Niijima, Tokyo
Encyclopedia
is a volcanic
Japanese island in the Philippine Sea
, administered by Tokyo
Metropolitan Government. It is one of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago
, and is located approximately 163 kilometres (101.3 mi) south of Tōkyō and 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) south of Shimoda
Shizuoka Prefecture
. The island is the larger inhabited component of the village of Niijima Village
, Ōshima Subprefecture
of Tokyo Metropolis, which also contains the larger, neighboring island of Shikinejima
and the smaller, uninhabited Jinai-tō. Niijima is also within the boundaries of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
.
On the southern tip of Niijima, was formerly a launch site for experimental and sounding rocket
s.
domes in two groups at the northern and southern ends of the island, separated by a low, flat isthmus. The complex in the southern portion of the island and the Achiyama lava dome at the northern end were formed during Niijima's only historical eruptions in the 9th century AD. The northern end also contains , the island’s highest point, at 432 metres (1,417.3 ft). Shikinejima and Jinnai-to are part of the same complex, and form separate islands to the southwest and west of Niijima. Rhyolite lava gives the island its famed white cliffs and white sandy beaches
Niijima is prone to earthquake swarms. According to the US Geological Survey map, the area around Niijima averages 10 – 20 earthquakes, with a magnitude of 5 or greater, each year. However, the often repeated legend that Niijima and Shikinejima were once a single island that was separated by huge tsunami
caused by the 1703 Genroku earthquake
has no basis in geology.
(approximately 6h00), before continuing on to Toshima
(7h00), Niijima (8h00), Shikinejima (8h30), and Kōzushima
(9h30). The ferry then returns following the same route, leaving Niijima at 12h00 and docking in Tokyo at 17h00. It is possible that in rough weather, the ferry is unable to dock in Niijima.
There are daily flights, weather permitting, from Chōfu Airport
located in western Tokyo. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes.
Other ferries leave from Shimoda
, Shizuoka Prefecture
.
Niijima-mura also operates a high-speed ferry between Niijima and Shikinejima with 3 boats per day, and 4 per day in the summer months.
, including stone and ceramic utensils. During the Edo period
, as with Hachijōjima
, Niijima was used as a place of exile for convicts
. The practice was discontinued after the Meiji Restoration
.
Main industries in Niijima include commercial and sports fishing, construction, koga rock mining, and tourism. There is also some small scale farming.
Koga stone, a silica-based volcanic rock called rhyolite
in English, found on the island, is used to make transparent green glass art
. It can also be used to make moyai art. The stone is indigenous only to Niijima and Lipari
Island, Italy.
Maehama Beach on the western side of Niijima sees many wind surfers. The triathlon
and ocean water swims take place here. Mt. Fuji can often be seen from Maehama.
Habushi Beach, on the eastern side of the island, is a nationally protected reserve with its waves and white sand, and is a good location for surfing
. The beach is approximately 6.5 km long and is overlooked by koga volcanic cliffs, the highest of which is 250 meters.
Moyai Hill, overlooking Yunohama and Maehama beaches, contains more than 100 large stone carvings. In the local dialect, moyai means 'to work together in effort', and these statues make evident this effort. On the western side of JR Shibuya
in Tokyo proper is a giant moyai statue, a gift from the people of Niijima.
Yunohama Onsen hot spring
, on Yunohama Beach, is a large outdoor bath built in the style of pseudo-Greek ruins that provides stunning panoramic views of the setting sun and the Pacific Ocean. The bath itself accommodates up to 100 bathers. Water used in the bath is drawn from the ocean below.
Jūsansha Jinja, is a Shinto shrine at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Miyatsuka in the north-western corner of the main village on the island. This shrine, built in the Edo period
, is recognized as caretakers of intangible cultural assets by the Tokyo government for the kagura
music and sacred dancing, known as shishi-kiyari that are held every December 8.
Nearby Jūsansha is Chōei-ji, Chōei Temple, a temple dedicated to Nichiren Buddhism
. Beside the temple lies the Exiles' Cemetery. The cemetery, covered with the local white sand, is dominated by the gravestones of the 118 exiles, banished to Niijima by the Tokugawa Shogunate
during the Edo era for non-political crimes.
A short walk from Chōei Temple is the Exile Execution Ground. Eleven exiles who committed crimes on the island were executed here. Komori Yasu, from the kabuki
story 'Yowa Nasake Ukinano Yokoguchi' is buried here.
