Tokyo » Izu Shichito, Ogasawara Islands
The Izu Islands are a great place to enjoy sightseeing on the remote islands. The Ogasawara Islands, which take a full day by boat, offer a tropical sightseeing experience that will make you feel as if you are not in Japan. The scenery of the islanders seeing you off by boat is sure to move you to tears!
The Izu Islands and Ogasawara offer tourist attractions such as Furusato Village, Mt. Mihara, and Shinsui Park; tourist events such as horseback archery, countdown events, and the Oshima Camellia Festival; and local delicacies such as soba, oden, and monja-yaki.
The Izu Islands are famous for "Squirrel Village," where visitors can interact with hundreds of free-range squirrels, the active volcano Mount Mihara, and the Oshima Camellia.
Hachijojima' has seven hot springs, including "Hikaru Mushrooms" where you can see glowing mushrooms and fireflies flying around, and open-air baths facing the sea and overlooking waterfalls, such as Mimasenoyu, Fureaioyu, Uramigataki Onsen, Yasuragi-no-yu, and Dorawasawa Onsen.
Mikurashima Island is a place where you can swim with dolphins. Hachijojima offers a variety of activities such as hiking and marine sports, and each island is unique.
The Ogasawara Islands, with their unique ecosystem, were registered as a World Natural Heritage site in 2011. The azure sea, known as "bonin blue," is colored with coral reefs and tropical fish, and is home to whales and dolphins. The pristine forests are also home to a large number of national flora and fauna.
Whale-watching can be seen in the Ogasawara Islands, and the sky is full of stars that cannot be seen in the cities. The tropical island of Ogasawara is about 1,000 kilometers south of central Tokyo, and can be reached by boat in about 25 hours each way. A relaxing boat trip is a nice way to spend some time.
The Izu Islands are a mecca for marine recreation, and the Ogasawara Islands are the most popular for whale-watching. The Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands area is a great place to enjoy the great outdoors, but there are also historical buildings, zoos, aquariums, museums, science museums, and archives, as well as direct sales stores selling folk crafts and handicrafts.
There are also eateries where you can enjoy delicious seafood and restaurants that offer menus that make the most of island ingredients. Each of the islands has its own unique sake, so it is a good idea to compare the different types of sake and find the one that goes best with the cuisine.
If you visit the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands area, where you can try a variety of marine sports and other activities, we recommend taking an "open-air bath by the sea. There are a variety of baths, ranging from free, mixed, and even hidden baths, but all of them offer a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean stretching out before your eyes.