Onegai Kareu team has explored and published the practical information of interesting islands in Japan. 

Here is the list. Click the article and you find how to get there and where to stay exactly. 

The island is officially called Okunoshima, Hiroshima prefecture.

Click here to find our more!

Tobishima island near Sakata, Niigata is known as "shark island". You can meet many sharks under water.

Click here to find out more!

About 1000 km away from the city center of Tokyo, there is one island called Chichijima - father island. It is one of the only two islands in Ogasawara island area where people actually live.

The 2nd biggest island in the region. Ever watched the Letters from Iwo jima by Clint Eastwood? The Iwo jima (io-to) is the biggest in the area by the way.

You can get there by ship. You need to be on the ocean for 24 hours.

More details - how to get there and where to stay, click here!

About 1000 km away from the city center of Tokyo, there is one island called Hahajima - mother island.

It is one of the only two islands in Ogasawara island area where people actually live. You can only get there from Chichijima by ship.

More details - how to get there and where to stay, click here!

You will feel as if you time-traveled back to the ancient time. 

Click here to find out more! Our article has the biggest list of places to stay overnight on that island.

You only think of a big city when you hear "Tokyo"? Well, Tokyo has several jungle islands up south. Not so hard to reach.

The island has many hot spring baths.

Click here to find out more (lis of ho spring baths on the island incl. one free of charge!)!

Can you imagine you can swim with dolphins in Tokyo? You can when you go to Mikurajima (御蔵島) island. 

Find out more on the special article about Mikurajima island.

This island is rich in camellia flower. You find high quality camellia oil.

Click here to find out more!

 This island is not easy to get (a lot of "luck" factor involved). This is why it is so popular for many adventurers. 

Click here to find out more! This article has the detailed information on how to get this island.

 It is told that there is a big fortune buried there. Wanna get rich? Go to Tomogashima! :)

Click here to find out more!

The old village for coal mine.  

Used as a location for 2012 James Bond movie Skyfall and also Attack on Titan. You need a special tour to get the island and also not 100% guaranteed that yon can land on the island depending on the sea condition and season. We have more detailed information about this island here, check this out!

How to get Hashima?

First get to Nagasaki in Kyushu by air or ground. Then get to Nagasaki port.

There are 3 major tour companies:

1. Gunkanjima cruise 

3900JPY for adult (including the 300JPY to land on the island)

Credit card not accepted

Tel: +81 95-827-2470

2. Yamasa Line 

4500JPY for adult

Credit card not accepted

Tel: +81 95-822-5002

3. Gunkanjima Concierge 

4200JPY for adult

Credit card accepted

Tel: +81 95-895-9300 

You book from these websites. The tour is usually around 40 USD per head.

Old coal mine. Some tour available. Great photo shooting place!

Similar to the very famous Gunkan island above. 

Click here to find out more!

One of the many islands in Okinawa area.

We featured one area called Funauki (船浮) of Iriomote island. Please check this out! 

We noticed more than 13 cat islands in Japan. You can find the one close to your destination. For detailed information, you can check this article.

One of the world famous cat islands (with Tashirojima island). The island is in Seto inner sea in Ehime prefecture. 100 cats for 15 residents.

Basic info

Name: Aoshima 

Access: by boat

Address: Ozu city, Ehime prefecture 

How to get Aoshima? For more details, Click here!

It is the one of two most famous cat islands in Japan (with Aoshima island). More than 10,000 visitors every year to see the cats. You can pay a visit to the Cat shrine.

Basic info

Name: Tashirojima 

Access: by boat

Address: Nitoda Tashirohama, Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi prefecture

How to get Tashirojima? For more details, Click here!

The name means "male tree island". It is paired with Megijima (female tree island) 1 km away. Less than 200 residents and many cats. You see many cats around the Toyotamahime shrine.

The island was a venue for an art festival in 2010. Therefore, you see several art objects there.

Basic info

Name: Ogijima 

Access: by boat

Address: Ogichō, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa prefecture

Cats on Sanagi island. 

ca 100 resident island is another cat island from Kagawa prefecture. It is one of the Shiwaku islands in the area.

You enjoy a lot of tasty sea foods on the island. Probably this is why many cats live there!

Basic info

Name: Sanagijima 

Access: by boat

Address: Tadotsu-chō, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa prefecture

Only one island with resident which lies on the lake in Japan. As the key industry is fishery cats live there. It is not full of cats as other islands above but it is close to Kyoto/Osaka thus easy to access.

Basic info

Name: Okishima 

Access: by boat

Address: Okishimacho, Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture

500 resident island near Fukuoka. Great fishing spot if you are into fishing. There are said to be ca 100 cats living on this island.

This is one of the two cat islands featured in CNN (the other being Tashirojima).

Basic info

Name: Ainoshima

Access: by boat

Address:Shingū-machi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka

Closest cat island to Tokyo. There is a bridge connecting to the island thus no boat needed to get there. The island is not full of cats but We found many cats on our last visit to the island. There are several nice sea food restaurants and shops on and around Eonshima. If you are only visiting Tokyo area, check this place out.

Basic info

Name: Enoshima

Access: by bridge

Address: Enoshima, Fujisawa city, Kanagawa

You can visit there after you enjoy owl cafe in Tokyo!

Probably the access is as easy as Enoshima. As many cat islands' background, the fishery industry took care of cats which can get mice. ca 300 cats and 300 people. Nice beach and camping sites in the summer. 

Basic info

Name: Aijima

Access: by boat

Address: Ainoshima, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyūshū-shi, Fukuoka

More cats than its residents (ca 300). Many family names are Manabe. Some famous movies e.g. Gokumon island shot.

Basic info

Name: Manabeshima

Access: by boat

Address: Kasaoka city, Okayama

Around 500 people (70% is older than 65 year old) living. Good that there are several ryokan and inns. No. of cat is unknown but one inn on the island says there are "many cats".

Basic info

Name: Iwaishima

Access: by boat

Address: Kaminoseki city, Kumage, Yamaguchi

Around 400 people living. One of the Kutsuna islands. Agriculture (mandarin orange) and fishery are main industries. You can rent and ride a bike. No place to stay over night.

Muzuki skyline is a nice walking route of 15 km.

Basic info

Name: Muzukijima

Access: by boat. From Mitsuhana port 45 mins or Takahama port 30mins

Address: Matsuyama city, Ehime

Based on the island tradition, keeping dog is not allowed. Maybe this is why cat has flourished. You may see wild hogs which started living there after they swam from the main island. Around 200 people were there in 2010, and as of 2015, 105 people living. Main industry is fishery and camellia (like Toshima island we featured).

Basic info

Name: Kakarashima

Access: by boat. 4 times a day from Yobuko port.

Address: Karatsu city, Saga

More cats than human (i.e. around 500 people). Actually nice swimming locations for the summer. There are two swimming areas on the islands.

Basic info

Name: Yushima 

Access: by boat

Address: Oyanomachi, Amakusa city, Kumamoto

Japan has big destinations like Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka. Many do not know that there are more than 6800 islands (some are too tiny to travel to though). The above are just some example.

Which island have you been to?

How was your experience? When you have more suggestions, please let us know!

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Looking for a beautiful Japanese inn with private bath during your trip to Japan? Here is the list!

Do you know an island with over 2000 years old tree in Japan? Please check this out!

Feeling hunger in Tokyo? Check this special articles where you can get full at super cheap price!

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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.