Ogasawara Hahajima Tourism Association

The Ogasawara Hahajima Tourism Association serves as the primary information and coordination center for visitors to Hahajima Island, the second inhabited island in the Ogasawara archipelago. Located approximately 40 kilometers south of Chichijima, Hahajima is one of only two inhabited islands in the Ogasawara chain, which lies roughly 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. The association operates from Oki Port, where a tourist information desk assists visitors arriving by ferry.

The Ogasawara Islands were inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, with Hahajima Islands forming part of the protected area. The archipelago's isolation has fostered unique ecosystems with endemic animal and plant species found nowhere else on Earth. To safeguard this fragile environment, visitors must avoid importing seeds or alien species and refrain from collecting local flora and fauna. Whale watching in Japan began in the Ogasawara Islands, with specific regulations implemented in Hahajima from 1989.

Hahajima measures approximately 15 kilometers in length but only 2 to 3 kilometers in width. The island offers beaches, snorkeling, jungle trekking, and whale and dolphin watching. Notable hiking trails include the route to Mount Chibusa, the island's highest peak in the northern section, and a 2.5-kilometer trail to Mount Kofuji at the southern tip. Minamizaki Beach, accessible via offshoots from the main trail, offers exceptional snorkeling in clear blue water. The Kiyomigaoka karst region features a limestone cave that visitors can explore through the Hahajima Tourism Association.

Transport to Hahajima requires taking the Hahajima-maru Ferry from Chichijima Island, a two-hour journey costing approximately 6,000 yen one way. The ferry typically makes one daily round trip, departing in the morning and returning in the afternoon, though schedules vary based on the Ogasawara-maru's arrival from Tokyo. Tickets cannot be reserved and are sold about one hour before departure on the day of travel. The island has no public transportation system, but visitors can explore by foot, rental bicycle, scooter, or car. The village around Oki Port includes a JA bank with a postal ATM accepting international credit and debit cards, though dining options beyond accommodations remain limited.