Bingmi Ganxin

A photographer signed with Getty Images, Dongfang IC and Xinhua News Agency, and member of the Photojournalist Society of China and the China Great Wall Society. Ranked top three influencer in all of Sina's media platforms. Named one of the top 10 most popular travel influencers in 2016, as well as one of the top 10 original travel video creators. A columnist for Letu, signed to Sina Weibo We-media, and gold-level author for Sohu's We-media. A renowned travel blogger with over 60 million total blog views. A globetrotter with travel footprints covering 33 countries across 7 continents. An skilled driver, he has driven across 5 continents and over 260,000 kilometers. A travel experiencer who has collaborated with various domestic and international tourism bureaus, including the German National Tourist Office, Swiss Tourism Board, Mexico Tourism Board, New Zealand Tourism Board, Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau, Sichuan Provincial Tourism Bureau, and Henan Provincial Tourism Bureau, among others. Has collaborated long-term with hotels as an experiencer, provides regular contributions to media outlets including Sina, Sohu, NetEase, Tencent, Phoenix, eLong, Ctrip, Qunar, Letu, Toutiao, public WeChat accounts, "Cultural Geography," "Tourism Overview," and "Photo & Video" magazines, among others.

Fall

Day 1

Takeshiba Pier Waiting Room

There aren't many seats in the waiting room. If you arrive early, you can take a stroll around the area. You can also buy some snacks, water and more to help pass the 24 hours of being cut off from the rest of the world on the ferry.

Ogasawara Maru Ferry departs

During the 24 hours on the ship, there is no mobile phone signal, so you are effectively cut off from the rest of the world for the entire journey. To pass the time, I suggest finding activities to do such as reading books, editing photos, writing articles, or watching movies.

Dining options aboard the Ogasawara Maru Ferry

The dining options on the ship are quite good - basically Japanese cuisine such as fried pork cutlet, seafood rice, chicken rice, tempura, miso soup, and more. Prices range from 800 to 1500 yen.

Rice bowl dish served aboard the Ogasawara Maru Ferry.

Day 2

Chichi-jima road

On Chichi-jima, there are no skyscrapers or bustling streets, but every building is meticulously maintained and perfectly arranged. The meticulous design, beautiful exteriors, and abundant vegetation... If I could live in such a big house... just imagining it is so exciting!

A house with flowers in bloom

The flowers along the road are in full bloom, allowing one not only to feel the warmth of nature, but also to experience the harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

Mt. Ogamiyama Park vintage point

Mt. Ogamiyama Park is a great place for hiking and viewing the surroundings. From the not-so-high summit, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the surroundings

Ogamiyama Shrine

Ogamiyama Shrine is built atop Mt Ogamiyama. It offers a great vantage point, allowing people to get closer to the gods.

The church on the island

The island's church is a legacy from the time when the Americans ruled. Although small in size, it exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere. The all-white architecture accentuates the sacredness of the church.

Ogasawara sunset

The weather station is an excellent location to watch the sunset. At dusk, some Japanese people come here and sit quietly, watching the sun gradually disappear beyond the horizon. The lingering glow of the setting sun reflects upon the ocean, casting shimmering golden ripples, while the entire sky takes on a dreamlike hue.

The streets at nightfall

As night falls, the streetlights on Chichijima light up, casting a serene and peaceful charm over the quiet streets. At night, you can take a stroll along the road, gaze up at the starry sky, and you will find out how quiet the world truly is.

Day 3

A sea turtle in the aquarium

In the Ogasawara Islands, without doubt wild flora and fauna dominate. The water here bustles with activity, and it is even more diverse and abundant in the aquarium.

Kominato Kaigan Bus Stop

There is a bus bound for Nakayama Pass from Chichijima village. I rode all the way to Kominato Kaigan before getting off. This is the southernmost bus stop in Tokyo - actually over 1000 kilometers away from the Tokyo city district, haha.

When entering and leaving national parks, it's necessary to do disinfection.

Japanese people take environmental protection very seriously. Anyone entering or leaving national parks must undergo disinfection. First, place both feet on the blue section and rub them properly several times.

Ogasawara National Park

I hiked up to the summit of Nakayama Pass. Here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast expanse of the ocean. In the distance, several islands, both connected and not connected, float in the world where the ocean and the sky blend, creating a serene and picturesque scene.

The curved coastline

The coastline of the Ogasawara Islands is azure, pristine, and beautiful. The curved lines distinguish the boundless ocean from the ecologically intact islands. Playful waves tease the idle shores like mischievous children. Everything is so harmonious.

Lunch after climbing

At lunchtime, I found a pavilion and enjoyed my packed lunch. The soothing sound of Pacific waves served as a delightful accompaniment.

A special ancient tree

The ancient tree, with its over three hundred years of age, had gnarled roots and luxuriant branches. It looks just like a demon.

Beautiful World Natural Heritage Site

In the Ogasawara Islands, you can hike and enjoy the panoramic views, or take a boat trip to explore the sea, visit exhibitions, or seek out delicious local cuisine. On one hand, I was surprised to see just how environmentally aware Japanese people were. On the other hand, I couldn't help but marvel at the intact marine ecology of this World Natural Heritage Site.

Day 4

Out to sea

The isolated islands have unique natural landscapes. Going out to sea here is a truly excellent choice. You can go fishing, you can go diving.

Swimming with dolphins

One of the highlights of going out to sea in the Ogasawara Islands is swimming with dolphins. They are all wild dolphins, and the chances of encountering them are extremely high.

Shoals of fish

You can swim freely, observe the fish that pique your interest, or simply float quietly on the surface while fish swim by. You can also join a shoal of fish and let them swim around you.

Heart Rock

Near Minami-jima, there is a massive "Heart Rock," and the remarkable thing about this rock is its unique color, making it truly a "Heart of the Ocean".

Sunlight filters through the holes in the reef rocks.

The sunlight filtering through the holes in the reef rocks illuminates them brightly, creating a strong contrast. Through some holes, you can even see the golden sunlight interlacing with the blue seawater.

Postcards

Before leaving the Ogasawara Islands, you can buy a few postcards to send to friends or even to yourself. You can have them stamped with a unique postmark indicating it's 1000 kilometers from Tokyo.

Specialty shop

You can also purchase some local specialties, such as salt, jam, pepper, and other local products.

Whale meat

Whale meat is a must-try delicacy.

Day 5

When leaving Ogasawara

When leaving, the local residents even come to see you off, leaving you even more impressed by the cultural spirit and natural environment here. It's hard to part with everything here. I don't want to part with the blue sky and pure air here.

Chichi-jima & Haha-jima