It’s sometimes easy to forget that Japan comprises around 14,000 islands when only a small percentage are inhabited. Aside from the main four islands are smaller inhabited remote islands, or ritou (離島), with small, tight-knit communities and a plethora of outdoor and cultural activities attracting domestic and inbound tourism.
But of the four hundred or so remote islands, some are more popular than others. Media site Saburogu polled 100 people age 20 and over about the remote islands they most wanted to travel to and published the results earlier this month.
6. Hachijojima (八丈島)
About an hour-long flight from Haneda Airport, Hachijojima is part of the volcanic Izu Island chain stretching south of Tokyo. Once a penal colony during the Edo period, the island is now home to roughly seven thousand residents and rich, unspoiled nature attracting tourists, honeymooners, and a quick girls’ getaway from the city.
Hachijojima boasts local delicacies like the Edo-style sun-dried fermented fish kusaya. There are also great hiking trails for beginners and pros alike on the picturesque Mt. Hachijo-Fuji, unique ecological wonders like bioluminescent mushrooms, and – of course – onsen.
Hachijojima recently enjoyed an uptick in popularity thanks to Japan’s beloved manga and anime Detective Conan. The island was the main setting in the 2023 anime film Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine. As a result, many survey respondents were eager to check out the hotel Conan & Company stayed in and drive along the road where the intense car chase scene between Dr. Agasa and the Black Organization occurred.
5. Shodoshima (小豆島)
Set in the Seto Inland Sea, Shodoshima was one of the first islands formed by the gods Izanami and Izanagi, according to the Kojiki. Back then it went by Azukijima; the current pronunciation is believed to have been coined during the Kamakura period (1185-1333).
Shodoshima has many exports, but it’s primarily known for its olives. Japan’s push for domestic olive cultivation began in Kagawa, Kagoshima, and Mie Prefectures in 1908. After much trial and error, Shodoshima emerged as the only sole successful olive producer, earning it the nickname Olive Island. Consequently, there’s a park with olive groves and a museum, a wide variety of olive-themed souvenirs and foods, and an island mascot named Olive Shima-chan.
Olives aside, Shodoshima is also home to abundant nature. Kankakei Gorge draws crowds year-round for its spectacular foliage, and a ropeway offers panoramic views of the island and sea. One of the big draws for couples is Angel Road, a sandbar that appears at low tide.
In addition to providing a link between smaller islands, crossing the road holding the hand of a lover or romantic interest also supposedly strengthens the relationship. For movie buffs, there’s a movie set village for the 1954 anti-war film Twenty-Four Eyes (二十四の瞳; Nijuyoku no Hitomi) that will take you back to the Taisho and early Showa eras.
4. Miyakojima (宮古島)
Known as the “Island of Prayer,” Miyakojima hosts more than 1000 utaki, or sacred sites, and offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Okinawa Prefecture. The island’s coral reef foundation prevents sediment flowing into the ocean. This creates its spotless beaches and clear “Miyako blue” waters perfect for snorkeling and diving.
Sadly, there aren’t any mountains to hike. However, the beaches more than make up for it.
3. Ogasawara Islands (小笠原諸島)
Comprised of roughly thirty subtropical islands, the main draw of the Ogasawara Islands are Chichijima and Hahajima. Chichijima (literally Father Island) has a variety of beaches perfect for a wide range of water activities, such as diving through the sunken remains of a Japanese cargo ship. The Mother Island Hahajima likewise offers dolphin and whale watching, an intense hike up Mt. Chibusayama, and stunning sunsets.
Since they’re only accessible only by ship, these islands are the true definition of isolation. They mirror the Galapagos in terms of extraordinary evolutionary processes in its flora and fauna.
2. Ishigakijima (石垣島)
The popular resort destination Ishigakijima unsurprisingly made the list. The gateway to the Yaeyama Islands southwest of Okinawa, Ishigakijima has a proud musical tradition and deep ties to nature. Lighthouses offer panoramic views of the coast.
Due to minimal light pollution, stargazers flock to the internationally recognized Dark Sky area Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park for unobstructed views of the Milky Way. At Kabira Bay, visitors can ride glass-bottom boats and soak in the untarnished scenery. Meanwhile, the Blue Cave in the north attracts sea kayakers and paddleboarders into its limestone depths.
1. Yakushima (屋久島)
Claiming number one is Yakushima, the first Japanese island to become a World Heritage Site. Yakushima has a humid subtropical climate, extensive hiking and outdoor activities, and an ancient cedar forest with trees over 1000 years old.
Thanks to extensive restoration efforts following decades of intense logging, Yakushima is now famous for its lush mist-drenched vegetation, which inspired the setting in Miyazaki Hayao’s Princess Mononoke. Along with a population of 12,000, an estimated 10,000 Yakushima macaques, a subspecies of snow monkey, also call Yakushima home.
Remote islands “a microcosm of Japan’s future”
Despite the tourism, remote islands are also subject to the reality of depopulation and an aging society. Indeed, most of the islands have experienced population decline since the 1950s, decades before Japan’s larger islands began raising alarm bells.
Some islands are attempting rebounds through tourism and unique cultural exchange programs encouraging travel and commerce. Many have also managed to maintain a relatively stable population. A November symposium hosted by the NPO Ritoukei will gather experts and representatives from remote islands to brainstorm ways island living can lead to a sustainable future for all.
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Sources
旅行してみたい「離島」は？海がきれいな石垣島、コナンの八丈島…行きたい離島6選がこれだ. Huffpost JP
八丈島観光協会. Hachijojima Tourism Association
小豆島観光協会. Shodoshima Tourism Association
一般社団法人 宮古島観光協会 公式WEBサイト. Miyako Guide
小笠原村観光協会. Ogasawara Tourism Association
石垣市公式観光情報サイト. Ishigaki Tourism
【公式】屋久島観光協会 世界自然遺産「屋久島」の観光・旅行情報サイト. Yakushima Tourism Association
離島は日本の未来の縮図？「シマ思考」から日本の「これから」を考える. Huffpost JP
