Niijima Island and Shikinejima Island: White Sand Beaches and Hot Springs in the Sea

This course allows you to enjoy white sand beaches and landscapes made of Koga stone on Niijima Island, cross by ferry to Shikinejima Island, and finish by soaking in Jinata Onsen, which wells up among rocks along the coast.

History and Regional Appeal

Niijima Island and Shikinejima Island are islands of the Izu Islands group, located approximately 160 kilometers south of central Tokyo. Together, the two islands form a single administrative unit called Niijima Village. Niijima Island is long and narrow from north to south, known for its image as a "white island" characterized by white sandy shores and white cliffs. Its specialty, Koga stone, is a rock formed from lava erupted by Mt. Mukaiyama in the southern part of the island. It has been used as building material, and the Moyai statues standing across the island are also carved from this stone. Niijima Island served as a place of exile for roughly 200 years beginning in the early Edo period. The "Niijima O-odori," designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is a performing art brought to the island during this era. Shikinejima Island is a small volcanic island with a circumference of roughly 12 kilometers. It had no permanent residents during the Edo period; settlement and development began in 1887. Although a story has circulated that the island broke off from Niijima Island due to the massive tsunami of the Genroku earthquake, an old map created the year before clearly depicts the two islands separated. From the white sands and stones of Niijima Island to Shikinejima Island where hot springs bubble among the rocks, you can experience the contrasts of these neighboring islands on a 2-day, 1-night trip.

Key Highlights

• ​Niijima Island​​: On the eastern coast lies Habushiura, where a pure white sand beach stretches for about 6.5 kilometers, making it a popular surfing spot. There is also the "Sunangoi Road," where you can walk along paths of white sand framed by Koga stone walls. "Moyai" is an island dialect word meaning "to join forces."
• ​Shikinejima Island​​: Tomari Beach, the island's signature shore, offers white sand and turquoise-blue waters with shallow flats and gentle waves. From Kanbiki Observation Deck, chosen as one of the New Hundred Views of Tokyo, you can enjoy a sweeping vista of the coastline.
• ​Jinata Onsen​​: Located in the southern part of Shikinejima Island, this hot spring wells up in a ravine that looks as though the cliff-lined coast was cleaved open with a hatchet. The spring source is 80 degrees Celsius, and visitors wear swimsuits to bathe in the natural rocky pools where the water mixes with sea water to reach a comfortable temperature. Rich in iron, the water is a cloudy brown.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

A 2-day, 1-night stay is recommended. From Takeshiba Pier to Niijima Island, it takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours and 30 minutes by high-speed jetfoil, or about 8 to 9 hours by large overnight passenger ship. From Chofu Airport, it takes about 35 minutes by plane. On Day 1, tour Niijima Island. Upon arrival, visiting the Niijima Village Museum first will enhance your island stay. The island is surprisingly spacious, so combine walking with a rental car or rental bicycle. Gaze at the white sand beach at Habushiura on the east coast, and stroll along the Sunangoi Road flanked by Koga stone walls. From the Ishiyama Observatory in the south, you can look out across to Shikinejima Island, which you will visit the following day, as well as Kozushima Island. At night, leaving the residential areas brings darkness and reveals numerous stars; be sure to carry a flashlight. On Day 2, take the inter-island ferry "Nishiki" for about 10 to 15 minutes to cross to Shikinejima Island. There are no buses or taxis on the island. While most places are within an hour's walk, the roads have steep undulations, so an electric bicycle is recommended. Tomari Beach is a 5-minute walk from Nobushi Port. After taking in the coastline at Kanbiki Observation Deck, head to Jinata Onsen. The entrance is a 45-minute walk from Nobushi Port, where the regular ferries arrive. The water reaches an ideal temperature at high tide and becomes extremely hot at low tide. There are no changing rooms or showers, so put your swimsuit on underneath beforehand and walk down the steep cliffside stairs. First check the temperature at the "Water Temperature Hole" midway down the stairs. From Shikinejima Island back to Tokyo, it takes approximately 3 hours by high-speed jetfoil.

Experience Summary

Stroll past Koga stone Moyai statues and along white sand shores on Niijima Island, then take a ferry to Shikinejima Island. Finally, descend into a coastal gorge to soak in the reddish-brown waters mingling with the sea. This journey allows you to encounter the distinct characters of two neighboring islands.