Learning Iriomote’s kamai ecology with local hunters and jungle walks

Iriomotejima Hotel by Hoshino Resorts will again offer its “Kamai Hunting Culture Experience Tour,” an educational programme where local hunters will connect visitors with the island’s ecosystem. The tour is planned for weekends from November 15, 2025, to February 15, 2026, and will explore the role of the native wild boar, known locally as “kamai,” in the island’s ecosystem.

Iriomote Island was designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in July 2021 in recognition of its significant biodiversity. The kamai is an integral part of this environment, and traditional hunting is permitted only during the winter season. It has long served not only as a source of protein for islanders but also as a crucial method for maintaining ecological balance. While the boars are a key species, they can also negatively impact the ecosystem through crop damage and consumption of endemic species, making population management important.

The tour was first launched in 2021, and continues aiming for a deeper understanding of this complex relationship. Participants begin with a lecture from a local hunter who shares detailed knowledge of the kamai’s ecology and behaviour patterns. This session provides the foundation for understanding the unique natural systems at play on the island.

Following the lecture, guests join the hunter for a guided walk through the jungle. Here, they learn to identify signs of kamai activity, such as trails, digging marks and feeding remnants. The tour includes a demonstration of traditional trap-making, highlighting how the traps are designed with specific sizes and features to protect the island’s biodiversity.

The experience will also feature a special dinner “Kamai Smoked Clutch,” a dish prepared exclusively for tour participants. The meat of Iriomote kamai is distinct, characterised as less gamey, leaner and smaller than boar from other regions, a result of their diet of acorns and nuts.

Iriomotejima Hotel operates with the goal of contributing to ecotourism resort, and plans to continue providing an educational experience for tourists.