Onegai Kaeru introduces fascinating destinations. 

 

There are beautiful islands in Japan. One island we introduce here is Toshima island ("利島") esp. how to get there, where to stay and what to get on the island.  

 

The name is often mistaken for Toshima ward in the center of Tokyo (where the Toshima-en theme park is located.) but this Toshima is a small island far away from the city.

 

There are unique islands in Japan which we introduced. Probably you know the Cat island, probably you know the Rabbit island, probably you even know the Shark island (well, if you know (and have already been to) the shark island, you are the Japan expert!).  

 

We call this Toshima island "Flower Island". This is one of the tree difficult islands in Tokyo and Izu area to reach (others are Aogashima and Mikurajima)

 

<< If you are interested in learning about more islands in Japan, you can check our comprehensive Japanese island list here. >>

The island is located 140 km from Tokyo towards its south. Around 8km diameter and the size is 4.12km2. It is so beautiful for its numerous camellia flowers on the island. As matter of fact, 80% of all tree on the island is camellia ( around 200,000 trees!).

 

Camellia flower is not only for the look. You can make oil out of it. Camellia oil is very good for hair/ scalp (this is where Shiseido Tsubaki (Tsubaki means Camellia in Japanese) shampoo brand comes from. We do not know if the shampoo has any of Camellia oil from Toshima or even any kind of oil in it though...). 

As it is good for caring skin, it is used in various types of cosmetics. 

 

There are several thousand types of camellia on the earth. Almost 100% of the island's camellia type is "Yabutsubaki" which have grown on the island from the ancient time. Yabutsubaki is one of the best types of camellia which bear good amount of high quality oil. 

Camellia oil industry has a long history where the record shows that people paid the oil as tax in Edo period ( ca 300 years ago).

 

One camellia tree needs 30 years before becoming able to bear the fruits ( taking longer than peach or chestnuts). Each tree is 5 - 15 m high needing good maintenance. 

 

Camellia oil makes best tempura. It is expensive compared to other type of oil. Well known Tempura restaurants use the oil from Camellia. If you go to (so called high class) restaurant, you can ask if it uses Camellia oil to make its tempura. This way, you can see if the restaurant is serious about their tempura. 

 
The main industries of the island are camellia oil (the biggest camellia oil producer in Japan) and fishery( Japanese spiny lobster ("Ise Ebi") and turbo cornutus ("Sazae")). 

Do you know how to make camellia oil?

Here is a basic process.

 

1) clean the camellia fruits (as the fruits have some dirt etc.)

2) dry the fruits for 8 - 10 hours

3) heat the fruits up to 50- 60 c degree.

4) squeeze the fruits to get the raw oil

 

5) several types of purification for several times

6) ...here you have the great camellia oil!

A shortcoming is that there is no sand beach but all cliff surrounding the island. But if you are lucky, you can meet dolphins in the ocean around.

 

It is said that people started living on the island around 6000 years ago. 

 

There is neither taxi, bus, train, rent car nor rent bike( seems like some inns offer though). You basically need to walk all time to move around.

 

Unlike some islands, camping is NOT allowed as the whole island is protected as a national park. Because of the location, it is better to stay at least one night if you go there.

306 residents in total(female: 144 and male: 162) as of Oct, 2014.

 

(small) supermarket: 5 (check this island's office website out. ( Japanese) )

 

Convenience store/drug store: 0 (if your life depends on the 24 hour shop, you will not survive on this island.

By ship from Tokyo/Shizuoka area

 

I. 9 hours from Takeshiba port, Tokyo by ferry to Toshima island.

(by the way, this big ship is used for a Tokyo bay tour in summer time as its part time job. )

 

II. 2 hours and 20 mins from Takeshiba, Tokyo port by high speed ship to Toshima island (some islander tipped us that, if by the sea, ferries can be more reliable way of travel than a high speed ship which can shake quite and also tends to be canceled due to high tide.)

