Ogasawara Islands

The Bonin blue paradise for endemic species

The Ogasawara Islands are a subtropical chain of islands located about 1,000 kilometers to the south of the Japanese mainland. On these oceanic islands that have never been connected to any continent, plants and animals transported by the waves, birds, and wind have evolved in unique ways. Endemic fauna such as Japanese wood pigeons and Bonin flying fox are rare species requiring protection. Meanwhile, the stunning underwater scenery of humpback whales, dolphins, green sea turtles, and coral reefs is another great charm of these islands. The Ogasawara Islands are also home to many plants with diverse origins including Schima mertensiana from the subtropics, Stachyurus macrocarpus from the Japanese mainland, and Pacific beauty palms from Oceania. Flora and fauna that survived and thrived by adapting to the unique environment of the islands now live together in harmony.

Through a Day

The Ogasawara Islands offer spectacular scenery, including sunrises, the sparkling ocean in a shade of blue so perfect that it has its own name, “Bonin Blue,” and starry skies unobstructed by any lights or buildings. The islands' oceans and jungles teem with endemic flora and fauna that evolved in distinctive ways here, just waiting for you to discover them.

Nagasaki Observatory (Chichijima Island)

Head to the northeast of Chichijima Island and wait for the sunrise at Nagasaki Observatory right next to the road. These quiet moments spent watching the depth of night gradually lift and a reddish tinge appear on the horizon are truly precious, naturally making you feel appreciation for the miracle of a new day.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 8 min by car and 1-min walk from the Ogasawara Village Tourist Association

Minamijima Island

Here is one place you definitely don't want to miss if you come to the Ogasawara Islands. The island's most iconic scenery is its fan-shaped beach with turquoise waters passing through a tunnel in a cliff worn away by waves. The submerged limestone karst topography will remind you of the power of the Earth.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 20 min by boat from Futami Port

Jinny Beach (Chichijima Island)

Located at the southwestern tip of Chichijima Island, Jinny Beach is known as the most beautiful beach on the island for its white sand formed from crushed coral and its clear waters in the perfect shade of “Bonin Blue.” Since it is only accessible via boat or kayak from Minamijima Island or Kopepe Beach, it feels like a private beach. The sight of the ocean sparkling in the sunlight is almost otherworldly.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: Accessible by sea kayak or swimming from a small boat

Mt. Shokensakiyama (Hahajima Island)

Passing through tunnels of jungle-like large banyan trees and climbing steep cliffs using chains, you'll enjoy a sense of adventure on this roughly 15-minute hike as well as a sense of accomplishment when you reach the summit of the low mountain. Feel a refreshing breeze as you take in panoramic views of settlements on Hahajima Island and Mt. Chibusayama.

Information

Location: Hahajima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 2 hours by ferry from Chichijima Island to Hahajima Island; 5-min walk from Oki Port on Hahajima Island to the trailhead

Ogamiyama Park (Chichijima Island)

Search for Japanese wood pigeons at Ogamiyama Park. The area known as “Himetsubaki Valley” is a place where you can spot many of the rare and endemic species of Chichijima Island, including Japanese wood pigeons. Look carefully as you walk, and you might get lucky! There's nothing like the thrill of catching a glimpse of a bird that's found nowhere else on Earth.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 1-min walk from the Ogasawara Village Tourist Association

Mt. Chuozan (Chichijima Island)

This easy hiking course reaches the mountaintop observation platform in about 10-15 minutes from along Yoake-doro Road. The mountain is covered with endemic flora like Cyathea ogurae and Bonin fountain palms, making the hike feel like a walk through a botanical garden. Another endemic species, Hedyotis leptopetala, may also greet hikers with lovely white and pink buds and blossoms.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 15 min by car from the Ogasawara Village Tourist Association (via the Nagasaki Observatory)

Mt. Chibusayama (Hahajima Island)

The Bonin white-eye is a bird only found on the Hahajima Islands, and more specifically on the islands of Hahajima, Mukojima, and Imotojima. It does not travel between islands and is known as one of the wonders of the Ogasawara Islands. Mt. Chibusayama, the highest peak on Hahajima Island, is a paradise for native plants, so hiking the mountain is an opportunity to observe flora as well. Bonin white-eyes, a Special Natural Monument of Japan, are small, charming birds with yellow and green plumage, distinguished by the black triangular patches around their eyes. Seeing them hop around freely is a heartwarming sight.

