If you look at a map, you would think that Japan is made up of only four large islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. But did you know that the country is actually an archipelago consisting of almost 7,000 islands in total? That’s a lot of new places to explore on your next Japan trip. Curious? We highlight five must-visit Japanese islands you probably didn't know about below.
Oshima, Izu Islands, Tokyo
On top of Mount Mihara. © JNTO
The Izu group of islands may be governed by Tokyo, but it is still located a good 200 kilometres south of the capital. A cluster of nine islands, it is a popular summer destination, being famous for lovely beaches and beautiful blue waters. Oshima is the largest and most accessible of the islands. It is most known for its active volcano Mount Mihara, which stands at the centre of the island and is covered by a desert-like lava landscape that gets filled with camellia flowers in the first quarter of the year.
Aogashima, Izu Islands, Tokyo
An aerial view of Aogashima shows its unusual geographical features. Photo by National Land Image Information (Color Aerial Photographs), created by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, distributed by Geospatial Information Authority of Japan via wikicommons
Many of the islands in Japan are a result of volcanic activity and Aogashima is no different. Not only is the entire island made up of an active volcanic crater, it also houses yet a smaller volcano in its inner crater known as Maruyama. Hiking enthusiasts will love the abundance of nature on Aogashima, which has yet to be touched by congested tourism as it is located in the remote Izu Island archipelago.
