,
simply move forward.
Where was the line, I wonder,
between myself and the world?
Where I end
and where the world begins
grows harder and harder to tell.
Drifting in this in-between world,
I realize
I had been trying a little too hard—
at getting things,
at taking
things on.
Is it peace,
or sorrow,
or an awe
I had tucked away?
A feeling
that is born
when held by something vast—
a feeling
a feelingthat has no name yet—
begins to stir deep in my chest.
I feel the prayer.
I let my heart follow it.
The wind is blowing.
The sabani moves on.
The world keeps opening, without end.
And then,
with the help of the world,
I return to myself.
My heart begins to wake.
The sabani and I
simply move forward.
Pilgrimage of the Wind.
A single day
that opens without limit
in the in-between.
Pilgrimage of the Wind
Pilgrimage of the Wind is a journey for time in which there is nothing at all.
The Path of the Pilgrimage
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Prayer before the voyage
Before setting sail, we share in the ritual for safe passage that the sea people have performed for generations. Shedding the everyday and offering reverence to the sea, a voyage full of mystery quietly begins.
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Where the islanders nurtured life
Quietly paddling the sabani out, you give yourself over to the time once traced by those who came before, and turn your thoughts to the memories of life that still breathe on the island.
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The beach where the moon is born
To a mystical white sandbar that surfaces on the open sea for only a moment, in the space between the tides. Surrounded by sky and sea dyed in gradations of color, in an overwhelming silence, you listen closely to nature's conversation.
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Returning from the in-between
A private space on the sea where every sound falls away and only the wind-filled sail and the pleasant sound of the waves remain. Savor with all five senses the luxury of simply being there, with nothing at all—and return to everyday life with the lingering calm of a quietly settled heart.
Overview
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Capacity
1–4 people (fully private plan)
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Duration
4h
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Departure Times
Choose from the following two options.
① Pre-dawn to morning (a voyage through the stillness of the morning calm and a dramatic sunrise that turns the sea to gold)
② Sunset to starry sky (a voyage immersed in the moment when the gradations of dusk give way to a breathtaking sky full of stars)
*We will ask your preferences and, taking the tide and weather into account, arrange and confirm the best time slot for you individually.
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Price
¥220,000 per group (incl. tax / charter fee for one boat)
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What to Bring & Wear
- - A change of clothes for after the tour
- - Clothes you don't mind getting a little wet (in summer, swimwear or a rash guard; in spring, autumn, and winter, a windproof, warm long-sleeved jacket is recommended)
- - Footwear that can get wet (sandals, water shoes, etc.—your feet will get wet when boarding and disembarking the sabani)
- - A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (the sun on Taketomi Island is extremely strong, so these are essential)
*Bath towels, waterproof bags, drinks and the like are all provided by us.
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Conditions of Participation
A voyage aboard a traditional sailing sabani is a complete, engine-free dialogue with nature.
- - For safety reasons, please be sure to consult us when booking if your party includes a child aged 3 or under, or anyone who is pregnant, has concerns about their physical fitness, or has a pre-existing medical condition.
- - Participants must follow the instructions of the guide (boatman) and all safety rules to ensure a safe voyage.
- - Participants must not have consumed alcohol (for safety reasons, we strictly refuse participation to anyone under the influence).
*Pilgrimage of the Wind is not a thrill-seeking marine sport; it is a plan for those who wish to quietly experience the stillness of nature and the island's culture.
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What's Included
- - The private "Pilgrimage of the Wind" voyage aboard a sabani (one boat, exclusively yours; fully private for 1–4 guests)
- - Dedicated navigation, safety management, and cultural commentary by an experienced boatman (including the pre-departure ritual for safe passage)
- - Private round-trip transfers by dedicated vehicle from your chosen location on Taketomi Island (your accommodation, Taketomi Port, etc.)
- - Drinks during the voyage
- - DSLR and drone photography by a dedicated photographer (including a full set of edited photos and video delivered to you)
- - A full set of amenities (life jackets, bath towels, waterproof bags for personal belongings, etc.)
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Safety Standards
Sea conditions change by the moment, and there may be times when the tour cannot be held. We plan to notify you of any cancellation the day before (in some cases the decision is made on the day based on sea conditions). Cancellation criteria include: a weather warning in effect / wave height of 2 m or more / wind speed of 10 m/s or more / conditions judged dangerous by the guide, among others.
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Cancellation Policy
Customer cancellations: 50% from 2 days before through the day before the tour; 100% on the day. No cancellation fee for cancellations due to natural phenomena or poor sea conditions.
> Read the full cancellation policy