How many days do you need to get to the island for a holiday, If you live or stay in Tokyo? The answer is just one day. Tokyo is well-known as a big city of over ten million people. However, there are also islands around Tokyo where people actually live. People living in Tokyo can go on a sightseeing trip to some of those islands. The closest island to the Tokyo Metropolitan area is Hatsushima, which is located in Atamishi Shiziokaken.
How do you get to Hatsushima?
It takes about 40 minutes from Tokyo Station to Atami Station by a ‘shinkansen’ – the famous ‘bullet train’. You can find a lot of good bento shops inside Tokyo station. I recommend you get a bento, (in a bento box), for breakfast there, and take it on the bullet train.
At Atami Station, take the bus to go to Atamikou (Atami Port), a 15 minute journey. You can get to Hatsushima by ferry from Atamikou.
What can you do on Hatsushima?
There are a number of enjoyable activities in Hatsushima – scuba diving, swimming, ‘Sarutobi’ – an adventure course – along with camping and clamping.
You can also relax in the green ‘R-Asia’ garden, surrounded by palm trees. You can buy a cocktail at a small restaurant bar, and relax in a hammock there.
After enjoying these activities, a bath at the “onsen” (a hot spring) is the recommended thing to do. Hatsushima’s onsen is called ‘Ocean Bath Shimano-Yu’. It is very quiet here, the only sound heard is the sound of the waves. This will relax you, and give you inner peace.
What is interesting about Hatsushima is that the island has two aspects. It is both a developed resort spot, and also a historical fishing village. You can meet the local people, lucky enough to live in a place rich in nature. Before you leave the island, do enjoy the seafood at one of the many traditional restaurants .
- Hatsushima Island
- http://www.hatsushima.jp/en/
- Map