Niijima Glass Art Center is a world-renowned site which hosts the Niijima International Glass Art Festival every autumn. At the center, visitors are able to create their own glass work to take home. Next to the museum is the Niijima Glass Art Museum which houses works from guest artists at the festival.
Niijima-mura Museum, houses artifacts from the island’s pre-history up to its modern-day surfing culture. Included is a replica fishing vessel and house from the Edo period. Details of the criminal exiles are given. A collaborative effort between the education board and the English department at Niijima High School ensured that the museum is completely bilingual: Japanese-English.
Niijima hosts the Tokyo Islands Triathlon in Niijima (1.5 km swim, 35 km bicycle ride, and a 10 km run) every May and the Niijima Open Water Swimming (1.5, 3, and 4.5 km open water swims). In the summer months, a number of surfing competitions take place at Habushi Beach. Sport fishing and scuba diving are also popular with both residents and tourists.
Every autumn, the Niijima International Glass Art Festival takes place. The festival has taken place since 1988. The festival draws leading glass artists who lead workshops and demonstrations in glass art. Artists who have participated in the festival in the past include: Dale Chihuly
, William Morris, and Lucio Bubaco. Work by the above artists, and many more, are on display in the museum.
), a pinkish-purplish orchid, can be found throughout the island, especially in Ebine Park, which opens from early spring.
Souvenirs from Niijima include the island specialty kusaya
- a dried fish, usually mackerel scad
(Decapterus macarellus), that has been soaked in a special brine. Kusaya, which means smells bad in Japanese, has an odor that is indeed 'quite' distinct. The village museum has a video on the making of kusaya. If you can get past the smell, you will be rewarded with a rich, delicious meal. Other souvenirs are milk senbei
, the ashitaba
plant, Niijima glass art, and a local Shōchū
called Shima Jiman, island pride.
Popular Youtuber from Japan, Chris Gen, featured a trip to Niijima and some of his favorite spots of interest in his video.
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 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...
Metropolitan Government. 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....
, and is located approximately 163 kilometres (101.3 mi) south of Tōkyō and 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) south of Shimoda
Shimoda, Shizuoka
is a city and port in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 25,054 and a population density of 242 persons per square kilometer...
Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
. The island is the larger inhabited component of the village of Niijima Village
Niijima, Tokyo
is a volcanic Japanese island in the Philippine Sea, administered by Tokyo Metropolitan Government. It is one of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago, and is located approximately south of Tōkyō and south of Shimoda Shizuoka Prefecture...
, Ōshima Subprefecture
Oshima Subprefecture (Tokyo)
is a subprefecture of Tokyo, Japan. The organization belong to Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau Of General Affairs.It includes the following towns and villages on the Izu Islands:*Ōshima *Toshima...
of Tokyo Metropolis, which also contains the larger, neighboring island of Shikinejima
Shikinejima
is a volcanic Japanese island in the Philippine Sea, administered by Tōkyō and located approximately south of Tōkyō and south of Shimoda Shizuoka Prefecture. It is one of the of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago...
and the smaller, uninhabited Jinai-tō. Niijima 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....
.
On the southern tip of Niijima, was formerly a launch site for experimental and sounding rocket
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
s.
Geography
Niijima is unusual amongst the Izu Islands in that it has an elongated shape. Measuring approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide, it has a land area of 23.87 km². The island is made of eight rhyolitic lavaRhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
domes in two groups at the northern and southern ends of the island, separated by a low, flat isthmus. The complex in the southern portion of the island and the Achiyama lava dome at the northern end were formed during Niijima's only historical eruptions in the 9th century AD. The northern end also contains , the island’s highest point, at 432 metres (1,417.3 ft). Shikinejima and Jinnai-to are part of the same complex, and form separate islands to the southwest and west of Niijima. Rhyolite lava gives the island its famed white cliffs and white sandy beaches
Niijima is prone to earthquake swarms. According to the US Geological Survey map, the area around Niijima averages 10 – 20 earthquakes, with a magnitude of 5 or greater, each year. However, the often repeated legend that Niijima and Shikinejima were once a single island that was separated by huge tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
caused by the 1703 Genroku earthquake
1703 Genroku earthquake
The occurred at 02:00 local time on December 31 . The epicenter was near Edo, the forerunner of present-day Tokyo, in the southern part of the Kantō Region, Japan. It shook Edo and an estimated 2,300 people were killed by the shaking and subsequent fires...
has no basis in geology.
