Japan is a country of mountains and volcanoes. The country's population is quite large, about 126 million people, but the area of the state is small. So people have to settle there “where Makar didn’t send his calves.” You already know about the Japanese volcano Fuji and remember that there, at the very top, there is a temple (to which, by the way, the volcano itself officially belongs). Of course, only monks live in the temple.
But imagine that there is a volcano island on which not monks live, but ordinary people. Moreover, the island is located relatively far from the “mainland”. This place is unique, although it cannot be said that it is very spoiled by the attention of tourists.
So this is Aogashima Island. It is located 260 km south of the coast of Japan in the Philippine Sea.
Aogashima on the map
- Geographic coordinates 32.459869, 139.765322
- The distance from the capital of Japan, Tokyo is about 360 km
- The nearest airport is Hachijou-Jima Airport 75 km
- Distance to the nearest Tokyo International Airport is approximately 350 km
The island is part of the Izu Islands complex, which in turn belongs to the Nampo archipelago. Aogashima is notable both for its appearance and for its famous volcano of the same name. In fact, these are the remains of an old stratovolcano, so we can safely call this place a “volcano island”.
Its appearance is very original. A high and inaccessible coastline encircles the island along its perimeter. In the center is the crater of a dormant volcano, overgrown with lush green forest. Aogashima looks very much like a pie or cheesecake, which is very difficult to get to from the sea. This would make an excellent outpost for protection against enemy attacks.
The location of the island contributed to the formation of a mild tropical climate. The water off the coast is very warm and the air is humid, which is quite natural for these latitudes.
The size of the island is modest and comparable to the “billionaire” island of Laucala.
Aogashima – “volcano within a volcano”
The Bonin Islands are a chain of many unusual tropical islands between Japan and the Mariana Islands. These islands attract many lovers of extraordinary holidays, and one of the most attractive islands for an exotic fan is Aogashima.
Why can a tourist choose Aogashima, ignoring the 40 other wonderful places in the archipelago? The fact is that this island is a giant volcanic crater, inside of which there is a small volcano. “Volcano within a volcano” is a fairly common term, but this does not make the island of Aogashima any less amazing and exotic.
The Aogashima volcano is still considered active, although the last eruption occurred in 1785 and killed half of the island's inhabitants. The remaining inhabitants had to leave the island so as not to expose themselves to new danger. They returned home only fifty years later.
Now Aogashima is not showing any signs of activity, so the residents of the village located in its caldera are not worried about their homes. Currently, the population of Aogashima Village is approximately 200 people, however, the population is decreasing every year. The village has a hospital and a school for 25 students.
Aogashima is an underwater volcano that rose above sea level, and is also part of a huge crater, the height of which ranges from 200 to 420 meters in height. According to the prevailing theory, the island was formed from the remains of at least four submarine calderas. This explains why the island has such a strange shape.
Aogashima's climate is a real tropical paradise, so relaxing on the island will be wonderful even if there are few attractions. One of the most attractive places on the island is the geothermal sauna. It's nice to swim in a spring that is heated by a volcano. You can also swim on the coast of the island, because the water near the shore is always warm.
The flora and fauna of Aogashima is diverse; you can see plants that are unusual for a city dweller and colorful tropical birds. Underwater fishing or diving in such a place will also not disappoint any professional or amateur. There is a lot of fish around the island, and from the catch you can cook dinner right in the volcanic heat.
Getting to the island is not as easy as it seems. Despite the fact that it is not so far from the continent, ships almost never go to the island. Aoagisma doesn't even have its own port, as the island is surrounded by steep rocky cliffs. People usually get to Aogashima by helicopter, which visits the island once a day and carries a maximum of 9 passengers at a time. This fact, as well as the activity of the volcano, scares off many potential tourists, so there is a high chance of being the only guest on the island over the past couple of months.
This is a useful read:
- Hanami
- The fabulous beauty of Shiraito
- Founding of Japan
Tagged Aogashima volcanoes of Japan sights of Japan life of the Japanese culture of Japan trip to Japan travel to Japan Japan Japanese culture
Aogashima in numbers
- Length about 3.5 km
- Width approximately 2.5 km
- The highest point is Mount Otunbu - 423 meters
According to scientists, volcanic activity began here more than 3,000 years ago. The last eruptions of 1780-85 created a landscape with two cones in the volcanic caldera. They have survived to this day.
By the way, in April 1783, an eruption claimed the lives of seven people and wiped out 61 houses. But Aogashima did not rest on this, and exactly 2 years later in 1785 (again in April), a new eruption caused the death of about 140 people. People were forced to leave these places for as long as 50 years. Later, however, they returned, and their descendants still live here.
At the moment, there are just over 200 local residents on the island. Guess what the name of the only village on the island is? That's right - Aogashima. The Japanese did not invent anything, and called everything by one name.
As we have already said, it is almost impossible to get to the island from the sea. To communicate with the outside world by sea, there is a small pier capable of receiving ships with a displacement of up to 500 tons, and then only under favorable conditions - there is a fairly strong current in the area of the pier.
The best way to get to the island is by helicopter. For this type of transport, the island has an airstrip.
Local residents engage in fishing and farming. Many people extract sea salt by evaporating water using volcanic heat. This is one of the few fisheries on the island.