Information

Location: Hahajima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 10-min walk from Oki Port on Hahajima Island to the trailhead

Sunset from the Weather Station Observatory (Chichijima Island)

The Weather Station Observatory on the western side of Chichijima Island is the best spot to watch the sun set beyond the horizon. On clear days, it becomes packed with people. During the whale-watching season, you may also be able to enjoy unforgettable glimpses of humpback whales jumping and spouting.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 10 min by car from the Ogasawara Village Tourist Association

Night Tour (Chichijima Island , Hahajima Island)

Some of the flora and fauna of the Ogasawara Islands can only be seen at night, such as glow-in-the-dark Mycena chlorophos mushrooms (known here as “Green Pepe”) and the Ogasawara giant bat, the only species of mammal endemic to the islands. If you join a night tour, a guide can show you where you are most likely to encounter them on that particular day. The bioluminescent mushrooms glowing mysteriously amid the darkness make a bewitching sight.

Information

Location: Chichijima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: Varies by tour operator

Observing the Stars from the Former Heliport (Hahajima Island)

This 30-meter helicopter landing pad was in use until 2003. Clear in all directions and with almost no artificial light, it is the optimal spot to observe the stars. If you lie on your back and look up, you can feel like your whole body is bathed in starlight.

Information

Location: Hahajima, Ogasawara Village, Tokyo
Access: 15-min walk from Oki Port

Photo = Yusuke Abe, Masuo Tomita (Minamijima Island, Ginny beach)

Explore other Landscapes

Through a Year

Although the Ogasawara Islands are considered to have a subtropical climate, unlike regions of perpetual summer such as southeast Asia, they do have slight variations among the four seasons. In addition to summer, the busiest season, here are some of the flora, fauna, and activities you can enjoy in spring, when flowers bloom in profusion, autumn, the ideal season for hiking, and winter, when humpback whales return to the islands.

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Spring

March is the peak time for watching the dynamic performances of humpback whales. Plant buds begin to open, adding touches of color to the islands. Although it's still a bit too early for swimming, this season is perfect for hiking.

The traditional Nanyo-odori dance and music of the Ogasawara Islands

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Sekimon (Hahajima Island)

This specially protected area of the national park is designated as a woodland ecosystem protection zone by the Japanese Forestry Agency. Extremely rare endemic species such as Claoxylon centinarium and Procris boninensis can only be found here. It is also a karst region where stone pinnacles known as karren or lapies can be seen. Visitors must be accompanied by a guide, and the area is not accessible at all from October to February.
＊The upper part of the route is closed until further notice due to landslides.

Whale watching

The Ogasawara Islands are the birthplace of whale watching in Japan. Your best chance of seeing humpback whales is in February or March (August to October for sperm whales). Measuring 14 meters in length and weighing over 30 tons, the massive whales jumping and spouting are a sight to behold. Approach closely on a boat, and you may even be lucky enough to hear whales' song.

New graduate departure sendoffs

It’s a local custom on the Ogasawara Islands to give a big sendoff to the people heading to the mainland aboard the Ogasawara-maru, a scheduled ferry service that operates around once a week. The sendoffs during the graduation season in March, when many people leave the islands, are especially lively. People from all over Ogasawara rush to the port to wish the departing islanders luck in their new lives, and the festivities include Ogasawara taiko drum performances. Many small boats run alongside the Ogasawara-maru as it leaves, escorting it far out to sea in a truly heartwarming scene.

Wrought-iron butterflyfish “balls”

Wrought-iron butterflyfish, endemic to the Ogasawara Islands, are called “yuzen” in Japanese because of the resemblance of the patterns on their bodies to traditional yuzen dyeing. Thirty or more of these fish may swim together in a tight grouping known as a “wrought-iron ball,” a sight that is one of the highlights of a diving trip to the waters off the islands.

