Visit Tokyo's Island Niijima and Escape the City Life
Niijima is one of seven islands of the Izu archipelago, located about 160km south of the Tokyo metropolitan area. To reach the island from Takeshiba pier it takes two hours and 20 minutes by high-speed boat and 10 hours and 35 minutes by large-scale ship. From Chofu City it takes 35 minutes by small aircraft. While Niijima is part of Tokyo, its beautiful skies and beaches will remind you of a tropical country.
Located on the east side of the island, Habushiura Kaigan is a 7 kilometer-long coast with beautiful white sandy beaches. It has been chosen as one of the Hundred Views of New Tokyo.
It is also one of the top surfing spots in Japan, and was a venue for a worldwide surfing tournament organized by the World Surf League, formerly the Association of Surfing Professionals.
Another scenic location is Shiromama cliff. "Mama" means cliff in archaic Japanese dialect, while "shiro" means white, due to the white precipitous cliff, an exposed formation of volcanic ashes. A view of it alone is well worth a visit to the island.
Kogaseki (rhyolite) is a precious volcanic rock that is only mined in Niijima and Lipari, an island off the southern coast of Italy. Highly valued in architecture and used for embellishments, the world-renowned stone is melted and purified to create the famous olive-colored Niijima Glass.
Moyai statues erected all over the island are also made from kogaseki. They are modeled after the moai on Easter Island. Moyai means "to cooperate" in a local dialect.
There are many kinds of local produce on the island. Kusaya is a salt-dried, fermented fish that is famous for its strong smell. Flying fish and mackerel scad are dipped in brine called kusaya-eki before being dried in the sun. The same batch of kusaya-eki can be reused--some shops have been using it for several centuries. The flavor of the aged fish varies among shops as each one has a secret recipe. Kusaya has been produced in the Izu Islands for years but there is a strong-held theory that it was invented in Niijima. Ashitaba, a leafy vegetable with a distinct flavor, is often served as tempura and used widely as a health food. Shimatogarashi (chili), shimajochu (distilled spirits), and iwanori (seaweed) are some of many other local specialties.
Niijima is not just an island with pretty beaches; you can also explore its mountain. There are several 1-3 hour trekking courses, and the view from the summit is exceptional.
Niijima is an island where you can experience slow-paced life in a natural environment while being close to central Tokyo.
Consider visiting the island if you ever get tired of city life.
*This article was posted on the Life in Tokyo website operated by the Tokyo International Communication Committee on March 29, 2017.