Hahajima Island: Taking the Hahajima-maru for an Overnight Stay and Climbing Mt. Chibusa

This course takes you from Chichijima Island to Hahajima Island aboard the "Hahajima-maru" for an overnight stay, walking the nature trail of the island's highest peak, Mt. Chibusa.

History and Local Charm

Hahajima Island is an island floating in the sea about 50 kilometers south of Chichijima Island. It is one of the two inhabited islands in the Ogasawara Islands, with an area of approximately 20 square kilometers, roughly the same as Minato Ward in Tokyo. The island is long and narrow from north to south, centered on Mt. Chibusa with an elevation of 463 meters, and there is only one settlement, which surrounds Oki Port where the ship arrives. The Hahajima Archipelago was formed by volcanic activity approximately 44 million years ago. On this high-elevation, humid island, the mountain peaks, often shrouded in clouds, are covered with tall forests known as "moist tall-tree forests." From the Taisho era to the early Showa era, approximately 2,000 people lived here. In 1944, the islanders were subjected to forced evacuation, and Hahajima Island remained uninhabited until its reversion to Japan in 1968. It is said that when the islanders returned, the entire island had turned into a jungle. While the land snail species that served as a key factor in the World Natural Heritage inscription have mostly gone extinct on Chichijima Island, they can still be observed today on Mt. Chibusa on Hahajima Island. Located further south than Chichijima Island, it is an island where you can thoroughly venture into forests where endemic creatures dwell.

Key Highlights

• ​Hahajima Island​​: The Bonin white-eye (Hahajima meguro), a Special Natural Monument bird found only in the Hahajima Archipelago, can even be spotted within the settlement. From the Samegasaki Observatory located at the entrance to Oki Port, you can look out over the ocean and the port, and gaze upon breathtaking sunsets.
• ​Mt. Chibusa​​: Rising in the center of Hahajima Island, it is the island's highest peak and the tallest mountain among the inhabited islands of the Ogasawara Islands. Near the summit, the plant Hahajima-nobotan, which grows naturally only on Hahajima Island, can often be seen. From the observation deck at the peak, you can overlook the forests spreading across the eastern side of Hahajima Island and the blue ocean, and on clear days, you can also see Chichijima Island.

Recommended Route and Duration

The recommended duration is a 2-day, 1-night stay from Chichijima Island. Although it is possible to visit Hahajima Island on a day trip from Chichijima Island, staying overnight allows you to take your time walking the Mt. Chibusa trail and visit Samegasaki Observatory in the evening. The only way to reach Hahajima Island is aboard the "Hahajima-maru" departing from Chichijima Island, which takes about 2 hours one way. The Hahajima-maru is also nicknamed the "Whale Liner," and if you are lucky, you may spot humpback whales between February and April. Buy your lunch on Chichijima Island before boarding the boat. It is also recommended to clean the mud from your shoes at the shoe-washing station of the Ogasawara World Heritage Center on Chichijima Island before crossing over. When you arrive at Hahajima Island, leave your luggage with your accommodation's staff at Oki Port and head to Mt. Chibusa. The trailhead is behind the Motochi settlement, where shops and inns are concentrated, about a 10-minute walk from Oki Port. It takes about 2 hours of walking along the trail to reach the summit, and completing the full loop takes about 4 hours on foot. Since there are steep stairs and slippery sections, wear proper mountaineering gear. Because it is humid and easy to sweat year-round, bring plenty of drinking water. There are no streetlights along the trail, so plan to return before sunset. Use the spray placed at the entrance of the trail to clean seeds off your shoe soles and clothing both when entering and leaving the mountain. Endemic land snails are frequently found on stairs and other parts of the trail, so take care not to step on them as you walk. After descending the mountain, head to Samegasaki Observatory in the evening. The Hahajima-maru passes right in front of it, and in winter it is also a suitable spot for whale watching. On the second day, tour the island during the morning. At the southern tip of the island are Minamizaki Beach, where coral reefs spread out, and Kofuji, the southernmost "hometown Fuji" in Japan. Visiting Sekimon and Mt. Sakaigatake requires the accompaniment of a certified guide. If you leave Hahajima Island on the boat around midday, you can transfer to the Ogasawara-maru on Chichijima Island and begin your return trip to Tokyo.

Experience Summary

After crossing over to Hahajima Island on a boat where you might see whales, pass beneath the gigantic roots of banyan trees and encounter endemic snails and birds on your way to the summit of Mt. Chibusa. In the evening, watch the sunset from the observatory at the port entrance and spend the night on the island. Go one step deeper beyond Chichijima Island and experience the depth of Ogasawara's forests.