Rose wood

The best time to see these flowers is from May to June. Rose wood is endemic to the Ogasawara Islands. Widely distributed throughout the islands, rose wood is especially visible across Chichijima Island. Its flowers have five pure white petals. This plant is sometimes locally called “rosudo,” a corruption of its English name of rose wood.

Passion fruit

Originally a tropical fruit from South America, passion fruit has been widely grown in Japan since the Meiji period (1868–1912). Tokyo is the third-largest producer of passion fruit in Japan, and most of it is from Hahajima Island. The peak season is from May to June. Passion fruit is an Ogasawara Islands specialty product that delights with both its sweetness and tangy acidity.

Summer

Summer is the peak season for aquatic activities. In June, when mainland Japan enters its rainy season, the Ogasawara Islands are covered by a Pacific high-pressure system that keeps the seas calm. The ocean here is an even richer blue than in Okinawa, which is located at a similar latitude, and in fact even has its own name, “Bonin Blue.” This is the color of summer on the Ogasawara Islands.

Releasing Green Sea Turtles on the Ogasawara Islands in Summer under the Twinkling Starry Sky

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Swimming with dolphins and cruising Minamijima Island

Swim with dolphins in the waters off the uninhabited Minamijima Island, which has some of Japan's finest submerged karst topography. Here, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of a fan-shaped beach with gleaming turquoise waters.

Night tours

Chichijima Island is home to some creatures that can only be seen at night, such as the glow-in-the-dark mushrooms known here as “Green Pepe” and the Ogasawara giant bat, a Natural Monument of Japan. If you join a night tour, a guide will help you find the best spots to encounter them.

Mukojima Islands

Also known as the Keta Islands, the Mukojima Islands are a group of 19 uninhabited islands located about 50 kilometers north of Chichijima Island. They are mainly accessible from around June to September, when the condition of the sea is stable, and the standard way to visit them is to book a tour. Nearly all visitors come for diving or swimming with dolphins.

Melastoma pentapetalum

This species endemic to Hahajima Island blooms from June to August. It can be found growing wild in places on the island such as the hiking trail on Mt. Chibusayama. Its five petals distinguish it from Melastoma tetramerum, a similar species found on Chichijima Island that has only four petals.

Ogasawara Sadayori Shrine Annual Festival (Chichijima Island)

This traditional event has been held since before World War II to pray for good health and safety at sea. The participants decorate the shrine’s mikoshi (portable shrine) as they see fit and parade it around the Ogiura area before finally diving into the sea while still carrying it on their shoulders. Tourists as well as islanders are free to enjoy this fun festival.

Perseids meteor shower

With few streetlights and other facilities lit up at night, the vast skies of the Ogasawara Islands are ideal for stargazing. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the three biggest meteor showers and is considered to offer the greatest number of visible shooting stars. The shower appears from mid-July to late August each year. The best time to see it is in mid-August when the number of shooting stars reaches a peak.

Autumn

Autumn is a balmy, comfortable season on the Ogasawara Islands, when the blazing sun of summer gradually becomes gentler and the humidity lessens. Underwater visibility becomes even better, making autumn the prime season for divers. Many kinds of fish can be observed in the ocean. Autumn is also a pleasant time for hiking.

Hahajima Island / Mt. Chibusayama Trekking Tour featuring the many remaining endemic species of the Ogasawara Island

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Diving

Autumn is the best season for divers in the beautiful oceans of the Ogasawara Islands, with underwater visibility of as much as 50 meters offering many changes to encounter a variety of sea creatures, including spotted eagle rays and schools of large migratory fish. Another world awaits you at diving spots near the islands of Chichijima and Hahajima.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling can easily be enjoyed at many beaches on the Ogasawara Islands. These include Tsurihama Beach, which has beautifully varied underwater scenery of fish and coral reefs, Sakaiura Beach, where you can even spot sunken ships, and Omura Beach right next to Futami Port if easy access is a priority. Each beach offers a different snorkeling experience.

Dendrocacalia crepidifolia

This endemic species emblematic of the Ogasawara Islands is a woody plant in the daisy family, of which there are few in Japan. It is an example of a species that was originally an herb but evolved into a tree. Growing to a height of four to five meters, it blooms from late October to around December and can be seen in locations on Hahajima Island such as Mt. Chibusayama.

