1000 Km south of Tokyo--but part of Tokyo Prefecture, lie the Ogasawara (Bonin) islands. Travelers can visit Chichijim and Hahajima for water activities, natural rock formations, hidden WWII caves, delicious food and very welcoming people.

1. Tokyo's Adventure Islands Beckon...
The Ogasawara Islands

2. Presented by Steve Gillick,
President, Talking Travel
Editor, Travel2Japan
And Mitsuru Sasaki, Associate Editor,
Travel2Japan
www.talkingtravel.ca
media@talkingtravel.ca
Steve Mitsuru

3. With great thanks to the assistance of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
and the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau

4. 1000 km South of Tokyo
25.5 hour Ferry each way
2 hours between islands
2400 friendly People
The Islands of Chichijima &
Hahajima
UNESCO World Natural
Heritage Designation-2011

5. Takeshiba Pier, getting ready to check-in for the Ferry ride. The terminal has lockers, restaurants, and shops.

6. Preparing the Ogasawara Maru for the 25.5 hour journey to Chichijima on Nov 12, 2013

7. Our 1st Class Room for 4 people--we shared with two friendly business people.

8. Tour around the Ferry: The information desk and gift shop on the 3rd Level

9. The Cafeteria food was freshly prepared and
very tasty.

10. The Nature Guide
provided
information on
some of the islands
and the wildlife -in
the sky, in the
ocean and on land.

11. Reading, conversation, sleeping, eating, photography and watching the ocean--25.5 hours go by fairly quickly

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At 11:30 am on Nov 13--exactly 25 1/2 hours after departing from Tokyo, we arrived in Chichijima

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The Seafront Hotel--on main street--about an 8 minute walk from the harbour.

14. Gyosan--literally 'fish sandals" are not only comfortable but also 'grip' the surface on which you are walking.
Roughly $8.00 a pair. Everyone wears them!

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We met our guide Katsuya (Katchan) and we set off for a 3 hour tour of the Island

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Views of the town and the harbour. You can see the Ferry in the top left.

17. Octopus trees roots and their bright orange fruit

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Second World War buildings are hidden by the forest

19. Crab Crossing signs, goat crossing signs and red pigeon crossing signs can be seen on the roadways.

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Sandy beaches for seclusion, swimming and snorkeling

21. The Heart Rock Cafe is named after the famous red rock formation: Heart Rock

22. Dinner at Marujo: an excellent traditional seafood izakaya

23. Fresh assorted sashimi
Traditional Ogasawara specialty: Shimazushi-
Sawara with soy sauce and hot mustard
Another Ogasawara specialty is Kame Sashimi: Raw turtle
served chilled with ginger, scallions and soy sauce

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The Pink Dolphin arrives for our day trip of swimming, snorkeling and photography around the Island

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Small rocky island outcroppings add to the amazing scenery around the island

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The wild curious bottlenose dolphins actually swim with you

27. Heart Rock. As the sun starts to set, the rock becomes a giant red heart

28. Minamijima Beach--one of the natural attractions that contributed to the UNESCO World
Heritage designation in 2011

29. Albatross and other curious sea birds do a fly-by as you cruise around Chichijima

30. The next day, after a 2hour and 10 minute Ferry ride, we arrive in Hahajima and start to explore the trails

31. On the windy ascent to Mt.Kofuji, our guide, expert naturalist Tamotsu Hayakawa, demonstrated
some bird calls to attract the rare Hahajima Meguro

32. The bird calls worked! One of the 14,000 Hahajima Meguros comes by to check us out!

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Starting the walk to Mt. Kofuji and Minamizaki Beach

34. Fan trees and tropical vegetation vie for the sunlight as we follow the marked trail to Mt. Kofuji

35. A not-so-secret cave, hidden on a hillside...we waited for the school group to exit and then we explored it.

36. One of the cave chambers revealed a WWII gun-- in the past 70 years a tree sprouted in the firing path

37. Another cave lookout reveals the beautiful crescent shape of Minamizaki Beach

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Wandering back through the forest at the end of our hike

39. Sunset in Hahajima Harbour...Red Sky at Night

40. Our evening in Hahajima was spent at the Nanpu Hotel--quite comfortable

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Heading back to Tokyo--that's Kiyora Hashimoto from Ogasawara Tourism waving goodbye to us

42. Taiko Drumming to send us off to Tokyo in style--and wish us a safe trip (and lasting memories)

43. A flotilla of boats follow the Ogasawara Maru to the harbour entrance, as a final 'see you back here soon' gesture

44. Steve Gillick in Shark Bay, Chichijima--no sharks but we did see two goats on the surrounding hills

45. A big THANK YOU to the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau,
and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government

46. Music from the Chichijima based artist
Okei
http://blueocean-islands@jimdo.com
https://www.facebook.com/ogasawaraokei

47. steve@talkingtravel.ca; www.talkingtravel.ca
All photos are protected by copyright and may not be downloaded or
reproduced in any way, shape or form without the express written
permission of Steve Gillick
Steve Gillick, President of Talking Travel, presents Keynotes, webinars and seminars
on Japan and 70+ other countries. As a destination specialist and a travel addict,
Steve's presentations and writings reflect energy, enthusiasm and homour.