Izu Islands

Some hiking

Izu Islands

Hachijo-jima: Island of Fallen Samurai

Hachijo-jima, though lying in the Pacific Ocean over 280 km from Tokyo, belongs to the Japanese capital. Visit this land redolent with history …

Quiet

Full day for main highlights; ideally 1–2 nights to hike Mount Hachijo-Fuji and visit hot springs without rushing.

Haunting

Izu Islands

Hachijo Royal Hotel: The Largest Abandoned Resort in Japan

It’s 300 kilometres from Tokyo, but that's where I meet up with my pal Martin for new adventures ... on a deserted island, in a forgotten hotel ...

Difficulty

Risk

Some hiking

Izu Islands

Aogashima: Double Volcano Island

Aogashima is a very mysterious island. Online, always the same photos taken from a helicopter, sometimes photoshopped. But what’s really hidden behind these lava walls?

Quiet

Full day minimum on Aogashima; realistically 1–2 days including weather/transport buffer (ferry/heli disruptions).

Easy walk

Izu Islands

Niijima: The Island of Lava Cascades

An overnight ferry from Tokyo, a mountainous island of white rhyolite and the lava cascades of Koga: a day on Niijima, in the Izu archipelago, between cliffs, beaches and volcanic rock.

Some crowds

Full day for the main viewpoints + sights (or 1–2 days if pairing with nearby Shikinejima)

Hard hike

Izu Islands

Oshima and its Black Desert

Oshima is the largest island in the Izu peninsula. It has an active volcano surrounded by black desert... the only desert in Japan!

Some crowds

Full day (plan 6–9 hours). The crater loop is relatively quick, but crossing/looping around the black desert can take much longer than expected and can make you miss the last boat.