Ogamiyama Shrine Annual Festival (Chichijima Island)

One of the biggest festivals on Chichijima Island, this event is held over a period of three days. During the festival, adults and children each parade a mikoshi (portable shrine) around the island. Other events include hard-fought ritual sumo wrestling matches and singing and dancing performances, and the festival fills the entire island with a buzz of excitement.

Tsukigaoka Shrine Annual Festival (Hahajima Island)

This is a traditional event held every year on November 23 at Tsukigaoka Shrine, also known to locals as the “Daijingu” shrine. The festival’s many events include traditional floats and mikoshi (portable shrines) being paraded around the island; boisterous chindonya music performed by children; traditional shichi-go-san shrine visits for boys and girls aged 3, 5, and 7; and a talent show.

Island lemons

Lemon seedlings were originally brought from the island of Hachijo-jima. Today, lemon trees grow across the Ogasawara Islands. The lemons grown here are sweet and can be eaten before they are ripe, and those sold while their skin is still green are specifically called “island lemons.” In addition to being made into jams and jellies, they can also be enjoyed as is.

Winter

The average temperature is around 20°C. Humpback whales return to the Ogasawara Islands in December or later and can be spotted from the shore or mountaintops, making winter the whale-watching season. Although a big event is held on January 1 to celebrate the earliest opening of beaches in Japan, the swimming season does not begin in earnest until May or later. Starting in February, the islands bustle with students on graduation trips.

Experience the distinctive cuisine of Ogasawara, born from its uncommon island environment

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Humpback whales

Humpback whales visit the waters off the Ogasawara Islands to give birth and raise their calves. Since the condition of the sea is unstable from December to February, observing them from land is recommended during this season. Spouting whales can be viewed from vantage points such as the Weather Station Observatory on Chichijima Island, as well as Miyukinohama Beach or Samegasaki Observation Platform on Hahajima Island.

Climbing the “Heart Rock”

Hiking on the Ogasawara Islands is a pleasant experience in winter. One particularly recommended hike is the “Heart Rock,” three kilometers each way through varied forests to a massive rock overlooking the deep blue ocean. Reaching the summit, a cliff towering above the red earth, is a thrilling experience. Hikers must join a guided tour.

Vaccinium boninense

Vaccinium boninense is a species of plant endemic to the Ogasawara Islands that blooms only in winter, producing tiny, dangling white bell-shaped flowers. You can spot it on mountaintops on the islands of Chichijima and Hahajima. Its name in Japanese means “little boy.”

Observing the stars

Another highlight of winter on the Ogasawara Islands is observing the night sky studded with winter constellations such as Orion and the Pleiades. The former heliport on Hahajima Island is known as a spot to observe the stars, but you can also gaze at the starry sky while lying on your back on the beach and enjoy feeling as if the stars are falling all over your body.

The earliest-opening beaches in Japan

The Ogasawara Islands are warmer than the mainland and the waters of the surrounding ocean can be swam in year-round. Lively beach-opening ceremonies are held on January 1, the first day of the year, and events include an official announcement, a Shinto ritual, and performances of traditional arts such as the Nanyo-odori dance. On Chichijima Island, visitors can receive a certificate testifying that they took part in the first beach-opening of the year.

Sand tiger sharks

These large endangered sharks are over two meters long. Despite their appearance, they are mild-mannered and are extremely unlikely to attack people, making them a popular draw for winter diving. They usually live in warmer waters and have only been observed in Japan around the Ogasawara Islands.

Experience other Heritage

Through the History of the Land

This World Heritage site has existed for tens of millions of years but is still undergoing a gradual process of transformation. Its natural features reveal the various phenomena and changes that have shaped it. Explore the living history of this land, from its origins to the present day.

Approx. 48 million years ago—Formation of the Chichijima and Mukojima islands from volcanic activity

The origins of the Ogasawara Islands lie in the collision of undersea tectonic plates, when the Pacific Plate began to slide under the Philippine Sea Plate. Magma was generated above the subducted Pacific Plate, causing volcanic activity. As the subduction of the plate continued, the site of volcanic activity shifted, forming the Mukojima and Chichijima islands. The magma generated at this time cooled and solidified into a rock called “boninite,” which contains minerals often found in meteorites that can only rarely be observed in exposed form on land or sea.

