Hachijojima
Hachijojima (八丈島
Hachijō-jima; Hachijo Island) is a
Japanese island in the
Pacific Ocean, 300km south of Tokyo. The chief town is Mitsune. Hachijojima is accessible both by plane and by ferry. A pedestrian ferry leaves Tokyo once every day at 10 pm, and arrives at Hachijo at 9:00 am the following day. As of 2005, the ferry costs about $140 (U.S.) round trip. Air travel takes only 45 minutes from
Haneda Airport, and a round trip ticket is about $200 (U.S.).
Accommodation on Hachijojima is plentiful, and prices start around 4000 yen per night. It also has a free campsite that is open year round; reservations are not required. Hachijojima is a mecca for surfers, with three reef breaks and consistently warm water all year round. Hachijojima's dive points are many and varied. Nazumado is the best known of them, and is considered to be one of the top ten dive points in Japan. Hachijojima is also known for its natural
onsen, hiking, waterfalls, and natural beauty. Hachijojima, along with the other
Izu Islands, is officially part of
Tokyo. The islands form part of the
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