 

III. 1 hour and 35 mins from Shimoda port, Izu, Shizuoka by ferry to Toshima island <<you know there are great hotels with great views and hot springs in Izu>>

 

NB: the ship often canceled for some time( 3-5 days which means not for ony 3-5days but many times of 3-5 days!) between mid of December and the end of March due to strong winds. 

 

Contact

As to the ship, Tokaikisen (sea line company) for the ship from Takebashi port, Tokyo.

Contact: +81 3 5472 9999 

Shinshin kisen (sea line company) for the ship from Shimoda port, Shizuoka.

Contact: +81 558-22-2626

By air from Tokyo area

I. In total 45 mins from Haneda airport via Oshima island (35 mins airplane flight to Oshima from Haneda then 10 mins helicopter flight from Oshima to Toshima) (NB: no time to transit at Oshima is considered)

II. In total 40 mins from Chofu airport via Oshima island (30 mins airplane flight to Oshima from Haneda then 10 mins helicopter flight from Oshima to Toshima) (NB: no time to transit at Oshima is considered)

You can transit from the ship from Tokyo area to the helicopter at Oshima, or vice versa. In such a case you need to take bus or taxi on the Oshima to travel. 

 

Contact

As to the helicopter Tokyo Island Shuttle by Toho Air Service

Contact: For booking, +81 4996-2-5222  9:00AM-16:00(Closed on Sunday)

For inquiry as to booking + 81 4996-2-5200  8:30AM-17:00(everyday) )

There are 9 inns on Toshima (as of September, 2015)

You can get the full list of the inn(and their contacts) from here. 

 

Many of the inns have no website. Some inns offer scuba diving to meet dolphins. But some has. for example,

 

1. Terada-ya inn

This inn offers car to use. Quite convenient to drive around the island to enjoy the view.

Starting with 7000JPY per person ( with dinner and breakfast, if two people use one room) normal season and starting with 7500JPY per person ( two people staying one room) for the busy season i.e. 1st of August till 20th of August, around the end of December and the beginning of January. 

Dolphin swim tour starting from 7000JPY

 

Contact: +81 4992-9-0251 (8:00AM-20:00) 

 

2. Kaneni-So inn

This inn website has good pictures on its dolphin swim tour.

Starting with 7000JPY per person ( with dinner and breakfast, if two people use one room) normal season and starting with 7500JPY per person ( two people staying one room) for the busy season i.e. 1st of August till 20th of August, around the end of December and the beginning of January. 

Dolphin swim tour starting from 7000 JPY

 

Contact:  +81 90-3066-9333 (8:00AM-20:00)

 

3. Soudaimo inn

Opened on July 2014

Starting with 7000JPY per person ( with dinner and breakfast, if two people use one room) normal season and starting with 7500JPY per person ( two people staying one room) for the busy season

Dolphin swim tour starting from 7000 JPY

2500JPY rent car half day ( need to reserved in advance) 

5000JPY rent car full day ( need to reserved in advance)

 

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0039 

 

4. Toshimakan

Original Tofu dishes

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0222

 

5. Minshuku Kaori

8 rooms in total

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0038

 

6. Minshuku Shinki

Fisherman is the owner.  Delicious sea food

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0028

 

7. Minshuku Nishiyama

Home grown eggs

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0229

 

8.  Minshuku Yamanaka So

Open 365 days

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0136

 

9. Minshuku Eirakuya

It also runs a restaurant Eirakuya

Contact:  +81 4992-9-0334

 

For the shops, check this link out. You can use google translation to find out what it means (kind of..).

 

N.B. "Minshuku" means "Gusthouse" in Japanese

Now you learnt all about Toshima island? Share your experience of the island with us.

 

If you are interested in learning about more interesting islands in Japan, you can check our comprehensive Japanese island list here. 

 

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Looking for a cool island near Tokyo? How about Hachijojima? Click here to find out more?  

 

Have you heard of "Cat islands" and want to know how to get there, please check here!

 

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Source: Wikipedia, Toshima village website, Tokaikisen, ANA, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau

 

Disclaimer: Even though we try to make the info as updated and accurate but the accuracy of the information herein is not guaranteed by us. If you have any uncertainty, please contact the information source.