Formation of the Hahajima Islands approx. 44 million years ago and the Volcanic Islands approx. 40 million years ago from magma activity

As the Pacific Plate slid deeper, the temperature cooled, and the site of magma genesis moved deeper to the west. The Hahajima Islands were formed from an undersea fissure eruption. The subduction of the plate continues to this day, and the site of magma genesis is moving farther to the west, resulting in the formation of the Volcano (Iwo) Islands. This geological activity is still underway even today.

1876: The Ogasawara Islands become Japanese territories

During the 19th century, the Pacific Ocean was an active site of whaling using the American method, in which whales were hunted and harpooned from sailing vessels. In 1830, an American-led group of Europeans, Americans, and Pacific Islanders arrived on the Ogasawara Islands to establish a supply stop for whalers. They became the islands' first permanent settlers.
Later, the Tokugawa shogunate and Meiji government sent expeditions to survey and develop the islands, and they were internationally recognized as Japanese territories in 1876. Following Japan's entry into World War II, most of the inhabitants were forcibly evacuated to the Japanese mainland. After Japan's surrender, the islands were placed under the administration of the United States. They were restored to Japan 23 years later, in 1968, and the Japanese residents of the islands were finally allowed to return.

Column

Ecological diversity born from oceanic islands

The Ogasawara Islands are oceanic islands that have never been connected to any continent since their formation. Other such examples include the Galapagos and Hawaiian islands. In contrast, the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Hokkaido are continental islands that were originally connected to the Japanese mainland as a single continent and later broke off due to tectonic plate movements. Because of their oceanic origins, the Ogasawara Islands are home to indigenous species of flora and fauna. All of the plants and animals found on the islands arrived there by flying or carried by the waves, wind, or birds. Only those adapted to the unique environment of the islands survived and spread. As a result, even though the Ogasawara Islands are small islands, they are home to many endemic species that have continued to evolve in unique ways. The islands were registered as a World Heritage site in recognition of this distinctive ecosystem.

Illustration = Takashi Taima
Reference = Ogasawara World Heritage Centre, Ogasawara Village Official Website

Deepen Knowledge on other Sites

Access

Traveling from major cities around Japan

From Sapporo

New Chitose Airport: By air

1 hour 35 minutes

Haneda Airport: By Tokyo Monorail

20 minutes

Hamamatsucho Station: Walk

7 minutes

Takeshiba Pier: By ferry

24 hours

Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)

From Tokyo

Tokyo Station: By Keihin-Tohoku Line or Yamanote Line

10 minutes

Hamamatsucho Station: Walk

7 minutes

Takeshiba Pier: By ferry

24 hours

Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)

From Nagoya

Nagoya Station: By shinkansen

1 hour 35 minutes

Shinagawa Station: By Keihin-Tohoku Line or Yamanote Line

5 minutes

Hamamatsucho Station: Walk

7 minutes

Takeshiba Pier: By ferry

24 hours

Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)

From Osaka

Shin-Osaka Station: By shinkansen

2 hours 20 minutes

Shinagawa Station: By Keihin-Tohoku Line or Yamanote Line

5 minutes

Hamamatsucho Station: Walk

7 minutes

Takeshiba Pier: By ferry

24 hours

Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)

From Fukuoka

Fukuoka Airport: By air

1 hour 45 minutes

Haneda Airport: By Tokyo Monorail

20 minutes

Hamamatsucho Station: Walk

7 minutes

Takeshiba Pier: By ferry

24 hours

Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)

Accommodations

Shanti Bungalows & Shanti Bovie`s

A place to stay for any type of tour from solo travelers to groups, in an amazing location surrounded by mountains.

PAPA’S ISLAND RESORT

Lodgings with attached diving school. Kick back and relax in the cottage and enjoy the homemade meals using local ingredients.

WEST・WEST-ANNEX

A pleasant place to stay, comprising of two different types of lodging, the main building which offers family comforts and the annex, which is close to town and the beach.