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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Toshima
利島
Skip unless you want total isolation: one night is enough to walk the island and see the camellia bloom. No shops, no restaurants, no beaches.
Toshima is the quietest of the Izu Islands — 330 residents, 4.2 km², 80% camellia forest. There is one village, one port, one road. No beaches, no restaurants, no shops. You come for the silence, the winter camellia bloom and the Saku lily in summer. One night is enough; two if you want to hike every trail.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 利島
- Best months
- Nov–Mar (camellia bloom), Jun–Aug (Saku lily, clear skies)
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, rough seas cancel ferries)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 |
|---|---|
| Ferry Tokyo (Takeshiba) → Toshima, one way | ¥5,000–7,000 |
| Helicopter Ōshima → Toshima, one way | ¥15,000 |
| Minshuku per person with two meals | ¥8,000–12,000 |
| Coffee (bring your own) | ¥0 |
| Bottle of water (bring your own) | ¥0 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OIM · Ōshima Airport
- No scheduled flights to Toshima; the helicopter link from Ōshima takes about 10 min (check).
- HND · Tokyo Haneda
- Reach Takeshiba pier for the Toshima ferry; the boat calls at Toshima around 07:00 (check).Reach Takeshiba pier for the Toshima ferry; the boat calls at Toshima around 7:00 AM (check).
Typical fares
- Ferry Tokyo → Toshima
- about ¥5,000–7,000, 2–3 h (check)
- Helicopter Ōshima → Toshima
- about ¥15,000, 10 min (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
Walk. The island is 4.2 km² (2 sq mi); the port to the far side is about 45 min on foot. No rental cars, bikes or taxis.Walk. The island is 2 sq mi (4.2 km²); the port to the far side is about 45 min on foot. No rental cars, bikes or taxis.
See and do
Known for
- Camellia forests (bloom Nov–Mar)
- Saku lily (world's largest, summer)
- Remote fishing village
- Helicopter transfer from Ōshima
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Niijima | Ferry from Toshima port, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Ōshima | Ferry or helicopter (10 min) from Toshima | About 1 h (helicopter) or 2 h (ferry) |
| Miyakejima | Ferry via Niijima, about 3 h | About 4 h |
Sleep
- Near the port
- The only accommodation is a minshuku or two; book ahead through the village office.
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 |
| Where is the port? | 港はどこですか？minato wa doko desu ka |
| Is the ferry running today? | 今日フェリーは出ますか？kyō ferī wa demasu ka |
| How much is this? | いくらですか？ikura 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
- Ferries run once daily around 07:00; missed it means waiting until the next day.
- No shops or restaurants: bring all food and water.
- Cell reception is patchy; download maps offline.
- Winter seas can cancel ferries for days; have a buffer.
Very safe; the main risk is getting stranded by cancelled ferries. Carry a satellite messenger if hiking alone.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Toshima yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Camellia forests (bloom Nov–Mar)
- Saku lily (world's largest, summer)
- Remote fishing village
- Helicopter transfer from Ōshima
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Toshima, revision 4982654 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4982654
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/toshima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.