Access
Niijima is 2 hours and 20 minutes away by jet boat from Takeshiba Sanbashi Pier, in Tokyo, operated by Tōkai Kisen. Tōkai Kisen also operates a 9-hour over-night ferry. The ferry leaves Takeshiba Sanbashi at 22h00 (23h00 in the summer months) and arrives early morning in Izu ŌshimaIzu Oshima
is a volcanic island in the Izu Islands and administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, Japan, lies about 100 km south of Tokyo, 22 km east of the Izu Peninsula and 36 km southwest of Bōsō Peninsula. serves as the local government of the island...
(approximately 6h00), before continuing on to Toshima
Toshima Island
, a volcanic island in the Izu Islands and administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, Japan, lies south of Tokyo and east of the Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka prefecture. Toshima forms part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. serves as the local government of the island.The island, at...
(7h00), Niijima (8h00), Shikinejima (8h30), and Kōzushima
Kozushima
is a volcanic Japanese island in the Philippine Sea, administered by Tōkyō and located approximately northwest of the Miyakejima and southwest of the Niijima. It is one of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago....
(9h30). The ferry then returns following the same route, leaving Niijima at 12h00 and docking in Tokyo at 17h00. It is possible that in rough weather, the ferry is unable to dock in Niijima.
There are daily flights, weather permitting, from Chōfu Airport
Chofu Airport
is an airport located northwest Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan, west of central Tokyo. It is administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The airport's main commercial activity is New Central Airlines commuter flights to the islands south of Tokyo....
located in western Tokyo. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes.
Other ferries leave from Shimoda
Shimoda, Shizuoka
is a city and port in Shizuoka, Japan.As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 25,054 and a population density of 242 persons per square kilometer...
, Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
.
Niijima-mura also operates a high-speed ferry between Niijima and Shikinejima with 3 boats per day, and 4 per day in the summer months.
History
Niijima has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and archaeologists have found numerous remains from the Jōmon periodJomon period
The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC to 300 BC.The term jōmon means "cord-patterned" in Japanese. This refers to the pottery style characteristic of the Jōmon culture, and which has markings made using sticks with cords wrapped around them...
, including stone and ceramic utensils. During the Edo period
Edo 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....
, as with Hachijōjima
Hachijojima
is a volcanic Japanese island in the Philippine Sea, administered by Tōkyō and located approximately south of the Special Wards of Tōkyō. It is the southernmost and most isolated of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago...
, Niijima was used as a place of exile for convicts
Criminal punishment in Edo-period Japan
During the Edo period, Japan used various punishments against criminals. These can be categorized as follows:* Death penalty* Incarceration and Exile* Penal labor* Confiscation of property* Corporal punishment- Death penalty :...
. The practice was discontinued after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
.
Industry
Koga stone, a silica-based volcanic rock called rhyolite
Rhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
in English, found on the island, is used to make transparent green glass art
Glass art
Studio glass or glass sculpture is the modern use of glass as an artistic medium to produce sculptures or three-dimensional artworks. Specific approaches include working glass at room temperature cold working, stained glass, working glass in a torch flame , glass beadmaking, glass casting, glass...
. It can also be used to make moyai art. The stone is indigenous only to Niijima and Lipari
Lipari
Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, and the name of the island's main town. It has a permanent population of 11,231; during the May–September tourist season, its population may reach up to 20,000....
Island, Italy.
Sites
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
and ocean water swims take place here. Mt. Fuji can often be seen from Maehama.
Habushi Beach, on the eastern side of the island, is a nationally protected reserve with its waves and white sand, and is a good location for surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
. The beach is approximately 6.5 km long and is overlooked by koga volcanic cliffs, the highest of which is 250 meters.
Moyai Hill, overlooking Yunohama and Maehama beaches, contains more than 100 large stone carvings. In the local dialect, moyai means 'to work together in effort', and these statues make evident this effort. On the western side of JR Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
in Tokyo proper is a giant moyai statue, a gift from the people of Niijima.
Yunohama Onsen hot spring
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
, on Yunohama Beach, is a large outdoor bath built in the style of pseudo-Greek ruins that provides stunning panoramic views of the setting sun and the Pacific Ocean. The bath itself accommodates up to 100 bathers. Water used in the bath is drawn from the ocean below.