Although there are no hotels or cafes on the island, travelers still visit it. It will be especially interesting for divers and spearfishing enthusiasts. And also for those tourists who want to be in silence and solitude. Excellent views open from the top of Otunbu.
In addition to serenity and silence, guests are offered a geothermal bath located in the center of the island. You can also try dinner cooked directly in the natural volcanic heat.
Japan. Aogashima Island
In Japan there is an island of Aogashima of volcanic origin. The island is inhabited; right in the crater of the volcano there is a small village isolated from the outside world. Aogashima is part of the Izu archipelago, located at the same latitude as Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. The Izu Islands, in turn, are part of Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
People have been living for several hundred years in a small village that bears the same name as the island - Aogashima.
No one remembers what happened on the island 5-6 centuries ago. They only know that during the last eruption a huge part of all the inhabitants of the island died. Therefore, for half a century it was uninhabited. And only in the middle of the 19th century people began to populate it again. Their descendants live here and now.
Aogashima is a small island. Its length is three and a half kilometers, and its width is only 2.5 km. Majestic cliffs can be found everywhere here. They are formed by magma that once emerged from the numerous craters of a volcano that has a very complex structure.
Anyone can climb high to its top, from where all the beauty of the local surroundings can be seen. The main occupation of the local population is fishing and agriculture. Today, however, Aogashima is becoming an incredibly popular tourist destination . The warm Kuroshio Current is located nearby. Under its influence, there are no sudden temperature changes on the island of Aogashima and a mild, subtropical climate remains. And the island is located in subtropical latitudes. The water in the local harbor here is incredibly warm. Therefore, this place is ideal for anyone who dreams of merging with nature.
Highest point of the island
The highest point of the island is Maruyama Peak (O-Toppu), 423 meters high.
From here you have a magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes.
There are no natural harbors on Aogashima; the island is washed by strong currents. Due to these reasons, the island has always been difficult to access. There is only one berth here, accommodating vessels with a displacement of up to 500 tons, which is unsuitable for berthing during inclement weather and heavy seas.
There are many volcanic hills on the island, which local residents use for economic purposes - they evaporate sea water over a hot stream of steam and obtain salt. This calcium-rich salt is one of Aogashima's most popular souvenirs.
TOURISM AND ATTRACTIONS
Despite its remoteness, as already written, there are tourists on Aogashima. Many people want to visit , on and around a “living” volcano. Climbing to the top of Otunbu, you can admire the view of the sea. But walking around the island and taking photographs near the craters is not the only activity you can spend time on.
In the central part of the island there is a geothermal sauna. You sit there, steam yourself and think that the volcano itself is giving you a fever! If such a sauna does not seem like a completely exotic activity, you will be offered to cook dinner in the volcanic heat.
The best way to get to the island is by helicopter from Hachijojima Island (not to be confused with Hachijojima). You can do it on a boat, but no one will give you guarantees of mooring. We missed the moment, first we need to get to Tokyo.
0 0 votes
Vote for the article!
Interesting facts about the Aogashima volcano
- it is still not known for certain when it was first inhabited by humans
- Despite the absence of active volcanic activity, sometimes local residents die here, for example from sudden emissions of steam or the formation of boiling water on the coast
- officially the volcano on the island is considered active. You could say that people are literally living on a powder keg.
- The volcano is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
- Aogashima is the smallest municipality in Japan. There is only one school for children up to 14 years of age, a post office and a department store.
Aogashima Volcano, Japan
Japan is a beautiful country that is definitely worth visiting. The state has many attractions, has a long history and deep culture, and the local people are considered one of the friendliest. However, the Aogashima volcano traditionally attracts great interest among tourists.
Aogashima is the southernmost and most isolated volcanic island of the Izu archipelago. It is located in the Philippine Sea about 358 km. south of Tokyo, and its territory is home to approximately 200 people, most of whom live outside the crater, on the northern part. However, the island is considered to be part of the capital of Japan. You can get to Aogashima by boat or helicopter.
The main attribute of the island is the abundance of attractions.
Aogashima's area is small, less than 9 square kilometers, so the best solution would be to walk around the island. If you have a map with you, then you will definitely not have problems with orientation in space. The island is covered by one single road, with different branches. During your walk, you will have the opportunity to visit the Fureai Community Spa, which uses hot geothermal water. There is also a picnic area there. Local residents respect their traditions, so they use the natural energy of the island to cook food, as their ancestors did many years ago. There is also a salt factory nearby.
Salt is extracted there in a very unusual way: sea water is heated using steam from the crater of a volcano. This salt has a large amount of calcium and is in great demand among both locals and tourists. In the northern part of the island you will find Oyama Park, where at night you can enjoy beautiful views of the island and the starry sky. You will spend the night in an equipped campsite, getting a lot of impressions from it.
An interesting fact is that the last time the Aogashima volcano erupted was at the end of the 18th century. It claimed many lives and forced local residents to leave the island for almost 50 years. Now the main occupation of the islanders is fishing and agriculture. There is one school on the island where children up to 14 years old study.
Nobody argues, you can walk around the island for your own pleasure, but in order to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the island and not miss out on many important details, we recommend using specially designed travel routes, with which we will definitely help you!
