The time comes to board the boat, and quite a few people begin to board one after another.
It's a jet boat, so you can't leave the boat or open the window in the middle of the ride. but it's still very fast...haha

I've stayed in ryokan, hotels, guesthouses, capsule hotels, friends' houses, Airbnb, etc. while traveling in Japan, but I had never stayed in a minshuku before.
I was very curious about this type of accommodation before I went.
I loved the smell of the tatami mats and the living space on the first floor, which was my favorite part of the house.

The bicycle paths are very well-maintained, so even if you're not a regular cyclist, you'll feel confident.
You can feel the charm of riding a bicycle along the waterfront. This is the essence of a quiet island getaway.

I arrived at Choeiji by bicycle.
Right next to it is a cemetery with bright sand, which is a surprising tourist attraction.
Because the sand there is the sand of the Habushiura Coast.

About a 15-minute bike ride from Choeiji, you'll find a shrine hidden in the mountains. It's Jusanshajinja.
Jusanshajinja is said to be enshrined by 13 deities, hence the name.

I found the Niijima Village Museum on Niijima.
I didn't expect much from a museum on a small island, but the facilities were pretty good.
Even the smallest exhibits have digital guides and are available in both Japanese and English.

On the second floor are the special exhibitions that are not on permanent display.
When I visited, there was an exhibit on the history of surfing in Niijima.

A park built around the theme of stone and water, it was a bit of a long walk to the observatory, so I decided to take a break here.
There's also a small restaurant, so it seems like quite a few people eat here.

We arrived by bicycle at this Omine observatory.
About 80% of Niijima is forested, so there are several observation decks.
Among them, the Omine Observatory has an observation deck where you can watch small, light airplanes take off and land…

A hill with a good view of Mamashita Beach. We decided to take a short break here.
Since it's an island, the weather is up and down.... It got better, then worse, changing minute by minute.
I think Niijima is prettier than Okinawa when the weather is nice.

The Moai stone statues and old temple-like architecture of Niijima are very interesting.
The hot spring is said to be made of Koga rock, which is abundant in Niimiza.
There are changing rooms, coin lockers, and heated showers, so anyone with a swimsuit and towel can use the facilities.

Mamashita Beach from the Yunohama Onsen

There is also a shrine-like area at the top of the stairs with a great view.

The grandfather was making sashimi himself. Oh my....!!!
I can't eat other seafood, only sashimi, so my side dish is a little different from everyone else's!
There was so much food that it was hard to clean my plate.

Would you call it a nice point you might encounter while driving along the coastal highway?
This place, standing by the roadside with remnants of fortress walls, served as a viewpoint where you could enjoy a more beautiful view of the coast of Nijima.
Not extremely high, but certainly, as the name suggests, ascending the stairs brings a slightly cooler breeze, distinct from the one below.

If you love the sea and travel to a beach destination, I usually just wander aimlessly, taking leisurely strolls,
Nijima seems perfect for a stroll, with few people around and the sound of gentle waves in the background.

I saw at the museum yesterday that the geological strata of Nijima are a subject of research.
Perhaps that's why the rocks casually scattered along the beach look so fascinating
I find myself just gazing blankly at the waves crashing, breaking, and shattering, and time passes by unnoticed.

Nijima is also famous for glass art, and people from mainland Japan come here to learn glass art.
They say the glass in Nijima has a slight greenish tint, which is because the sand used in making the glass is somewhat unique.

The glass pieces, spaced out at intervals, whether in position or elevation, stretched continuously, were indeed Nijima's glass.
After visiting the Glass Art Museum, I could now see each piece of this greenish glass, slowly revealing itself.

ijima being an island, it has beaches on both sides
Typically, people enjoy swimming at Mamasita Beach, while the opposite beach is popular for surfing.
I heard there are good surfing beaches like Habusiura Coast, Secret Coast, and Awaiura Coast on the opposite side, so I decided to hop on my bicycle and head in that direction.
Even if I head to the opposite side, it won't take much time. Taking it slow and safely, it should take around 25 minutes

While it didn't showcase the bustling surfer's sea,
Habushiura Coast, revealing the refreshing sea of emerald-like color.
The moment I saw this sea, I couldn't help but crave Ramune, the Japanese soda

A hearty serving of yakiniku set meal.
The portion was so generous that it was almost impossible to finish it all!

You pointed out the sea I had seen before, saying, 'This is the place,' and here, you mentioned, 'This is where I used to sit and catch my breath.
It may not be mine, but it's a place I want to boast about as if it were mine. Nijima