Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Japan Miyakejima Gas Mask Tourism on the Izu Islands

Gas Mask Tourism on the Izu Islands

Sulphuric gases inhabit a beautiful Japanese island.

Miyakejima, Japan

Added By
Alex Timian
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The active volcano on Miyakejima. (Creative Commons)   http://homepage3.nifty.com/hyamasat/miyake...
Add Photos
The active volcano on Miyakejima. (Creative Commons)   http://homepage3.nifty.com/hyamasat/miyake...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The brave souls inhabiting Miyakejima, one of Japan's Izu Islands, an archipelago just south of Tokyo, have a unique problem.

Here, the land rests atop an active volcanic chain that has erupted six times in the last century. However, the danger isn't just from volcanic eruptions, but from the highest concentrations of poisonous gasses (primarily sulfur) in the world regularly leaking up through the ground.

In 2000, a mass evacuation was instituted due to extremely high levels of toxic gas in the area after a series of eruptions from Mount Oyama, the main volcano on the island. All flights into the area were stopped for over eight years due to the high levels of sulphur as well. Miyakejima residents were finally permitted to return to their “normal” routines in 2005 though residents are required to carry a gas mask with them at all times.

Hypothetically speaking, were one to visit the Izu Islands, they might wake to a siren in the middle of the night, only to be met in the dark by a confused, wandering child wearing a gas mask, a hand extended asking "Are you my mother?"

Although Miyakejima appears frightening and almost post-apocalyptic, tourists can, in fact, visit the island. Aside from the dangers of poisonous gas, parts of the island are extremely lush and apparently the scuba diving is a beautiful experience filled with dolphin sightings. For visitors who believe the benefits outweigh the danger, gas masks are available upon arrival at many tourist shops on the island.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Islands Intriguing Environs Disaster Areas Ecosystems Nature

Know Before You Go

Visitors can reach Miyakejima by boat or helicopter flight from Tokyo.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Hidden Japan: Sado Island, Nara & Kyoto

Explore a different side of Japan.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

atimian

Published

June 7, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • Volcano Live: Miyakejima Volcano - John Seach: http://www.volcanolive.com/miyakejima.html
  • The Japan Times Online: "Miyakejima Calling" (February 2005): http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20050203a1.html
  • Wild Bird Society of Japan: Bird Sanctuary: http://www.wbsj.org/en/miyake/
Gas Mask Tourism on the Izu Islands
Miyakejima
Japan
34.0909, 139.5249

Nearby Places

Mount Mihara

Ōshima Island, Japan

miles away

Kawazu Sakura Festival

Kawazu, Japan

miles away

Kawazu Nanadaru Loop Bridge

Kawazu, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Mount Mihara

Ōshima Island, Japan

miles away

Kawazu Sakura Festival

Kawazu, Japan

miles away

Kawazu Nanadaru Loop Bridge

Kawazu, Japan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Japan

Japan

Asia

Places 786
Stories 110

Related Stories and Lists

Atlas Obscura's Guide to Islands You Never Want to Visit

plague

By Sarah Brumble

Related Places

  • Hazardous material teams on Gruinard Island. (Creative Commons)

    Highland, Scotland

    Gruinard Island

    Fifty years of contamination in Scotland's waters.

  • Human Skeletons in Skeleton Lake in Roopkund

    Chamoli, India

    Skeletons of Roopkund Lake

    A lake with hundreds of ancient skeletons surrounding it. The surprise is what killed them.

  • Hamnøy Reien, Lofoten.

    Røst, Norway

    Lofoten Islands

    The convergence of two currents makes this a surprisingly pleasant getaway in the Arctic Circle.

  • 1986 photograph of Lake Nyos

    Menchum, Cameroon

    Lake Nyos

    Deadliest lake in the world suffocated over 1,746 people in one night.

  • The view from Dover Island, looking towards the coast.

    West Dover, Nova Scotia

    Dover Island, Nova Scotia

    Eastern Canada's ocean playground.

  • SPRUCE Experiment exterior.

    Bovey, Minnesota

    Marcell Experimental Forest

    A futuristic climate change study is nestled deep within this public land.

  • The phonolites.

    Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

    Cerro de las Campanas (Hill of Bells)

    When struck, the strange stones in this park ring like bells.

  • Guelta d’Archei.

    Chad

    Guelta d'Archei

    Camels and crocodiles share the black waters of this stunning Saharan oasis.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.