# Hachijo-jima

> Two volcanoes joined by a strip of flat land, about 55 minutes by ANA from Haneda. Climb 1,280 steps to the crater rim of Hachijo-Fuji (854 m), soak in the hot springs under the older, greener Miharayama, and decide for yourself about kusaya, the island's pungent fermented dried fish.

- Prefecture: Tokyo
- Type: Island
- Address: Hachijo, Tokyo, Japan
- Official site: https://www.hachijo.gr.jp/

Hachijo-jima is two volcanoes joined by a strip of flat land, and the airport sits on that strip. To the northwest, Hachijo-Fuji rises to 854 m, the highest point in the Tokyo islands. From the trailhead, 1,280 steps climb through cattle pasture to the rim of a crater about 400 m across, and a path goes all the way round it, with sea on every side. The steps do not let up and the top is exposed, so bring proper shoes and a layer against the wind. The southeastern half is Miharayama, older and much greener, and that is where the island's hot springs are. The town runs several baths, each closed on a different weekday, and a 600-yen one-day pass covers one visit to each town bath except Danran. Pay in cash. On the west coast, Nambara Senjojiki is a lava shelf about 500 m long and 100 m wide, left when a Hachijo-Fuji flow ran into the sea. Then there is kusaya: fish soaked in a fermented brine that islanders have kept going for more than 300 years, then dried. The smell is strong enough that you will know when someone nearby is grilling it.

## FAQ

### How do I get to Hachijo-jima?

ANA flies from Haneda three times a day in about 55 minutes. The alternative is Tokai Kisen's overnight ship from Takeshiba, about 10 hours 20 minutes, which arrives the next morning.

### How hard is the Hachijo-Fuji climb?

From the trailhead it is 1,280 steps to the crater rim, then a path around a crater about 400 m across. Most people drive to the trailhead, about 20 minutes from Sokodo Port; the top is exposed, so bring a windproof layer.

### How much are the hot springs on Hachijo-jima?

A one-day onsen pass costs 600 yen for adults and covers one visit to each town bath except Danran. Each bath closes on a different weekday, and the town baths take cash only.

### What is kusaya?

Fish soaked in a fermented brine and then dried, a tradition of more than 300 years in the Izu Islands. The brine gives it a very strong smell, so it is usually eaten grilled in small amounts.

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Source: Hachijo-jima — Japan Voyage