Why don’t you try sustainable tourism in Minamijima island of Ogasawara!

Why don’t you try sustainable tourism in Minamijima island of Ogasawara!

I’m Nobu, I like traveling overseas and in Japan, visited 25 countries. I’ve got the license of the certificate English guide in Japan for 8years.

I show you hidden Japan which you have never seen and heard of!

South Island, Sustainable Tourism

I am on Minamijima( South Island) near Chichijima in the Ogasawara Islands.

Ogasawara Islands

Ogasawara is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, but it is also in the Tokyo metropolitan prefecture.

This is Ogasawara Village in Tokyo.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Minamijima island.

Sustainable tourism in Minamijima

It’s an island where sustainable tourism is practiced.

It’s a small island southwest of Chichijima.

But the island itself is designated as a natural monument of Japan.

And also registered as UNESCO Natural World Heritage site .

The number of visitors per day and the time they can stay on the island are strictly limited.

Attractions

You can see the semi-fossilized shell , maimai in this island.

Which was one of the deciding factors for the World Natural Heritage status.

Ohgiike(Fan beach)has a spectacular sight which is connected to the open sea by a gate rock.

I think you will be impressed surely.

Join the tour

There are many tours available in Ogasawara islands.

If you want to go to Minamijima you need to join one of these tours.

Because the island itself is a natural monument of Japan and cannot be entered without permission.

Only 100 people par day and within 2 hours

Only 100 people can enter the island per day.

We shouldn’t stay over 2 hours.

However, joining a tour does not guarantee that you will be able to enter the island.

It’s because around Minamijima , often blows strong winds.

If the wind is too strong, it becomes difficult for boats to enter the cove.

Even so, it’s worth taking a tour and spending the time to go there.

Once you get off the boat at Sameike cove and take a look at the scenery from a little higher up hill, you’ll understand why.

Fossils

Ogasawara Islands were registered as a UNESCO Narural World Heritage site in 2011.

And one of the decisive factors for the registration was semi-fossilized shell found on Minamijima.

In fact, you can see semi-fossils on the island often.

However, it is forbidden to take anything from out of Minamijima island.

Please be careful not to take them home just because they are rare.

Ohgiike

Ohgiike is one of the major attractions of Minamijima.

It’s a cute white sand beach with a gate rock between the outer ocean.

But if you look closer, you will be amazed at the clear water.

I landed Ohgiike by swimming from the outer ocean through the gate rock to Ohgiike.

We had to swim 50m from outer ocean through the gate rock to Ohgiike.

The outer ocean is also a ocean nature park , we could see many tropical fish on the way.

Also you can enjoy inside the Ohgiike beach to take a peek into the crystal clear water and take underwater photos.

It’s like a movie stage

If you stand at Ohgiike you can see the clean water, the white sand beach, and the towering small mountains around it.

Almost looks like a stage for a movie.

I think it’s hard to believe that you are in Japan, even in Tokyo.

The number of visitors per day is limited on Minamijima , and they are not allowed to stay for very long.

However, when you see this kind of nature, you will understand why.

Nature comes first , human second

By following these rules, you will be able to enjoy this beautiful nature.

Most tours to Minamijima also include dolphin swimming and whale watching.

Nature takes center stage, and tourists can visit it and enjoy nature quietly.

This is a rule as a sustainable tourism.

I think it needs to protect this beautiful nature forever.

If the nature is sustainable, human is also sustainable

Would you like to experience sustainable tourism in Minamijima of the Ogasawara Islands?

I’m Nobu, one heart enjoy together!!!