Schauwecker's Japan Travel Blog by Stefan Schauwecker, webmaster of japan-guide.com
This blog is intended to record some of my travel activities in Japan.
2011/06/01 - Ogasawara Report Trip
This week I made my first visit to the Ogasawara Islands , Japan's most remote, inhabited islands. Despite being part of Tokyo , the islands are connected to the rest of the world only once per week by a 25.5 hour ship ride. Its two inhabited islands, Chichijima (Father Island) and Hahajima (Mother Island), are located on a similar geographical latitude as Okinawa Island .
The Ogasawara-maru, docked at the Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo, connects Tokyo with Chichijima once every six days
Start to the 25.5 hour journey: passing below the Rainbow Bridge
Passing by Haneda Airport
The Ogasawara-maru has six passenger decks
The one way journey in the 2nd class costs around 25,000 yen
One day after a typhoon, the ride turned out very rough
The ocean calmed down on the following morning with Chichijima Island in sight
The largest town on Chichijima
Side trip from Chichijima to the nearby, strictly protected Minamijima (South Island)
Minamijima is a popular breeding spot among sea turtles
The trace of a turtle
Hatsuneura Beach on Chichijima
Kopepe Beach on Chichijima
Sakaiura Beach on Chichijima attracts snorkelers with a shipwreck
Exploring the shipwreck
Exploring the shipwreck
The Hahajima-maru connects Chichijima with Hahajima
Approaching Hahajima (Mother Island)
Hiking through the jungle on Hahajima
Hahajima seen from the summit of Mount Kofuji (Small Fuji)
Minamizaki Beach seen from Kofuji
Snorkeling in the clear waters of Minamizaki Beach
Lots of people gather whenever the Ogasawara-maru departs Chichijima
Local tour companies provide a very unique farewell
Back in Tokyo Bay after a calm 23 hour ride
Approaching Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo, as a very unique report trip comes to an end