Bonin islands - Village in Tokyo

One of the largest metropolis in the world, Tokyo metropolis has 5 towns and 8 villages. 3 towns; Okutama, Mizuho and Hinode and 1 village; Hinohara are located on Honshu island as same as 23 special wards and other cities of Tokyo metropolis.

Then, 2 towns and 6 villages are located on Izu islands, a group of volcanic islands streching south and east of Izu penisula. Then. the last village, Ogasawara is located on the Boning islands(Ogasawara islands). The Ogasawara subprefectural office is 1000 km away from Tokyo Metropolitan Government office.

Beach on Chichijima island, the Bonin islands, Tokyo

The southernmost island in Japan, Okinotori and easternmost island, Minamitori are under juridiction of Ogasawara village. However, both islands are uninhabited and cannot be accessed without special permit.

Actually there are only two islands in the Bonin islands which are inhabited. Chichijima and Hanajima. Then, most of the islanders live on Chichijima which is connected by Honshu island by ferry. The single journey is 24 hours, the longest domestic ferry connection in Japan. Unfortunately, there is no airport in the Bonin islands.

The climate is subtropical, absolutely different from Honshu island. On the other hand, it is much pleasant during summer than in mainland Tokyo. It is told that the original islanders came from outside of Japan, including Europeans and indigenous people of Hawaii in 19th century.