Route
A volcanic island with a pleasantly temperate climate, Hachijojima used to be called the Hawaii of Japan. And it's packed with spots where you can enjoy therapeutic relaxation surrounded by natural beauty.So we decided to detox with a relaxing walk around Hachijojima to refresh ourselves and nourish both mind and body.
Hachijojima is only a 55-minute flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo, easily within range for a quick weekend break. The vast blue ocean and the subtropical climate of the island, richly endowed with nature, combine to create a welcoming setting for a relaxing island break.
We depart on the first morning flight and upon arrival head straight to the sea to take a Seaside Energy Yoga class. Doing yoga under the sun, with the sound of the wind and the waves as backing, has never felt so free and easy! Deeply breathing and exercising yoga makes you feel at one with nature and your inner soul.
Yoga therapist Yukiko Tamai describes the Seaside Energy Yoga as "the full immersive experience, where you get to experience all the natural offerings of Hachijojima: the mountains, the sea, the land, and the skies." She tells us that it's the perfect way for busy women to mentally refresh, cleanse the mind, and take time out for introspection.
After working our way through dense, jungle-like forest, we discover a waterfall cascading over a stone precipice. The name of the waterfall, Uramigataki, is derived from the fact that there is a path behind it from which the waterfall is best to be seen ("urami" means back view). While enjoying viewing the waterfall, you can immerse yourself in a shower of negative ions generated by the trees and the cascading water.
Uramigataki Onsen, located near the waterfall, is a delightfully rustic and secluded open-air hot spring. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind, nourished by the steam, the sound of the waterfall, and the scents of the forest.
