The Izu Islands are part of Tokyo, yet most visitors to the capital never learn they exist. For repeat travellers they make a strong case as Japan's "other" islands: active volcanoes, black-sand coast, hot springs and island food, all within two hours of central Tokyo. For agents, the two islands that work best are Izu Oshima, the closest, and Hachijojima, further south with its own airport. Both reward clients who have already done the Golden Route.
Izu Oshima: the volcano island
- Mount Mihara. The island is built around an active volcano. Its 1986 eruption led to the evacuation of the whole island, and today a walking trail climbs to the crater rim.
- Ura-sabaku. A field of black volcanic ash and scoria on the volcano's flank. It looks like a desert and makes a strong guided walk in good weather.
- Camellias. The island is famous for its camellias, and a camellia festival runs each winter into early spring.
- Hot springs and seafood. Onsen with sea views, and simple island lunches built around local fish.
Hachijojima: further south, its own airport
- Two volcanoes. Hachijo-Fuji and Mount Mihara (a different peak from Oshima's) frame the island, with walking routes and coastal viewpoints.
- Island culture. The island was once a place of exile. It also has its own silk weaving, kihachijo, and its own food, including ashitaba greens and kusaya, a strongly scented dried fish that we taste with guests rather than serve them as a meal.
- Sea and hot springs. Snorkelling and diving in summer, and outdoor baths looking over the Pacific.
Getting there, and the weather question
- Izu Oshima. A Tokai Kisen jetfoil from Takeshiba Pier in central Tokyo takes at least 1 hour 45 minutes. A larger overnight ferry also runs, and small planes fly from Chofu.
- Hachijojima. ANA flies from Haneda in about 55 minutes. The ferry from Takeshiba takes at least 10 hours 20 minutes overnight.
- Weather. Sailings and flights are cancelled in high seas and typhoons, sometimes for several days. We build a buffer day into any island programme, and we do not place the islands immediately before an international departure.
- Capacity. Seats on jetfoils and flights are limited, so we request group space early and confirm hotel rooms on the island at the same time.
Who it suits
Izu Oshima works as a day trip or a single night from Tokyo for incentive groups, school groups studying volcanoes, and repeat clients who want somewhere new. Hachijojima suits two nights for small groups, divers and walkers. The far Ogasawara Islands are a separate, much longer commitment, covered in our islands beyond Okinawa guide.
How we plan it
We book the jetfoil or flight, island transport, guides and hotels, and we keep a weather plan B in Tokyo ready for every departure. See our buses and ferries guide, our Tokyo private guides and our onsen etiquette guide.
FAQ
Is Izu Oshima really part of Tokyo? Yes. The Izu Islands are administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Can a group visit Izu Oshima as a day trip? Yes, by jetfoil from Takeshiba, though one night on the island gives more time and more flexibility if the sea is rough.
What happens if the ferry or flight is cancelled? We hold a buffer day and a Tokyo alternative, and we rebook the crossing as soon as services resume.
Want Tokyo's islands in your clients' Japan programme? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
