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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Aogashima
Spend 1–2 days on Aogashima: walk, hike the volcano rim, camp or stay at a minshuku; ferry from Hachijojima takes ~2.5 h.
Aogashima is a tiny volcanic island in the Izu chain, south of Tokyo. With a population of about 170, most sights are reachable on foot. A single night lets you hike the crater rim and enjoy the night sky; a second day adds a hot‑spring soak or a longer trek. Access is by daily ferry (≈2.5 h, ¥2,500) or a costly helicopter (¥11,500).
- Country
- Japan
- Best months
- Oct–May (dry, clear skies)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (typhoon season, frequent rain)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shochu (local spirit) | ¥800–1,200 |
| Meal at minshuku (set) | ¥1,200–2,000 |
| Bottled water (500 ml) | ¥100–150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HAC · Hachijojima Airport
- Access point for Aogashima: ferry (about 2.5 h) or helicopter from Hachijojima; HAC itself is reached by plane from Tokyo Haneda.
Typical fares
- Ferry Hachijojima → Aogashima
- about ¥2,500, 2.5 h, weather dependent
- Helicopter Hachijojima → Aogashima
- about ¥11,500, much faster than the ferry
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The island is walkable; most attractions are within 30 min on foot. No public transport.
See and do
Known for
- double volcano
- starry night skies
- remote hiking
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hachijojima | Ferry from Hachijojima, about 2.5 h | ≈3 h total |
Sleep
- Camping sites
- Free or low‑cost sites near the coast; bring your own gear.
- Minshuku
- Family‑run guesthouses; basic rooms, meals optional.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Ferry schedules depend on weather; check the daily timetable before travel.
- Volcano rim trails can be steep and exposed; bring water and sturdy shoes.
- Limited medical facilities; carry a basic first‑aid kit.
Aogashima is safe for tourists; main risks are weather‑related ferry cancellations and rugged trails.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Aogashima yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- double volcano
- starry night skies
- remote hiking
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Aogashima Village official tourism page (Japanese): www.vill.aogashima.tokyo.jp/tourism/
- Wikidata — Aogashima: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q391600
- Wikivoyage: Aogashima, revision 4872034 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4872034
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/aogashima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.