Located in the Pacific Ocean 287 kilometers south of Tokyo, Hachijojima is the southernmost island of the Izu Islands. The island has a population of about 7,300.
An airport
and village sit in the valley between two volcanoes, Mount Hachijofuji and Mount Mihara. The island's forests and surrounding ocean offer many delightful spots. The bloom of
scarlet-colored aloe in February followed in March by the bloom of colorful freesia, magnificent Oshima cherry, and other plants reflect the vitality of the island's warm spring.
Here,
the island's soft sunlight and gentle ocean breeze in spring will stir your soul.
Kimono are expensive, but accessories are easier to acquire. Rami Shop sells straps, bracelets, earrings, and other accessories made with Kihachijo thread.
Despite a
wardrobe of kimono made with traditional Kihachijo fabric, Rami Shop owner Kyoko Matsumoto had few opportunities to wear them and so began searching for an easier way to wear the
fabric. When by chance she acquired some thread from an acquaintance, she came up with the idea of making accessories with the fabric.
How about visiting Rami Shop and making your own earrings or bracelet with authentic Kihachijo thread? By booking in advance for a Kihachijo accessory-making session, you get one-on-one instruction on how to make your own accessories.
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Rami Shop
Address:4594-1 Mitsune, Hachijo-cho, Tokyo
TEL: 090-5438-1187
Hours: 9:00～12:00 / 13:00～17:00
Closed: Wednesdays
At dusk, I head to Nanbara Senjo Beach. The magma produced by Mount Hachijofuji whenever it erupts is swallowed by the sea and turns into black layers of craggy basalt.
Walking
this 500-meter long rocky ground with the island's unique landscape of pitch-black solid magma and wide-open sea reminds me that our planet is a thing in motion.
I end day
one on Hachijokojima with deep breathing as I watch the sun sink behind the island.
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Nanbara Senjo Beach
Address:8257 Okago, Hachijojima, Tokyo
The area on the southeast side of the island called Sakaue includes the communities of Kashitate, Nakanogo, and Sueyoshi. A treasure trove of onsens (hot spring spas), the area is where all seven of the island's onsens are located. Some of these onsens are free of charge and you bring your own bathing wear, creating a truly next-to-nature “onsen crawl” that can only be experienced on Hachijojima.
If you have a car and purchase a day travel ticket at the first place you go to, you can visit four onsens that charge admission. If you don't have a car you can get a BU–S-PA bus
route open ticket that goes to all of the island's onsens. Since you can then visit the onsens for free for two days, it's also a good idea to pick a place somewhere along the route
to spend the night while you are there.
At a seaside onsen you might even see a whale if you're lucky.