Jūsansha Jinja, is a Shinto shrine at the base of the cliffs of Mt. Miyatsuka in the north-western corner of the main village on the island. This shrine, built in the Edo period
Edo 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....
, is recognized as caretakers of intangible cultural assets by the Tokyo government for the kagura
Kagura
- Fictional characters :*Kagura Tsuchimiya, the protagonist of Ga-rei*Kagura, an InuYasha character*Kagura Sohma , a Fruits Basket character*Kagura, an Azumanga Daioh character*Ten'nōzu Kagura, a Speed Grapher character...
music and sacred dancing, known as shishi-kiyari that are held every December 8.
Nearby Jūsansha is Chōei-ji, Chōei Temple, a temple dedicated to Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese monk Nichiren...
. Beside the temple lies the Exiles' Cemetery. The cemetery, covered with the local white sand, is dominated by the gravestones of the 118 exiles, banished to Niijima by 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...
during the Edo era for non-political crimes.
A short walk from Chōei Temple is the Exile Execution Ground. Eleven exiles who committed crimes on the island were executed here. Komori Yasu, from the kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
story 'Yowa Nasake Ukinano Yokoguchi' is buried here.
Niijima Glass Art Center is a world-renowned site which hosts the Niijima International Glass Art Festival every autumn. At the center, visitors are able to create their own glass work to take home. Next to the museum is the Niijima Glass Art Museum which houses works from guest artists at the festival.
Niijima-mura Museum, houses artifacts from the island’s pre-history up to its modern-day surfing culture. Included is a replica fishing vessel and house from the Edo period. Details of the criminal exiles are given. A collaborative effort between the education board and the English department at Niijima High School ensured that the museum is completely bilingual: Japanese-English.
Events
Every autumn, the Niijima International Glass Art Festival takes place. The festival has taken place since 1988. The festival draws leading glass artists who lead workshops and demonstrations in glass art. Artists who have participated in the festival in the past include: Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur.-Biography:Chihuly graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma, Washington. He enrolled at the College of the Puget Sound in 1959...
, William Morris, and Lucio Bubaco. Work by the above artists, and many more, are on display in the museum.
Other attractions
Other attractions on Niijima include: Ebine (Calanthe discolorCalanthe discolor
Calanthe discolor is a species of orchid....
), a pinkish-purplish orchid, can be found throughout the island, especially in Ebine Park, which opens from early spring.
Souvenirs from Niijima include the island specialty kusaya
Kusaya
is a Japanese style salted-dried fish and fermented fish. It is famous for its malodorousness, and it is often a subject of taste controversies, much like Marmite and blue cheese and even more like Swedish surströmming.-Taste:...
- a dried fish, usually mackerel scad
Mackerel scad
The Mackerel scad, Decapterus macarellus, is a species of fish of the family, Carangidae. While Mackerel scad are considered gamefish, they are usually used as bait.-Description:...
(Decapterus macarellus), that has been soaked in a special brine. Kusaya, which means smells bad in Japanese, has an odor that is indeed 'quite' distinct. The village museum has a video on the making of kusaya. If you can get past the smell, you will be rewarded with a rich, delicious meal. Other souvenirs are milk senbei
Senbei
are a type of Japanese rice crackers. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment....
, the 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...
plant, Niijima glass art, and a local Shōchū
Shochu
is a Japanese distilled beverage. It is typically distilled from barley, sweet potatoes, or rice, though it is sometimes produced from other ingredients such as brown sugar, buckwheat or chestnut. Typically shōchū contains 25% alcohol by volume...
called Shima Jiman, island pride.
Popular Youtuber from Japan, Chris Gen, featured a trip to Niijima and some of his favorite spots of interest in his video.
External links
- Entry at Oceandots.com
- Japan Travel Guide: Niijima, in English with Japanese Subtitles
- Village of Niijima (Administering Niijima and Shikinejima), in Japanese
- Encyclopedia Astronautica - Niijima
- Niijima Glass Art Center, in English
- Niijima-mura Museum, in Japanese
- Metropolis, Travel, Niijima, in English
- Tokyo Niijima Island Sports Series, in Japanese
- Tokai Kisen Ferry, in Japanese
- http://www.central-air.co.jp/Central Air, Chōfu, TokyoChofu, Tokyois a city located in the western end of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 224,878 and a population density of 10,440 persons per km². The total area was 21.53 km². Tokyo Stadium in Chōfu hosts soccer games for two J. League teams: F.C...
, in Japanese]