Mikurajima
Encyclopedia
is a volcanic
Japanese island in the Philippine Sea
, administered by Tōkyō Metropolis
and located approximately 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) south of Tokyo
and 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) south-southeast of Miyakejima
. It is one of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago
.
Mikurajima is administratively part of Mikurajima Village
under Miyake Subprefecture
of Tokyo Metropolis. As of 2009, the island's population was 351. Mikurajima is also within the boundaries of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
.
. Mikura, along with the rest of the Izu Islands, was a designated as a place of exile during the Tokugawa shogunate
, and up to 10% of current island residents are descendents of political exiles.
In 1714, an important official from the shogunate, physician Kochikuin Okuyama, arrived on the island. Okuyama was able to use his connections with the shogunate to retrieve Mikura's official seal from officials on Miyake Island, who were using it to skim profits from Mikura's exports of lumber.
In 1863, a ship with a crew of 460 Chinese laborers and 23 American sailors, bound for the United States from China, was shipwrecked on the island. Although at that time the Japanese populace had been ordered by the shogunate to kill or imprison any foreigners who entered Japan without authorization, Mikura's inhabitants treated the shipwrecked crew with hospitality and kindness.
The island's largest spring forms Shirataki (white falls) waterfall that drops 80m into the Pacific Ocean
below. The island has an underground mineral lake, which is said to have remarkable healing and cleansing powers and waters around the island has an abundance of nutrient-rich plant life.
The island is home to the Nioiebine Orchid as well as a large flock of Streaked Shearwater
. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Mikurajima. Dolphin watching tours during the summer months have been offered from Miyakejima
. The crossing from Miyake to Mikura takes about 45 minutes by fishing vessel. There are also tours from Mikurajima.
Mikurajima's main industry is tourism. The island is visited by about 10,000 people per year. The island's main attractions are its dolphin tours. The tours operate from March to October each year. To preserve the island's habitat, tourists are prohibited from hiking without an island guide, and must stay in one of the island's designated inns, as camping is not allowed. Other money-makers for the island's inhabitants include exports of ashitaba
, nioi-ebineran orchids, and buxus microphylla
.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
Japanese island in the Philippine Sea
Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea east and north of the Philippines occupying an estimated surface area of 2 million mi² on the western part of the North Pacific Ocean...
, administered by Tōkyō Metropolis
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and located approximately 200 kilometres (124.3 mi) south of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and 19 kilometres (11.8 mi) south-southeast of Miyakejima
Miyakejima
is an island in the Izu group, southeast of Honshū, Japan, administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, with an area of 55.50 km². The island, 180 km south of Tokyo, is located at 34.5N and 139.34E. As of January 1, 2006, the population of the island is 2884...
. It is one of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago
Izu Islands
The are a group of volcanic islands stretching south and east from the Izu Peninsula of Honshū, Japan. Administratively, they form two towns and six villages; all part of Tokyo. The largest is Izu Ōshima, usually called simply Ōshima....
.
Mikurajima is administratively part of Mikurajima Village
Mikurajima, Tokyo
is a village located in Miyake Subprefecture, Tokyo, Japan. It has a population of only 271 people.-Geography:Mikurajima Village covers the inhabited island of Mikurajima, one of the northern islands in the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, south of Tokyo and south-southeast of...
under Miyake Subprefecture
Miyake Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Tokyo, Japan. The organization belongs to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau Of General Affairs.It includes the following villages on the Izu Islands:*Miyake *Mikurajima...
of Tokyo Metropolis. As of 2009, the island's population was 351. Mikurajima is also within the boundaries of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
is a national park in Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa Prefectures, and western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. It consists of Mount Fuji, Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, the Izu Peninsula, and the Izu Islands....
.
History
The island has apparently been inhabited for thousands of years, but existing records only extend to the Edo periodEdo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. Mikura, along with the rest of the Izu Islands, was a designated as a place of exile during the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
, and up to 10% of current island residents are descendents of political exiles.
In 1714, an important official from the shogunate, physician Kochikuin Okuyama, arrived on the island. Okuyama was able to use his connections with the shogunate to retrieve Mikura's official seal from officials on Miyake Island, who were using it to skim profits from Mikura's exports of lumber.
In 1863, a ship with a crew of 460 Chinese laborers and 23 American sailors, bound for the United States from China, was shipwrecked on the island. Although at that time the Japanese populace had been ordered by the shogunate to kill or imprison any foreigners who entered Japan without authorization, Mikura's inhabitants treated the shipwrecked crew with hospitality and kindness.
Geology, wildlife, and economics
Mikurajima is roughly circular, and is the peak of a dormant stratovolcano. It has a maximum diameter of 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) and a circumference of 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), covering an area of 20.5 square kilometers. The highest peak, , has a height of 851 metres (2,792 ft), and was last active around 6000 years ago. As with most of the other islands in the Izu archipelago, Mikurajima rises sharply from the sea with coastal cliffs up to 500 meters in height, and has a steep interior. However, unlike the other islands, Mikurajima has preserved most of its Old-growth forest and endemic flora.The island's largest spring forms Shirataki (white falls) waterfall that drops 80m into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
below. The island has an underground mineral lake, which is said to have remarkable healing and cleansing powers and waters around the island has an abundance of nutrient-rich plant life.
The island is home to the Nioiebine Orchid as well as a large flock of Streaked Shearwater
Streaked Shearwater
The Streaked Shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas is a species of seabird. The bird is 48 cm in size, with a 122 cm wingspan. This species is pelagic, but also occurs in inshore waters. It occurs in the Pacific Ocean, nesting in Japan and many of its offshore islands. After breeding, the Streaked...
. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Mikurajima. Dolphin watching tours during the summer months have been offered from Miyakejima
Miyakejima
is an island in the Izu group, southeast of Honshū, Japan, administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, with an area of 55.50 km². The island, 180 km south of Tokyo, is located at 34.5N and 139.34E. As of January 1, 2006, the population of the island is 2884...
. The crossing from Miyake to Mikura takes about 45 minutes by fishing vessel. There are also tours from Mikurajima.
Mikurajima's main industry is tourism. The island is visited by about 10,000 people per year. The island's main attractions are its dolphin tours. The tours operate from March to October each year. To preserve the island's habitat, tourists are prohibited from hiking without an island guide, and must stay in one of the island's designated inns, as camping is not allowed. Other money-makers for the island's inhabitants include exports of ashitaba
Ashitaba
Angelica keiskei, more widely known under the japanese name of is a not frost tender perennial plant from the angelica genus endemic to Hachijōjima. Its japanese nomenclature stems from the above-average regenerative capabilities the plant exhibits when getting injured...
, nioi-ebineran orchids, and buxus microphylla
Buxus microphylla
Buxus microphylla is a species of Buxus native to Japan and Taiwan.It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–3 m tall...
.