Island Hopping in Tokyo

Niijima Island

Only hours from central Tokyo, Niijima Island is one of the most charming in the Izu Islands chain stretching south into the Pacific Ocean. You will find towering cliffs, white-sand beaches, big waves for surfing and soothing hot springs. To get to Niijima, head to Tokyo Takeshiba Pier and catch either a high-speed ferry (two and a half hours) or passenger ship (eight to nine hours); you can also grab a flight from Tokyo’s Chofu Airport (about 30 minutes). Bike rentals are available at several shops in the commercial area of Niijima.

Habushiura Beach

One of the finest beaches in the Tokyo region, Habushiura is the longest on Niijima at 6.5 kilometers. This expanse of white sand covers most of the island’s east coast and makes an ideal spot for surfing—local shops offer rentals and lessons. There’s an excellent camping ground a few steps from the beach.

Moyai Statues

You may be familiar with the large Moyai statue outside Shibuya Station, a popular meeting spot, but did you know it came from Niijima? The island features enormous heads sculpted from native rock that evoke the massive heads on Easter Island. Moyai means “to come together” in the dialect of Niijima. The island is also renowned for its glassware artists that work with the volcanic rock containing 80% quartz. Their artworks, as well as those of visiting artists, are on display at the Niijima Glass Art Museum. The adjacent Niijima Glass Art Center hosts the Niijima International Glass Art Festival showcasing beautiful and intriguing creations fashioned from glass.

*The Niijima Glass Art Museum is closed as of September 2023

Café POOL

On a quiet back street a few steps from Maehama Beach, Café POOL serves up delicious curry, tuna bowl, taco rice, and gapao rice (aka pad kra pao) as well as coffee. The nearby Niijima-mura Museum has exhibits on local history and geography.

Shikinejima Island

About 6 kilometers south of Niijima, Shikinejima is a small volcanic island bursting with hot springs and beaches for swimming. Only 3.7 square kilometers, Shikinejima can be toured on foot or rental bicycle, but note that it has hilly terrain. To get to Shikinejima from Niijima, take a ferry (about 15 minutes). To get to Shikinejima from central Tokyo, take a ferry from Takeshiba Pier (about 10 hours by regular ferry or 3 hours via high-speed jet ferry) or a flight from Chofu Airport (about 30 minutes to Niijima, then about 15 minutes by ferry).
Note that there are as few as three ferries per day connecting Niijima and Shikinejima. If you want to bicycle on Shikinejima, rentals are available locally.

Jinata Onsen

Dramatic Jinata Onsen is one of the most spectacular seaside hot springs in Japan. Carved out of the craggy coast, Jinata is a collection of open-air pools with springs that are reddish-orange from their high iron sulfide content. The hot springs, said to help poor circulation and neuralgia, combine with seawater for a perfectly refreshing mix. Soak up the stunning scenery as you relax your body and soul. Bathing here is mixed. Be sure to wear a swimsuit.

Kanbiki Observation Deck

This lookout on the west coast of Shikinejima commands sweeping views of both the turquoise waters of Kanbikiura Bay and, on clear days, the Izu Peninsula and Mt. Fuji in the distance. It’s hard to believe this eye-popping vista is part of Tokyo.

Tomari Beach

Only steps away from the ferry terminal at the northern tip of the island, Tomari Beach looks like a picture postcard from the South Pacific. This beach on a small protected cove is ideal for sunbathing and, especially for people learning to swim, splashing around in the shallow waters. Nakanoura and Oura beaches are also accessible along the same road.