In this article, the editorial team OnTrip JAL took their first deserted island trip using TRAPOL, a travel service that takes you on a trip where you can blend into the local lifestyle and feel like you've made friends with the people who live in your destination. Kengo Moriwaki, the representative of TRAPOL and a deserted island expert, guided us around.
Traveling alone or with friends or family is fun, but if you can experience something that can only be done in that place with someone who is familiar with the destination, your values will surely be broadened. We will take you on an adventure that you will want to share with others!
Guide: Kengo Moriwaki from TRAPOL
He joined Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. as a new graduate in 2010, and in 2018 proposed a travel service through the company's in-house venture program, which he was accepted with flying colors. He founded TRAPOL LLC with the desire to create a cycle where people can feel the positive energy that others give off and be energized by it.
TRAPOL - Travel with local friends and blend into local life
TRAPOL is a service that connects travelers with locals (local friends), and allows them to show you around hidden spots as if you were interacting with a friend. It offers a wide variety of travel plans that allow you to have unique experiences, and its greatest feature is the "meeting people through travel," which allows you to deepen your friendships not only with local friends, but also with people you meet for the first time who participate in the same experiences.
At TRAPOL, the empty-handed deserted island plan is very popular! The company's president, Mr. Moriwaki, originally had a hobby of fishing for fish, and has had many deserted island survival experiences. He offers this service because he believes that the moment you create something from nothing with your own hands, or create a comfortable environment using wisdom and ingenuity, a positive energy is born.
My first time fishing from a boat. Interacting with people in an inconvenient location
This time, we tried out TRAPOL's deserted island plan for a day trip. After consulting with them in advance, TRAPOL decided on the perfect location and plan. Our editorial team, who are new to deserted islands and interested in boat fishing and marine activities, decided to visit a deserted island in Shikoku. It was inhabited from the Edo period to the early Showa period, and there is apparently a shrine with a legend.
I was always rushing through life, being busy with work and daily life. I set off with mixed feelings of anxiety about my first time on a deserted island and excitement about venturing into an unknown world. What kind of people will I meet?
We gathered at the port and departed on the boat for the destination of the trip, the uninhabited island. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the uninhabited island. TRAPOL will prepare the items you need to enjoy the uninhabited island, so you can board the boat lightly dressed.
The weather was clear and the wind was nearly calm, making it the perfect day for a sailing trip! It seems that a day like this doesn't come around very often, and the captain even commented, "You've come at a good time."
The first thing you feel when you set off is the pleasant breeze. Then, after a while, the uninhabited island that was our destination comes into view. The island is surrounded by crystal clear blue water! Is this a tropical country...? I was overwhelmed by the paradise-like scenery, which made me think so without even thinking.
The first experience is fishing from a boat. Before landing on the uninhabited island, we first need to secure some food!
Mr. Moriwaki and the TRAPOL staff
According to Moriwaki, when it comes to fishing, impatient people have an advantage over those who can patiently wait for no fish to be caught.
Impatient people tend to get impatient when they don't catch anything and quickly change their tackle, move to a different location, or take other action. This often works to their advantage when it comes to fishing.
I had fun, but I couldn't catch a single fish... I was frustrated and wanted to get revenge! I was filled with passion. Even if I didn't catch anything, I would change my mood when the wind blew. It was a time of calm.
Although we were unable to secure any food, the people traveling with us shared some fish with us, so we cooked it.
He who doesn't work doesn't eat! Since I don't have the skills to prepare fish, I do what I can by drawing water and preparing cooking utensils.
Because it's an inconvenient location, you naturally find your own role.
If there is something you can't do, leave it to someone else. Do what they can't do. By repeating this, you will find that there are more and more things that only you can do, and the people you travel with will also get to know you. Interacting with people like this is one of the best parts of traveling with TRAPOL.
It goes without saying that people cannot live alone, so it is important to help each other. I realized this once again while living on a deserted island. Of course, I will not forget to express my gratitude to those who shared their fish with me and to support those who prepare the fish.
As I was filleting the fish, a black kite appeared in the sky. It seemed to be targeting the fish. Surrounded by the natural background music of the black kite's cries, I ate the fish while it was still fresh!
Meichidai is often considered a more expensive fish than red sea bream, and is plump, sweet, and soft! It has a texture that melts in your mouth. Kawahagi is chewier than meichidai, and has a crunchy texture. When you eat it with liver soy sauce made by dissolving filefish liver and soy sauce, the deliciousness will run through your whole body.
Now that your stomach is full, let's move on to the next experience.
Take a walk on the ocean and arrive at a deserted island that has been left untouched by nature!
Next, we'll try out a marine sport called "SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board)," which even beginners can enjoy.
SUP, which originated in Hawaii, is an activity in which you stand on a board that is slightly larger than a surfboard, hold a paddle, and paddle yourself to move forward, giving you the experience of walking on the ocean.
This was also my first experience, so I received a lecture from Mr. Moriwaki before descending to the water. I started by kneeling and learning how to get a feel for paddling on the water. Then my body got used to it, and even though I was a beginner, I was able to smoothly paddle across the water.
Walking on the water is a valuable experience, and I feel like my mind is being reset. There was no wind that day, so all I could hear was the gentle sound of the waves. I felt that this kind of time is important for maintaining my physical and mental health.
Our rowing speed naturally increased as we paddled along the water's surface, and we landed on the sandy beach of an uninhabited island, where nature remains untouched.
The moment I arrived on the island, I turned around and saw the vibrant gradations of the ocean before me. What I saw was so far removed from my everyday life that I felt an overwhelming sense of freshness.
As we went deeper into the island, we found a vast expanse of greenery that seemed almost untouched by human hands, with a rich variety of plants. The entire island has been left in its natural state, with no man-made structures to be found.
The large trees, untouched nature, and boar footprints on the beach are reminiscent of those depicted in Edo picture scrolls. Is this really the Reiwa era? Have I traveled back in time to the Edo period? It's not surprising to feel that way when you enter this space.
When you're busy with work, school, or family, you might feel like you need to cut down on your time to relax and do that homework or that job. But if you take the plunge and come to a place where you can enjoy "doing nothing," you can feel so refreshed.
On a deserted island you will be able to experience this moment!
There are many other things to do on your TRAPOL deserted island trip, such as distilling seawater to obtain drinking water, camping, and watching the scenery change after sunset. From here on, please enjoy it with your five senses!
A deserted island adventure is a valuable experience that enriches your life and helps you grow.
This was my first trip to a deserted island, guided by Moriwaki, a deserted island expert. Through this trip in the great outdoors, I realized once again that the best part of traveling is meeting people. It was precisely because of the inconvenient environment that I was able to cooperate with people I had never met before and create a good time, which gave me an opportunity to rediscover my own potential. This deserted island adventure was a valuable experience that enriched my life and helped me grow.
This time, we had a plan made for beginners, but TRAPOL will choose the perfect place from over 10 deserted islands, including Okinawa and Amami Island, depending on where you want to go and what you want to experience. For those who want to try a more survival-like experience, there is also a plan to be stranded on a deserted island without any belongings. It looks like an exciting experience.
"There's no time!" When you feel rushed, taking the time to stop and think about your future may not be a detour in the long run, but a shortcut. TRAPOL offers plans to make friends with local people in various places, not just deserted islands, and travel together. Find a plan that interests you and experience a trip where you can meet new people.
Domestic Discount Fares Skymate
Limited to ages 12 and over and under 25!
Extremely affordable discount fares available for booking from the day of departure (4 hours before departure)
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
