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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Niijima
新島
Spend 2 days for surfing, hot‑springs and museums; 1 day works for a quick beach visit.
Niijima is a small Izu Island (24 km²) known for surf beaches, free outdoor onsen and glass‑art sites. The island is bike‑friendly; a day covers one beach, while two days let you surf, soak, and visit museums.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 新島
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (warm surf, less rain)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold sea, limited surf)
- Stay
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Soba noodle bowl | ¥600–¥1,000 |
| Beer (draft) | ¥400–¥600 |
| Bike rental (full day) | ¥800–¥1,200 |
| Ferry ticket (Niijima‑Shikinejima round) | ¥820 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HACH · Chōfu Airport
- 45‑min flight to Niijima, weather‑dependent
Typical fares
- Jet boat Takeshiba → Niijima
- about ¥2,500, 2 h 20 min (check)
- High‑speed ferry Niijima ↔ Shikinejima
- ¥820 return, 15 min each way (check)
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
Bicycle is sufficient for the 24 km (15 mi) island; rentals available at guesthouses and the tourist info centre.Bicycle is sufficient for the 15 mi (24 km) island; rentals available at guesthouses and the tourist info centre.
See and do
Known for
- Surfing
- Free outdoor hot springs
- Niijima Glass Art Center
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Shikinejima | High‑speed ferry, 15 min each way (3‑4 boats/day, 4 in summer) | ≈30 min round trip |
Sleep
- Niijima Village center
- Most guesthouses and bike rentals; good base for walking and surf spots
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 bathroom? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| I would like to rent a bike | 自転車を借りたいですjitensha o karitai desu |
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
- No hospital on the island; serious injury requires evacuation to Tokyo
- Ferry may be cancelled in rough weather; check schedule before travel
Generally safe; traffic is light, but lack of medical facilities means avoid risky activities.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Niijima yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Surfing
- Free outdoor hot springs
- Niijima Glass Art Center
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Niijima official tourism site: niijima-info.jp/
- Wikidata Niijima: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Niijima, revision 5002872 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5002872
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/niijima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.