Hachijojima Island: From Mt. Hachijo-Fuji to the Botanical Park, Osato Cobblestone Walls, Urami Falls, and Miharashi-no-Yu

This course takes you to Hachijojima Island. On Day 1, climb Mt. Hachijo-Fuji, then visit Hachijo Botanical Park and the Osato Cobblestone Walls. On Day 2, head to Urami Falls on the southern side of the island and Miharashi-no-Yu overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

History and Regional Charm

Hachijojima Island is located 287 km from Tokyo. It is shaped like a gourd, formed by the joining of two volcanoes: Mt. Hachijo-Fuji in the northwest and Mt. Mihara in the east. It is blessed with rich nature under a subtropical climate that is warm and rainy. Mt. Hachijo-Fuji has an elevation of 854.3 m and is the highest mountain in the Izu Islands. It has not erupted since an eruption in 1605. The history of the island is preserved in the Osato district of Okago. From 1528 until 1908 (Meiji 41), a jinya (administrative headquarters) was placed here, serving as the political center of Hachijojima Island. The stones forming the cobblestone walls that surround the jinya are said to have been carried up one by one from the beach by exiles. Meanwhile, in the mountains of Mt. Mihara, there are five waterfalls, one of which is Urami Falls. In Sueyoshi at the southeastern tip of the island, Miharashi-no-Yu sits on a plateau 94 m above sea level. This is an island where you can explore a mountain with a crater you can walk around, subtropical forests, the history of exiles, and a hot spring overlooking the sea over two days.

Key Highlights

• ​Mt. Hachijo-Fuji​​: Known for the "Ohachi-meguri," an approximately one-hour loop walk around the rim of the summit crater. The crater drops down in the shape of a well, which is rare in Japan. On the outside, an expansive 360-degree view of the sea and townscape spreads out, and Hachijokojima Island can also be seen if the weather is clear.
• ​Hachijo Botanical Park​​: Opened in 1962 (Showa 37), this park spans over 20 hectares. Subtropical plants flourish in natural forests growing on lava fields. In the greenhouse, over 100 varieties of plants including papaya and mango are displayed, and Reeves's muntjacs, small members of the deer family, are also kept.
• ​Osato Cobblestone Walls​​: These stone walls are built with round stones smoothed by rough waves, arranged using the roppozumi technique where six stones surround a single center stone. The cobblestone walls around the jinya are the oldest on the island and excel in both scale and beauty.
• ​Urami Falls​​: A waterfall where a path along an irrigation channel passes behind the cascade, allowing you to view the falling water from behind. Along the walking path grow lush ferns such as tree ferns (hego) and giant ferns (ryubintai), some exceeding 3 m in size.
• ​Miharashi-no-Yu​​: A hot spring with open-air baths overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean, the cliffs of Koiwatogahana, and a lighthouse. Among the open-air baths, there is one shaped like Hachijojima Island.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

As a guideline, allow 2 days and 1 night. From Takeshiba Pier, it takes about 10 hours and 20 minutes by overnight large passenger ship, or about 55 minutes by airplane from Haneda Airport. Because the sights are scattered across the island, get around by rental car or rental motorbike. On Day 1, head to Mt. Hachijo-Fuji. Climb 1,280 steps from the 7th station trailhead, located about 15 minutes by car from Hachijojima Airport, to reach the crater rim path. The trail around the crater rim has many spots where the ground is hidden by thick grass, and there are cracks and holes, so watch your footing carefully as you walk. Descending into the crater for about 10 minutes brings you to Sengen Shrine. After coming down the mountain, visit Hachijo Botanical Park, about 5 minutes by car from the airport. At the visitor center, guides explain the nature and sights of the island. From the central open plaza, you can get a clear view of Mt. Hachijo-Fuji, which you climbed. The Osato Cobblestone Walls are about 1.4 km south of the botanical park. Walk up the slope to view the roppozumi stone walls up close, and take in the view of Hachijokojima Island. In the evening, extend your trip to Yokoma Beach on the west side of the island to view the sunset. On Day 2, head to the south of the island. For Urami Falls, it takes about 20 minutes by car from the airport to the trail entrance, and from the entrance it is about a 5-minute walk along the walking path to the falls. As there are sections resembling steps, it is safer to avoid sandals. Uramigataki Onsen near the entrance is a different hot spring from Miharashi-no-Yu. Miharashi-no-Yu is located about 3.6 km east-northeast of Urami Falls. Sueyoshi has very few shops, so plan your lunch carefully. During the winter whale watching season, you might spot humpback whales while soaking in the hot water. Because it stays open into the night, soaking while looking up at a sky full of stars is also recommended.

Experience Summary

Walk the crater rim of the highest mountain in the Izu Islands, learn about island nature in a park surrounded by subtropical plants, and visit walls of cobblestones said to have been carried by exiles. The next day, gaze up at falling water from behind a waterfall, and conclude your journey in an open-air hot spring overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy two days unique to Hachijojima Island, where volcanoes, forests, and the sea come together in close proximity.