10 Islands in Shizuoka worth your time

An uninhabited island in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park known for its volcanic rock formations and introduced Taiwanese macaques.

What it is

• An uninhabited island located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
• A first-class special zone designated for its unique geological features.
• Formed from underwater self-brecciated lava from the Irozaki andesite layer.
• The island has no history of human residence and spans one kilometer in circumference.

What to see

• Volcanic rock formations reaching sixty-four meters above sea level.
• Taiwanese macaques that were introduced to the island in the mid-1960s.
• The surrounding waters used for scuba diving and sea kayaking.
• Local marine life including rockfish and moray eels in the coastal waters.

Getting there

• Sightseeing boats from Irozaki Port circle the island in twenty-five minutes.
• The island sits seventy meters away from the Izu Peninsula mainland.

Read more about Ō Ne

A resort island in Lake Hamana featuring a massive red torii gate, hot springs, and seasonal water activities.

What it is

• A three square kilometer island in Lake Hamana formed after a 1498 earthquake and tsunami.
• A resort destination known for its hot springs, fishing, and clam digging.
• Home to Benten Shrine which was established on the island in 1708.
• A location classified by some geographical sources as an artificial island.

What to see

• A large red torii gate standing in the lake south of the island.
• Benten Shrine and its historical grounds.
• A swimming beach that has been open to the public since 1889.
• Multiple resort hotels that make up the Bentenjima Onsen area.

When to go

• July for the sea opening ceremony featuring large drums.

Getting there

• Accessible via the JR Tokaido Main Line to Bentenjima Station.

Read more about Bentenjima

An uninhabited island south of Shimoda featuring a historic lighthouse and seasonal hammerhead shark sightings for adventurous travelers.

What it is

• An uninhabited island marking the southernmost point of Shizuoka Prefecture.
• A small landmass of 0.1 square kilometers with no natural water source.
• The site of a lighthouse listed in the Heritage of World Lighthouses.
• A location where poet Wakayama Bokusui stayed for one week in 1913.

What to see

• The Mikomoto Island Lighthouse with a beam reaching 36 kilometers away.
• Schools of hammerhead sharks visible in the surrounding waters.
• Coastal views from the highest point 32 meters above sea level.

When to go

• Summer to autumn to see schools of hammerhead sharks.

Getting there

• Charter a fishing boat from Shimoda Port for the 11 kilometer journey.

Read more about Mikomoto Island

An uninhabited island in Shimoda featuring ancient ritual sites, a scenic coastal walking trail, and unique geological wave-cut platforms.

What it is

• An uninhabited oval island connected to the mainland by a fifty meter pedestrian bridge.
• A designated cultural property of Shimoda City used for ancient rituals since the eighth century.
• The site of Ebisu Shrine located near the highest point of the island.
• A natural habitat for coastal plants including Erica and Farfugium japonicum.

What to see

• A walking trail that completely surrounds the island for visitors to explore.
• The Senjojiki wave-cut platform located on the southern side of the island.
• The Susaki Ebisujima Directional Light which aids maritime navigation.
• Archaeological sites where Sue ware pottery and soapstone beads were discovered.

Read more about Ebisujima

A historic island in Shimoda Port featuring unique geological rock formations and the site of Yoshida Shoin's failed 1854 stowaway attempt.

What it is

• A designated Shizuoka Prefecture Natural Monument and historic site located in Shimoda Port.
• An island connected to the mainland by a breakwater road.
• The location where Yoshida Shoin attempted to board a Black Ship in March 1854.
• A geological site belonging to the Shirahama Group designated as a landmark in 1976.

What to see

• Prominent cross-stratification patterns visible in the island rock faces.
• Fossilized traces of seabed organisms preserved within the geological strata.
• A shrine where Yoshida Shoin and Kaneko Shigenosuke hid during their mission.
• Statues of the two men and a commemorative monument in Bentenjima Park.

Read more about Bentenjima

An uninhabited island in the Sagami Sea featuring a shrine for maritime safety and popular spots for diving and fishing.

What it is

• Uninhabited island in the Sagami Sea named for its resemblance to a clenched fist
• Small landmass covering 0.015 square kilometers with a peak elevation of 29 meters
• Site where Benzaiten is enshrined to provide protection and maritime safety for sailors
• Location of seismic observation equipment installed by the University of Tokyo

What to see

• The small shrine dedicated to Benzaiten located on the island
• Koteishi Island reef situated at the southeastern end of the main landmass
• Coastal areas used for rock fishing and underwater diving activities
• Views of the surrounding sea where a submarine eruption occurred in 1989

Read more about Teishi Island

A historical park marking the exile of Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo, featuring bronze statues and a preserved Edo period farmhouse.

What it is

• The legendary site where Minamoto no Yoritomo lived for twenty years during his exile.
• A public space currently maintained as Hirugashima Park in Izunokuni City.
• The location where Yoritomo married Hojo Masako before founding the Kamakura Shogunate.
• An archaeological site containing remains from the Yayoi and Kofun periods.

What to see

• Bronze statues of Yoritomo and Masako erected in 2004.
• The Hirushima Hiki stone monument, a designated tangible cultural property.
• The Ueno Family House, a relocated farmhouse from the Edo period.
• A local history and folklore museum located within the park grounds.

Read more about Hirugakojima

A small inhabited island formed by submarine terrace uplift, known for its unique 41-household custom and Jomon period ruins.

What it is

• The easternmost point of Shizuoka Prefecture located in Atami City.
• An island formed by the uplift of a submarine terrace.
• A community that has historically maintained a custom of exactly 41 households.
• Site of ancient Jomon period ruins discovered on the island.

What to see

• The Hatsushima Lighthouse established in March 1959.
• Television and radio relay stations serving the region.
• The local elementary and junior high school buildings.
• The highest point of the island reaching 33.5 meters.

Getting there

• Regular ferry service operates between the island and Atami Port.

Official site

www.hatsushima.jp

Read more about Hatsushima

A scenic sand spit and World Heritage site offering historic pine groves, a sacred shrine, and unique coastal agriculture.

What it is

• A complex sand spit extending four kilometers into Suruga Bay in eastern Shizuoka.
• The Miho-no-Matsubara area was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2013.
• A landscape planning priority area consisting entirely of sand and gravel with no soil.
• A region with a warm climate known for greenhouse cultivation of cucumbers and tomatoes.

What to see

• Miho Shrine which enshrines the deities Okuninushi and Mihotsuhime.
• The Hagoromo-no-matsu pine tree which serves as the sacred object of the shrine.
• Extensive coastal views across the four kilometer long and one kilometer wide peninsula.

Read more about Miho Peninsula

An uninhabited volcanic island in Numazu featuring a marine park, a summit shrine, and locations from the Love Live Sunshine anime.

What it is

• An uninhabited volcanic neck formed from an ancient undersea volcano in Numazu City.
• A designated site among the 100 Treasures of Numazu.
• The former location of a naval acoustic weapons laboratory established in 1940.
• A popular setting featured in the anime series Love Live Sunshine.

What to see

• Awashima Marine Park which has operated on the island since 1984.
• Awashima Shrine located at the highest point of the island summit.
• The luxury Awashima Hotel resort built during the early 1990s.
• Ancient pottery dating back to the Yayoi period discovered during development.

Read more about Awashima